Hasta La Gadget!

I’m pretty clearly not the target audience for the feature-rich Suunto X10 GPS watch ($699 list). This “outdoor sports instrument” from military-grade watchmaker Suunto offers an altimeter, barometer, compass, and everything else a Boy (or Girl) Scout might want in a heavy-duty watch. 

It’s certainly overkill for a city dweller like me, but if you’re planning to do some hard-core trail running –or just want a good watch for backpacking, hiking, and other outdoorsy activities– the X10 will have you covered. Unfortunately, as I was testing the Suunto in New York City, it was hard to test a lot of the more advanced functions–even the GPS was spotty with all the interference that comes from navigating the urban jungle.

The X10 is not quite as chunky as the Timex Global Trainer GPS, but its face still easily covered my entire wrist. Despite its size, the Suunto is as light as any of the watches I tested. Its military heritage is echoed in the X10’s spare design. It’s all black, except for a yellow ring around the face.

Like the Timex, the Suunto offers a number of views. While there are fewer ways to view the data about your run, the various menus reflect the plethora of gauges within the watch. Beyond Time, you can check the altimeter and barometer (including a temperature gauge), utilize the compass, monitor your distance in Navigate mode, and track your speed. Within Navigate you can access pre-programmed routes (which you can set up using Suunto’s included software), or select the TrackBack option, which will help you find your way back to your starting point.