High Gear ATF8 Multi-Function Device

"Too-faint alarm chime"

I guess I won't be buying this one; I'm still looking for a watch with a loud enough alarm to wake me up in the morning! While my hearing still tests out just fine in the normal range, we all lose the higher notes as we grow older!

How about a minaturized version of Big Ben? That's what I need to wake up.

–B.G.–

Waht is the cost of the ATF8? Where can it be purchesed?

Google Shopping is da bomb.

http://www.google.com/search?q=atf8&tbs=shop:1&aq=f

Looks nice. Did I miss the weight?

Also: What is that fixed blade knife you have on your pack? I kinda like that Idea for mounting a knife, especially because I have a tenancy to be in a harness a lot.

If I'm any judge, and I really don't claim to be, It's a Cold Steel sgian dubh (what other type of knife would you wear with that mountain hardware kilt?) although I'm not sure of the model

The chime noise is not that loud, but it's quite piercing. Certainly it's better than my old Brunton equivalent. And better than my Suunto Observer. I've slept through it a few times, but not often.

The ATF8 is one of my favorite toys. I abandoned using watches after I tore the strap off my Suunto twice on rocks (fortunately the strap gave way and not my wrist). Plus with something away from your body heat you get temperature readouts while you hike, which is really helpful when tuning your gear.

Jace, the weight (listed in the intro of the article) is 1.6 oz.

Ray, I'm glad you mentioned the alarm. Hopefully they upgrade it in the future. Until then, I'll keep my old sensor watch in my pocket with the wrist strap removed.

I noted the same problem with my Alterra watch. Another issue with wrist worn multifunction devices is that the sweat from your skin will interfere with the air pressure port on the back of these devices. I would always have to take the Alterra off & blow on the back of it to make it accurate again. For those of us with high frequency hearing loss (like me) the Timex Expedition WS4 may be a good alternative. I have no problem hearing the alarm on the Timex & it has a caribiner style as well. From what I can tell, it also has the same functions as the High Gear albeit at a heavier weight & at a cost of $200.

Hi guys,

I am in Wisconsin dells with my kids for Christmas, on the world's slowest WiFi…

I flat forgot to send Addie the specs table with weight and price and such. I am very sorry. When I get back next week I will post it here in the comments.

I have yet to find one of the multi-function devices with a loud alarm. Which I don't understand as I woke to one for about 11 years (two Casio watches) so I know it is possible. ;-)

Have a great Christmas all,

Ray

The knife is the Gerber Guardian Back-Up. I reviewed my first one (on number two after TSA swiped one) here:

http://tinyurl.com/2qxnua

It's just remembering how all the buttons operate if you don't use it everyday. Thing things always try to do too much, not all of them well.

Thanks, Ray, for a great review! I saw this on High Gear's website and wondered how good it was. I was torn between a multi-function watch and this and decided this would be much more convenient. As you show in your photo, it can be clipped to the sternum strap or shoulder strap of the pack. I will start tossing all my loose change into my loose-change can to save up for one of these! :)

nice review and nice piece of gear, too bad the temps didn't go a little lower- I'm more concerned w/ temps on the low end vs high end

It's called an Iphone4. A charge lasts a good long time if you keep the radios (phone, bluetooth, wi-fi) turned off, and if you can understand a normal conversation, you can hear the alarm. Compass? check, altimeter? check, GPS with maps? check, stopwatch, check, Weather forecast? only if you're in range of a cell tower. Music? check, books? check, all the AT elevation profiles? check. Expensive? check.

At 1.6 oz. the High Gear ATF8 is much lighter than my solar powered Casio (approx. 4 oz) which has all the same functions including the alarm that only a dog can hear so that's a plus.

But bottom line, despite the weight and cost, if further testing shows my Iphone4 will go more than a week between charges (with judicious use)that's what I'll be taking from now on because it does so many things so very, very well.

Is your iPhone shock and water proof?

Is your iPhone shock and water proof?

Can't say for sure, but likely no. As soon as I got it, I bought an anti-shock skin for it. When I hike, I keep it in a ziplok. For all it does, I think it's worth the extra precautions.