A Continually Evolving Classic: Suunto Compass

Suunto compasses are great for every outdoor activity that you can imagine. There's the dive compass, the ski compass, the kayak compass, the competition compass, the GPS plotter compass, not to mention a wide variety of marine compasses and more. It's not surprising that there are so many, since the Suunto compass is what got the company started back in 1936. When Tuomas Vohlonen decided to find a replacement for the traditional dry compass, whose needle was pretty unsteady, he didn't know he was beginning not only a company but also a tradition of innovative engineering, dead-on accuracy, and the highest quality gear. Suunto's altimeter watches and other products are consistently recognized for their superior design, quality, and usability. And, in the spirit of true athletes, Suunto has never been willing to stop pushing the limits. Outdoing themselves with each new offering--that's trademark Suunto.

So we know that Suunto became (and still is) famous for its compasses, but what about its other gear? Well, the Vector was the first of Suunto's wristtop computers, and its central functions were measuring altitude, barometric pressure, and direction. It's still popular, as are the Core, Lumi, X-Lander, X9Mi, and T6. Athletes continue to love the digital altimeter feature for all the useful information it gives them. (And sometimes it's fun just to see how much ground you've covered vertically that day.) Just like their altimeter watches, Suunto's training watches are state-of-the-art. They record vital physiological data for you to analyze later. Check out some of the great Suunto accessories that complement the training watches. (The PODs are especially helpful.)

Every athlete needs the right gear, and all gear needs the right accessories. These aren't always the most exciting things you'll ever buy, but they're downright necessary. Take batteries, for instance. It never hurts to have some spares around. Or how about the USB cable that works with the T6 watch? Again, not a big thrill, but important if you want to pair up your watch with the Suunto Training Manager Software. Other Suunto accessories are, well, more fun -like the Heart Rate ANT Transmitter Belt, and the Foot, GPS, and PC PODs (more innovations, in the tradition of the Suunto compass). Check out the T3, T4, and T6 watches for more details on these great accessories.