La Crosse Technology XG-55 Digital Altimeter/Compass Watch

works just fine, altimeter is quite sensitive and helpfulFor its price the watch seems like an amazing bargain compared to similar types -- and quite stylish in a rugged sort of way, tooI've got no problems with the plastic bezel -- wouldn't want metal

A very thorough review!!After 2 months of use, both in urban settings and backcountry trips in Colorado where I live, and frequently consultation with the included manual, I wish I could give this zero stars, and here is why:The only features that work properly on this watch are: Clock, Stopwatch, Timer, and Alarm.The following do NOT work properly:--Altimeter: needs to be recalibrated FREQUENTLY, and at anything below like 1,000 feet, mine simply reads "LO ft". Also, it's a pain to calibrate it to anything like 500ft and up (and I live near 6,000ft!) because it will ascend the first digit for 5 or so seconds, then start ascending by 10's for about 5 seconds, then start ascending by 100's, then 1,000s -- it's VERY easy to overshoot, what a pain!!!--Barometer: very inaccurate readings with the actual barometric pressure. Also, currently mine has read "HI" for the past 2 weeks, what the heck help does that give me in predicting if a storm is about the hit???--Outside temperature: I'm confident in assuming the watch is reading the temperature of the skin on my wrist. I've been on backcountry trips where it is in the low 30s and 40s and the outside temp, according to the watch, will be in the 70s, and I always think, yea...I wish!!--Compass: Needs to be recalibrated CONSTANTLY. There have been times where I've pointed the watch towards the sunrise or sunset, and it either is nowhere close to the right direction, or says "OFF CAL". Just think about this...Why in the heck would a compass ever need to be calibrated? I can understand the altimeter and barometer, but how can a company NOT set up the compass to consistently read magnetic north to keep the compass accurate? Also, to calibrate it you have to rotate, by hand, the watch face at least 2 full rotations, and the watch face is INCREDIBLY hard to turn (and it is way too difficult to do with cold hands, and fully impossible with gloves on).****If you're looking for a watch that tells time, has a stopwatch, timer, and alarm setting, then order away (although these are SWEET, I've owned two of them, and they each lasted me nearly 2 years, and they're cheaper and don't have an oversized, nerdy looking face like this LaCrosseXG55 http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T53151-Ironman-Traditional-30-Lap/dp/B000B4ZXV6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370954915&sr=8-1&keywords=timex+ironman+watch).****If you're buying this watch for the added altimeter, thermometer, barometer, and compass, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY LIKE I DID.(Again, I gave this watch 2 months before writing a review, and frequently used the manual to make sure it was not simply user error.)

Found this watch to have cool features and easy to setup. Easy to use.Only problem is the information it gives was not always right! Altitude was close but varied from 30' to 170' OFF. Barometer was never right and calibrated correctly. maybe works better staying outside. Commercial buildings are pressurized, could be the issue??? Temp was as instructed, must be removed from wrist for several minutes to get ambient temperature; that was accurate. Compass was jerky and hard to settle down, not fluid-like movement but accurate outside. Compass was also too sensitive, would not work near metal i.e. in the vehicle or aircraft, near other electronics. Oh and the watch keeps good time :{)I returned mine to upgrade to better quality and accuracy. If you're just looking for it to be close, this is a good watch for the price.

So why did I only give is 4 stars? The only reason I gave this item 4 stars is the fact that there is no altimeter button. I'll explain more later. First off, I didn't initially purchase this watch because others reviewed this watch as cheap. NOT TRUE. This watch has a great looking bezel, unfortunately the pics don't do it justice. Yes the band is palstic/rubber but so are other expensive watches. The clasp is metal so it all works together nicely.The features:Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Time.This watch is accurate very accurate. You must set it up correctly. I first set up the watch by changing the barometer to change the altimeter. Wrong answer. The barometer is set up from the factory. Leave it alone! Sea Level pressure is 29.92inHG and my local observatory said something different so I changed it and my altitude was all off. Hint, leave the factor settings alone in the barometer. Go to the Atimeter mode and choose sea level and adjust the inHG there. Voila the correct altimeter reading just like my plane. Here is the trick. Everytime we get into a plane we check the altimeter pressure and adjust for changes in the barometric pressure. We do that every time we fly. If not your reading will be wrong. Once you change that under the Altimeter setting you will again show the correct altitude. Exactly the type of control you want. The watch is very sensitive to changes and has 1ft of resolution (it could tell the difference in walking up the stairs with 3ft of accuracy. WOW!The only thing I don't like and the reason I kept a star for myself; no dedicated Altimeter button or no way to restart the sampling process other than pressing the mode button 4 times to toggle through the other functions. The altimeter is active with updates every second for 5 minutes and to conserve battery life after 5 minutes it updates once per minute. I would have liked a continuous real time update option or a way to restart the updates without toggling through all of the functions.Obviously the temp is affected by body heat but that too is adjustable, I have found that reducing the temp by 14 or 15 degrees will give you an accurate reading. Test to see what works for you.Compass is great but like any compass you must have it parallel to the earth for an accurate reading. It even includes a reverse bearing reading that will allow you to find yourself on a map. (given you know how)Bottom line, this is a great watch and is an extreme value at $50. Suggestions for those complaining. 1. Learn to use it (download the manual before buying) 2. Stop Wearing electronics with holes in the case in water no matter who says its water proof. Water and electronics don't mix. 3. A spinning bezel is not suppose to click. It's for accuracy purposes and so it can turn both directions. This is a precision piece you need to be more precise!I have had several brands and you can't beat this watch at this price point, don't even try.