Customer Reviews
Perfect for the rain forest 
2008-09-16
I just returned from spending two plus weeks in the rain forest in coastal British Columbia. This watch worked perfectly. It was critical to have the thermometer altimeter and the barometer. I was able to use topographical maps and the watch to know where I was on the mountain. I was also able to leave the rock face when the barometer predicted incoming rain. This piece of equipment (far more than a watch) was critical to the success of the expedition.Suunto Vector Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Thermometer
Could be better, but still a cool watch 
2008-08-26
The Vector is a good watch for anyone with a sweet tooth for cool gadgets. It is a comfortable and capable watch, but for the price I would have to say I expected a little more. I have had my watch for about 3 weeks and have 2 negative thigs to say about it thus far. The first day I had the watch I somehow scratched the face IN THE POOL.....how that happened I have no idea, so I have been VERY careful to not let the watch touch anything, but I am afraid that as soon as I get used to it and start wearing it like I should it is going to take a beating and who knows how it will come out. Second, the altimeter is very shifty. I have to reset it about every third time I look at it. I have read the instruction book and have been doing everything as it states, but cannot get it to function properly. Being in the military (NAVY) I spend most of my time at sea level, so I check it every time I am significantly higher than sea level, and it is almost always wrong, WAY WRONG.
The compass is nice and pretty accurate, thermometer is a little unreasonable (must take watch off for 15 minutes to get an accurate reading), and barometer is fairly accurate, but overall I had to go with a rating of 3.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A COOL LOOKING WATCH THAT HAS THE CAPABILITY OF DOING NEAT THINGS, THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DEPEND ON THE NEAT THINGS THAT THE WATCH IS SUPPOSED TO DO- I'D PASS.
Unreadable within two weeks 
2008-08-11
The watch worked great for about two weeks, then became unreadable. I am in the process of returning it... so will see how their warrenty policy holds up.
Negative display is POOR 2008-06-27
As a previous reviewer has pointed out, the older Vectors utilized a positive display, with the numbers in black and the lcd background a grey color. The most recent Vector I purchased on Amazon came with the negative display, which is simply the opposite ... the numbers being grey on a black background. Since the brightness of the grey numbers cannot be increased to stand out better against the black, it makes it ridiculously difficult to read in many lighting conditions. Turning on the backlight helps, but to do that you have to hold the light button down for 2 seconds before it responds. What a pain. The functions of the watch are great, however. Just note there is a steep learning curve to understanding the buttons. A read of the manual is a must.
After purchasing the Suunto Core (Light Green), I have to admit there is no comparison really. The Core is much easier to use, easier to read, more comfortable to wear. The only disadvantage of the Core may be its durability for such a thin and lightweight housing. But so far it's held up to everything I've put it through.
Great Watch 2008-06-07
In my opinion, for the price this is the best hiking watch around. I have been hiking and use all of the watch functions, as far as I can tell they are accurate, except the temperature when it is on my wrist, so I take it off for 15 to 20 minutes as it has been suggested and it is more in line with the temperatures in my area. I hike in 100 degree temps, and a bit higher.
Suunto Vector 
2008-05-15
The watch that started it all! Suunto's original Wristop Computer, the Vector changed the face of sport watches forever with its groundbreaking combination of features, including an altimeter, barometer, electronic compass, digital log book, and watch. Introduced in 1998, the Vector was the first watch to make it to the summit of Mt. Everest. Today, the Vector is still considered the standard by which other sport watches are judged, and it remains a favorite everywhere, from the mountain tops to the Marine Corps. Barometer - Absolute pressure range 8.90 - 32.40 inHg / 300 - 1100 mbar, Sea level pressure range 27.25 - 31.90 inHg / 921-1080 mbar, Resolution 0.05 inHg / 1 mbar Temperature - range -20 - +60 C / -5 - +140 F Compass - shows bearing in degrees and cardinal or half-cardinal point Backlight, electroluminescent User-replaceable battery Low Battery Indicator Easy-to-read display Water Resistant to 30 m / 100ft Weight 1.9 oz / 55g
SUUNTO VECTOR 2008-05-14
This was an anniversary gift for my husband and he absolutely loved it, we are both deployed in Afghanistan so it's something he will use every day!
Not worth it! 
2008-04-23
I have owned two Vectors. They both wind up having the same problem. After awhile the compass will not calibrate and the compass portion of the watch is useless. I am the type that hardly ever removes the watch from my wrist. The first vector fogged after swimming and then the compass died. I bought another one and after a year the compass died again.
I will not own another one.
GS
After 6 years of abuse, ...... 2008-03-24
a couple of weeks ago I was glacading and when I got to the bottom I noticed that there was some condensation in the display. It still worked OK and after a few hours the condensation went away. But...
After 6 years of mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, mountain biking and just general abuse I guess that it is time to retire the Vector. Overall, it has performed brilliantly. My only complaint is that some of the functions are buried in a system of menus that for me are not that intuitive. So, if I don't use them often, I forget how.
I have decided to replace it with the more expensive Suunto Core. The main reason is that it has a dot matrix display, which supposedly gives more information and has a better menu system. We'll see.
In the end, the Vector has been a very good watch for me and I highly recommend it.
Suunto Vector - Great Watch 2008-03-23
I had a Casio Pathfinder for 10 years prior to getting the Suunto Vector Black. Loved the Casio until I had to replce the batteries. In order to keep it water resistant, I forked over another $50 each time to the repair guy. However, each time the batteries were replaced I lost a function/feature. Can't find a damn watch band either.
The Suunto Vector Black on the other hand is not only a great looking watch but you can change the battery (did I say one battery?) yourself, thus keeping the water resistant integrity. How? The battery resides in its own sealed compartment. Use a quarter to unscrew the top and there sits the battery. tah-dah.
I'm an avid sailor, surfer and also fly planes. The Vector is very easy to use. The con is you can't set the declination point. I found this to be true with other brands I tried before settling on the Suunto. I also wish the count down timer would start to count up once it hit zero so I can use the stopwatch as a stopwatch not as a count up timer. But I can live without this feature. I like the negative display too. Nice touch. The watch has a large face; 1 5/16" and 2" edge to edge.
The new Casio has this stupid moving three stripes on the face. If you raise your hand or tilt it to certain angle the damn light comes on. I rather have a button to push than have it come on by itself. A person lying down, the light comes on. It also has large face. Compare the Suunto and a Casio side by side and you'll see the Suunto quality and workmanship over the Casio. Friends who bought a Casio regret doing it once they saw my Suunto. I think they did because I had a Casio before and they, some piece of crap.
OK, its been a year since I've owned my Suunto. I don't like writing reviews until I've owned something for awhile to see if the product holds true. This one does. I've lost 1 second in the past year, the band looks fresh and new, the face still shiny and unscratched even though it gets banged against stuff all the time. If you're thinking of getting Suunto Vector, stop thinking and buy one. You'll be happy you did.
