Before you read this review, know that I was lusting after the PAW line of Pathfinders before I bought the PAG 40. I particularly was drawn to the solar power and atomic clock calibration of the PAW line. HOWEVER, this PAG 40 showed up at my local Costco for $99.97 - a deal I couldn't pass up. I am not disappointed - IT'S A GREAT WATCH! I give it 5 stars because of the features and the price I paid for it.
The PAG 40 is my third Pathfinder watch. I've been wearing them now for nearly 20 years. This newest one does not disappoint. Rugged, light, and incorporating everything I've come to expect from Pathfinders, with the added bonus of much bigger face and better backlighting than my original two. WAY better backlighting.
All the new Pathfinders I've looked at solve the major weakness I personally found in my previous two: the pins holding the watch straps in place seat in shallow divots in the plastic housing. These eventually wore out on both my previous Pathfinders and proved impossible to fix in a lasting way. The new Pathfinders have screws that hold the pins in place. A much needed improvement. I'm surprised to find others haven't reported this problem. With the size of the watch, it's easy to catch it getting in and out of a back pack.
For the many out there who criticize the accuracy of the altimeter, barometer, and thermometer, with respect I've got to say get over it. I'll handle each one at a time.
1. I've backpacked with very expensive barometers and no matter how you cut it, unless you're carrying GPS and can get an accurate fix, a hand held barometer of any type needs to be recalibrated to fixed points on your map because they are entirely based on air pressure. The Pathfinder is no different. If you're in the backcountry and you experience a sudden change in the barometric pressure, a significant change will alter your altimeter's reading. When I backpack with the pathfinder, I typically start my trip calibrating it at the trailhead, and make comparisons throughout the day at known topo points on the map. Resetting the pathfinder is a snap, and when I do this regularly I rarely find inaccuracies with my Pathfinders. In fact on one occasion, I was traversing my way up a snowy slope to a saddle between two peaks in the north Cascades and experienced fog so dense I could barely see my hands in front of me. Between the compass and altimeter I stayed the course and crossed the saddle just where I was supposed to.
2. A barometer reads and tracks the changes in the barometric air pressure. If your barometer is in a fixed position, your tracking is accurate. If however, you are going up and down in the world, as in backpacking or driving around a place like the northwest, the barometer can be a little tricky. Still, if you know your elevations through a map or knowledge of your home turf, this barometer is reliable and accurate.
3. How does anyone expect a thermometer strapped to your wrist to accurately measure temperature? Adjust your expectations here and face reality: The place where the thermometer comes in handy is in camp, probably over night, not strapped to your wrist, measuring the air and not your body's heat.Get more detail about Casio Men's Pathfinder Triple Sensor Blue Watch #PAG40B-2V.
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