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Suunto X10 Watch Review

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WATCH COMPASS GPS ALTIMETER BAROMETER

This GPS watch is loaded with features. It's really so much more than a watch. It's a wrist top computer that lets you download data to your PC and upload data to Google Earth. If you've ever owned a Suunto watch, then you're probably already a fan of the quality products this company puts out. I've owned Suunto watches for five years and they are the only brand of watch I use on my outdoor adventures these days. The thing that spurred my interest in the X10 is the GPS feature. Whether you're into hiking, skiing, snowboarding, orienteering, geocache, fishing or hunting, this wrist top GPS is a really great tool that will replace the bulky hand-held unit you've been using to free up your hands.

They have greatly improved the GPS so it obtains faster GPS fixes and the battery life is about six hours. Program in up to 500 way points, so you can enter them once and leave them loaded for next time--no worries about having to delete them afterwards to save memory. Then, when you get home, you can download the data showing where you were and where you went. Then you can upload the data to Google Earth and store the information for next time or share it with family and friends.

LOWEST PRICE ON SUUNTO X10 MILITARY GPS WATCH

Suunto X10M Wrist-Top GPS Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and GPS

Suunto X10M Wrist-Top GPS Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and GPS

Amazon Price: $620.00 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

The X10 is the very latest from the Suunto laboratories, and its the lightest GPS-enabled wrist computer they have ever offered. With the X10, you can track your outdoor adventures in four dimensions, or use Suuntos Trek Manager software to pre-plan your route ahead of time. While youre out in the wilderness, use the barometer and compass to keep you headed in the right direction while you keep an eye on the weather. Record your speed, distance, and altitude along 500 GPS waypoints, then upload them to Google Earth at home to show your friends just how deep into uncharted territory you ventured. Improved GPS reception allows quicker fixes in deeper cover than ever before.

SITE CONTENTS

SUUNTO X10 FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS

2 Year Manufacturer's Warranty

* Material: [Housing] plastic; [Strap] rubber
* Watch: Yes, with 12/24h, alarms (3), dual time and GPS time syncronization
* Calendar: Yes
* Altimeter: Yes, usable to 29,500ft (9000m), with altitude alarm and vertical speed
* Barometer: Yes, absolute barometric pressure, altimeter/barometer lock
* Weather: Temperature, weather memory (7 days), storm watch
* GPS: Yes (500 waypoints, 50 routes and 25 tracks)
* Heart Rate Monitor: No
* Chronograph: Yes, with stopwatch (max 29 split times)
* Thermometer: Yes
* Digital Compass: Yes, with automatic declination adjustment, heading in degrees and cardinal directions
* Adjustable Declination: Yes, automatic and manual
* PC Compatible: Yes
* Waterproof: Water resistant to 330ft (100m)
* Backlight: Yes
* Battery: Rechargeable, low battery indicator, 115-240 VAC charger
* Alarms: 3 Daily, 1 altimeter, 1 weather
* Battery Type: Rechargeable Li-Ion
* Backlight: LED, with option for night use
* Operating Temerature: -20°C - +60°C/-5°F - +140°F
* PC Software: Suunto Trek Manager and Suunto Track Exporter
* Size: Medium
* Weight: 76g
* Recommended Use: Outdoor adventure, military, backcountry travel
* Manufacturer Warranty: 2 Years

OTHER COOL FEATURES

GPS is just one of the features I love about this watch. It also has an altimeter, compass, and barometer that I use for hiking, back-country skiing, orienteering, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Face it, we all like to think we know where we're going in the backcountry, but it's so much more enjoyable if you really do know. I like the peace of mind of having the barometer that continuously checking barometric pressure so I'm not caught off guard by weather changes.

Another cool feature on this watch is the Activity Mode. Use that to record your speed, distance, and altitude information, and any memory points you define along the way. Once you reach your destination, set your Suunto X10 on Track Back mode to be get back to where you started.

UPLOAD DATA AFTER YOUR JOURNEY

Interfaces With Google Earth

Suunto X10 Yellow BezelAt the end of the day, it's great fun to see where you've been and to be able to show others. The Suunto X10 connects to your PC with a cable and then you can use the Suunto Trek Manager to review your journey and visualize its altitude profiles. The Suunto Track Exporter software allows you to upload your journey to Google Earth where you can plot and show your progress and share it with family and friends. Imagine being able to upload your data and then plot it out on Google Earth where you can print it out your hiking route, ski trails, orienteering course, etc.! You get the idea. This watch is loaded with ubercool features.

BEST PRICES ON SUUNTO X10 ACCESSORIES

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HOW ACCURATE IS THE X10 GPS?

If you're familiar with using a handheld GPS, you know the importance of having a clear view of the sky. Dense tree cover and other factors that interfere with the GPS unit being able to get a read off the satellites can be a factor. The Suunto X10 GPS is no different and the accuracy of this GPS unit is very impressive. The min factor, as with all GPS units, is how many satellites are visible for your fix. The more satellites that are visible, the more accurate the reading. Ninety-five percent of the time the Suunto X10 GPS will provide the position with an accuracy within 30 feet. Usually, however, the position is much more accurate and within 6 feet. The wristop computer displays current information on the satellite signal strength, as well as an estimate of the position error.

