This watch has about all the gimmicks you could want in a watch. Well, perhaps a GPS, heart rate monitor and MP3 player would be nice inclusions... However, it is solar-powered with a generous battery reserve and should never die with normal light exposure. I've never seen my battery level fall below H (high). It has a thermometer, barometer, altimeter, compass, moonphase indicator, tide chart, automatic synchronization with international atomic clock radio broadcasts and the standard multi-function watch stuff like stopwatch, world time, etc.
That's all fine and dandy, but let's face it, this is NOT a precise instrument.
The compass is surprisingly consistent, though I did have to calibrate it away from the factory preset initially. I feel this feature is the watch's strongest feature due to its accuracy and the fact that it could someday save your life. Still, it's not perfect. The compass display only lasts a few seconds, so you can't use it like a real compass.
The barometer also is quite consistent once calibrated, though I have seen errors of 2 hPa in either direction.
Thermometer is rather fickle if the watch is being worn on skin. I've noticed as much as 5 degrees Fahrenheit error in either direction. It's typically within 1 F degree either way. Have never verified the thermometer's accuracy when not being worn, so can't comment on that.
Altimeter gives decent approximation. I live at sea level and get readings as low as -10 meters and as high as 10 meters while at sea level. Typically it reads 0 or 5 meters. On a recent trip about 250 miles from home, with the watch calibrated at my home's sea level, I reached a peak altitude of 1195 meters, according to the watch. On my descent, I compared the watch's altitude reading with a posted USGS altitude sign. At 457.2 meters (1500 feet) the watch read a pretty consistent 420 meters.
The moonphase indicator is, of course, very accurate.
Tide charting leaves much to be desired. It calculates first high tide to within 20 minutes. Pretty good. However, this is the only actual high or low tide to be seen and to actually see the actual time, you must go into the Adjust mode. The actual graphing of the tides is sloppy and inaccurate. A dot-plotted chart like that used for the barometer should be incorporated. The 2-hour increments of the present graph also hinder true accuracy. Also, this mode ALWAYS defaults to showing tide at 6:00 am. This time can be adjusted manually each time you enter the mode, but the default time CANNOT be changed. Tide charting is the watch's weakest feature.
Rather disappointed with the atomic clock synchronization too. I live in HNL, one of the listed time zones that should be able to receive atomic calibration. Has not happened yet, after over a month. When I try to manually synchronize, I get a level 1 (low, but existent) signal indication, but no synchronization. Frustrating.
It's also a little disappointing that a "titanium" watch has a PLASTIC shell and stainless back and presumably a something-other-than-titanium case. The band does appear to be legitimate titanium but I wouldn't be surprised if it's titanium-plated aluminum or something. This watch, despite it's substantial bulkiness, is very light. My Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk, which is TRULY a titanium watch and is notably smaller, is noticeably heavier.
All in all, it's a cool watch. It's very stylish for a digital watch. It's comfortable. It's very durable. And you'll always have reasonable accuracyfrom any function (maybe not with tide charting), with a good compass. Worth the Amazon price, but not the suggested retail price.
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Casio Men's Pathfinder Multi-Band Solar Atomic Ultimate Watch #PAW1500T-7VProduct Description: Perfect for rugged adventurers and weekend warriors, the solar-powered Casio Pathfinder men's sport watch is loaded with a digital compass and altimeter/barometer/thermometer--perfect for both mountain trekking and cave spelunking. It also includes tide and moon graphs and moon age data, and is very precise thanks to its atomic timekeeping features. The durable round watch case (measuring 50.5mm/1.98 inches wide) and bracelet are made of titanium, which is nearly 50 percent lighter than steel, but 30 percent stronger. It's also particularly resistant to salt water corrosion, as well as hypo-allergenic--perfect for those with metal allergies.
