Reader Reviews
This was purchased as a gift for a good friend. We both prefer fairly sizable timepieces, so its size had no bearing on our selection. This was intended, by me, as more of a high end "gimmick gift", rather than to be used to scale Mount Everest. However, we have found numerous and legitimate uses for this type of product. I own a Suunto "Observer", priced about $100 more, and can find no overt differences between the two. As a matter of fact, the edge may go to Casio because of the solar power. Both require that you remove them from your wrist for 10 minutes to get an accurate outdoor temperature reading. This seemed to be one of the common complaints about this device. That same very phenomenon is also clearly stated in a Suunto manual, Suunto considered to be much higher end and definitely more expensive. The Suunto and Casio manual also clearly states that the device is not to be used for flying, parachuting, or other potentially life-threatening situations that require extreme precision. We have found that both the Casio and Suunto are quite impressive, and in an emergency could possibly, repeat possibly, be used for the above activities (flying, would require an unpressurized cabin). It will certainly be an asset for the day hiker. I have seen a Suunto model on the wrist of a climber who had climbed Mount Everest (magazine picture). Is it worth the price? I think that all depends on what you want it for. We use these instruments for outdoor photography. Having an extremely accurate compass on your wrist really helps when estimating the position of the sun, the time, and other ancillary functions complete the package. I have found my Suunto, and my friend his Casio (this model), to be well worth the investment.

Casio Mens Pathfinder Altimeter Barometer Digital Compass Solar Digital Watch #PAG80T-7V Features Quartz movement Protective Mineral crystal protects watch from scratches Case diameter: 50 mm Titanium case; Grey dial Water-resistant to 330 feet 100 M Product Description Perfect for rugged adventurers and weekend warriors, the solar-powered Casio Pathfinder men's titanium sport watch is loaded with a digital compass and altimeter/barometer/thermometer--perfect for both mountain trekking and cave spelunking. The durable round watch case (measuring 52mm/2.04 inches wide) and bracelet are made of titanium, which is nearly 50 percent lighter than steel, but 30 percent stronger. It's also particularly resistant to salt water corrosion, as well as hypo-allergenic--perfect for those with metal allergies. The altimeter offers 5-meter measurements from -700 to 10,000 meters, and it can store altitude, month, date and time data, provide tendency and differential graphs, track cumulative ascent/descent, and sound an alarm when you reach a specified altitude. The watch also has a digital compass with 16 points of measurement displayed on the dial face. Other environmental and timekeeping features include: Barometer with atmospheric pressure tendency/differential graphics Thermometer World Time: 29 times zones (30 cities), city code display, daylight saving on/off 5 daily alarms 1/100 second stopwatch with 10-hour capacity and elapsed/split time modes and 1st-2nd place times Countdown timer with 60-minute range Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099) This watch also features a ±15-second accuracy per month, Afterglow backlighting, and water resistance to 100 meters (330 feet)--offering protection from accidental splashes as well suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and light recreational diving. This solar-powered watch has a battery life of up to 6 months on a full charge (without further exposure to light). Development of the Timepiece Business With the launch of its first watch in November 1974, Casio entered the wristwatch market at a time when the watch industry had just discovered digital technology. As a company with cutting-edge electronic technology developed for pocket calculators, Casio entered this field confident that it could develop timepieces that would lead the market. In developing its own wristwatches Casio began with the basic question, "What is a wristwatch?" Rather than simply making a digital version of the conventional mechanical watch, we thought that the ideal wristwatch should be something that shows all facets of time in a consistent way. Based on this, Casio was able to create a watch that displayed the precise time including the second, minute, hour, day, and month not to mention a.m. or p.m., and the day of the week. It was the first watch in the world with a digital automatic calendar function that eliminated the need to reset the calendar due the variation in month length. Rather than using a conventional watch face and hands, a digital liquid crystal display was adopted to better show all the information. This culminated in the 1974 launch of the CASIOTRON, the worlds first digital watch with automatic calendar. The CASIOTRON won acclaim as a groundbreaking product that represented a complete departure from the conventional wristwatch. Casio transformed the concept of the watch from a mere timepiece to an information device for the wrist and undertook product planning based on this innovative idea. We developed not only time functions such as global time zone watches, but also other radical new functions using Casios own digital technology, including calculator and dictionary functions, as well as a phonebook feature based on memory technology, and even a thermometer function using a built-in sensor. The memory-function watches became our DATA BANK product series, while the sensor watches developed into two unique Casio product lines of today: the Pathfinder series displaying altitude, atmospheric pressure, and compass readings. In 1983, Casio launched the shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch. This product shattered the notion that a watch is a fragile piece of jewelry that needs to be handled with care, and was the result of Casio engineers taking on the challenge of creating the worlds toughest watch. Using a triple-protection design for the parts, module, and case, the G-SHOCK offered a radical new type of watch that was unaffected by strong impacts or shaking. Its practicality was immediately recognized, and its unique look, which embodied its functionality, became wildly popular, resulting in explosive sales in the early 1990s. The G-SHOCK soon adopted various new sensors, solar-powered radio-controlled technology (described below), and new materials for even better durability. By always employing the latest technology, and continuing to transcend conventional thinking about the watch, the G-SHOCK brand has become Casios flagship timepiece product. Today, Casio is focusing its efforts on solar-powered radio-controlled watches: the built-in solar battery eliminates the nuisance of replacing batteries, and the radio-controlled function means users never have to reset the time. In particular, the radio-controlled function represents a revolution in time-keeping technology similar to the impact created when mechanical watches gave way to quartz technology. Through the further development of high radio-wave sensitivity, miniaturization, and improved energy efficiency, Casio continues to produce a whole range of radio-controlled models.

List Price: $300.00 Available from Amazon Price: $186.49 Updated on 5-17-2009.