Highgear's Axis multi-function wristwatch does everything and more

PHOTO COURTESY HIGHGEAR Highgear's Axis multi-function wristwatch is also a digital compass, a barometer, a thermometer and an altimeter.

Looking for a toy that can do everything? If so, Highgear's Axis multi-function watch may be the device for you. At $150, this gadget is so much more than just a watch-it's also a digital compass, a barometer, a thermometer and an altimeter.

The first things I noticed were the clean, smooth lines and its large, easy-to-see time display. My personal multi-function watch has jutting surfaces and a small display, so using the Axis was a nice alternative. The watch also features an excellent backlight that illuminates the entire display for a few seconds before shutting itself off.

The Axis display operates in three primary modes: Time, Barometer and Weather. The watch always shows the time in the center of the display during each of these modes.

When the watch is in Time Display Mode, it displays the weekday and date at the top center of the screen (e.g., TU 20 for Tuesday the 20th) and the temperature at the bottom center. Users can set two time zones, identified by a T1 or T2 display in the upper left portion of the screen. The watch tracks hours, minutes and seconds, as well as the year, month and day. It displays the time in either a 12- or 24-hour format.

The Barometer Display Mode displays a 24-hour trace graph of barometric pressure at the top center of the screen and the present sea level barometric pressure in millibars (mbar) at the bottom center.

The Weather Display Mode continues to show the 24-hour trace graph of barometric pressure, and it also displays the temperature (in either Celsius or Fahrenheit) at the bottom center of the screen. Highgear recommends that users separate the watch from body contact for a few minutes for the most accurate temperature readings.

Four handy weather forecast icons indicate sunny, sunny with clouds, cloudy or chance of precipitation/rainy. The appropriate icon is displayed in the upper right portion of the display. This feature, which is based on past and present barometric pressure, is a forecast of the next several hours. The manual provides detailed instructions for setting the necessary values to use this feature.

The watch features many other useful modes. Its Compass Mode displays bearings in degrees azimuth, 0-360, in the center of the display. Users can calibrate the compass, allowing them to set the magnetic declination. The bezel ring rotates on the watch, allowing the user to set directional headings.

The Barometer Mode displays the present sea level barometric pressure in millibars. To improve accuracy, users can enter a known current sea level barometric pressure.

The Altimeter Mode displays the present altitude in feet or meters. Users can store up to 20 data points for future recall, including the time of the data point collection. This feature comes in handy when laying out extensive water-handling systems. In this mode, the instrument displays a bar chart of the last eight hours of altitudes in 15-minute increments.

The Chronograph Mode allows users to record elapsed time or laps. Up to 100 laps of multiple runs can be stored for later recall.

Lastly, the Alarm Mode allows users to set two alarm times. The alarm is a series of four beeps repeated for about one minute before it shuts itself off.

The manufacturer says the latest edition of this watch will come with a battery cover that users can remove using a coin. The watch I received for testing had four small screws holding the back plate. The ability to change the battery without special tools is a definite improvement. 

More information about this watch and other Highgear products is available at www.highgear.com.

Gene Rogers is a consultant and president of Wildland Fire Technologies Inc. in Klamath Falls, Ore. He retired in 2003 from a fire career spanning 34 years in the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service.