Altimeters

[Zé]

if you're really in tune with nature, you're body will be able to detect the pressure level and thus the altitude.

[Zé]

I had an altimeter and was using it 2 years ago when doing the Baldy race. It put me off like 400 ft (was 600 ft below summit but said 1000) and totally screwed up my timing and effort. The best is the combination of GPS + altimeter - while each can have significant error, they are different types of errors and the combination generally leads to pretty accurate results (GPS 60Csx has been awesome with accuracy).

I'm not sure if there is a watch that has both, though.

[SoCalJim]

A few years ago, I bought a High Gear altimeter and returned it after a couple of field excursions; it was wildly inaccurate. Don't know if they've improved since. I have a Suunto that I bought about a year ago and I'm very happy with it. I believe Suunto is pretty much the gold standard when it comes to wrist altimeters. Of course, all altimeters are essentially barometers and have to be periodically calibrated to known local elevations (e.g., as specified on topo maps).

[tinaballina]

thanks for the info. i think i am going to go with the sunnto vector-too bad i can't find a woman's version. it seems that a lot of companies are a few behind when it comes to womans gear, kind of frustrating actually.

[halhiker]

thanks for the info. i think i am going to go with the sunnto vector-too bad i can't find a woman's version. it seems that a lot of companies are a few behind when it comes to womans gear, kind of frustrating actually.

As someone who was in the industry for a decade, the reason for that is men buy 90% of the gear. And half the women who buy are getting it for their significant other.

[Perry]

just spend $5 and make one your self.

http://www.ehow.com/way_6467568_homemade-altimeter.html

Or carry a balloon and tape measure around. As you go higher, the balloon gets bigger. Go lower and it gets smaller. Just measure the diameter and you'll know if you went up or down...

[Andy]

Perry,
I use a similar technique (with my head), unfortunately mine tends to be a bit more invasive:

Slight headache = 8k'
Moderate headache = 9k'
Pounding Headache = 10k'
Delirious = 11k'
Nauseous = 12k'
Vomiting = Who cares, time to call it a day.

Of course there's a time variable that needs to be factored in (about one hour at altitude equals 1k' gain). That said, I'll spend the money on Diamox instead

[hawkbill666]

I know I am a forum newbie and sort of an occasional hiker but Altimeters are an area I have used extensively for 20 years.

Not sure if hikers use these (I do!) but the Altimaster II and III work well for me, and my Altimaster II has been running strong for 20 years.
I wear the Altimaster II
http://www.skydivestore.com/getitem.cgi ... Altimeters
with the pillow mount and thread it through my waist strap so it sits on my hip and then it faces up towards me. The Altimaster III
http://www.skydivestore.com/getitem.cgi ... Altimeters
is pretty nice in that in wraps around your wrist and then through 2 fingers so it sits securely on the back of your hand. But when I recently got back into hiking and bought hiking poles I didn’t like it as much and the finger thread rubbed against my hiking sticks.

Just my newbie 2 cents