Suunto X-Lander Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Chronograph (Positive Face)
By: Suunto Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 15
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 On: 2008-06-03
When I received this watch there was already an issue with it. The two digit display at the top that shows the day (or other info depending on what mode your in) had a problem with the second digit. The two horizontal lines never turn off. "TU" for Tuesday is displayed as "T8".
Dispite this I just now returned it for warrenty repair. It is a great watch with amazingly accurate features. The compass works great. The temp works well, but you have to take it off your wrist to get an accurate reading. The altimeter is a little off, but what I expect in a watch. I wish the light worked as well as Timexs Indiglo but it doesnt.
It is a large watch and have heards comments about it, but it is still a lot lighter than any of my metal watches.
Overall a great, fun watch.
 On: 2008-05-25
PROS:
1. Awesome wrist-computer, tons of functions and very precise.
2. Looks great
3. For what you get it is a fair price
CONS:
1. It is not truly waterproof.
2. Beyond the basic functions the operation is very complex. Not intuitive.
3. With heavy use the case is prone to deformation and bruising because of the malleable nature of aluminum. This eventually affects the operations of the buttons.
I work as a naturalist guide in Costa Rica, and this watch has been with me for over four years, looking for wildlife in the rain forest. After a year or so water began to make its way into the watch, I do not expose it to rain unnecessarily anymore. For me this is its biggest con.
Just be careful not to bang it as the aluminum can only take so much. Suunto still makes the best wrist computers in the market. With everything I have put it trough it is still running!
If I buy a Suunto again I will go for steel or titanium.
On: 2008-04-24
hey,I bought this watch recently and it seems to be a pretty interesting watch. I was very disapointed that for the price I paid I didnt receive a receipt or any warranty information, just the watch and a box. didnt recieve directions with the watch or anything, I had to go online and get instructions on how to work the watch... very disapointed in the that. but overall a cool watch.
On: 2007-08-10
Ive had the watch about one month. The band is a little stiff and difficult to get on but comfortable once in place. I guess this is an improvement in durability over the older model leather bands. Being a lifetime casio owner I found the menus and information accessibility less than intuitive. The light is weak and is only really helpful when in very dark conditions. Everything still works which, if it continues to work for the next year, will be an improvement over the 5 casio pathfinders Ive owned.
On: 2007-04-10
I was somewhat please, but numbers are a little dificult to see in daylight. And you need to go to school to understand all its fiturees. And it came without a case.
 On: 2007-02-09
I bought this watch for the altimeter for climbing in Colorado - I recently went in January and it worked nearly perfect! Every location I could find an elevation marker, the watch was within 10 feet. The thermometer works well also, it just cannot be on your wrist to read the temp correctly.
The watch looks great, I wear it to work nearly every day. I would highly recommend it.
On: 2007-01-28
Looks great, functions great. Manual is a little daunting and a couple of the words on the display are very small. I have 20/20 vision and I cant always read everything that is being displayed. It is mostly in the Alt and Barometer functions where there is lots of info being shown.
Highly recomended.
On: 2006-10-13
I bought the X-Lander because I am a pilot and wanted a bit more information when I needed it. The watch is well designed and of good quality. A few things did disappoint me, but I think they are outweighed by the features, however.
- It appears that it does not have a second time zone. Why they would not include this is beyond me. As a pilot I want local time in 12hour format and zulu time in 24hr format. A traveler would want time here and at home. It is not there, but is on other models they offer.
- The dial is not the easiest to read and I had to use a magnifier to see the units information on setup such as feet vs. meters and celsius vs. farenheit. The display needs to be more vivid. The company does offer a white face with black numerals, which might be better.
It is a nice watch, but not the greatest execution of the concept, especially for $300.
On: 2006-10-12
I bought the X-Lander because I am a pilot and wanted a bit more information when I needed it. The watch is well designed and of good quality. A few things did disappoint me, but I think they are outweighed by the features, however.
- It appears that it does not have a second time zone. Why they would not include this is beyond me. As a pilot I want local time in 12hour format and zulu time in 24hr format. A traveler would want time here and at home. It is not there, but is on other models they offer.
- The dial is not the easiest to read and I had to use a magnifier to see the units information on setup such as feet vs. meters and celsius vs. farenheit. The display needs to be more vivid. The company does offer a white face with black numerals, which might be better.
It is a nice watch, but not the greatest execution of the concept, especially for $300.
 On: 2006-09-25
I bought this watch because I wanted an altimeter but needed to return it because of its size. It is HUGE - looked like I had a clock on my wrist. Take into consideration.
On: 2006-07-07
I recently ordered this watch from Amazon as a companion for a LTt Observer to wear in the field. While the Observer is a more updated model they both share very similiar features and ease of operation.