BAROMETER - ALTIMETER WATCH

A Great Skiing Watch

When you have both an altimeter feature and a barometer feature in a watch, you have to switch between the two functions because the watch will measure atmospheric pressure and then has to know whether the change is due to a change in altitude or because or a change in weather. Switching between these two functions on the Suunto is as simple as pressing a button. When you first get the watch, the manual instructs you how to quickly calibrate it based upon your location/elevation. From that point on, the watch has a base line for future altimeter readings. The GPS function can pin point your latitude and longitude but it cannot read your elevation from sea level. Don't worry though, the instructions are clear and calibration takes just a few minutes.

The altimeter and barometer functions make the X10 a great ski watch. Keep track of your descent using the altimeter function combined with the stop watch function. Measure barometric pressure changes when you're in the back country, so you have a weather warning in time to start heading out before the storm hits. Skiing with the X10 gives you a lot of fun and helpful information.

MILITARY GPS WATCH

The X10 GPS watch is very popular among the U.S. military. Aside from its durability, the combined watch-compass-GPS features make it a potential life saving tool. For soldiers, the convenience of having a hands-free gps and compass is a valuable aspect when they are carrying weapons and gear. As discussed below, all the GPS data can be quickly and easily downloaded to a PC, and then uploaded to Google Earth to plot coordinates and trails on a satellite image. The same principle applies for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and skiing.

The watch feels solid. If you've never owned a Suunto watch before, one of the things you'll notice right away is the band is made of rubber instead of plastic like most of the competing watches. The rubber wrist band is much stronger and thicker than a plastic band. So you don't have to worry about breaking the band if it catches on something while your out in the wilderness or on your boat.

HOW DO I CONNECT THE X10 TO MY PC?

Cable and Charger

The X10 comes with a basic wall charger but not with USB cable to connect the watch to your PC. Connecting to your PC is not necessary but it adds a whole new dimension to the use of the watch by making some of the very cool features fully functional when you download trek data. The USB cable is sold separately and it comes with a travel charger with several adapters to fit different size outlets, so you can plug in wherever you go. Beware it is not a standard USB cable because the end that connects to the Suunto X10 has a special fitting (Note: if you are upgrading from an X9 model, the USB cable and charger will work on the X10). The cable and charger package sells for about $50. Another cool accessory is the Solio Hybrid Charger, which is a solar charger and it sells for about $100, but it does not come with the USB cable.

WHAT SOFTWARE COMES WITH THE SUUNTO X10?

Suunto Trek Manager and Suunto Track Exporter

With Suunto Trek Manager you can create routes on the maps you have uploaded, edit and erase existing routes, visualize the altitude profiles for your routes, analyze and plan your training, and keep a training diary. You can also create your own activity reports by adding photos and text to the profiles. It is software that gives you a better understanding and a graphical representation of the data recorded and stored on your Suunto X10.

It lets you create routes on maps you have uploaded, edit and erase existing routes, visualize the altitude profiles for your routes, analyze and plan your training, and keep a training diary. You can also create your own activity reports by adding photos and text to the profiles.

The Suunto Track Exporter software lets you export tracks from your Suunto X10 to Google Earth so you can view your adventures anywhere on the globe using real satellite images.

SUUNTO CORE WATCHES

A Great Alternative To The X10

The Suunto Core watch has many of the features of the X10, but it does not have GPS and data is not downloadable to your computer. It has a user-replaceable battery rather than the rechargeable battery in the X10. Also, Suunto Core watches are available in several colors--all black, steel, aluminum, red, green, orange and yellow.
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TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUUNTO X10!!!

  • goo2eyes May 2, 2012 @ 7:32 am | delete
    i would love to have one but it is quite expensive.
  • DailyRogue May 2, 2012 @ 9:41 am | delete
    I guess it is expensive compared to a typical sports watch, but It is more comparable in quality to a Tag Heuer-with all metal housing. Yet it has GPS, altimeter/barometer and other built-in functions. So you also have to consider the cost of buying those features in a separate unit. You should just check it out in a store, you'll see what I mean!
  • pawpaw911 Apr 30, 2012 @ 11:29 am | delete
    Just about everything you could ever need in a watch. Pretty cool.
  • DailyRogue May 2, 2012 @ 9:34 am | delete
    It's a great watch. I've really enjoyed mine.
  • mcochs Mar 28, 2011 @ 1:31 pm | delete
    Awesome lens! Blessed by a Squidoo Angel on 3/28/2011. Have a great day!
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DailyRogue

I spend a lot of time hiking, skiing and camping. I love gadgets and tools, and I consider my Sunto watch to be both. I've relied on Suunto watches... more »

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