I'm a cyclist, and after researching watches for a couple of weeks, the X6 seemed like the perfect product to track accumulated elevation gain and degree of slope.Unfortunately, the watch has some serious flaws that hinder its usefulness.First, elevation gain:this is the watch's strongest feature and, once you learn to use it, delivers results that are easy to read, if not wholly accurate.I've found that the X6 under-reports the accumulated elevation gain by about 15% to 20%.
Next, the clinometer:as implemented in the X6, this feature is useless.When on my bike, the X6 is mounted on a Polar handlebar mount, adjusted so that when the bike is upright on flat ground, the readout displays 0 degrees, as it should.However, when I start pedaling, the readout swings wildly from 0 to 35 to 20 to 50, all in just a few pedal strokes.I never have the faintest clue what the actual degree of slope is.To put it charitably, this feature is a joke -- or at least it would be if the watch weren't so expensive.
Finally, watch features:in general, I find the watch easy to use, although the buttons require quite a firm push.I recently took the watch on a cycling trip through France, and made good use of the dual time display.The downside, as I discovered, is that you can't attach a wake-up alarm to the secondary display.That means if you have U.S. time set as the primary display, and European time on the secondary one, the alarm only sees the U.S. time.That's quite a design flaw, in my estimation.Another design flaw is that the watch is virtually unreadable in low light conditions.I find myself constantly squinting at it in order to read the large digits.
The bottom line:after four months of fairly extensive use, I'm back to my $17 Timex.The Suunto stays in my bike bag, where it only sees the light of day on bike rides.A big disappointment.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Suunto X6 Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, Clinometer and PC-Interface
Product Description:
Suunto X6 is a perfect tool for any cross sports enthusiast such as a mountaineer, hiker or a cross-country skier. It offers a combination of three functional dimensions: it gives the user essential information instantly during the performance. A level of deeper understanding comes with the PC interface.
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