Watches
Avocet (www.avocet.com) Vertech, Vertech II ($160): Avocet popularized the altimeter watch with the introduction of the Vertech about seven years ago. Despite high demand, they stopped making it several years ago, but recently began selling an updated version called the Vertech II. The significant changes include changing to five foot increments from 10 foot increments; dropping the necessity of climbing 30 feet before it adds to the accumulation; and a sleep mode. While the return of the Vertech II is great, it's unfortunate Avocet didn't make a few more changes. The watch still lacks a back light. It's an excellent product and includes an alarm, a stopwatch, thermometer, ability to accumulate climbing or descending. It has a good, simple manual. Setting the altitude requires one button push: a very nice feature.

I've owned Avocet products (saddles, tires, bike computers, and altimeter) for at least seven years and have been very happy with them. Despite rumors about Avocet's demise, they continue to make very good products and offer good service.

Summary: Overall a great watch, but needs a back light. Need to send to Avocet for battery replacement.

Sports Instruments (FreeStyle) (www.sportsinstruments.com) Alti ($160): Based upon reading the manual and playing with one model at a local REI, I can offer a few points. The watch has a nice set of features: a sleep mode when not in use to save the battery; reference altitudes to set the current altitude; cool on-screen help arrows and text to direct you to the next button; a stopwatch with memory; a back light; and two button presses to adjust the altitude. The manual was very good: lots of easy to understand and color-coded diagrams. The screen was a little small. It does not have a thermometer. SI highly recommends sending the watch to them for battery replacement, but the manual does indicate that someone familiar with watches could do it.

Sports Instruments as a company is new to me. The limited numbers of reviews available have been very positive. It is Lon Haldeman’s preferred HRM: which speaks highly for the company and the products.

Summary: This watch seems like the best combination of features.

Suunto (www.suuntousa.com) Advizor, Altimax, Vector, X-Lander ($160-$300): Suunto is known for making high quality altimeters and the quality shows through in their watches. Suunto meets all of the ISO 9000 international standards for quality control. They are generally large, stylish, durable, lightweight, and loaded with features: several ways to set the current altitude (by a known altitude or sea level pressure); thermometer; a compass including bearing tracking; multiple alarms; an altitude alarm; total ascent and descent; current and average rates of ascent and descent; a back light; a logbook with recorded information. Setting the current altitude is only three button presses away from the main time mode. A nice plus is that changing the battery can be done by a local jeweler (or even yourself).

With the myriad of features, the manual and screen suffer. Diagrams of the flow of features in the manual would have been extremely helpful, but the entire manual is text. It's all worded correctly, but difficult to get context or envision sequences. In certain modes the screen can have ten pieces of information concerning various alarms, modes, times, etc.

Summary: You can't go wrong with the quality, but be prepared to be overwhelmed by the number of features.

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Casio (www.casio.com): Casio has eight PathFinder models and one Forester with altimeters. The PathFinder models are very close in features, the big differences are looks. The Forester is a more serious looking watch. They are big, relatively heavy as watches go, and not the most stylish. They are generally reviewed as accurate and long lasting. Problems are inaccurate temperature and inadequate strap mounting hardware. Casio is a common brand so it's probably easier to get service. I was unable to get manuals for these watches so I'm not able to comment on their usefulness of the manual or how the watches themselves work.

Summary: While nothing is wrong with Casio models, I'd go for one of the others.

Ciclosport (www.ciclosport.de): Ciclosport has seven altimeter models: Alpin1 through Alpin5, HAC3, and HAC4 (also has bike functions) and two bike computers. The Ciclosport HAC4 includes HR monitor, altimeter, bike computer and watch, with an option to measure cadence. The device is completely wireless. Batteries may be changed at a watch-maker. A PC interface with software is available. Many of the German bicycle magazines have rated this device as the best available. The altimeter is made in Germany; the manual includes an English translation.

Summary: One ultra rider has used it for three years for cycling, running, skiing or mountain climbing and says it is very precise and versatile.

Thommen (http://www.revue-thommen.ch/): Thommen is known for making high quality watches and high quality hand-held altimeters. They have one watch model which has an altimeter. The watch is analog and more aimed at style than a rugged sport watch.

Summary: Not recommended for cycling.