Product Description

Highgear Alterra Altimeter. Keeps tabs on altitude, temperature, barometric pressure and MUCH MORE! Skiing, snowboarding, hiking or mountain biking... the Alterra is a peak performer for your "rocky mountain high" adventures! It's so much more than just an altimeter... because it keeps you alert to changes in your complete environment... here's how: Altimeter function: Digital altimeter with working range of -2,305 ft. to 30,045 ft.; Rate of ascent and descent; Altitude alarm; 15 altitude log book memories with log date, average ascent and descent, total ascent and descent, number of laps and total time; 3 altimeter presets; Barometer function: Sea level pressure and absolute pressure display; 1 mbar resolution; Working range: 300bbar to 1100 mbar; Weather forecast; 24 hour graphic pressure-trend display; Thermometer: User option for fahrenheit or celsius; Working range from 14 degrees F to 140 degrees F; Regular Chrono: Resolution 1 / 100 second (24 hour max time range); Max 50 laps / 20 runs; Lap timer, split timer, best and average lap times; Ski Chrono: Input current altitude and base altitude, chrono auto stops when base altitude is reached; Calculates rate of descent; Even more cool features: Digital compass to keep you pointed in the right direction; EL backlight system; Mineral glass lens; Water resistance up to 165 ft.; Consumer replaceable battery. Order Now! Highgear Alterra Altiware Altimeter

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1812 in Sports & Outdoors
• Size: 000
• Color: Graphite
• Brand: High Gear
• Model: 20073
• Released on: 2006-07-01
• Dimensions: .50 pounds

Features

• Altimeter watch . Great for many outdoor activities
• Altimeter
• Barometer
• Compass
• 2 year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Quality issues and no warranty
Bought in Feb of 2008 from an online retailer in the US. Used three times and the last digit on the display disappeared. Watch band separated. High Gear will not warranty the watch for the digit as it was not purchased from a dealer they say is authorized. The dealer I bought if from say it has a full warranty. My loss.

Pros:

Cost is good for features -initially. If it lasted would have been a good product. Lots of features and not very large.

Cons:

Short life

Warranty is worthless if not purchased from the proper vendor. They must be authorized. See the warranty wording on their website- http://www.highgear.com/warranties.cfm?CFID=368410&CFTOKEN=35021292

There is a list at: http://www.highgear.com/dealers.cfm?passedzip=98109&submit=GO

Watch band which is part of the watch is poorly constructed-delaminates.

It was hard for me to reset the various altimeters functions. I don't feel the instructions are very clear. Does a nice job of accumulating, but how do you reset them. Push enough buttons and it happens sometimes. This is my own issue but it could be easier.

I believe the watch band and the watch head itself is very suspect as to its useful life. I would avoid unless you get a warranty and can take the time to send in for repairs.

So I should not have bought from a certain dealer. Now I know you need to go to one of the authorized dealers. After all, my experience shows you are going to need the warranty for this item. The question is really does this company stand behind the product of the dealer? Basically they are saying, our watch failed but because you did not buy from a certain party we are not interested in our product failure.

Watch band which is part of the watch is poorly constructed-delaminates.

It was hard for me to reset the various altimeters functions. I don't feel the instructions are very clear. Does a nice job of accumulating, but how do you reset them. Push enough buttons and it happens sometimes. This is my own issue but it could be easier.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Trouble prone item with little manufacturer support. The company seems to be trying to find a way to avoid standing behind their product. I purchased a watch in a factory box sealed. It fails after 20 miles of hiking. The issue has nothing to do with the middleman but the product. Basic quality of the product is in question. I don't see Amazon listed as an authorized dealer. OW!

A great tool for alpine sports......but not perfect
I picked this watch up for half price and it seemes like a fun gadget to use for my skiing and mountain bike ventures. It took a little while to get the watch's functions figured out and dialed in, but once the functions are mastered its a very useful too.

Pros:
-east to read face, simple to operate considering how many uses it has.
-great for predicting snow, rain, thanks to the alitmeter, barometer.
-ski chrono is great for backcountry ski trips.
-very accurate compass in invaluable.
-will actually store data.

Cons:
-Needs to be recalibrated daily in order for all functions to work.
-Thermometer only works off your wrist. When on your wrist it reflects your body temp as well as air temp so it will read 15% or so higher.

I wouldn't pay $180 for this but considering I picked it up for half that, its a fun tool to use in the backcountry and can even get you back to your car if you're lost and being able to see bad weather coming could save you a$$ too.

Highgear alterra
So far i am happy with the watch. Coming into buying a watch like this, one should know that without calibrating your altimeter frequently, it wont get accurate measurements. Also GO THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER!!!!!!!!!!! Highgears website specifically states that it will not warrant refunds or returns unless the customer goes through an authorized dealer.

onto the watch.
Pros: great functions, accurate altimeter if calibrated often, good compass, quite customizable. Not huge! still big, but not huge

cons: temp always reads too high because of body heat, weird weather predictions, quiet alarm (sometimes i dont hear it in my sleep) i didnt like the band it came with so i took it off, no timer! i really wish the watch had a countdown timer.


This watch seems like it will last for quite a while for me. im happy with all of the features. I really like the logbook for the chronograph and ski chrono. i also enjoy the altitude alarm and the altitude graph so you can track your elevation. If you want an accurate reading on temp, just take it off for 15 to 20 minutes. Its more affordable than suuntos with most of the same abilities. Overall ill give it 4 stars because its not perfect, but it still is very good!