Suunto Core Alu

Reliable old school 'ABC' watch with understated good looks

I was wearing my 18 year old Suunto Vector when I purchased the Core Deep Black which has similar functions to the Vector. I was for some time considering a smart watch with GPS function but decided against because of limited battery reliability in extreme cold and high altitude conditions. The Deep Black looks exactly what the name is, a jet black case and face with a matte black silicone strap. It is a handsome and rugged sports watch in an understated way that it can be worn with more fo...rmal clothes. The Core is much more comfortable to wear than the Vector, and for that matter many other watches. It is lightweight with a double hinged attachment of the strap to the aluminum case. The silicone strap is soft with a slight stretchy feel and is well ventilated for hot climates. The buttons are well separated and large enough to operate with ski gloves. The main display in the middle of the watch face is large and remains legible in well below freezing conditions. However the other 2 displays at the top and bottom are too small, especially the baromatic arrows at the top which are almost impossible to see. The descent log, which I use a lot for skiing, is displayed in small font at the bottom, The Vector's display for this is much easier to read. I initially experienced an unresponsive mode button and noticed a low battery warning on the watch at the same time. The problem was resolved by replacing the faulty battery and the watch has been working fine since. Going by my Vector's longevity, am confident that the metal and mineral glass cased Core will also be similarly reliable for hopefully another 2 decades, unaffected by software and OS obsolescence.

Advanced yet easy to use, also stylish appearance

The watch is very comfortable to wear. Also while it has some advanced features, it provides on-screen prompts for doing things. This is important as I don't have to remember weird sequences of buttons to do stuff. The menu layouts are very logically designed. Also the compass works which is important when lost. The watch also looks very stylish and modern so it not just a backpacker's watch. The numbers are nicely laid out and easy to read. There are several modes of displaying each of it...'s 3 main functions which are accessed by pressing the "MODE" button. Very happy with it. My previous major watch (non-Suunto) I returned as I'm a bit picky.