SUUNTO Core can also be set on dual time mode, indicating, in this case, the corresponding time for a secondary locality from a different time zone. The Suunto Core is fitted with numerous excellent features that any outdoor watch should have. However, everyone has their own preferences and factors to consider when it comes to purchasing watches, and it might not suit the tastes of all. As such, we have curated some of the best alternatives models that are on par with the Suunto Core. 1. Casio Pro Trek Ref. PRG-330-1JF Photo from TWC The Core has an altitude log. While this doesn't seem like a big deal, once people get an altimeter watch this is one of their most-used features. For up to seven days the Core will log your total ascent, descent and number of runs. For skiers, it logs how many laps you take while for hikers and climbers on trails that go up and down it will tell you your true vertical height gained. The Vector has a 24-hour log and will also store up to 100 logs. The Pathfinder models can only hold up to 40 logs.

The Core is one of few altimeter watches you can take snorkeling or shallow diving. It is waterproof enough to take down to 100 feet, though it will only accurately tell you your depth to 30 feet. While certainly not a "must have" feature, the Core has sunrise/sunset times. You can access this by selecting your location (or the nearest one out of 400 options compared with the Pathfinder's 48). As a result you can know sunset/sunrise times and set alarms. Thermometer Another perhaps underrated feature of the core is the sunrise/sunset times, which are quite useful if you’re planning out a hiking day or camping trip. To use this feature, you just have to select a nearby location out of about 400 different options and then the Core will give you up-to-date sunrise/sunset times on the bottom of your display. On the sides of the case, you can also find five textured push buttons, which are used to navigate the functions of the Suunto Core. These push-buttons are small and not too long, so they will not dig uncomfortably into the skin of your wrist when you are wearing the Suunto Core. The Core has three alarms, which is the same as the Suunto Ambit2 and the Suunto Vector and less than both the Casio Pathfinder PAG240-1 and the Pathfinder PAG240T-7, which have five. Besides having less alarms, what we thought was the bigger deal was the Suunto alarms weren't very loud and we had to put the watch close to our head to make sure they woke us up. The Core has a stopwatch and a timer and during either of these functions, you can see the current time and whatever your stopwatch/timer is measuring. Altimeter and Barometer However, if you take the watch off and wait a few minutes, it will give you a fairly accurate reading. We didn’t actually find this to be a problem because we generally just get dressed each day based on the weather outside, not what temperature our watch is telling us.However, despite its average case size, the Suunto Core is pretty darn light, tipping the scales at just 2.26oz (64g). Other outdoor watches that contain significantly more metal will weigh upwards of 3.15oz (90g). This might not sound a lot, but when you think about how often you move your arm during the day, every gram counts. Suunto Core features the brand's ABC – altimeter, barometer and compass. It is excellent for outdoor adventurers and travellers because of the numerous useful and accurate survival functionalities.

Given the current penchant for smartphone GPS apps such as RunKeeper and Nike+ Running that record exactly where you've been on a run, the Suunto Core's habit of logging your altitude gains and losses - and displaying them on a graph - will likely appeal to most users. It works for seven days, which should cover a week's worth of skiing, walking or mountain ascents. In this case, the display will constantly indicate the path with directional arrows. Additional Features

More Options

Unlike both Pathfinder models and the Vector, the Core has the altimeter and barometer functions linked together. It measures elevation in three-foot or one-meter intervals compared with the Pathfinder 20 feet or 5 meters and the Vector's 10 feet or 3 meters. The altimeter/barometer feature is sweet. It calculates long-term pressure trends to give you a more accurate reading. For example, when you are ascending it gains with you as the barometric pressure changes at a rate far faster than the barometric pressure changes with the weather. Once you stop gaining elevation for a while (i.e. sleeping) it realizes that and sees any barometer pressure changes as what they are and not elevation gain. This is a pretty cool and fairly effective feature; it works sometimes but not always in our real world tests. It had the second most accurate altimeter only every so slightly behind the much more expensive Ambit2.

The display is the Core's one weakness. In high intensity light conditions (on a glacier for example), and/or with dark glasses, the screen was more difficult to read than other models we tested. Readability aside, we like the overall layout of the menu icons on the Core, with its large screen and big and easy-to-read numbers.

Accuracy

The Suunto Core is a fully-featured altimeter watch that warrants a full, in-depth review. Here’s what we found when we tested it out over three years: Case Size, Shape, and Fit Altimeter watches are notoriously inaccurate unless they’re calibrated frequently. However, we found that the Core only really had accuracy issues when it was used in altimeter mode as opposed to barometer mode. This watch comes standard with a silicone wrist band which is comfortable against the skin, even when wet. We rarely found any problems while wearing this watch, but occasionally the slight bulkiness of the wristband interfered with typing if we spend a lot of time on the computer. Overall, though, the Suunto Core is average size, lightweight, and comfortable enough for all-day use.

Our personal favorite feature of the Suunto Core is the easy-to-read pressure trends graph that’s located on the upper lefthand corner of the display. This feature makes it easy to see what the weather is doing and can help you better understand if a storm is on its way. Suunto Core gathers a range of accurate data and information you need when exploring the wilder parts of the world. The Suunto Core has a classic watch shape with circular housing. Depending on how loosely you wear the watch, it can slightly inhibit the movement of your wrist, especially if you flex your hand upward. However, after a day of wearing the watch, we barely noticed it was there, and this sort of issue is common when you first start to wear a larger outdoor watch. Similar to its competition, the Core has a compass with adjustable declination. You can set it to help you record and follow compass bearings. In all the models we tested, if you are doing more serious off-trail travel we wouldn't bring this as your only compass, but it's fine for people who just need it for a general point of reference. Other cool features Hodinky Core ukazují hloubku (do 10m) a čas strávený pod vodou. Bezpečí před nechtěným stiskem jistí zámek tlačítek. Hodinky Suunto Core nejsou potápěčské hodinky, jsou vhodné například pro šnorchování a pro plavání.

SUUNTO CORE – THE OUTDOOR WATCH

But, with so many different outdoor watches out there on the market today, it can be difficult to know if the Suunto Core is really the watch for you. To help you out, we’ve put together this in-depth review of the Suunto Core based on over 3 years of experience using this watch in pretty much any condition you can imagine and on nearly every continent on Earth. In the end, you can decide if it’s the right watch for your needs. First Impressions Besides the time, altimeter/barometer, and digital compass, users can set the Core to display the temperature, the date/day of the week, or the sunrise/sunset time. If you choose to set the altimeter to barometer mode, the Core will even show the pressure trend on the upper lefthand corner of the watch, which is awesome for getting a sense of what the weather is doing around you.