Suunto Advizor Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Barometer, Compass, Altimeter, and Chronograph
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Description of Suunto Advizor Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Barometer, Compass, Altimeter, and Chronograph
ALT/BAR range up to 29,500ft/9000m,resolution 10ftSuunto's Advizor Wristop Computer is more than just a techno-geek toy. With an accurate compass and features such as measurement of air pressure and temperature, the Advizor can keep you on the right track during your outdoor adventures.
The Advizor also doubles as a digital personal trainer, with a heart rate monitor via its included chest strap. We clipped the strap on under a shirt (it will also work through the shirt, but you'll need to get the shirt quite wet), moistened the electrodes, and the Advizor automatically picked up our heartbeat. With the plastic bar on the front, the strap wasn't exactly comfortable, but we were able to forget about it after getting into our workout.
The simple-to-use monitor worked well for setting a target heart rate zone and alerted us by beeping an alarm when we went over or under the range. The heart rate monitor also stores information from past workouts, which let us keep track of average heart rate, maximum and minimum rates, and time spent in and out of the target heart rate zone.
Like other Suunto watches, the Advizor offers a barometer mode that keeps track of air pressure and trends (which let you forecast changes in the weather) as well as temperature. However, as the watch's reading is affected by body heat, using the temperature gauge while working out can be problematic.
It also features a compass, useful for cross-country hiking and running, as well as an altimeter--accurate to within 10 feet. We did have to reset the altimeter rather frequently as it measures altitude using the barometer, so changes in air pressure can affect the altitude reading.
Its outer plastic bezel proves handy in different modes for showing barometric changes or changes in altitude denoted by a segmented digital circle that lights up around the perimeter of the watch.
And hey, get this, it tells time too. The watch functions of the Advizor include three alarms, a stopwatch, and a countdown timer. A bright backlight illuminates the watch face in dark environments, and it's also waterproof to 100 feet. (Note, however, that it's not a diving watch, so you can't use the buttons to manipulate the modes while underwater.)
The Advizor is more expensive than other Suunto watches and other heart-rate monitors. But if you need all these tools packed into one device and are willing to pay for the consolidation, the Advizor definitely does a nice impersonation of a digital Swiss Army knife. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Accurate heart rate monitor
- Ruggedly designed--great for the outdoors
- Easy to switch between modes
Cons:
- Large size can be unwieldy on wrist
Take your training to the next level with the Suunto Advizor. This wrist computer receives a signal from the included heart-rate transmitter to measure your total training time, maximum, minimum and average heart rate during training, plus your time spent in, above, and below your preset target heart rate. The Advizor also features an altimeter, barometer, and compass in its stylish and rugged design.
The Advizor looks like a high-end wristwatch, with an ABS plastic body and elastic wristband. The body is gray, with an oversized backlit LCD screen. It is made tough, built to be waterproof even submerged at 100 feet. The watch displays day, time, and date with three programmable alarms and has a stopwatch and countdown timer.
The Advizor's altimeter allows you to view the current altitude with a range up to 29,500 feet and a resolution of 10 feet. Also view your ascent/descent rate in feet per minute. (All measurements are also available in metric units.) The barometer allows you to measure the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, absolute pressure, and a difference measurement to follow changes in barometric pressure and temperature. The automatic four-day memory keeps track of atmospheric pressure information. Another feature is the adjustable sea-level pressure function.
The compass shows directional bearing in degrees and cardinal or half-cardinal point. There is a north-douth arrow and a bearing tracking function that displays locked bearing, actual bearing, and the difference between these declination adjustments. The compass's bubble level indicates a level position to ensure reading accuracy within 2 to 3 degrees.
The Advizor comes with a user-replaceable battery, which lasts up to 18 months, and a low-battery indicator. It is covered by a one-year warranty.
Sports reviews of Suunto Advizor Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Barometer, Compass, Altimeter, and Chronograph
Customer Review: Suunto Advizor
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
Pros:
1. Great watch with a TON of features. Not many compass, altimeter, barometer combo watches also come with a heart rate monitor. That's impressive.
2. This is one of the best styled watches I've ever owned.
3. Very comfortable and easy wearing band.
Cons:
1. Suunto Watches have terrible function navigation. There is no intuitive function design to these watches.
2. I use a stopwatch often and the stopwatch function can only be accessed through another function - which was a big negative for me causing me to give the watch away to a friend.
Customer Review: A good back up for military field usage, but not a replacemn
Sport shop rating: 3 Stars
I ordered this watch to use during my Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) 20 Nov-13 Dec 2001 class. My intent was to use it as my primary compass, just as I had the used my Suunto 'analong'wrist companss as my primary during IOBC and Ranger schools. The Advizor failed me in that aspect. Its North pointing arrow is a digital dot, opposed by a digital "tail" of three dots on the south side, making it a cool tool and a toy, but not a precision instrument. Hence, I could not rely on such a civilian system to earn me my SF selection. I ended up using the army issue compass to find my points on the STAR and the TREK. Since then, I use the compass when I am driving, or when I am lost in the underground road system in my city, where the Sun is not visible.As for other elements, I use the heart rate monitor for my runs. That is the most use that I get out of my watch. But it is very very complicated, in that I have yet to learn how to opbtain the highest pulse, as well as the average pulse per workout.. The altimeter and barometer functions are useless to me, as the terrain in my area is so diverse, that terrain association alone can locate me within 50m of my location.
So for you soldiers out there, Suunto analog wrist compass (do not recall the actual name) that is available in AAFES clothing store is your best bet for compass. This watch is useful only if you are out to get a heart rate monitor, but wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for a "last minute back up compass" that also shows time and air pressure. Oh, it is water resistant only to 30 meters.. So you NAVY SEALs and SF Scuba dudes, stick to your G-Shocks.
Krusader, Out.
Customer Review: Technically Sound
Sport shop rating: 3 Stars
Great features, but the display is hard to read unless you are direcly over the watch at zero angle. The field to the left of the hour display often displays other numbers at slight angles. I have had many watches(SuUNTO, Oregon Scientific, Bulova, Casio, nIKE) and none have aver done this. Im sure when I contact SUUNTO they will help me out. Just got the watch and havent had time. If it wasnt for that it would be TOP rated. So I will give it 3 stars....for now.Customer Review: Some troubles
Sport shop rating: 3 Stars
Good watch. I had some troubles but I send it to service twice and now is working well.
All info you need for ooutdoors activities plus a Heart monitor
You can change the batery every time you need by your self not sending it to special service, this also with the chest strap.
The only complain: no cristal, why an expensive watch uses plastic instead mineral cristal or saphire cristal?
Customer Review: Functional but cheap feel
Sport shop rating: 2 Stars
The watch does everything it's supposed to do, but it's got a cheap feel to it(does not feel rugged like you would expect from an adventure watch). Would have liked to have a calorie counter with the heart rate monitor. Menu's are difficult to navigate.