The ultimate tool for the cross-sports enthusiast who wants to plan his or her journey carefully, the Suunto X9i wrist-top GPS is compact (it's the world's smallest outdoor GPS), well-designed, and straightforward. The unit combines an advanced GPS system with a host of route functions, so you'll always know where you are and where to go next. The system is particularly useful when exploring unfamiliar terrain, such as during long hikes, camping excursions, or backroad cycling trips. Add in such features as an altimeter (ideal for climbers), barometer, digital compass, thermometer, and several training tools and you have a versatile, powerful device that's prepared for almost any outdoor scenario.
In addition to helping you plot routes, the X9i's GPS computer indicates the direction of an upcoming waypoint, calculates the remaining distance, and estimates the arrival time. Meanwhile, users who like to pace themselves while cycling or hiking will appreciate the "current speed" and "distance traveled" readings. And when you're ready to head home, simply activate the Find Home setting, which guides you back to the starting point or home position, or the Track Back function, which retraces a recorded route.
Safety always comes first when hiking in the wilderness, which is why the X9i comes with an altimeter to measure the altitude and vertical speed, a 3D digital compass, and a barometer that reads sea level pressure and absolute pressure. You can also program the alarm to sound you when you reach a specific altitude or warn you of upcoming storms. And should you find yourself stranded during inclement weather, the compass and altimeter will help guide you to safety.
The X9i excels as a training tool as well. The altimeter is great for climbers and hikers, while the stopwatch and advanced timing functions let you record lap and split times of runs and other activities. Users can then feed the recorded information into the specially designed Trek Manager PC software to analyze and plan their training (it even keeps a training diary). And those who want to gain a deeper understanding can create their own activity reports, complete with photos and text.
From a GPS perspective, Trek Manager helps users plan their routes on a digital map, print out customized maps, and download routes directly to the X9i. Other functions include the ability to edit and erase existing routes and create graphical altitude profiles so that route planning is fast, accurate, and simple.
Finally, all the features are built within a sporty black wrist-top housing that functions as a regular watch when you're not exercising. Additional features include a USB charger and PC connector (for charging via a PC), an easy-to-use menu-based interface, and water-resistance to 100 feet. The X9i weights 0.17 pounds and is backed by a two-year warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the Box
Suunto X9i, charger, PC interface cable, software CD, pocket guide, user's manual.
The world's smallest and lightest GPS, the Suunto X9i wristop computer also comes equipped with a compass, altimeter, barometer, and time. Navigate with your X9i using a pre-made route or simply mark home and find home to never get lost again! Features 12 channels, a loop antenna, and stores up to 50 routes/500 waypoints, and 8000 trackpoints. The X9i is now compatible with digital computer mapping software for your PC, such as National Geographic TOPO!, Fugawi, and Memory Maps. You can plan your routes on the software, or record your journeys on the X9i to later upload, analyze, and share with fellow adventurers.
