| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Also on Backpacker.com
Backpacker Magazine – 2010 Editors' Choice/Gear Guide
Gear Review: Tech40 TraiLeader Jet
A wristtop altimeter, compass, and accelerometer.
Tech40 TrailLeader Jet (Courtesy Photo)
A wristtop altimeter and compass can help you navigate through fog or whiteout, and Tech4o’s TrailLeaderJet adds a third tool: an accelerometer that lets you track speed and distance. Input your stride length, and this watch crunches approximate mileage, mph, and calories. “It hit known distances within 10 percent,” says our Colorado tester.
“Accuracy was best on level trails, with few stops or detours.” Technical terrain is a challenge (tip: re-enter a shorter stride length), but it’s a welcome addition to the relatively accurate altimeter and compass. A big face and best-in-class back light produce top-notch readability, but only big wrists need apply. $160; tech4o.com
Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter
Reader Rating:
-
Editors' Choice 2013
412 trail-tested products
Boost Your Apps
Add powerful tools and exclusive maps to your BACKPACKER apps through our partnership with Trimble Outdoors.
Carry the Best Maps
With BACKPACKER PRO Maps, get life-list destinations and local trips on adventure-ready waterproof myTopo paper.
FREE Rocky Mountain Trip Planner
Sign up for a free Rocky Mountain National Park trip planning kit from our sister site MyRockyMountainPark.com.
Get 2 FREE Trial Issues and 3 FREE GIFTS
Survival Skills 101 • Eat BetterThe Best Trails in America
YES! Please send me my FREE trial issues of Backpacker
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Free trial offer valid for US subscribers only.
Canadian subscriptions |
International subscriptions
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
READERS COMMENTS
Don't buy the CW3. Compass wouldn't calibrate from new. Customer Service would only give me credit even though CW3's are still listed as available on their page. They wanted the difference of what I paid for it and what their list price is (Another $20). Then they weren't sure they could send my faulty watch back as "it may have been recycled". Not a customer concerned company.
Useless, can't even get it wet. I have dress watches that can handle wet conditions better.
All talk no, no action watch. As with Jack's comments, I had similar issues. Lines in screen, fogging up, moisture, and such. The "water resistance" is terrible. People who buy this type of watch are going to expect it handle more that "a splash of water". If you're in need of something for real outdoor use, pick another brand. You'll be thankful you did.
this is a flawed watch, it can't handle any moisture, or even rain the screen fogs up and eventually it dies.
ADD A COMMENT