My first recommendation is that you do order this from amazon.com and be wary of the same item offered by "market place sellers". At the time I initially placed the order amazon.com was out and the wait was estimated to be 3 to 5 weeks. Since the item was also offered by another seller in amazons referral system I placed an order and wound up with the wrong watch; turns out the market place seller didnt carry the black face model. Fortunately amazon got a supply in and shipped my watch within 24 hours....good service. The black face is a little hard to come by.
Now then, to the watch itself. First of all it IS big...but very light; almost as light as the titanium Observer I have. The larger face makes it easier to read and Suunto has apparently gone back to the leather (waterproof) band, which I prefer. Functionally, the watch is a full blown time keeper and (non GPS) navigation system including stop watch/chronometer functions, an accurate altimeter, a barometer and digital compass. Both the compass and the altimeter are as accurate as Ive found in analog portable units. The alarms are sufficiently loud (unlike the only chink in the Observer) and my only criticism is that the back light is weak compared to the Observer, but that fault doesnt draw anything away from the 5 star rating. Add the user replaceable battery (Suunto makes a kit that includes the battery, a water/dust seal and a new cap), the intuitive operating system and you have the ultimate back country time piece.
Suunto was the first to offer this type of time piece and, in my opinion, still offers the best. Ive used their diving computers and field compasses for years and am a fan of the companys many products. I dont think theres a clunker in the catalog.
by: jeffedwards On: 2005-10-21
For those who may be new to Suunto, they are wrist-top computers designed and manufactured in Finland and are in use all over the world by Hikers, Bikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. What makes the X-Lander stand out are at first glance, obviously its sheer size. Let there be NO illusions, the X-Lander is a mighty big watch. Despite its size, it doesnt FEEL as big as it looks, though. The aluminum case is VERY light and quite comfortable, too. The next thing you notice would be the HUGE amount of bells and whistles packed into such a small device.
#1. An accurate altimeter. This is an invaluable tool for the avid hiker and biker. One thing you MUST be ready to do is remember to adjust it DAILY. Find out what the altitude is and set the watch before you begin your trip, and then at the end of the day you need to make note of where you stopped (which you can do with the internal recording function) and properly adjust it before setting out the next day. This is NOT a flaw, every single altimeter watch I am aware of is exactly the same.
#2. Barometer. I found it correct at least 75% of the time, which is more than I can say for the local TV Weatherman. This includes a thermometer as well, which in order to be accurate must be removed from your wrist for at least 15 minutes in order not to get a false reading due to lingering body heat.
#3. Digital Compass. This is truly one amazing feature, by the way. Once you calibrate it (which you may need to do weekly) you will NEVER be lost -- especially if you know how to use a map.
#4. It tells pretty accurate time, too believe it or not. It also comes with an alarm, a countdown AND a stopwatch. Suddenly its size now makes sense, huh?
I happen to LIKE big watches. I dont exactly know why, but I just do. IF I were to have ANY complaint whatsoever, the one thing this watch is lacking is exactly what they have included in the much less expensive Vector: A tiny little bubble which helps you to level out the watch in the compass mode for a more precise reading. The reason why may have to do with the fact that the X-Lander is mineral crystal and the Vector is plastic, but either way, itd be nice to have. I am VERY impressed with just about everything associated with Suunto and their fantastic line of what they call, Wristop Computers. IF size really DOES matter to you, well you may wish to go with the Observer or maybe the X6HR (which does everything the X-Lander and Observer can do PLUS it has a built-in heart-rate-monitor) both are smaller than the X-Lander, Vector, Yachtsman and many other Suunto models yet still offers a LOT -- but keep in mind with the smaller size comes the bigger price. Factor all that into your purchase plans and once again, if at ALL possible, do NOT buy until you have the chance to see some of these (or any) models IN PERSON. That will make a HUGE difference in how happy your purchase will end up being...and good luck!
On: 2005-07-17
This watch screams high-tech, and anyone venturing off to a comic book convention is bound to get a few nods from people dressed in Sith Lord garb and even a wicked witch or two.
So its big, real big, but cool. If you want a little more discreet, go with the Observer.
The new synthetic band that has replaced the leather is a real improvement. After all, whoever heard of a sports watch with a leather band? The idea is absolutely absurd. HOWEVER, the back eyelit got chafed and worn away the first two weeks. Of course, it doesnt show, but its annoying, especially considering this isnt an el cheapo watch.
If youre into mountain biking, running, swimming, hiking, or training of any sort, this is the watch for you. It doesnt have super sports specific functionality, but in my experience Ive never used stuff like that in any case, so this watch accomodates me perfectly.
And women DROOL over it. Well, sorta.
On: 2005-07-16
This watch screams high-tech, and anyone venturing off to a comic book convention is bound to get a few nods from people dressed in Sith Lord garb and even a wicked witch or two.
So its big, real big, but cool. If you want a little more discreet, go with the Observer.
