Customer Reviews

Suunto Observer ST Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass (Stainless Steel)

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

 

 

Truly a 'niche' product, the Suunto Observer defies classification. It's a sport watch, make no mistake, but Casio's line (particularly the 'G-Shocks') offer more for the money and MUCH increased battery life. It's several 'instruments' rolled into one, offering barometer, altimeter, compass and thermometer, but in a watch case, and, surprisingly, blending them into an attractive package.
If you're considering this 'wrist computer' (Suunto's term and fairly appropriate) for a 'techno' toy though, save your money. Typical of Suunto's products, it has stellar thinking behind it. Typical also it is cutting edge. However, also typical of products built and produced in Finland, it has an owner's manual that has to be about a 5 to 10 on the readability scale of a 100. Like all Scandinavian products, there is a concerted effort here to use icons whenever possible and it's like you walked into a Russian made helicopter; there may be icons, but you're still going to have to have someone explain it to you! But, like Suunto's diving gauges, one you cross the divide and spend some quality time with the manual, user reviews, internet postings and about 6 to 10 hours playing with it, you WILL have a grin on your face. It's an outstanding piece of technology, but only once you finally understand it.
A few points that may help you:
--I bought the stainless model (there is also a full rubber strap model and a titanium model). Realize it IS NOT a full stainless strap; it's a rubber strap with about 10 pieces of stainless for looks only. However, unlike some reviews posted, I truly LIKE the look and don't feel Suunto was cheesing out by just using stainless 'pieces' instead of a full stainless strap. It fits like a glove, once adjusted. It took me about 30 minutes to fit it perfectly.
--Other reviews give a hit or miss coverage of the DUAL opening latch on the strap. It does have 2 openings, the second is to give additional access if you have large hands/small wrists. One review stated, incorrectly, that the second latch undermines the first latches ability to hold it together tightly. If they would have examined the second latch in more detail, they would see that the primary latch COVERS the second with a gate, preventing it from opening. IN NO WAY does the second latch make this strap less strong. Typical Suunto, well engineered, but poorly documented.
--Carefully read one reviewer's lengthy discussion about how the barometric pressure and altitude settings work. They went into GREAT detail (more than I will here) covering how these two systems are interrelated and connected. Once you finally grasp it, it makes sense. For a summary, just remember this: When in camp, use the barometric setting; it will be very accurate when you do this. When on the trail, use the altitude setting. It's as simple as that.
--Some reviewers stated that the systems (any or all) aren't terribly accurate. WRONG. They are accurate. I've compared the barometer and altimeter to dedicated systems I have and they're very, very close. The compass matches a Brunton transit within a few degrees. Take the time to learn how to use them and they're very handy and very accurate.
--One reviewer stated that the battery life on the Casio's is far superior to the Suunto (even I did at the start of this review). That IS an accurate statement. What they left out though, is that the Suunto has an EASILY replaced battery that doesn't require the back of the watch to come off (Casio's DO require the back to be removed). So it's a toss up. I find on my Casio's that with regular backlight use, they get eaten up pretty quickly too. Realize, Casio only rates their batteries at ONE use of the backlight per day, and who only uses a backlight once a day? On their top rated G-Shock (which I also own) the battery life drops 2 YEARS when you use the backlight just twice a day. I'll take Suunto's approach any day; just use a dime to remove a separate cover for the battery and you're back in business.
--The Suunto has one thing no Casio has--it's stylish. Very European/high tech looking and built like a tank too. Make no mistake, I'll still wear my Casio if I'm diving, because I don't want to scratch the Suunto (kind of crazy isn't it? I'm not concerned about my Suunto dive gauges, lol).
So I'm giving the Suunto four stars; was considering three for the STEEP learning curve, but after I finally 'got it' I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. It is really a fun instrument to play with and truly does offer features in a unique package. Highly recommended, but don't buy it if you aren't willing to spend the time learning its nuances. One last note and one that helped me the most. I was frustrated with Suunto's labels of the buttons and finally adopted Casio's system that I kludged together. This watch has 4 buttons. De-program yourself from thinking of them in Suunto's terms. Use Casio's EXCELLENT system of calling the buttons A,B,C and D. Just make a little cheat sheat that corresponds to A,B,C and D. A is top left, B is top right, C is bottom left and D is bottom right. Once you convert Suunto's system to Casio's, it is SO much easier! Hope this helps someone!

