Altimeters \ Watches

A snowHead

I'm pondering buying an altimeter or altimeter \ watch combo.

Any suggestions ? I don't usually wear a watch, but messing about with a phone in a blizzard isn't ideal.

On the subject of phones, my fancy mobile has a GPS altimeter function, but when compared with an OS map there seems to be quite an error - up to 100m vertical, despite the display noting an accuracy of +/- 2 or 3 meters.

A snowHead

david@mediacopy, I've a Nike one which I bought new from an ebay seller a few years ago. It's alright as a a bit of a toy but as it works on barometric pressure if you are after accuracy I wouldn't think it's anywhere near as accurate as GPS.

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david@mediacopy, Suunto Observer, I wear it everyday as a normal watch. Very Happy

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I used a Suunto Core when I did the Mountain Safety course. Found it very useful as a navigation aid. AIUI GPS is not especially good for altitude, but if you calibrate a device based on barometric pressure to a known altitude at least once per day it should be much more accurate.

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I've got a Suunto Core as well.

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Have a rather old now casio one that uses barometric pressure, and as rob@rar, states its accurate for a couple of days if you calibrate it. Works very well, its very good for "predicting" bad weather as you can see the pressure drop, it draws graphs for you so its all a bit obvious. It also records total up and down over a time period, Shocked

which divided by two gives you a rough vertical in a day. All not very useful but a bit of fun.

It also tells the time which is rather useful, but the most dubious function is the temperature, as it just records how warm you are!

There is one similar on ebay here (edited to add)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Casio-SGW-300HB-3AVER-Altimeter-Barometer-Sports-Watch_W0QQitemZ350407759965QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=160330181617&rvr_id=160330181617&cguid=b37dc8eb11f0a0aad4734783ff208d53

After all it is free

I've been looking at this

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4073074

Cheers Guys, I'll check those out.

Mike Pow, That looks pretty useful. I can't see any UK dealers on the web - do you know of any ?

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This also looks an option - Silva ADC Summit

http://www.silva.se/en/Products/Outdoor-Instruments/ADC---Atmospheric-Data-Center/?productId={4895AE48-5230-49A3-8BC2-034E7D43B370}

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the chavy sportsdirect.com sell suuntos online, some at very good prices

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the suunto is really useful for an altimeter but the other "features" are kinda pointless... the compass is rubbish as it is in constant need of recalibrating so not reliable, the thermometer is stupid as it just tells you your body temp and takes ages to cold soak should you take it off to check actual temp.

but i wear it everyday and it is bullet proof snowHead

You know it makes sense.

as a matter of interest, i find it much easier to look at my phone for the time etc than my watch, after peeling back my gloves I am confronted with my jacket inner cuff and my mid layer cuff which both have thumb loops.

In fact its even easier to ask someone else wink

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

^^^ i attach my watch to one of the straps on my pack

A snowHead

I've got a Swatch Snowpass (compatible with lots of ski passes in Europe) which also has a fairly good altimeter on it. Cheap, cheerful, looks cool...

A snowHead

these are the best, but because of the eurocrats you need to ay 50% more for a bit of paper before you can use it, oh no hold on thats the other game

http://www.winter-instruments.de/english/produkte/hoehenmesser.html

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hobbiteater, looks a little cumbersome on my wrist? Puzzled

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I would be wary of thinking that a barometric altimeter is going to be 'accurate' for a couple of days - that requires pretty stable weather conditions. In changing conditions, I would not rely on one for more than an hour, if that; as an example, I climbed Ben Nevis a few years ago on a not too nice May day - as I was happy with my other navigation skills, I stopped recalibrating my altimeter after a while, only to find that it had me descending all the rest of the way up; clearly there was a weather front coming in, but I would not have wanted to be relying on it for very long after each time I recalibrated.

Conversely, I have a bottom of the range (and 10 year old) Garmin Etrex; this is a model without barometric altimeter, because I felt that an accurate grid reference should generally be enough and I didn't want anything else draining the battery of what is just an emergency tool. Looking at that on numerous high and low level walks, however, I have found that the altitude readings given have been pretty good - generally within 10m or so of what the map says.

If you are after a GPS which will give decent altitude readings, get a 'proper' one, rather than using a mobile 'phone - perhaps those made for mountain navigation have a little more work put into the altitude part, I don't know.

I have often read on mountaineering forums and in magazines that the altitude reading on a GPS is not reliable, but I would be just as happy to use one (I presume you are looking to keep track of daily ascent/descent rather than for whiteout navigation?) as I wold be to use a barometric one. In the end, you just need to accept and understand the limitations of whichever you choose.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

parlor,

OP said

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Not a semantic distinction that I've ever come across. Where does 'elevation' fit in your definitions?

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All altimeters, as opposed to GPS devices, work on Barometric pressure. I use one with a map and compass. I will reset the pressure setting whenevert I am at a known height (e.g. sitting in a mountain hut). After a few hours, it will usually be a few m out compared to a map, but still accurate enough to help me work out where I am, traverse in fog without loosing height etc..

GPS heights work of relating position to map height... this is not the same thing at all.

After all it is free

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Did a few searchs.. I stand corrected. Will stick with a barometric altimeter tho

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ski, http://edu-observatory.org/gps/height.html

and http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0703/geoid1of3.html

You know it makes sense.

david@mediacopy,
As suggested by Spyderman, rob@rar and Mosha Marc, the Suunto range of watches has a great reputation for the requirement.
Quite widely used in the military as well...

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

laundryman,

A snowHead

ski, potentially - mind you, the guy may have been using a rather nifty GPS. Even so, I was surprised at the accuracy.

A snowHead

I've often read that GPSs are poor at calculating altitude. My experience of using one for nearly ten years is contrary. In practice, with a clear view of the sky, mine concurs with OS spot heights to within ten metres. Only once have I noticed a wild discrepancy when, on the summit of Kebnekaise, it was under reading by perhaps 100m. I later realised that it was still set for UK coordinates and, because of the elipsoid nature of the earth, the MSL would be different.

As I see it the advantages for each are as follows:

Barometric Altimeter
* Low power requirement
* Can be very accurate
* Consistent under tree cover and in canyons

GPS
* Not reliant on recalibration
* Not reliant on accuracy of maps/guardians for recalibration
* Generally consistent
* Gives position too

Some GPS units include a barometer and electronic compass too e.g. the Garmin Foretrex 401 pictured above. The obvious answer is to know the limitations of your tool!

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altis, laundryman, Thanks... I've learned something snowHead

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Axsman, or Journey to the Centre of the Earth. wink

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I forgot to add that a GPS will also record where you've been so that when you get home you can download it and overlay your track on a map like this:

http://warringtonbears.org.uk/laplagne/20090226.png

After all it is free

I have found the Nike watches to be the best over the years. More accurate altimeter and much easier to use than Suunto - I know, not what you'd think but simply true (against Observer and Core). Compass on Observer is better except on Core which is prone to sticking. The Tissot Touch is better than all but expensive. The EMS Highgear Axio looks a great price and I will pick one up in December in NYC for a test.

Hi all,

I went Suunto Core in the end. Seems reasonable on the local hill, and as expected needs resetting regularly in changeable weather.

I also found some different GPS software ("GPS Test") for my phone and that's a lot better, and confirms the watch to within a few meters. The only issue is that it takes a few minutes to sync.

The Suunto is my first watch since childhood so it will be interesting to see how long it lasts before I break it Toofy Grin

Help!!

Altimeters \ Watches

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