Customer Reviews

La Crosse Technology XG-55 Digital Altimeter/Compass Watch

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

The title of my review is about the kindest thing I can say about this product. The LaCrosse XG-55 is indeed a nice, feature-filled watch with practical instruments that function well, but it has several glaring deficiencies and annoying peculiarities.

First let me mention something positive, for those that know this genre of watch (altimeter/barometer/thermometer/compass), that the XG-55 (at about 50 bucks) is an outstanding value. If you buy a similar/equivalent product from Suunto or High Gear (even Casio), you will pay several hundred dollars more and not get much better performance. So that is a big plus for the XG-55. For the cost of one Suunto, you can buy four new XG-55's (and toss em out when you've used them up). I'm making reference to the fact that Suuntos run through batteries at a prodigious rate.

Another advantage IMO is it's relative size. It is noticeably smaller and thinner in profile than the Suunto. The XG-55 is about the size of the High Gear Altus.

The barometric altimeter seems fairly accurate, as I've tested it in many places (from Seattle's Space Needle to Donner Summit) and it read within a few feet of the posted altitude. The compass is also reasonably accurate also and comes in handy for quick orientation esp indoors and while driving (i.e. "take the N exit" "where's North?"). I have little use for the barometer function, but I notice that the little weather icon is generally pretty accurate, like when it shows a raincloud, it usually rains shortly thereafter. I like the electronic thermometer, but it will usually read your body temperature when it is on your wrist. I have learned that by subtracting approximately 14 degrees from the reading, it will be about the actual ambient temperature. The Indiglo type backlight is good, but tends to run down the battery fast (so I eschew using it unless absolutely necessary). The other watch functions work effectively (2 alarms, stopwatch, timer, dual time, etc.).

The most serious problem with this watch is it's "water resistance". It is really not. Wearing the watch while washing the dishes, walking through a rainstorm, or taking a shower will breech the watertight seal and you will find your cover crystal fogging up. In the XG-55's defense, I will just mention that I have had the same experience with both the Suunto and the High Gear Altus. LaCrosse has generously replaced my watch 3 times (each time the watertight seal failed).

Also, under practical use, I have found that some of the buttons tend to protrude too far from the case and have a tendency to deploy inadvertently. Like, I would glance down to look at the time... and I discover half the time that barometric millibars of mercury is displayed instead. Or, I prefer to have the temperature displayed in the little top (secondary) display box, but it often gets switched to air pressure trends (a graph) or the date instead. Very aggravating, esp when you just want to quickly know the time. Again, I will mention in it's defense, that I have had the same problems with some of the other more expensive watches also. About the only watch that routinely recesses their buttons sufficiently, I've noticed, is Casio.

Yes, as someone mentioned already the case is painted plastic. I have noticed that the edges quickly become worn and lose their paint. Even the bezel ring seems to fade and lose it's colour. But, again, what did you expect for such a bargain price? (an all titanium case??) So far I have not had any trouble with the watchband, and in fact, I kind of like it's design which allows some comfortable ventilation.

Overall, I feel that there are enough positives that outweigh all of the negatives, so I would go ahead and recommend this watch. Just remember that it's an inexpensive alternative (to the $200-$300 watches in this class) and, IMO, you get what you pay for.

I had this watch for a few months, and feature wise it meets all my expectations, but I snagged it in my backpack the other day and the strap with the pins came off. No big deal I thought, I'll just snap it back in - that's when I noticed that the strap holder had ripped through the PLASTIC casing and was thus unrepairable. Over the few months I have had it, it has also discolored badly on the fake metal casing. Great features, poor build quality. Not recommended.

It is sad not to recommend this wonderful watch. It has great features and design. The price is very good also. So what's wrong? Wear it in the shower once and it's ruined despite being marked water resistant to 100ATM. LaCrosse says their warranty does not cover damage from water leaking in because they say it is not waterproof and should not get wet. Duh? Then why do they advertise "water resistant" as a feature? Lacrosse customer service told me not to believe what it says on the watch or the specs. The reality is the watch can't get wet. And I can't recommend it. At least it has a weather indicator so I know when it's gonna rain.

This watch is a pretty good deal for the price. It is a little complicated to figure out, but after playing with it for awhile you'll get the hang of it.
It's not the best construction, but it's not that expensive either. It was pretty helpful on my recent trip up Mt. Kilimanjaro. I did need to recalibrate the elevation pretty frequently though. Ascending from 3000m to 5895m it drifted about 200m. When calibrating at elevation, sometimes it doesn't believe you so you might have to put the elevation in a few times.
I noticed that some complain about the water resistant-ness. The documentation says that it is water resistant to 100 ft, but cautions not to use it (push buttons) underwater. It's done fine for me with splashing, showers, dishwashing, river/lake bathing, etc. I haven't tried diving with it since it wouldn't be accurate anyway.

The functionality of this watch is excellent and the price is pretty good for it's type and features. The down side to this watch is that it's very fragile for use in outdoor sports like hiking, climbing, hunting or, camping. The functions seem geared to that kind of activity and its advertised for outdoor living but materials used in it's casing are somewhat cheap.

Watch is only rated water resistant to 30 feet. I have personally never seen an other watch rated so low and still clam to be "water resistant". For those that understand the pressure rating system a 30 feet rating is extremely low and I would not personally consider it water resistant at all.

If your good at taking care of your equipment this could be a useful tool for you but don't expect it to be able to take the level of abuse that most other outdoor sport watches can.

The watch is great. Keeps acurate time along with its multiple functions. The only function lacking is the movable bezel. It moves too freely with no ratcheting mechanism. The bezel is very smooth making realignment of the bezel somewhat difficult.

Owned this watch only briefly, had no problems in that short time, but did not get the reason for the backward compass (you could set it so it says west when you're really facing east. Once I figured that out, I changed it back and all was right with the world.) One thing to note, though: the rubber watch bands on two other watches broke after less than 18 months, the second in several places. This has the same rubber as the other two. And the battery in the K2-100 (predecessor to the XG55) had to be replaced after only 9 months. Also, the ability to enter the known sea-level pressure to determine your altitude is a feature included in the XG55 that was sorely missing on the K2-100. Bottom line: they fixed a couple of deficiencies since the K2-100, and it costs half the price of the nearly identical Suunto Vector (their cheapest watch with a compass AND an altimeter).

I received this watch as a gift after reviewing several others. The display is very good. The altimiter is usually way off and varies greatly even remaining in the same position. It is a little difficult to make use of all the watch's features. I am very concerned the watch is stamped on the back "water resistant" but new reports are showing it is not. In fact if it is NOT, we have been misled by the manufacturer. Overall, I can not recommend this watch

This watch's altimeter did not funtion correctly; I live on the ocean so I could calibrate it to sea level, five minutes later it would read -89 feet or something rediculous. It had to be reset all the time. Customer service was no help as they did not know how to work the functions on the watch. Wait for the bugs to be worked out beofre purchasing this item. Also, this watch was rated for 100 feet but flooded at 30 feet.

It's a good watch, i'm happy with it, it does the job
The altimeter is not that accurate but that's the case with almost all the barometric altimeters, if u don't mind putting in the correct altitude once in an wile is OK
the rest is A O K