All I can say is, out of the box, "WOW!" I first saw this watch on a friend who walked by and as it caught my eye, it was obvious that this watch was something quite different. Of course, according to Suunto, it isn't a watch after all. First and foremost, this is a wristop computer, that happens to have the feature of being able to tell time.

I was a bit intimidated by everything this watch can do, but thank heavens after my initial shock at how GOOD it looks, I got down to studying the manual -- and if you ever hope to get ANY practical use out of this device, you are going to HAVE to read it, maybe several times, in order to fully appreciate what it CAN do. Is it absolutely perfect in every way? Nope -- but can you find me a product that IS for the same amount of money that also looks this good? Hardly. The closest would probably be the Triple Sensor Casio Pathfinder -- which DOES come with one really nifty ability that Suunto has yet to incorporate into their wristop computers: solar power. Casio watches are also much cheaper, but if you are going for good quality PLUS good looks, you will do no better than Suunto's Observer. This watch is simply beautiful.

Taking a look at what it can do, it has a Barometer (which also gives you the current temperature -- but keep in mind for best reading, you need to take it off your wrist for about 15 minutes first), an altimeter which under proper circumstances is quite accurate. For those who say it doesn't work at all, keep in mind that it takes readings using the barometric pressure, and if you at first do not calibrate it, you simply will not get a correct reading. Also, keep in mind that as the air pressure can sometimes vary depending upon where you are and the weather conditions you are experiencing, the altimeter CAN vary -- even if you aren't moving at all. This isn't a defect with the watch, if you need to blame someone, have a chat with Mother Nature, because Suunto has no influence in that department. It also has the cool feature of incorporating a digtal compass, which works (when again properly calibrated) from virtually any position on the globe. This feature alone makes the buy worth it.

There have been a few reviewers who are displeased with the Observer's ability to generate an alarm that you can actually HEAR -- and this is one area which Suunto can really improve upon. It is so quiet to be almost non-existent under even fairly quiet conditions. It sounded to me a little like a Palm Pilot alarm going off underneath a pillow -- that was located in a room down the hall. YES, it IS a joke -- but I have other watches that can fill the alarm void, so I only considered this a MINOR problem. If you are interested in purchasing this particular Suunto model and you absolutely NEED a loud alarm, you might be better served with the Casio Pathfinder -- but if you are more concerned with the other incredible feats of electronic gadgetry that the Observer can do, this is DEFINITELY the model for you.

One other tiny note, the extra $$ for the Titanium model just isn't worth it. Because the wrist band is only PARTIALLY metal mixed with elastomer, the weight difference between the Titanium and the Steel version was almost non-existent. The Steel version is virtually identical and (I personally think) looks better than just the elastomer band -- but I realize this is a personal preference, so make sure you are able to compare the models side-by-side before making that purchase -- also keep in mind the elastomer version will be really snug for some guys who have rather large wrists.

All in all, the Observer really IS a stunning piece of electronic hardware that rivals many watches worn by James Bond. Now if only Suunto could fit a tiny laser inside the NEXT version they'd really have a best-seller...

Bought this watch after my beloved (plastic case) highgear axis finally bit the dust. I've only played with it for a couple of days, but here's my take:

Pros:

1. Really great looking.
The metal case is the perfect size (the other suunto watch-- the vector-- is way too big for me and looks ridiculous) This one looked "right" ad soon as I put it on.

2. Some nice features.
I especially like the compass bearing tracking (keeps you on your bearing by showing the differential). Sweet! it will probably take some time to just learn everything.

3. The band is easily adjusted to fit
No jeweler necessary. It also looks very nice. However, see the caveats below regarding the band...

Cons:

1. No altimter/ barometric graph.
My highgear had a nifty graph which showed the trend over the past couple of hours. No such luck here, only a 3 position arrow sign. It's possible to see the historical barometric pressure, but not graphically.

2. Weather station is crude compared to highgear.
Again, my highgear has neat weather forecasting icons (which were amazingly accurate!). No such luck with the suunto.

