How to Change the Altimeter on a Suunto

Finish Suunto produced its first field compass in 1936. The company now manufactures accurate and stylish sports instruments for many outdoor sports like hiking, mountaineering, sailing and training. Most of the instruments are wrist-watch based and the devices provide for sports-specific computers. One feature found on many of the products geared towards hiking and mountaineering is the altimeter.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select "Alti-Baro" in the Suunto's menu. Then choose the "Altimeter" profile. Only use "Altimeter" when the activity involves changes in altitude, otherwise use a different profile, like "Barometer."

    • 2

      Find the reference value for the "Altimeter" profile. Identify your current altitude by looking up your location on a topographic map and reading off the altitude using the contour lines, or use a GPS to provide current altitude, or determine sea level air pressure for your location by looking it up, on the day, at the National Weather Service website (see below.) Some newspapers have this data in the weather section too.

    • 3

      Enter the reference value by choosing "Reference" from within "Alt-Baro" and choose "Altitude" if you are using a known altitude as reference, or "Sea Level" if you are using a published weather service reading. Set the value using the plus and minus buttons. The altitude will be changed to the correct altitude because if you're using a known altitude, you will have set it accurately, and if you're using a sea level reference, the Suunto will calculate your accurate altitude based on known changes in air pressure.