In addition to helping you plot routes, the X9i's GPS computer indicates the direction of an upcoming waypoint, calculates the remaining distance, and estimates the arrival time. Meanwhile, users who like to pace themselves while cycling or hiking will appreciate the "current speed" and "distance traveled" readings. And when you're ready to head home, simply activate the Find Home setting, which guides you back to the starting point or home position, or the Track Back function, which retraces a recorded route.

Safety always comes first when hiking in the wilderness, which is why the X9i comes with an altimeter to measure the altitude and vertical speed, a 3D digital compass, and a barometer that reads sea level pressure and absolute pressure. You can also program the alarm to sound you when you reach a specific altitude or warn you of upcoming storms. And should you find yourself stranded during inclement weather, the compass and altimeter will help guide you to safety.

The X9i excels as a training tool as well. The altimeter is great for climbers and hikers, while the stopwatch and advanced timing functions let you record lap and split times of runs and other activities. Users can then feed the recorded information into the specially designed Trek Manager PC software to analyze and plan their training (it even keeps a training diary). And those who want to gain a deeper understanding can create their own activity reports, complete with photos and text.

From a GPS perspective, Trek Manager helps users plan their routes on a digital map, print out customized maps, and download routes directly to the X9i. Other functions include the ability to edit and erase existing routes and create graphical altitude profiles so that route planning is fast, accurate, and simple.

Finally, all the features are built within a sporty black wrist-top housing that functions as a regular watch when you're not exercising. Additional features include a USB charger and PC connector (for charging via a PC), an easy-to-use menu-based interface, and water-resistance to 100 feet. The X9i weights 0.17 pounds and is backed by a two-year warranty on parts and labor.

What's in the Box
Suunto X9i, charger, PC interface cable, software CD, pocket guide, user's manual.