3. Don't make a mistake when trimming the band!
Adjusting to fit is quick and easy, but keep in mind you do it by CUTTING segments of the elastomer strap... don't cut too much because there is NO going back! Also, leave some space if you plan to gain weight...

4. Stainless???? Not really.
As mentioned, the band is elastomer with a couple of metal plates on the top. The back of the case is all plastic. Also disturbing is the advice in the manual "the buttons shall not be pressed if exposed to water in any circumstances" Geez!

5. White on black display
Neat looking, but I have to admit, much harder to read than the standard black on white.

With all my whining, you'd think I'd return it... but believe it or not, the looks outweigh the drawbacks (I know, I'm shallow.) Plus I do like the compass features. So overall, I'm sticking with it!

SUUNTO Observer

I have owned my Observer for four years now and wear it daily, whether at work or outdoors (hiking, climbing, etc). Basic features include time, date, stopwatch (with split time), altitude/barometer, and compass. There is also a logbook function, that records your ups and downs while hiking. As the star rating indicates, I do not recommend buying this, or any other SUUNTO product, and I explain why.

I bought the Observer because I wanted a tough built watch that could take some roughing up without sweating. The case is indeed impressive (mine is steel, there is also a considerably more expensive titanium one). But rarely do watches fail because their cases crush in, rather, it is the mechanism inside that is usually the first to go. A few months ago I dropped the watch from about one meter (three feet) to a hard tile floor - the screen went black, and there was no response whatsoever. I took it to SUUNTO and after a couple of weeks they informed me that the entire module had to be changed. You might think that a company that tries to pass for the Mercedes Benz of sports watches, would be somewhat embarrassed that their toughest model died on a one meter fall. Perhaps they would fix it for free? No. Perhaps they would sell you the module at a minimal cost? No. They charged a full 200 USD for it and, for a watch that now sells for about 320, this cannot possibly correspond to the actual cost. So SUUNTO tried its best to make a profit out of an unacceptable malfunction of its product.

Some more observations: the crystal in front is superbly hard, just a minor little scratch after four years of use. Mine has the plastic straps with the metal incrustations. Expected lifetime for these is two to three years, and SUUNTO will charge you anywhere from 50 to 100 USD to replace them! To make things worse, it is practically impossible to change the straps yourself - after trying it for half an hour without success, I watched a very skilled technician spend another twenty minutes, with all sorts of weirdly shaped tools, until he managed it - no rational explanation occurs to me for such maliciousness in design. The locking mechanism, on the other hand, is nicely thought out, and very secure. The alarm function is practically useless (hence not mentioned above) as the volume is ridiculously low (and you cannot adjust it). Even if you put the alarm at home to go off in one minute, chances are you will not be able to hear it when it does. The barometric capsule is very accurate, even after four years you can see your altitude increase meter after meter as you go up the stairs. Battery is supposed to be changed by the owner but again, a silly design makes that much harder than necessary: there is a sort of a coin slot in the back to rotate the battery cover, but after you do that, there is no way to pull the cover out (it does not come out easily because of the rubber seal). So you have to try with all sorts of sharp metal objects to pull it out, and this will scratch the rather soft back cover.

Overall, this is a deceptively tough looking watch - it is silly to come up with such a case when the internal mechanism cannot take a G or two. SUUNTO, as a company, has no sense of class whatsoever - their service is slow, overpriced, and irritating. If you need a tough sports watch try a lightweight model that will not reach ridiculous terminal speeds in a fall (while climbing, say). Make it also a non-SUUNTO product, until these geniouses learn how to deal decently with their customers.

