Description of Origo Rendezvous Peak Series Altimeter Watch:
The Origo Rendezvous Peak Series Altimeter Watch provides altitude and bearing information to keep you from getting lost in the mountains, and it tracks your data for bragging rights back home. An integrated barometer tracks pressure for the past 30 hours, so you have an early warning of an impending storm. Origo built the Rendezvous Peak with a low-profile design that doesn't feel like a rock strapped to your wrist like some other altimeter watches do. This fully featured watch also has a chronograph with split timers to help your interval training sessions and ensure you're in shape when you hit the trailhead.
Bottom Line: Don't head into the mountains without it.
I have the reverse display model, and while I've only owned the watch for about a month now, I'm finding it to be far more accurate and user-friendly than my High Gear Axis ever was. The one-touch Altimeter and Compass feature is fantastic, and when properly calibrated, have been very close (altimeter readings had a variance of about 100ft) to readings I've taken with a Garmin GPS unit. There are also a number of useful features for those willing to read the owners manual, such as an altimeter lock that allows for changes in barometric pressure to be measured independently of the altimeter while in that mode. This is useful for camping, where barometric pressure changes overnight might otherwise register changes in altitude. In response to an earlier review, if the print is too small in the accompanying manual, the Origo website has downloadable versions of manuals with much larger print.
The reverse display model is very attractive in my opinion. However, it is slightly harder to read than a traditional display especially when there is glare on the face of the watch. For night use, the backlight function is bright and easy to read.
The watch has a nice weight to where it doesn't feel heavy on the wrist, but isn't so light as to feel cheap, and the band (I don't agree that it is stiff at all) fits well, even on my skinny wrist.
Although I cannot attest to the durability of the watch at this point, I would highly recommend this watch for anyone looking for a lightweight alti/compass.
this is a pretty subdued-looking technical watch. I didn't want a big clunker on my wrist but I still wanted a watch that had an alitimeter. This one has a compass, alitimeter, barometer, temperature sensor, and the other standard stopwatch features. It does have some pretty rudimentary data store capabilities but I wouldn't get this watch if you want an easy, intuitive way to track your vertical or location over time. I don't think it's going to give you as much historical data as some of the other watches. But for 100 bucks it's pretty good. I've been wearing the ironman because of it's subdued look, large easy to read display and light weight. This isn't as light weight but doesn't feel too bad on your wrist, and gives you a lot more info. the only thing I really don't like is the alarm chime is very quiet - if you don't take this thing off and put it on your nightstand right next to you ear it probably won't wake you...
Got the watch and the battery was dead. Instructions were so small I couldn't read them so I am trying to enlarge them. The band is very stiff. Should have spent more time and money on the instructions and less on the box it came in.
