One problem with all the electronic stuff on the market these days: Some of the pieces available are so complicated, they聮re almost useless. I mean, who really needs to constantly update/download/sync/forecast and all that stuff? I don聮t even think GPS units are all that useful for things such as everyday hiking. Off-trail use, maybe, as you can 聯mark” your path. And, of course, to mark precise locations for things such as favored fishing spots.
High Gear Summit watch
Summit altimeter watchOne really good buy in an altimeter watch is the High Gear Summit, which retails for $160 but is available at Campmor (www.campmor.com) for $90. It聮s a pretty good package聴altimeter with one-foot resolution, barometer, compass, thermometer, the whole shootin聮 match. And it聮s water-resistant. I聮ve used High Gear products and the interface is reasonably intuitive and easy to learn.
In the next price range, Suunto聮s Vector ($199; www.suunto.com) is the standout. Suunto almost owns this category these days, and the Vector has lots of excellent features, including altimeter, ascent/descent readouts plus a counter for ski runs, barometer with four-day memory so you can track trends, compass, watch functions, and more. And it聮s water-resistant. Silva聮s Tech4 (retails for $199, but available at REI for $175; www.rei.com) offers very similar functions. I might suggest getting the two of them side by side, if possible, so you can get a sense of what seems most practical for your own needs.
This is a little embarrassing to admit, but I remain devoted to my ten-year-old (replaced once) Avocet Vertech Alpin (www.avocet.com). It聮s remarkable how well this watch has held up. I still find its interface and button arrangement superior to almost everything else, and its fast updates of rate of ascent or descent are extremely useful, if only to know how much longer the agony continues until one reaches the high point of the day聮s hike. The Alpin has an awkward battery replacement procedure (you have to mail in the watch and a $20 check), is only marginally watertight, and lacks a backlight. But for $170 it聮s still worth a look.
The votes are in: , including the year’s hottest GPS unit.