

Suunto Essential User Guide

Using altimeter profile

The altimeter profile calculates altitude based on the reference values. The reference values can either be sea level air pressure or a previous point of altitude reference value. When the altimeter profile is activated, the word Alti is underlined on the display.

When the altimeter profile is activated, you can access the following views with View:

  • Log recorder: records the altitude changes into logs
  • Altitude difference measurer: measures the altitude difference from a set point
  • Temperature: measures the current temperature
  • Empty: no supplementary information

Using altimeter profile

Using altitude difference measurer

The altitude difference measurer shows the difference in altitude between a set point and your current position. This feature is especially useful for mountain climbing, for example when you want to track your progress in terms of altitude climbed.

To use the altitude difference measurer:

  1. In the Alti & Baro mode, select the altitude difference measurer view.
  2. Start, stop and restart it with Start Stop.
  3. Keep + pressed to reset.

You are about to start climbing a mountain that is 3, 280 feet (1000 m) high. You want to be able to check your progress as you climb, so you activate the altitude difference measurer on your . You start climbing, checking your altitude occasionally to see how far you are from the next check point. At some point you start to get tired. You check your altitude, and see that there’s still a lot of climbing ahead. Maybe you need to rethink your next check point.

Recording logs

The log recorder stores all your movements in altitude between the start and stop times. If you are engaged in an activity in which your altitude changes, you can record the altitude changes and view the stored information later.

You can also set altitude marks (laps), allowing you to view the duration and ascent/descent height between your previous mark and current mark. Your marks are stored in memory and you can access them later.

To record a log:

  1. In the Alti & Baro mode, select the log recorder view.
  2. Start, stop and restart it with Start Stop.
  3. When you are recording a log, set laps with +.
  4. Keep + pressed to reset (this can only be done when the recorder is stopped).

Log height difference: shows the measured altitude difference between a log starting point and a log finishing point with the following icons:

In the additional views:
Recording icon 1is displayed when your altitude is above the starting point.
Recording icon 2is displayed when your altitude is the same as at the starting point.
Recording icon 3is displayed when your altitude is below the starting point.
Recording icon 4is displayed when you view how much you have ascended from the log start.
Recording icon 5is displayed when you view how much you have descended from the log start.

Altitude points are recorded according to the recording interval you have chosen (see Choosing recording interval).

To change the recording rate:

  1. In Menu, select memory.
  2. Select rec interval.
  3. Change the recording rate with + and - Light.

An estimation of how much time you can record is shown in the lower part of the display when you browse between the recording rates. The actual recording durations may vary slightly depending on your activity during the recording period.

You can access your history of recorded logs, including log details, from logbook in Menu (see Viewing and locking logs).


When you have stopped the log recorder, you can enter the logbook and view your current recordings before you reset the recorder.

You’re going on another mountain hike. This time you want to record how much you ascend and descend so as to compare the figures with previous hikes. You set your to the altimeterAltimeter profile and start the log recorder when you begin the hike. After the hike you stop your log recorder and reset it . Now you can compare it with your previous logs.

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