The display is in reverse format, this means the background is in black, and the alpha numeric characters are in silver and white. Adjusting the contrast in the Suunto hidden menu will help, in reality, still not as crystal clear as the normal black letter on white-colored background. No negligence of Suunto, but simply just how the look is.
The buttons are responsive and easy to press. To navigate through the menus, the “Mode” button and also the “View” button have to be pushed in different combination to get what you want. It would appear confusing initially, but when you understand the logical layout, it is pretty easy to remember. Give yourself a week to get used to it.
Positive: Extremely precise ABC. I compare their readings using the actual ABC instruments. The precision is amazing and is better than the Casio Pathfinder in the dirt! The storm alarms reacts to the air pressure change properly too. The electronic compass rocks !. Once you set the course, the bearing indicator would show an arrow and directional text (left and right), to direct you to the accurate course, which is a great feature. User installable batteries which is fantastic to save a lot of cash as time goes on.
Issues: The directional rotation ring is hard to move. If you have finger nails, you’ll want to use them, if you bite your finger nails, best of luck. The alarm is gentle and difficult to notice sometimes. Exactly the same problem as the Pathfinder. I wish they can make it louder. The wrist strap looks and feels cheap. The illuminator is a bit dim too.
Ideas: This watch has gained lots of bad reps because of bad quality control in its supplier plant in China. It has been tons of complaints and reported problem. After a little bit of research, it seems that Suunto has finally fixed the hardware and software bugs. When you purchase this watch, make sure the serial number starts from “918xxxxxx” onward. Mine is “944″ and so far it’s great. You need to email the seller, to make sure they give you the new version as noted above, in that case your brand new watch will not spend most of its life going back and forth in the shipping trucks.
Joshua Lidenberg appreciates fine wristop computers for quite a few years now. Everyone who loves to spend time in the mother nature needs a good outdoor instrument like Suunto Core and especially the prime of the line Suunto Core Orange Black