December 17, 2000


What's a pocket-sized gadget that measures temperature and pressure?

I was recently white water rafting and encountered a person who had a small, pocket-sized unit that registered the temperature, barometric pressure, and gave a 24-hour forecast. I heard that the unit also comes with an altimeter. Any idea about where I might find one? It's not a wrist-top computer. Thanks,

— Cheryl Newton Falls, Ohio

I believe what are looking for is the Suunto Escape 203. This is a new gadget from Suunto, and a very nifty one. It's not a wrist-top unit, but a compact hand-held one (you can string it on a lanyard quite conveniently). Features include barometric readings (including high and low readings for previous 24 hours); an altimeter that reads out at three-foot increments and can be set to measure rate of ascent/descent in either feet or meters per hour; and of course clock/stopwatch functions. It's also waterproof to 15 feet.

Because Suunto didn't have to squeeze all these functions into a wrist-top design, the price is extremely reasonable: $140 retail, and I've seen them on the Web for $99, which is a steal.

Your acquaintance also could have had a Brunton Sherpa ($170). Very similar to the Escape, but ads a built-in anemometer for measuring wind speed. It even calculates wind chill —- although recent studies show that the long-established method for calculating wind chill is based on flawed assumptions, so the Sherpa likely will read colder than it really is. Still, it's an intriguing device.

>Agree with the Gear Guy? Think you know something he doesn't? Express yourself in our Gear Forum.