Equipment Store

Highgear Alterra Altimeter Watch

Highgear Alterra Altimeter Watch description

The High Gear Alterra Altimeter Watch is a wrist mounted computer for tracking fun. Whether trail running, skiing, climbing or mountain biking, this High Gear watch keeps track of your progress. An altimeter with Ski Chrono function automatically calculates your total vert and speed of descent, and then saves the info so you can rub it in to your friends. For runners there is a 50 lap chronograph and split timer that remembers the fastest laps and average times. Despite its high-tech features, the Alterra Altimeter doesn't forget that it's an outdoor adventure watch. It is loaded with dual time zone functions, multiple alarms, a barometer, thermometer, and compass. The Alterra Altimeter Watch is a serious piece of equipment that provides the vital info you need to get the most out of an epic day in the mountains.

Bottom Line: The High Gear Alterra Altimeter Watch doesn't make espresso, but it can do pretty much everything else.

This is the second Highgear watch I've gotten my husband in the last 2 months. The first one was the Terratech from the outlet which had a plastic face and scratched after the first week of light use around the house. I then returned that and got the Alterra thinking the quality would be better. Husband noticed that indeed, the electronics the digital display were a notch up from the terratech, and I believe the watch face is more durable mineral glass instead of plastic. Initially he was very happy with the watch. A week after receiving it, we left for two weeks in the mid-east. Mid-trip, one of the plastic buttons popped right off, leaving the spring underneath exposed. He was therefore unable to set the alarms and times for the rest of the trip. I should have heeded the reviews on rei.com about this exact defect with this watch. Overall, we are very disappointed with Highgear products and would never purchase this brand again.

Barometer/altimeter have been quite accurate; elevation lock for barometer is also very good. Mineral glass face has survived with no scratches with many rock encounters.Watch has considerable number of functions, but setup can be a bit complex. Particularly nice is the ability to track all elevation gain/loss.Overall build quality, however, is lacking. Alarm no longer works, plastic casing is separating from watch body. I have also had problems with condensation occluding the LCD readout at high elevations/cold temperatures.Thus, even though I find functionality to be very good, I cannot recommend this watch due to both electronic and build failures.