recommendations for altimeter?

[Yosemite Sam]

Hello all - after a couple of mess ups on the LAMM this weekend I feel it's about time I invested in an Altimeter (I struggled with the 1:40thou scale map on the LAMM and relaying it to the ground...)
I was just wanting an altimeter - nothing fancy, no compass required etc... Does anyone have any budget recommendations? is there a small keyfob type altimeter I can clip onto a rucksac rather than a wrist watch? If there is something with <5m resolution?

I have a Garmin Forerunner 310XT but it doesn't offer real time altimeter readings (only on download afterwards) and also I don't think they're allowed in most MM's due to the GPS stuff...

would REALLY appreciate any advice/suggestions - thanks
Yos

[old un]

Hello all - after a couple of mess ups on the LAMM this weekend I feel it's about time I invested in an Altimeter (I struggled with the 1:40thou scale map on the LAMM and relaying it to the ground...)
I was just wanting an altimeter - nothing fancy, no compass required etc... Does anyone have any budget recommendations? is there a small keyfob type altimeter I can clip onto a rucksac rather than a wrist watch? If there is something with <5m resolution?

I have a Garmin Forerunner 310XT but it doesn't offer real time altimeter readings (only on download afterwards) and also I don't think they're allowed in most MM's due to the GPS stuff...

would REALLY appreciate any advice/suggestions - thanks
Yos

Hi ys I've got a sunto vector and that's good , I had the altimax before that and that was good too. I use a garmin 305 and that has an elevation field on it and testing against altimeter its been accurate the few times I've compared them so your 310 may well have it too ? . The map on lamm was a bit tough as it looked like an os 1:50 blown up to me wouldn't beat yourself up on that score but an altimeter is a real asset on them events. Hope this helps :-)

[Swoop]

I was just wanting an altimeter - nothing fancy, no compass required etc... Does anyone have any budget recommendations?

Depends how high you want to go!

[mapper]

I've used a Suunto Vector for about 4 years and it's just the job. Rather than operating from satellites it is a barometric altimeter ~ which is something they do allow in MM's. The battery lasts for a couple of years, unlike the garmin forerunners which need charging up after a few hours.
Here's a link http://www.google.co.uk/products/cat...d=0CLUBEPMCMAM

[drmorris]

I'm interested too. Do you have to spend a fortune on a Suunto to get a reliable altitude for OMM 1:40,000?

What about this Silva Ridge one - battery free -

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/adc_ridge...dBundle=143194

Would that be detailed enough for use in a MM? Already have a Garmin 305(which can give 'instant' GPS based altitude), but of course not allowed in the OMM, because of the GPS...

[IanDarkpeak]

I'm interested too. Do you have to spend a fortune on a Suunto to get a reliable altitude for OMM 1:40,000?

What about this Silva Ridge one - battery free -

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/adc_ridge...dBundle=143194

Would that be detailed enough for use in a MM? Already have a Garmin 305(which can give 'instant' GPS based altitude), but of course not allowed in the OMM, because of the GPS...

I use mine quite a bit (Suunto) and find it very accurate, but when racing in MM etc I don't use the height your at feature as some MM maps don't give heights on contours, I just use the difference. ie what ever height i'm at know the next cp is 4 contours below me so at 15m a contour i need the altimeter to read that much less. that way you also don't need to keep correcting it.

[drmorris]

Well, my local shop ( Campfour , v.happy to plug )are getting the Silva Ridge in for me, with their usual friendly smile and excellent pricing(£39.95, discount to be negotiated).
They spoke to Silva directly and apparently it is an end of line item and won't be made again. Presumably they're concentrating on the electronic 'Summit' versions which have anenometers etc built in.

Will trial it around the area, and on the Dark+White and Gritstone Tryal and report back

[Mitch]

I use a Casio watch with an altimeter and its fine and just under £50. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mens-C...item27c5ce988f No doubt the Suunto is better but if you don't want to spend that much my other half has had his Casio for years and its still going. Of course you need to check and reset when you set off and again when get to a point that you know the height (usually the top!) but thats to correct pressure changes in weather and expect thats the case with any barometer based ones- mine is rarely that much out unless the pressure (and therefore the weather!) changes dramatically. Its quite easy to use with reasonably think gloves on. Admit I use it more mountaineering than running but its really useful to fix where you ar on an ascent or decent, I have a GPS but enjoy navigating with map and compass makes it more interesting for me .......... down side is you can see how far you still have to climb

[Yosemite Sam]

Many thanks all - must be the power of the brand but I ended up buying a Suunto Core... a few Youtube tutoiral vids later and it looks like it will do the job well. Agree wrt change in altitude rather than actual height.. useful tip.
thanks all
Yos

[drmorris]

Re: the Silva as above, few first thoughts; I've had it out for a couple of runs in the flat East Cheshire countryside, and the Macc Forest/ Shutlingslow area.

1. Bigger than I expected; dial is 2" across, total diameter 2.5", length 4".
Sits very comfortably in L hand due to 'comma' shape and feel. Lightweight but robust. Decent clip-on lanyard.
Feels like a quality bit of kit. Smooth/ soft touch grey and black plastic.
Dial stiff enough to not need a separate lock, allows fine adjustment(calibration)
2. Range 0-5000m. Clearly more than I need. This is the only drawback for my main purpose(navigation in UK/ OMM etc) Graduations in 20m/ 5kPa. As the height graduations are in 20m, it is possible to be 'accurate' down to 10m(assuming good close vision!)
Known height set by rotating bezel, which moves outer height dial. Inner pressure dial static
3. responsive to changes, and needle rock-steady.
- in rural Swettenham, up and down over the Dane river, it is easy to pick out the +/-30m height difference
- from Macclesfield to Macc Forest, and up and over Shutlingslow(500m), easily corresponds with spot heights on OS 1:25,000 map and Garmin 305. Set in Macc at known height(90m). Of course does vary with conditions, and I suspect this will be the challenge - allowing for weather and/or using it to predict weather. I may even have a go up and down the stairs at work to see how much I can trust it!

As I've not had to use it in clag in unknown territory yet, I'll reserve full judgement. However, no disappointment so far, and as the good people at Campfour only charged £32, with their shop discount card scheme, I'm very happy.

wrt the OMM, if using Harveys-type 1:40,000 maps with 15m counter interval/ 75m index countours I'm optimistic it will be useful additional check for nav e.g. contouring, using it as a guide up or down to checkpoint from an attack point, or in addition to other features e.g. if following a handrail across contour lines