Suunto Vector Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Thermometer (Yellow)

I got a vector 3 years ago and was very pleased with it most of the time. The altimiter is not very useful because it is based off barometric pressure so your reading will vary wildly and you need to keep resetting it. The big flaw with this watch is that in 3 years the face has broken twice. The first time the bezel broke off. Luckly it was still under warranty and they replaced it. Now the faceplate has cracked and is letting moisture in. I don't use the watch for any crazy sports, it's just my everyday watch so the fact that it is broken astounds me. Sunnto have a minimum $85 repair charge, which could go up, so at this stage I'm bowing out with two watch failures in 3 years.

To my way of thinking, there are only TWO factors which keep the Vector from receiving a full 5-stars here. #1 is the watch face. It is not very durable. It isn't even glass. It's made out of VERY easily scratched plastic. I own several watches, and even the plain glass face models scratch at the drop of a hat, but this one takes it to a whole new level. I'd be worried to sneeze too close for fear it may implode.
#2 is the fact that despite the promises of being water resistent to 100 Meters (ie 300 feet) this watch isn't...FAR from it. You are in danger of ruining this watch if you even enter a bathroom while someone ELSE is taking a hot shower. The humidity alone may cause problems. Pretty sad when a watch advertised as at the very least capable in a pool cannot honestly pull off a basic shower in a bathtub.

Now, with that said, if you take care to avoid moisture whenever you can, the Vector is a fine wrist computer that works quite well in a variety of areas. It'll tell you the temperature (under the right circumstances, of course), help you predict the weather, give you a bearing on where you need to go and then (after proper adjusting) tell you your altitude. I found the altimeter to actually be rather accurate -- oh, and those reviews I have read on-and-off by folks bragging about telling the altitude INSIDE of a pressurized passenger plane are BOGUS.

Considering what this watch can do, and it's limitations, I believe that the price is a bit high (you can buy a Casio watch that'll do the same thing--and is solar-powered, AND is REALLY water-resistent, all for LESS) but the Vector has one thing that not all Suunto watches, or altimeter/barometer/compass watches come with: that little bubble on the face which allows a more accurate determination of specific readings. If Casio add's one to their model, I'll probably become a full-time convert. If you are looking for something similar, but smaller, try looking at the Suunto Observer. It's a dang-good-looking watch, but the price is considerably more, so that may be a rather important factor for you (I know it is for me).

All in all, Suunto makes great products, but water resistent models are unfortunately NOT one of them (unless you are going for one of their products that actually are designed for underwater use).

... and buy a GPS instead. I agree with previous reviewer (Dave57), I WOULD NEVER BUY A SUUNTO AGAIN. Worst than Dave, I simply got caught in heavy rain during a hike and my Vector was full of water, couldn't even tell the time. I send it to Suunto Finland for repair and they say that it leaked from the housing and "kindly" offered a repair for 140 Euros.

this watch is one of the coolest watches i have ever seen. i have read reviews and technical data about similer products like the casio pathfinder. the pathfinder primaraly has the same fetures as the vector. the difference is that the pathfinders altimeter can be off by 1400' or more in stable weather! the vectors altimeter never really gets off more then 200 feet. if you want one of the best watches avalable get the suunto vector

I had a Suunto for 10 months. The face scratched VERY easily which was disappointing. However the worst thing is after swimming in a pool that I could stand up in the watch FILLED with water and died. On returning to Suunto they refused to fix it under warrantee because swimming is not covered ! They say the forces created by swimming are to much for this watch and it was never designed for this purpose, despite the sales literature saying it is water proof to 100m. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUUNTO PRODUCT. Whatsmore the shop I bought it from say they have lots returned for the same reason and non of them were fixed under warranty either. It is also very difficult to use and you cannot hear the alarm at all.