Reviews > Electronic Devices > Watches > Suunto Vector Wristop Computer Watch > Jim Sabiston > Initial Report

Suunto Vector Wristop Computer

Reviewer Information:

Backpacking Background: 

Product Information:

Specifications as listed on the Suunto Website:

Initial Impressions:

Big. But then the Vector is much more than a simple watch. The Vector is the original Suunto Wrist Computer, according to the web site. Part of the large presence that the Vector has is due to the rotating bezel which sits on top of the watch body. The Vector model comes in various colors including black, khaki, yellow, light blue and X Black. The LCD screen can be ordered in the more typical black characters against the neutral LCD background or with a black background and contrasting alphanumeric characters. The model I received is the basic black model. The LCD crystal is shipped with a plastic protective sheet marked with the warning: 'Calibrate compass before use' in English, German and French.

The large size seems to be an advantage given the multi-function nature of the watch. The various functions are accessed by four large buttons located at the side of the four 'corners' of the watch body. The buttons stand a bit proud of the watch body and each has three tiny, raised knobs which make the buttons easy to locate by touch, which should be a real benefit in the dark.  The combination of the large body and the large buttons make it very easy to operate the watch and to access the various functions. The large LCD screen and characters make the Vector easy to read. Holding the 'Mode' button in the pressed position activates the backlight so the watch can be used in the dark. The backlight stays on for about five seconds. 

The watch is completely black except for the LCD screen. The wrist band is made of a heavy black rubber with what appears to be a stainless steel buckle. The rotating bezel is marked with compass degrees  in 30 degree increments. The bezel requires a rather firm push to move, but this will likely prove to be a good thing, as it will not be easy to shift it accidentally. The bezel sits higher than the rest of the watch body and looks as though it will also provide some protection for the LCD crystal, which is slightly recessed within it.

The bottom of the watch body has a series of grooves molded into it. These radiate from what appears to be the sensor location for the altimeter and barometer functions. The battery cover, a circular plate slightly larger than a quarter (US $.25 coin), is also located here. The battery cover is partially bisected by a groove designed to accept a small coin, and a quarter seems to be a good fit although I did not attempt to remove it yet.

The watch is packaged with a manual which is intimidating in its bulk. It is not large, fitting easily in my hand, but it is just over 1/2 in (13 mm) thick! I was relieved to find that the reason for the thickness is that the manual contains dedicated sections in no less than eight languages! These are listed right on the manual cover: EN (English), FR (French), DE (German), ES (Spanish), IT (Italian), NL (Netherlands), FI (Finnish), SV (Swedish). Whew! The actual English instructions are only 46 pages, so there is a reasonable chance that I will be able to learn most of it. Included with the manual is a small quick-reference card. The card is designed to fold in half and, once folded, is about the size of a typical business card. The card has a light plastic coating which should help preserve it in the field. This is a good thing, as I expect I will carry the card with me while I learn how to use the Vector.

 Setup:

 Fit: The watch feels comfortable on my wrist, in spite of the rather bulky size. It does not fit easily under a tight cuff, however. There is plenty of strap for adjustment, and I expect I will be wearing the watch on the outside of my shirt, or jacket as needed, where it will be more accessible. The Vector appears to be built for this type of wear. As I wear short sleeves most of the time, this is hardly an issue. In those instances where I am wearing long sleeves, it is usually in the form of a long sleeve tee shirt and the Vector will fit easily over the thin material. It remains to be seen how it will fit over a fleece sleeve or a rain shell (or both).

Summary:

Likes:

 1 – Looks like a good quality, well made product.

2 – Easy to read large LCD screen.

3 – Light for its size.

4 – A veritable laundry list of useful functions.

Dislikes:

1 - Size. This is a big watch, but it is much more than a watch. Is there a way to keep the big LCD and all the great features and trim the size down?

 Test Plan:

1 - Altimeter: This function will be tested primarily for accuracy. Barometric altimeters, such as this one, are notoriously finicky, requiring constant compensation at known altitudes as often as possible. That said, as long as they are tended to to, the ones I've used in the past can be surprisingly accurate when used correctly. I will see if the Vector follows this pattern.

2 - Barometer: I will observe this function frequently over the test period to see how reliable the pressure variances predict weather changes. This will take precedence over the altitude function when stationary for a long period of time (overnight) or when not experiencing any notable elevation changes, such as when canoeing or kayaking.  

3 - Compass: This function will get much use. I will pay particular attention to accuracy and usefulness, especially of the 'Quick Bearing' feature. 

4 - Battery life. The manual is a bit vague on battery life projections, understandable to some extent, as life can vary wildly depending on which functions get used most often. Still, some sort of rough estimate would be appreciated. I will have to decide if it is worth carrying a spare battery, just in case.

5 - General: Wear and tear will be of great interest, as backpacking conditions are not generally conducive to the long life of electronic devices, although the Vector appears to be up to the task.

 Naturally, any other items of note that come up during the test period will be reported.

Reviews > Electronic Devices > Watches > Suunto Vector Wristop Computer Watch > Jim Sabiston > Initial Report