The new synthetic band that has replaced the leather is a real improvement. After all, whoever heard of a sports watch with a leather band? The idea is absolutely absurd. HOWEVER, the back eyelit got chafed and worn away the first two weeks. Of course, it doesnt show, but its annoying, especially considering this isnt an el cheapo watch.
If youre into mountain biking, running, swimming, hiking, or training of any sort, this is the watch for you. It doesnt have super sports specific functionality, but in my experience Ive never used stuff like that in any case, so this watch accomodates me perfectly.
And women DROOL over it. Well, sorta.
On: 2005-05-29
Two Amazons statements about this product were absolutely misleading:
1. "Usually ships in 24 hours". It actually took 1 week to ship it.
2. When I finally received the package it turned out that the watch didnt have "leather band". The band was made of artificial materials (nylon and rubber) or something like that.
I will have to return it.
On: 2005-05-28
Two Amazons statements about this product were absolutely misleading:
1. "Usually ships in 24 hours". It actually took 1 week to ship it.
2. When I finally received the package it turned out that the watch didnt have "leather band". The band was made of artificial materials (nylon and rubber) or something like that.
I will have to return it.
by: jeffedwards On: 2003-12-13
I collect watches, and I am NOT one to shy away from big watches, and in some cases, the bigger the better. What I really love about the X-Lander is that it is big but also very light-weight. Normally when you see a wrist watch this large you have to exercise your arm quite a bit just to get used to telling time, but not so with the X-Lander. And best of all: it does WAY MORE than just tell time! Interested in knowing where you are going? How about the current temperature? Are you just the slightest bit interested in what your current altitude may be? GO BUY THIS WATCH! Course for those Suunto enthusiasts, this ISNT a watch, its a Wristop Computer that just so happens to be able to tell time. Unlike the Suunto Observer which is about half the size (and more than a little extra spendy), this baby will do all that and still look great doing it. From the 3 different Suunto models I personally own, I must admit that they make a great wristop computer, or for the picky out there, watch. I mostly use mine to tell simple time, but I must say that as I drive over the mountains up to Montana or over to Oregon and Washington, it IS handy to know a few extra details just by looking down at my wrist. Oh, I almost forgot the barometer! It tracks the barometric pressure and helps you track and even predict the weather! I must say that I havent been able to figure out the finer points of how to do that just yet, but I AM working on it. I guess if I HAD to point out one flaw, I would say that the night-glo feature it comes with isnt all that bright, and the alarm could stand to be louder -- but it IS about 5 TIMES more audible than the absolutely embarassing alarm built into the Observer. Other than these minor complaints, I whole-heartedly endorse pretty much everything manufactured by Suunto, and especially the models I own, the X6HR, The Observer and of course the X-Lander. Sylish, multi-functional and quite durable. Choose one of these models and you will no doubt be as satisfied as I am.
On: 2003-02-11
Ive had this watch for 2yrs+ now and have just changed the (user serviceable) battery for the first time, as the compass had stopped working. This is to be expected as it uses more power than the other functions (but it does have auto-off in the compass mode after a time to save energy). There is no bubble level on this model as it has a mineral crystal glass instead of the usual plastic. I have knocked this watch so many times against things and there are many surface threads you can see given the right light, but no truly visible damage, like big gouges or cracks like the plastic would show. The logbook feature is a great asset. Based on a rolling record (oldest record deleted when the memory becomes full), the logbook records Altitude and can be set to different sample rates (e.g. depending on whether you are walking, climbing, driving, etc.) and includes a record of greatest height. The logbook cannot be deleted (but as stated records over itself) but the max height can be reset independantly. The backlight is a little dim, but fine to keep your night vision, and the temperature does not compensate for being on or off your wrist (like some Casio models can). For a large watch (you wont lose it!) it is quite lightweight, with an aluminium case and carbon shell it also looks great. The new Ti models do not have the same clarity of display though so I would say stick to this screen size, but maybe get the heart rate monitor (HRM) model if you also exercise (cycle, etc) - its only a small premium and it *is* a Polar model! I imagine the batteries might last less time due to the HRM receiver, but this at least is user-serviceable (and retains the watches environmental integrity, unlike changing a Casio battery). The only sad thing is the screenprinted/anodised(?) graphics for the points of the compass rose are wearing off - Suunto take note, laser etch/engrave them next time!! Sighting grooves in the bezel would be useful too, for taking bearings, but at least the bezel stays smooth as silk on this model as it has ball bearing detents rather than the friction-based ring the plastic housings have which stiffen up so you cant use them.A few minor details aside (like a strap not long enough to go over your coat - just get an velcro Animal strap - and the print wearing off, and maybe the price), this is a cracking product, rated up there with the Garmin eTrex Legend GPS :-) If you want a barometer, altimeter, compass, thermo & HRM in a decent, reliable, user-friendly package, this is it!
