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No connection to the author/host, but I really like the videos on YouTube from “The Crawling Road” channel. Lots of great compass tutorials and gear reviews. I’ll try to link to one below about a compass overview…
My experience (Protrek 5114 with analogue hands, solar power and atomic clock sync) is that this is a really useful watch. I’d not perhaps want to use it as the primary nav tool but it’s very good as final backup when nothing else is available. I’ve pretty carefully checked it against precise instruments and its more accurate than I expected. For example:
– Watch, unsurprisingly, is totally accurate with sync. Perfectly aligned with GPS time and any timesignal. For certain timing work I do need this accuracy and I can rely on this without going to GPS units.
– Compass. From checking against multiple calibrated compasses, I think it’s good within 5 degrees 95%, usually 3 degrees or better. I’d perhaps not want to rely on it for long distance navigation in difficult terrain but have found it really useful for accurate orientation at sea or in the hills. I’d prefer to (and do) carry a decent protractor compass but I think I could get by at a pinch and have played with it at sea and its been good enough to locate navigation marks easily.
– Barometer / Altimeter. Accurately calibrated against a known elevation I’ve found it to be accurate as an altimeter to 10-20m elevation. I’ve tested it at up to nearly 12,000 feet on one occasion in mountains from a 4,000 foot calibration point. Of course, any barometric altimeter is utterly dependent on calibration and a stable atmospheric presure so must be used with due caution. Consequently, I think its more use as a barometer and for use in predicting / checking the weather. I still use a barometer regularly at sea – notwithstanding all the remote weather data we can now receive. Trend graph is very handy if you understand weather patterns.
– Temperaure, most useful in checking I still alive! Really only works when off the wrist. I believe this may, in part be there to help calibrate other functions particularly the barometer.
– Solar power. excellent.So, all in all, I find it a really usefull tool and one that, with judgement, can be relied on to a greater or lesser extent depending on the individual specific function.
So… To add another option to the list. I have a Suunto Core and an original Ambit. Love them both for different reasons.
But, if push came to shove in a terrible LONG TERM situation I’d sure want solar (which Suunto doesn’t offer). For anything less than a month, I’d take the Ambit all day long.
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B.Haven
#19Solar is definetly usefull.Those watches are very durable and rugged too..Protreks also look cool 🙂
I have the PRW1300
A great watch, but I will agree that the functions on it are extras on a watch, not foolproof tools… The compass seems to work fairly well, but I have found it to drift a bit and need recalibrating every so often, as does the altimeter – it bases altitude based on changes in pressure and temperature, so when the weather changes so will the base reading, as it will if you set the watch having not been wearing it, put it on your wrist and let your body heat it up some. Wear it for a while and zero it as you set out (make a note of your houses elevation, or check the start point of your walk on a map) and it will give a decently accurate reading for a day – not GPS accurate, but a handy reference to give you an idea how much altitude you have gained on a walk for example.
For a backup watch I would also be slightly wary of a solar powered model – great for being worn regularly or left sitting on the dresser, not so much if it is sealed away in a dark bag. If you are wanting a ‘survival’ tool I would also agree with the thought of getting a proper compass too.
Along a similarish line, for a backup I would probably have a look into the non-solar G Shocks – the G5600 and so on. They typically have a 5-10 year battery life, so can be left in the bottom of a back without worry, and you then also have the option of adding a wee watchband compass if you feel the need.
The other thought on compasses would be to learn how to get a rough direction from the sun using an analogue watch – not super accurate, and does rely on being able to see the sun, but a handy backup (and if you lack the analogue watch, knowing the time will let you draw one on paper or work it out mentally).I will admit that while I love the idea behind the ABC watches, I rarely wear mine nowadays – the functions are fun to play with, but ultimately any time I actually *need* a tool like a compass, I would much rather carry a dedicated one. The functions can be fun to play with, but ultimately I prefer the look of my analogue watches, so would rather wear those than the Protrek ‘just in case I want to play with the altimeter’…
I really like the range man. I am in the forest three days a week and a Silva compass is what I use even though I have a digital on my wrist and GPS in my bag. . I think of the watch as primary for time and backup on everything else.
Once fully charged, both my solar Casio’s stay charged for months while in a drawer. They’ll go into sleep mode and use very little power at that point. As for the compass, I’d rather have a not 100% accurate one then none at all. I mostly use my watch compass to get my bearings when I visit a city I don’t know all that well.
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