Suunto’s GPS Wristwatch
Rob / 29.04.2004
The groundbreaking Suunto X9 is said to be the world’s first wrist worn GPS (though Garmin also have one now) and is combined with altimeter, barometer, electronic compass, timing and thermometer functions, all packed into a 76g casing! It will tell you where you are, help you follow a pre-planned route, (telling you distance left to go and at your current speed, how long it will take to get there), direct you back to pre-selected ‘home’ point, and even tell you when the sun is due to go down. You can also plug it into your computer and map out where you’ve been.
Keeping in mind how complex and confusing this range of functions could get, Suunto have based the X9 user menus on mobile phone technology they say anyone can use. They’ve made it water resistant like their other wristops and the batteries will last for a couple of weeks with the GPS running (2 months without) – but it comes with a charger for home or car. Software is included and the ‘Suunto Trek Manager’ allows you to record and analyse the data you’ve collected.
Not surprisingly this desirable piece of kit comes at a price – it will set you back £500, but does give you a complete navigational and safety backup on your wrist. The X9 (and other wrist worn GPS’s) may also lead to more debate about whether it’s a good thing or not to have GPS use in races.
Some races (especially in remote locations) insist on them for safety and unless the kit check includes a ‘watch inspection’ in future they may be unavoidable! There are also wrist radios and phones now, and with electronic timing ‘dibbers’ as well teams could be carrying a lot of technology on their wrists.
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