Backpacker Magazine – Online Exclusive - Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Highgear Axio Mini Altimeter Watch

A feature-filled altimeter watch sized for the female wrist

by: Joel Nyquist

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Altimeter watches are great, but are often are so big they look and feel like hockey pucks on a wrist strap. The Axio Mini is sized down for a woman’s wrist, but doesn’t skimp on features. In fact, it includes all the main features of the much larger men’s watch with the exception of a digital compass.

With dual altitude alarms she won’t miss her turn-off in a whiteout, and the watch even includes a small weather forecast to know if she should pack a rain shell or fleece. Testers in both Virginia and Colorado praised the easy-access functions and agreed that its modest appearance was “understated and cute.” The altimeter is Swiss-made, so pair it with some Swiss chocolate for the woman who enjoys altitude. $100; 2 oz; highgear.com

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