Customer Reviews

Nike Men's WA0018-001 Oregon Series Alti-Compass Watch

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

PERSPECTIVE: An endurance runner & cyclist that was looking for an inexpensive (< $200) compass & altimeter watch that is durable, accurate, fashionable, and has the appropriate features for altimeter training in my sports. When shopping for this watch, I also considered the Suunto Vector.

PROS:
+Durable Case: Hardened aluminum and mineral glass crystal take abuse well. (Vector has a plastic case and plastic crystal.)
+Excellent band: Very durable and good ergonomics. The band keeper is a particularly nice feature.
+Chronograph stores up to 50 laps in any number of individual runs. (Vector only stores one lap.)
+Compass feature is convenient and accurate.
+Chronograph stores the altitude of the end of each lap. (Useful for recording bottoms and tops of hills.)
+Weather feature shows the temperature, barometric pressure, and 12-hour trend graph. Nicely done.
+Timer feature has graphical representation of each segment (using the compass arrow LCD layer).
+Seven alarms are useful and more than most people need.
+Watch mode shows day and date.
+Relatively inexpensive for an instrument with these features. (If I bash it against a rock by accident, the loss is not that great.)
+Altimeter feature shows a graph of the relative altitudes over the last two hours.

CONS:
-Altimeter accuracy is questionable, even when using it for relative measurement. For example, altitude on a calm day will vary by up to 20 feet over an hour at the same location (for example, at the beginning and end of a run).
-Chronograph feature does not record the accumulated and maximum altitude on a per-run basis. The watch stores these values globally, so you need to remember to zero it out before the workout and check it (and remember it) right after your workout.
-Chronograph feature has a fixed sampling interval for the altitude (2.5 minutes). This might be acceptable for running, but is not acceptable for skiing or cycling. An adjustable sampling interval when using the chronograph would be preferred. The global altimeter function can adjust the sampling interval, but to utilize an interval other than 2.5 min, you must start the chronograph, then change modes to the altimeter and keep it there. When you want to check your time, or record a lap, you need to switch between the altimeter and chronograph functions. This is annoying.
-No hourly chime available.
-Chronograph mode shows either lap time OR total time. Not a big deal, but Nike could have shown a combination of both as one of the selectable display options.
-The documentation accompanying this watch lacks detail. It should include more details on altimeter function (such as the algorithm used), at a minimum. I find myself reverse-engineering the operation of the altimeter to help myself understand it. This should not be necessary.

Used the watch today to log vertical gain in hill "sprints." Repeated to original altitude numeous times with no apparent drift.

I am still too green with this watch to have a firm idea of whether or not the altimeter is spot-on, but so far it looks good.

Flying around in a floatplane, the gain in elevation on the watch readout was 5-10 feet off at 1200 feet.

I really like the "total system" of having temperature, compass, barometer, altimeter, multiple alarms and countdowns.

Plus the watch looks sharp and upholds my previous positive experience with Nike branded heart rate monitors.

Re: the Altimeter refresh rate mentioned as irritating by a previous reviewer, there are three setting for refresh rate: 2seconds, 10s and 60s. The factory setting is the longest interval refresh of once every 60seconds. During training, I select the 10s refresh rate, but the 2s is still available.

I do not have polarized glasses, but looking through my binoculars that have polarized lens covers, I was able to read the display perfectly well.

I am very pleased with this watch. Human engineering and interface controls are good. Battery is user-replaceable. Control buttons are positive in operation.

I've put this watch, and the Suunto vector, through their paces in expedition kayaking. The Suunto's electronics are much better. Here's some more comments:

1. The Nike watch is much heavier. I don't have the specs, but if you're buying it for running/jogging, don't.

2. The Nike altimeter is not nearly as accurate, it jumps around much more than the Suunto's.

3. The Nike's face, being glass, is more scratch resistant.

4. The Nike's strap is bombproof, whereas the Suunto's failed me after 2 years.

regards,
Greg

I have had this watch for about 6 months now and I don't have any complaints. The altimeter seems to work well, even after not calibrating it in 4 months it's only off by about 200ft. Although I do remember when I first bought it, I had to calibrate it every week but it has been working fine ever since.

My favorite part of the watch is the barometer (weather) function. If I am going out for a run, and it doesn't look great outside, I can see if the pressure has been dropping and know if it is going to rain or not.

Set up was pretty straignforward; just put in the cd and follow along. You can program the deviation for the compass, altitude etc. A highly satisfied customer.

Brittle!

The watch face scratched easily after one day of wear.

Combine that with the malfunction of two Lance 4 Oregon series watches (within a few months each) and Nike will get a pass from me in the future with regard to watches. Poorly made with no durability.

Every Casio I own keeps running despite years of use and sometimes abuse.

It's very good looking; especially, if You have a big body( cuz the size is quite big about 2" diameter) the Barometer is pretty helpful for daily life, but altimeter, compass, and thermometer are not much accurate. I have ahd to setup compass many times. However, in over all I appriciate this watch.

I have used this watch in the outdoors several times now it works great. Just like any other Alti-Compass watch once you know how to calibrate the different features it's simple to use.I compared it to the Highgear Axis and Summit and the Nike had more features and a better look and feel to it. I have taken it hiking and it keeps very accurate readings. Once you get past the difficult user manual you are good to go.

Altimeter is not accurate. This algorithem to tell the difference between barometric and altitude pressure differences is just not possible. This watch can be off by as much as 600-700 feet after a front comes though. Otherwise is a pretty good watch.

The altimeter seems quite accurate and it does not seem to suffer from too much drift. There must be some kind of motion sensor built-in as it the watch would show no altitude gain/loss when left sitting on a table for 36 hours. The downside is that it seems to take the altimeter awhile to recognize that you are moving as it takes quite a few minutes to register any vertical gain.

The biggest problem with the watch, and the reason I returned it, is that the watch face is unreadable with polarized sunglasses! In order to view the display while wearing polarized sunglasses you either have to extend your arm so that the display is 90 degrees from it's normal orientation (a very uncomfortable position) or peer over the glasses (not good if you are wearing prescription polarized sunglasses and need the glasses to read the display).

The polarization issue seems to be because of the blue compass layer as a regular Oregon Alti was readable in any position.

I wound up spending a bit more and got a Suunto Observer which has been a terrific watch!

I purchased the watch for durability reasons, and it has provided great service. It is large, but I would recomend it to anyone who is an outdoor enthusiest and finds that they break many watches.