Suunto Vector

Suunto Vector is truly an instrument that you cannot leave home when planning any kind of outdoor activity. Hiking, climbing, off piste skiing all share one common feature in order to practise them safely, you need accurate, real-time information about the surroundings. And this is where Suunto Vector, a versatile device that it is, delivers.

We only Stock the Black body and white faced version, we feel this is the best for skydiving due to visibility. Others styles are available by order only.

Regardless whether you are climbing mountains, riding a muddy bike track, or skiing off piste, Suunto Vector will not let you down even in the toughest of the tough situations. It combines an altimeter, barometer, and an electronic compass with all the features of a sophisticated sports watch. The clear logic of the user interface makes Suunto Vector a real forerunner on the mountain and in the sky.

Its ergonomic design with a large display and convenient control buttons makes it easy to use even in the harshest and toughest conditions. It has an electro-luminescent backlight and a user-replaceable battery.

Suunto Vector keeps track of your activities and provides you with means to make rational decisions in situations where information on your surroundings plays a crucial role. The Suunto Vector and its barometric functions provide you with valuable information for forecasting weather changes. Information on the present sea level pressure helps you read and understand the barometric pressure at high altitudes. Knowing your altitude, ascent/descent rate, compass bearing, weather trends, and barometric pressure enables you to make safe and responsible decisions, particularly when moving in the mountains. The altimeter features a range up to 9 000 m/ 29 500 ft, which puts all 14 of the World's 8000+ meter summits within the avid climber's range.

Suunto Vector features an altitude difference measurement function for following vertical progress between stages. It has an automatic 24-hour memory that stores the altitude and ascent/descent rate for every hour. It also features an adjustable altitude alarm and different memory functions. With the logbook function you can record total and cumulative vertical ascents and descents, as well as the number of runs skied. Suunto Vector displays the current barometric pressure and temperature, which is valuable information for forecasting weather changes. Suunto Vector automatically records barometric data for the past four days: the first six hours in one-hour intervals and after that in six-hour intervals.

When the reference altitude is set correctly, the instrument also shows the present sea level pressure, which makes it easier to read and understand the barometric pressure at high altitudes. However, when on tour in the mountains, don´t forget that the detected barometric pressure changes when you are moving in the vertical direction. This makes tracing of weather changes more complicated.

The electronic compass of Suunto Vector guides you with cardinal or half-cardinal points and the North-South arrow. The compass can also be set to track a certain bearing, which helps following of a chosen direction in unknown terrain. The declination adjustment function allows the user to correct the difference between true North and magnetic North. In addition to the different outdoor-related functions, Suunto Vector also displays normal time. It has three daily alarms, a calendar programmed to the year 2089, and a stopwatch with split time measurement and a countdown timer. The time can be shown in 12 or 24-hour format.

I bought a Suunto Vector in the mountains of Nepal in 2000. I bought it because I was into Base jumping at the time and wanted an accurate Alti for use with Base jumping. It happened to be useful for Himilayan mountain trecking too which is the main design function. I have used it for years in skydiving applications and have found it to be an excellent tool. The Vector has plastic construction which can take a beating when given rough treatment such as trade work so if you live the rough lifestyle consider the X-Lander. I can thoroughly recommend this watch for Skydivers as you will never need to worry about forgetting your alti again. The Vertical Speed Indicator VSI is really handy too.

I have since just changed to the more durable and stylish X-Lander which is functionaly identical to the Vector.