On: 2003-02-10
Ive had this watch for 2yrs+ now and have just changed the (user serviceable) battery for the first time, as the compass had stopped working. This is to be expected as it uses more power than the other functions (but it does have auto-off in the compass mode after a time to save energy). There is no bubble level on this model as it has a mineral crystal glass instead of the usual plastic. I have knocked this watch so many times against things and there are many surface threads you can see given the right light, but no truly visible damage, like big gouges or cracks like the plastic would show. The logbook feature is a great asset. Based on a rolling record (oldest record deleted when the memory becomes full), the logbook records Altitude and can be set to different sample rates (e.g. depending on whether you are walking, climbing, driving, etc.) and includes a record of greatest height. The logbook cannot be deleted (but as stated records over itself) but the max height can be reset independantly. The backlight is a little dim, but fine to keep your night vision, and the temperature does not compensate for being on or off your wrist (like some Casio models can). For a large watch (you wont lose it!) it is quite lightweight, with an aluminium case and carbon shell it also looks great. The new Ti models do not have the same clarity of display though so I would say stick to this screen size, but maybe get the heart rate monitor (HRM) model if you also exercise (cycle, etc) - its only a small premium and it *is* a Polar model! I imagine the batteries might last less time due to the HRM receiver, but this at least is user-serviceable (and retains the watches environmental integrity, unlike changing a Casio battery). The only sad thing is the screenprinted/anodised(?) graphics for the points of the compass rose are wearing off - Suunto take note, laser etch/engrave them next time!! Sighting grooves in the bezel would be useful too, for taking bearings, but at least the bezel stays smooth as silk on this model as it has ball bearing detents rather than the friction-based ring the plastic housings have which stiffen up so you cant use them.A few minor details aside (like a strap not long enough to go over your coat - just get an velcro Animal strap - and the print wearing off, and maybe the price), this is a cracking product, rated up there with the Garmin eTrex Legend GPS :-) If you want a barometer, altimeter, compass, thermo & HRM in a decent, reliable, user-friendly package, this is it!
On: 2002-04-06
I bought this watch and found it to be too big. Even though its smaller than earlier models it still takes up too much room on my wrist. Be sure you try one before ordering online.
On: 2002-04-05
I bought this watch and found it to be too big. Even though its smaller than earlier models it still takes up too much room on my wrist. Be sure you try one before ordering online.
On: 2002-02-15
A well engineered and durable time piece. The X-Lander lived up to its expectation. I bought this watch new in July 2001 and proceeded to take it on 3 month expedition to Chile. During this time it got dropped down the side of a mountain, trodden on, baked, frozen and accidently dived down to 40 meters and it came through with only a few minor scratches. Compass and Altimeter very accurate. Excellent tool for trekking in the Laguna San Rafael National Park. My only critisism is the Barometer that makes weather prediction a bit awkward and its size. Its a bit big to fit under gloves/jacket sleeves. Anyway, a very useful tool. B.T.W: Wesley Fine... How does it measure altitude in a pressurized aircraft???!!!
On: 2001-11-17
This time piece rocks with accuracy in the mountains of + or - 10 meters it is very useful for expeditions in unchartered territory.
Short of having maps programmed into it, it can be used in confidence in conjuction with a map to more easily work out where you are located and the compass is beneficial to assist in getting from point A to B.
Coupled with this accuracy its robust design means at can be taken anywhere without damage or breakage.
Additionally the barometer functions assist comprehensively in predicting weather patterns as well as adjustment to altimeter settings.
Their are two quams however with this instrument:
1. The Compass is very sensitive to movements off the horizontal plane i.e accurate readings can only be taken off flat and still locations. Approximate directions can be taken when the watch is on the wrist but the equipment is far more accurate when in its horizontal and still state.
2. When operation occurs in certain weather patterns (e.g Cyclonic and rain depression or Anti-Cyclonic conditions)when the barometer is at both extremes of the pressure scale requires adjustment to reset correct altimeter conditions and hence changing weather conditions will affect the accuracy of the altimeter.
Overall, a fine timepiece for any outdoorsmen who requires accuracy, consistency and reliability.
On: 2001-07-16
When I first saw this watch, I looked at the price and immediately thought it was over-priced. But when I saw all the features it had I thought of all the uses I would have for it. For instance if I wanted to know if the weather was going to turn foul, I could check the barometric readings. Also I sky-dive quite a bit, and with the watch you can tell your altitude and rate of decent (which believe me is very important), although I still use an actual altimeter instead of the watch you catch my drift. For those of you who dont sky-dive but do fly, I find it entertaining to ask the flight-attendants what the current altitude is, and correct them when they are wrong, which they are most of the time. Ok, so what if I am entertained easily, but it still does not take away form the fact that this watch is unquestionably one of the best watches I have ever owned.
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