Sports Instruments Alta Alimeter Watch

by Sports Instruments

Product Features

• Sports Altimeter Watch plus standard and extra-long band for wearing the ALTA over clothing
• Extremely accurate - measuer altitude to within three feet
• Cumulative ascent or descent
• Daily and Annual Altitude Memory

Product Description

The Alta Sports Altimeter is a feature-packed altimeter watch at a great price - the ultimate mountain sports companion, combining sports watch features with a multi-function altimeter to track your day on the slopes. Altimeter features include rate of ascent and descent; atuomatic ski run counter, 2 personal altitude points and two settable calibration points in addition to manual adjutment guarantee the most accurate altimeter readings. Sports Watch features include 12/24 hr Time, Day, Date, Month and Year; a chronograph w/lap timer; alarm; backlight.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EPMDYC
• Item model number: 114239
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436,196 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sports Instruments products were produced in 2003 or earlier, February 14, 2007

By 

Gary Coffrin (San Jose, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sports Instruments Alta Alimeter Watch (Apparel)

Sports Instruments (SI) was a Utah based company with 3-4 employees that was sold to Bell Sports in 2004 (and Bell Sports was later sold to Easton Sports in 2006). SI's activities had slowed, and it is reasonable to believe that SI wristwatches were last produced in 2003. Products were made in Asia by a reputable factory.

You should know that the original watch batteries are at the end of their shelf life. Unless the seller has recently replaced batteries, you will quickly face the burden and cost of dealing with battery issues.

Early altimeter watches were a bit erratic and had higher defect rates, and this watch is no exception. You may want to ask your seller about how to obtain warranty service from a brand that is no longer produced.

Replacing the watch batteries is too difficult for most consumers. Even a professional repair person must use care to maker certain that the parts are precisely returned to the original positions to maintain water resistance. Expect to pay $9-20 to have the watch battery replaced, and tell your repair person you want the product to keep its water resistance.

If you are willing to deal with battery replacement issues, make certain that you get a good enough price to justify the added repair burdens ... and that you get good information about how to deal with warranty issues.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Alta watch, February 16, 2007

By 

J. Schwenk - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sports Instruments Alta Alimeter Watch (Apparel)

I had real bad luck with this watch. I tried two watches and neither one worked. The first one had no display and the second one you couldn't change it to feet. I sent bought of them back.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, for the price., July 27, 2009

By 

T. Linehan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sports Instruments Alta Alimeter Watch (Apparel)

I used one of these for about six years. Thought it very good for the price.

The alarm died after 3 or 4 years. The altimeter was no longer accurate shortly after the second battery change (probably damaged during the battery swap).

Only complaint is that it's somewhat confusing to recalibrate the altimeter. Fortunately this becomes a bit easier with regular practice and habit.

Also of note... unlike the Suunto etc. that register altitude increase in 10ft increments, the Alta registers in 3 foot increments; raise your hand over your head and you just did 3 feet of elevation gain.

Other than that... it was a good friend. It's a simple tool that does just does a few things. There is no compass. There is no thermometer. Just a clock, an alarm, an altimeter, a lap counter (which I never used), and a chronometer (which I never used).

Just ordered a new one to replace the original. Have fingers crossed it will work as well and as long as the first one. For twenty bucks, it's a good deal.