The Shed: Quirky meets functional

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

By Grace Hammond

I was reluctant to review the Suunto Lumi because then I would have to send it back.
This watch is, in a word, rad. The Finland-based company describes the Lumi (priced $299-$349 online) as “a feminine and functional wristop computer designed for active and adventurous women.” The Lumi has already won National Geographic Adventure Best of Adventure Gear 2008 honors.

It is Suunto’s first women’s sports watch and one of the few available anywhere that is so feature-rich. The interface is easy to navigate and the functions straightforward. It takes exactly the number of steps it should to get to each place you want to be on the menu - you aren’t doing a lot of gratuitous button-pushing like you might on some other sports watches. It’s very well-designed, which makes sense to me; I grew up with Finns and when it comes to gadgets, they value no-nonsense technology and precise engineering above almost anything else.

The sunrise and sundown feature is great, even though you have to sync it with Salt Lake or Idaho Falls because Jackson isn’t an option. You can display dual time with another location, which is useful for business and travel. The storm alarm, Weather Trend Indicator, and compass were reliable. The barometer and altimeter (with a handy logbook) were accurate, although I wish you could display both at once - it’s one or the other, settings-wise, although you can set it to go automatically back and forth.

The watch distinguishes itself from the competition with not just the ease of its features but its style. It is both simply gorgeous and gorgeously simple. Most sports watches end up being either ugly but functional or pretty but not functional.

The rubber wristband is almost startling next to large, stark silver face, but I think it works. I was surprised by how many consumer reviewers on Amazon and other shopping sites hate the band. I’ve read that you have to cut it with scissors to size, although the one I received fit just fine so I didn’t have to bother. The thick rubber band is an odd choice, to be sure; the one I tested was bright neon orange and it looks like it would glow in the dark, a contrast to its shiny accents. But I love it. I was charmed. It’s the best part about the watch’s look, in my opinion. People always complimented it when I was out and about.

The Lumi has been marketed as “dress me up, dress me down,” but I do have to agree that this bright orange band doesn’t really work on formal occasions. You can get a more low-key band with this watch (still rubber, but in other colors) but I still wouldn’t trade this silver-and-orange combo for anything.

There was little room for improvement overall, though there were two areas that could concern some people, depending on their lifestyle.  Mainly, I do not know how the watch would hold up while climbing. The large, glass face could not be more different from the face on a burly plastic sports watch - climbing, one of the things the watch is intended to help you do, could theoretically scratch it. I have read that it scratches easily, although I wore this thing every day for over a month and other than the band getting dirty around the edges it is good as new.

The thermometer is a bit of a puzzler. You have to remove the watch to take the temperature - otherwise your body heat will throw it off.

 Overall, the Lumi is a feature-rich, smartly designed women’s sports watch with quirky style. If you’ve got the money and you aren’t bothered by the vivid wristbands, I think it is well-worth the price. You can find more information at www.suuntowatches.com.

Courtesy photo
The Lumi’s crisp Finnish design.

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The Shed: Quirky meets functional | Planet JH News Article: Sports & Recreation

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