Suunto Core v Casio PAG240-1

I used my Suunto Core on my PCT through hike – 4.5 months looped through the webbing on my shoulder strap. It got plenty banged up but never had an issue with water or reliability. The battery lasted about a year which isn't bad. The altimeter works good enough, it will vary up to 200 or so feet depending on weather. My only grip is that the alarm is too quiet to actually wake me up.

No experience with the casio but if you can save $40 that would be nice.

I would add that the Core has a larger, easier to read screen (important for many of us aging baby boomers) and in general may be a bit more intuitive to use. The Core also has a nice automatic function that links the barometer and altimeter making them very user friendly.

I would dispute the waterproof statement. The Core is very waterproof, including the buttons which can be used underwater.

I can't say which is better… they both seem to be great watches, but neither are perfect… I have the Core and have been using it as my everyday watch for almost 2 years. This includes hiking too. I have banged it pretty hard against rocks, trees, door facings… all kinds of things, and it has held up like a champ. The bezel has some scratched spots, but there is not even a scratch on the display. So, while I can't say how the durability between the 2 compare, I can say that the Core is pretty tough… or at least it has been for me.

Also, the Core is very waterproof. I have hiked in the rain, taken showers, and swam in pools and the ocean with it… never an issue with it being waterproof.

My only gripe with the Core is that around freezing, the light starts acting up, and usually quits working. However, if I bring it inside my sleeping bag for a bit and warm it up, it starts working again like normal. Of course though, if I am trying to get a temperature reading outside, this means I had better just shine a light at it to see what the reading says…

What I do like about the Casio is that it is solar charged, and runs off of the world clock. Saying that, my Core hasn't had any issues keeping the correct time, and the battery last a full year. What is nice here is that I can change the battery myself as opposed to having to send it in, and a CR2032 battery costs next to nothing and can be found just about anywhere now.

I have the core, like it so much that wear it pretty everyday. Btw its very waterproof and I have swam, drenched in rain and never had any issues.

I have both a Core and a low-end Casio. I've only had the Casio for about a couple weeks and haven't yet used it on a hike, so consider that in reading my comments.

At this point, I'd recommend the Core, entirely because of its Auto mode in which it intuits whether the pressure changes it's seeing are due to elevation changes or changing weather. It works very well and is very, very handy. The Casio requires you to put it in the right mode manually. It also has a somewhat (to me) confusing way it tries to keep up with the altimeter and barometer separately.

That said, there are some things I prefer about the Casio: it's smaller and lighter than the Core, and more comfortable on my arm; the Core's altimeter gets erratic when the watch is on a sweaty arm–but it works perfectly if I clip it on my waist belt. The erratic readings are annoying while hiking, but they do always settle to the right value if I stand still for a while.

I'm not sure I buy that the Core is more accurate. It is definitely more precise (displays at 1-meter [3-ft] resolution compared to 20-ft for the Casio), but that doesn't mean it's more accurate. If it's right within about 100 to 200 feet after an ascent or descent, I'm happy.

I can't speak to the Casio's battery life, but the Core eats one per year, like clockwork (haha).

I really really like my Suunto Core. I've had it for a year and just changed the battery. I wear it as an every day watch and also use it hiking and backpacking.

I wear it in the shower, in lakes, in ponds, and in the ocean. Never had an issue with water.

I've banged it around a little and have a few dings on the bezel, but nothing on the screen. Overall, I feel like it has held up very well.

Well I dropped by REI – they were sold out of the Casio but the 2013 Core's are on clearance – and they had a Sahara Yellow model that had been returned unused so I got basically garage sale pricing on it … i'm embarrassed to say what a deal I got (although I was willing to pay the clearance/outlet price).

I wanted the reverse display on the yellow model versus the lava red although both are nice.

It is a nice bit of kit – i'll spend some time figuring it out but the basis setting seem pretty straightforward and easy to use.

And it fit my pretty small wrist comfortably.