I've used this watch for 5 years now and I like it very much. But the band, either Titanium or SS ( practically the same ) is definitely unacceptable. I've changed it 3 times and lost a watch to it. There are no full metal alternatives in the market.
Other annoyances :
+ Watch is not full SS or Titanium.
+ Alarm is inaudible

I bought the stainless steel version of the Observer. Things you should know:
1. It is hard to buy this watch significantly discounted and still get the USA warrantee -- Sunnto tries to keep sales at list price.
2. This watch is not shock resistant, despite what I had seen elsewhere on the Internet
3. The watch band seems to not open up much. If you have a small wrist but large hand, you may have trouble getting this watch on and off. However, more careful examination reveals that the watch band opens up in two places, which makes the watch band's double-button lock less secure.
4. The stainless band is phony -- it's really a rubber band with a several embedded metal "ornaments" on each side made to look like a metal band. The part of the band under my wrist has no such ornaments and is all black. The stainless model still probably looks better than the black band. But if the titanium uses the same gimic with metal ornaments, buy the stainless which would be a better value.
5. For some reason, the watch shows a funny R in the FR weekday display on Fridays -- live with it!
6. Because of the barometer, the watch has a thermometer function, although it might only be accurate with the watch off wrist.
7. There are calibration functions for the compass and, I think, barometer. I haven't had a chance to check to see how accurate these instruments really are.

The Casio barometer/altimeter watch is a better value than the Sunnto although it is nowhere near as elegant as the Observer. And a regular ol' G-Shock will trounce the Observer when it comes to durability and battery life.

I love this watch! I purchased it sometime back in 2002, and I've worn it almost every day since. It has been a fantastic watch. It looks great in casual wear, and it looks great dressed up. However, being an avid hiker and outdoorsman, I need reliability in the functions advertised with the watch. Overall, my expectations have been met.

The biggest complaint I have with the watch is the compass. It needs to be calibrated often. Further, any tilt of the watch can change the reading on the compass by as much as 10 degrees. Because there is no bubble on the display to make sure the watch is level, it's not reliable for accurate readings. I wouldn't use the compass for more than just a general sense of direction. Also, the compass is highly affected by metal nearby, including the buckle on your belt, or a metal frame pack you might be wearing. For me, the digital compass in this watch is nothing more than a toy, not an instrument.

The barometer, and as a result, the altimeter, have been a bit flaky at times as well. However, this has generally been the exception rather than the rule. I'll notice that my altitude will read substantially higher or lower than what it should be, and when changing profiles to the barometer, I'll see it's quite off from a standard mercury reading. Again though, this hasn't happened much. With the amount of hiking I do, I'm more interested in my rate of ascent and descent anyway, rather than the actual altitude, and it's been spot on in that regard.

The thermometer has been dead on accurate within a degree or two every time I've relied on it. For me, it's been the most outstanding feature of the watch. I've also used the logging capabilities, reading back past climbs and descents, including rates of change. This has been valuable as well. I haven't used the stopwatch much, and find it a bit awkward to use when I do.

I love the weight and size of the watch. I have a friend who owns a Suunto Vector, and the watch is HUGE! Also, it feels light and cheap (although I know better). For me, this watch isn't too big, it fits very well on the wrist, and it has a nice solid weight to it. Some might claim it's too heavy, but I like the feel. Also, it's gotten some great comments from various people, and always sparks a great conversation.

After almost 8 years of owning this watch, I finally sent it in for cleaning and light repairs. I'm confident that I will be wearing this watch for another 8 years. It's easily surpassed all my expectations, and for the $380 I spent on the watch, I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of it. When/if it keels over, I'll likely replace it with another Observer ST.

Other than the compass, and the occasional inaccurate barometer readings, I would recommend this watch to anyone who is looking for a good time piece with similar instrumentation. Now if only Suunto would put out an atomic Observer watch... :)

I recently recieved this watch as a Christmas gift. I am amazed at the amount of information this watch can gather. I can check my altitude, see if a storm is brewing, and time each lap of my mile jog. Everthing works great and is very accurate. After a glance through the instruction manuel I was able to use and set all the functions with ease. I love the feel of the band; it is a perfect fit for my wrist. I would reccomend the stainless steel for best look and price. This watch is truly fun to use and show off. It is the perfect watch.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE this watch ... but it is probably too complex for most people to be able to get full functionality out of. Also, some functions (like the thermometer) seem to be gimmicks - as they don't actually work unless you take the watch off for 15 minutes ... kinda defeating the purpose of a watch in the first place.

That being said, I really can't fault anything here apart from the instruction manual - which really does a poor job at making a complex timepiece easier to understand.

Great watch, does everything it says it will and more. Altimeter works great and compass needs to be calibrated before you really need to use it. But overall I would recommend it to anyone!