Suunto Core Outdoor Sport Watch with Altimeter, Barometer and Compass

Product Information

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 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. This watch also has a built-in thermometer that can be useful in many situations. For an accurate measurement, it is advisable to remove the watch from your wrist at least 15 minutes before measuring the actual environmental temperature. You look up and see stars. But your Suunto Core sees an approaching squall. And it tells you with the Storm Alarm - one of several intelligent features that can help you make consistently good decisions. Building on the success of the venerable Suunto Vector, the Suunto Core keeps you informed with an accurate altimeter, barometer, digital thermometer, Weather Trend Indicator and digital compass. The 7-day weather memory uses the current sea-level pressure as a base mark and records the last 24 hours (in 30-minute intervals) to give a detailed run down of how the pressure is changing. Should pressure drop suddenly and dramatically, indicating bad weather, the Suunto Core also features a Storm Alarm to ensure you are alerted to the situation.

This Luminox Bear Grylls watch comes with functions including a countdown time zone, compass, walking speed calculator, and more. Driven by a RONDA 5021.D movement, this watch has a 50-month battery life and an impressive 200-metre depth rating, which far surpasses what the Suunto Core offers. This Garmin MARQ watch is also equipped with an array of smart functions. These include a heart monitoring app, a hydration detection function, wireless connectivity to Bluetooth and Wifi, and ClimbPro, an app that gives you instant data on the climbs and gradients that await you on your route. All of these can be viewed on the watch’s colourful digital dial, which showcases legible numerals in red and blue hues along with blunt white hands for the time display. Additional features include a countdown timer, a chronograph, four-language menu, alarm, alarm snooze feature and calendar. The watch comes with a rotating bezel. The watch's LED panel illuminates the dial to improve visibility during the night. Scratch-resistant mineral glass crystal adds to the resilience of the timepiece. 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

Features That Go Unused

In this case, the display will constantly indicate the path with directional arrows. Additional Features When you set your location, the watch provides information about remaining daylight time so that you can plan a trip. Once submerged under water, this timepiece can measure depth up to 10 metres.

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 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. From the time mode, the users can also access three further functions, namely a stopwatch, countdown timer, and alarm. Alti & Baro Mode 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.If you’re not used to wearing an outdoor watch, you’ll probably find that putting on the Suunto Core for the first time feels a bit weird. With a case size diameter of 1.93 inches (49.1mm), the Suunto is more or less the same size (give or take a few millimeters) of every other outdoor watch. For comparison, the Garmin Fenix 6 has a case size of 1.8 inches (47mm) while the Suunto 9 Baro has a case size of 2.03 inches (51.6mm). The Suunto Core is a very functional outdoor watch with plenty of great features. In reality, we use the vast majority of the features, with the exception of the compass. While the Core has a built-in digital compass, we have to say that this is our least used feature simply because we have little need for it. That said, there are some downsides to the Suunto Core, especially for those who frequently engage in water sports. If so, take a second look at the alternative timepieces we have listed above, all of which are top-tier outdoor watches in their own right. Each and every model certainly deserves a spot in your collection.

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 That being said, the Suunto Core’s barometer was incredibly accurate after two months of daily comparisons with a proper external barograph. Each day, the Core showed more or less the same pressure readings as the barograph, as well as the same pressure trends, so the problem lies in the elevation estimates, not the barometer itself. In the end, the Core has many of the same issues with accuracy as other barometer-based altimeters, but this is easily fixed with frequent calibration. If you thought that you couldn’t ask for more, this top SUUNTO Core Military watch proves you wrong.

Our Verdict

Lastly, the compass mode is a quite straightforward function that allows the use of the timepiece as a digital compass.

We also really liked that the Core is waterproof up to 30m and that the watch can tell you your depth up to this point while diving or snorkeling. The Core’s buttons are also waterproof, so if you’re swimming or showering and accidentally press a button, the watch will be just fine. The only other accuracy issue that we found with the Core has to do with the watch’s temperature readings. If you wear the watch on your wrist like most people, the Core’s temperature readings will generally be much higher than they should be since the temperature sensor is on the underside of the casing.

Display/Usability

Another useful feature is the possibility of changing the main language of the interface from English to German, French or Spanish and to change the measurement units from metric to customary. If you are looking for a more high-end outdoor watch, then this Garmin MARQ Captain Modern Tool Ref. 010-02006-07 is the right one for you. This timepiece is designed as a modern all-rounder tool for individuals with active lifestyles. It comes with an altimeter, barometer, a three-axis electronic compass, a functional GPS for easy navigation, and even a regatta function for those who enjoy yachting. This Garmin watch comes in a 46mm lightweight titanium case, with a handsome blue ceramic bezel and a matching blue textile strap. The Suunto Core collection consists of durable outdoor pieces equipped with a multitude of handy functions. Indeed, those searching for a powerfully-built timepiece that can meet all your needs will often find the Suunto Core being recommended to them. Without further ado, let us take an in-depth look at the Suunto Core, including its specifications, the features it offers, and some of the best Suunto Core models available today. Anatomy of the Suunto Core Buen reloj para alpinismo. El altímetro es muy preciso y marca metro a metro no como mi anterior suunto vector amarillo que marcaba cada cinco metros. La batería dura mucho (la mía ya dos años lleva puesta) los menús son súper fácil acceder a ellos, la función de hora dual es muy práctica cuando viajas a otro país. (Así sabes cuándo llamar por teléfono jeje) la brújula también va muy bien. En general se usa mucho más fácil e intuitivo que mi viejo vector. En lo que falla es que en el modelo de pantalla negra (el mío) los caracteres se ven poco en interiores pero en el exterior que es en definitiva para lo que se ha diseñado, se ven muy bien hasta por la noche. Además tiene una estética muy atractiva, cuando no estás en la montaña sigue valiendo como reloj de vestir.