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64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
You Get What You Pay For, March 22, 2007
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.
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