X9i Military any good?

[Plissken]

Hi there, first post on this forum! I have a Suunto dive computer a Vyper that I've had for many years. But I'm after a GPS type watch. Any experiences with the X9i? I presume it synchs to UTC via GPS? Many thanks. Best, Pat

[Mike Hogan]

Hi there, first post on this forum! I have a Suunto dive computer a Vyper that I've had for many years. But I'm after a GPS type watch. Any experiences with the X9i? I presume it synchs to UTC via GPS? Many thanks. Best, Pat

Hello Pat:

I've had a X9Mi for about 4 months. Overall it's an excellent military purpose watch with a few exceptions.

~ The strap system isn't designed for comfortable wear and damage to the strap requires complete case replacement.

~ Extensive GPS use requires recharging after about 6 hours.

~ The display is very difficult to read in sunlight or low light.

Hope that this helps.

[kairos]

I've owned all three versions of the X9: X9, X9i, and X9Mi. The i series is a great improvement, but still has serious weaknesses. (1) Poor battery life. (2) Disappointing readability in most light for the X9Mi. (3) Slow GPS fix. I'm a great fan of Suunto's--I currently own 4, and have had almost all the altimeter/baro/compass models. Unless you have a huge wrist, have to have the smallest GPS in the world, and have lots of cash to spend on replacement straps and cases, consider the Garmin wrist GPS's--not as small or cute, but far more functional. Someday Suunto will get the wrist GPS right, but the X9 series just isn't it, for my money.

[Plissken]

Thanks for the input guys. Much appreciated. Cheers,



Pat

[Suunto fan]

I simply love mine. The negative display is harder to read in low light conditions, but thats not the fault of the X9. Negstive displays are harder to read in general, but I think the Suunto does a little better job than the rest of the industry. To me, the X9Mi is the total package. No where else on the planet can you get a watch with so many features. Even if you take the GPS capability out of the equation, the X9 is a very competent performer. It has all the standard ABC features, plus the count-down timer, sun rise/sun set info, stopwatch, user setable backlight times, user selectable display modes, and so on. When you add the GPS function to it, you go to another whole level. Navigation ability, track back function, current position, speed, altitude, total miles traveled...and the list keeps going. Anyway, you can see Im a little excited over this thing, and thats amazing considering Ive had it 9 months. :-!:-!

[Suunto fan]

Actually, this is the way I've been using mine lately. I dont wear it at work for fear of scaring it up, so, I out it on my rear view mirror and keep the GPS on all day in the activity mode. Then when I get home, I just upload it to Google Earth and take a tour of my track:-d:-d:-d Pretty fun:-!:-!


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