The altimeter offers 5-meter measurements from -700 to 10,000 meters, and it can store altitude, month, date and time data, provide tendency and differential graphs, track cumulative ascent/descent, and sound an alarm when you reach a specified altitude. The watch also has a digital compass with 16 points of measurement displayed on the dial face. Other environmental and timekeeping features include:
Barometer with atmospheric pressure tendency/differential graphics
Thermometer
World Time: 29 times zones (30 cities), city code display, daylight saving on/off
5 daily alarms
1/100 second stopwatch with 24-hour capacity and elapsed/split time modes and 1st-2nd place times
Countdown timer with 60-minute range
Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099)
This watch also features a ±20-second accuracy per month, Afterglow backlighting, and water resistance to water resistance to 200 meters (660 feet)--which will stand up to the rigors of recreational scuba diving. This solar-powered watch has a battery life of up to 5 months on a full charge (without further exposure to light).
This multi-band radio-controlled watch receives a time calibration signal transmitted from several locations across the globe (the U.S., UK, Germany, and Japan), and it has an auto receive function (up to 6 times per day). You can choose to automatically receive this signal four times a day, or manually update the watch to the atomic clock.
Buy cheap Casio Men's Pathfinder Multi-Band Solar Atomic Ultimate Watch #PAW1500T-7V now Get 40% OFF
BEWARE! The description posted on this page IS NOT for a PRG 70T; there are about 10 features on this page that the PRG 70T simply does not have. The description here is for a PRG 80T a far superior and more expensive watch... very deceptive indeed!
I have this watch for 5 days and am still happy with it. I'm very satisfied with the service of amazon.com. Only time will tell if the watch will keep on with its good performance. Thank you!
Let me start out by saying this: I am a hopeless watch collector.The bigger the size and the more nifty options they offer the better.I am also VERY partial to Casio products specifically because of my past history owning many models and their incredible durability.
I have owned two Casio G-shock watches over a span exceeding a decade.I always liked the G-shock, but alas the viewing light recently stopped working and it was time to try something with a few more features.After quite a bit of searching I settled on the Pathfinder (model PAW 1300 - 3v) and I believe I made the correct personal choice.
I've been happy with this watch, and it takes getting used to a pressure-based altimeter to realize how to use it best... if you're familiar with the concept of setting a reference altitude, you'll figure it out just fine.
I love this watch. It is a massive piece on my wrist, and easily readable (which is why I put away my expensive swiss time piece in favorof the digital readout of the Casio). What you need to ask yourself here, is what exactly are you paying for. The Temp, Barometer, Atimeter and Compass are additional features on this WATCH. They are all estimate readouts, taken using changing atmoshperic pressure and other conditions. The manual explains all of this, and tells you NOT to depend on these features for professional acute measurements. They are approximations. Remember this. The WATCH you are purchasing here, is absolutely accurate...to within +/-20 seconds a month WITHOUT receiving a signal from the Atomic Clock. You should get reception at least once out of 6 opportunities a day, which makes the watch totally accurate (are you ready?) to within ONE second every 3000 years! Now that is accuracy! You're buying a watch...not a compass, or a barometer or thermometer. A very, very accurate watch that can also give you a close approximation on several atmospheric measurements, and also an altimeter estimation according to air pressure. I love this watch. Thing of beauty. Well worth the money if you want a good-looking and accurate time piece. ALSO (and this is a big also, if you are used to dealing with digital watches), the ease of operation and programming on this watch are phenomenal. There are no sub-menus and double and triple clicks to program this beast. Because of the number of buttons, you can push one to leave the time mode...another to find the mode you wish to adjust...two more to eather go up or down making the adjustment, and then simply press the time mode button again to return to the ...(you guessed it) time mode. VERY VERY easy. The easiest digital watch I have ever had. And we all know how tough Casio's are. I think you will really like this watch, as much as I do.
I got this watch last week and it's been great so far.I've been using Timex Ironman watches forever and this is slightly bigger but not at all bulky.The barometer has been spot on since I calibrated it.The altimeter worked great on a hill run that I did yesterday.Compass was off by 6 deg, but for a watch that isn't too bad.Thermometer is affected by your body temp so that's probably the most inaccurate sensor.The atomic timekeeping is probably the best thing about the watch.