The Advizor also doubles as a digital personal trainer, with a heart rate monitor via its included chest strap. We clipped the strap on under a shirt (it will also work through the shirt, but you'll need to get the shirt quite wet), moistened the electrodes, and the Advizor automatically picked up our heartbeat. With the plastic bar on the front, the strap wasn't exactly comfortable, but we were able to forget about it after getting into our workout.

The simple-to-use monitor worked well for setting a target heart rate zone and alerted us by beeping an alarm when we went over or under the range. The heart rate monitor also stores information from past workouts, which let us keep track of average heart rate, maximum and minimum rates, and time spent in and out of the target heart rate zone.

Like other Suunto watches, the Advizor offers a barometer mode that keeps track of air pressure and trends (which let you forecast changes in the weather) as well as temperature. However, as the watch's reading is affected by body heat, using the temperature gauge while working out can be problematic.

It also features a compass, useful for cross-country hiking and running, as well as an altimeter--accurate to within 10 feet. We did have to reset the altimeter rather frequently as it measures altitude using the barometer, so changes in air pressure can affect the altitude reading.

Its outer plastic bezel proves handy in different modes for showing barometric changes or changes in altitude denoted by a segmented digital circle that lights up around the perimeter of the watch.

And hey, get this, it tells time too. The watch functions of the Advizor include three alarms, a stopwatch, and a countdown timer. A bright backlight illuminates the watch face in dark environments, and it's also waterproof to 100 feet. (Note, however, that it's not a diving watch, so you can't use the buttons to manipulate the modes while underwater.)

The Advizor is more expensive than other Suunto watches and other heart-rate monitors. But if you need all these tools packed into one device and are willing to pay for the consolidation, the Advizor definitely does a nice impersonation of a digital Swiss Army knife. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Accurate heart rate monitor
• Ruggedly designed--great for the outdoors
• Easy to switch between modes

Cons:

• Large size can be unwieldy on wrist

The Advizor looks like a high-end wristwatch, with an ABS plastic body and elastic wristband. The body is gray, with an oversized backlit LCD screen. It is made tough, built to be waterproof even submerged at 100 feet. The watch displays day, time, and date with three programmable alarms and has a stopwatch and countdown timer.

The Advizor's altimeter allows you to view the current altitude with a range up to 29,500 feet and a resolution of 10 feet. Also view your ascent/descent rate in feet per minute. (All measurements are also available in metric units.) The barometer allows you to measure the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, absolute pressure, and a difference measurement to follow changes in barometric pressure and temperature. The automatic four-day memory keeps track of atmospheric pressure information. Another feature is the adjustable sea-level pressure function.

The compass shows directional bearing in degrees and cardinal or half-cardinal point. There is a north-douth arrow and a bearing tracking function that displays locked bearing, actual bearing, and the difference between these declination adjustments. The compass's bubble level indicates a level position to ensure reading accuracy within 2 to 3 degrees.

The Advizor comes with a user-replaceable battery, which lasts up to 18 months, and a low-battery indicator. It is covered by a one-year warranty.

Product Description
Suunto Advisor Wristop Computer, Dark Gray
Your trustworthy outdoors companion! Suunto Advizor with features suitable for weekend day-trippers, as well as, diehard outdoor fanatics is an ideal tool for all outdoor enthusiasts.
Short Description:
Suunto Advizor with its unique combination of features has been designed to accompany you in the mostdemanding outdoors conditions. The altimeter, barometer, and electronic compass equip you with information necessary to make responsible decisions enabling safe movement in the great outdoors.
In addition to its superb features for moving in the field, the Suunto Advizor functions as a personal trainer for even the most demanding athletes and health and sport devotees. The heart rate monitor can be utilized in target zone training by setting the upper and lower limits for your heart rate, andnotifying you when these preset limits are exceeded, with audio and visual alarms.
Features:
* Altimeter: Altitude up to 9,000 m/ 29,500 ft, vertical speed, altitude alarm, logbbook, memory capacity for different recording intervals
* Barometer: Sea level pressure, absolute pressure, weather trend graph, temperature
* Compass: Cardinal bearing, North-South arrow, bearing tracking, declination setting
* Chronograph: Interval timer, stopwatch, countdown timer, calendar, dual time, three daily alarms
* Heart rate monitor: Heart rate limits, different recording intervals
* Full access to SuuntoSports.com
Specifications:
* Altimeter
Altitude alarm; Difference measurement; History memory;
Logbook function; Quick access to logbook; Vertical speed;
Temperature compensation; Altitude range -500m - 9000m/-1600ft - 29500ft
Automatic 24-hour memory; Recording intervals 20s, 60s, 10min, 60min
Resolution 5 m;
* Chronograph
Max number of split times in memory 30; Countdown timer;
Interval trainer; Scrolling of lap times; Stopwatch
* Compass
Bearing in degrees; Level for highe

As for other elements, I use the heart rate monitor for my runs. That is the most use that I get out of my watch. But it is very very complicated, in that I have yet to learn how to opbtain the highest pulse, as well as the average pulse per workout.. The altimeter and barometer functions are useless to me, as the terrain in my area is so diverse, that terrain association alone can locate me within 50m of my location.

So for you soldiers out there, Suunto analog wrist compass (do not recall the actual name) that is available in AAFES clothing store is your best bet for compass. This watch is useful only if you are out to get a heart rate monitor, but wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for a "last minute back up compass" that also shows time and air pressure. Oh, it is water resistant only to 30 meters.. So you NAVY SEALs and SF Scuba dudes, stick to your G-Shocks.

Krusader, Out.


Great watch with slight durability problems   March 15, 2002
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

I have owned this watch for about a year and a half, and it has been great. I liked the heart rate monitor for cross country running (although I didn't "use" it exactly - I tried it out and though it was cool, but didn't go so far as to incorporate it into training.) The altimeter is great - I like to use it as a reference for orienting myself on a map (if you're lost on a trail, find your altitude, match it up with that altitude on the trail, you have a rough idea of location). My only complaint is that after awhile the bazelle on the compass wears and breaks off. I have met other people who experienced the same problem. Suunto has a 1 year warranty, so be sure that yours breaks by then so that you can send it in to be replaced. Overall a great watch. My dad gave it to me as a present so I can't complain about the price (which is very steep).


Suunto Advisor   August 4, 2006
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

2nd Suunto. 1st was a Vector bought in 2000 that I abused pretty good before having to get another (water seal was damaged and it took on water during a kayaking trip). Doubt I'll ever use the heart monitor in the mountains but it is excellent for training. Highly recommended.


Don't lose your receipt   April 28, 2006
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I've had my Suunto Advizor for 16 months. I am now in Iraq and the bezel is broken-off, like the other reviewer. I dont have my receipt. You can go to the Suunto website, but one thing you won't find there is an address with a note that says:

"send your broken expensive plastic watch here and we will fix it."

My G-shock, by comparison,lasted longer than I wanted it to and cost one-quarter of what the Suunto cost.

So I give the Suunto one star, for being adventure-cool for a while. A lot of other Infantrymen own these, so I jumped on the bandwagon. I wish I had stuck with a regular watch and a GPS (with lensatic compass backup).