For about eight months I looked for a good quality watch (Suunto, Casio, etc.) that has two functions that interest me: a (barometric) altimeter and a thermometer with a min/max or (hourly) autorecord function. The only watch I found that had the functions I wanted was a low-cost Suunto knockoff marketed by Pyle. I bought it for $35. Without the band (I plan to attach it to my pack), it weighs 1.1 oz.
It arrived yesterday, and I subjected it to some less-than-rigorous testing. The thermometer cannot be calibrated but it is more accurate than I expected. Also, it measures a relatively broad temperature range. Many thermistor-equipped watches advertise that they will measure from 14F to 120F, but the PAW1 measured my freezer at 3.8F, within half a degree of a reference mercury thermometer, and it continued to work perfectly at that temperature. The watch reports the minimum temp since it was last reset as 3.3 F (my freezer), and the max as 91.4F (my dog's bed, under my dog).
The barometer/altimeter function seems passable as well. It only expresses barometric pressure in mbar or psi, though, not inches Hg. A storm passed through my area yesterday, and the watch reported a barometric pressure drop as the storm approached, and an increase as the sun came out today. The elevation here is 60ft. The watch reported an increase in elevation to 88 feet as the storm came in, and a drop in elevation to 54 feet today, when the sun came out.
I haven't yet tested the compass function because I don't plan to ever use it. I'll post updates on how it holds up once I have used it outdoors. I have concerns about reliability (button and screen failure, etc.) and water resistance.
