I have a Suunto "Yachtsman" watch that has a digital compass that I've been pretty well impressed with. It was accurate enough for me to spot bouys on the horizon based on map bearings, and more accurate than the compass on at least one motoboat I've been on (it had never been calibrated).

The problem is, even though I have several watches, and wear the "Yachtsman" on the water, I haven't worn any watch EDC for about a year now. At some point it just started to seem very silly- the mobile phone on my belt displays the time prominently (without flipping it open), is backlit, and never needs setting, and the Palm Tungsten T on (the other side of) my belt displays the time and date on an illuminated screen with one button push. Since I actually use both of those a lot, wearing a watch as well meant that I had no less than three timekeeping devices on my person all day, every day.

I'm sort of sorry to admit it, since I was sort of a "watch freak", but it seems to have been noticeably more comfortable not wearing one. Like going without a tie, once you're used to it, it's hard to go back.

I have the Suunto Vector...the Landman version, and I also have been favorably impressed with the digital compass....not quite enough to make it my primary compass, but enough to drop carrying an Urban compass where most of the time figuring out the primary directions are all that I want.

Presumed....I have not worn any Palm or Tie for many years or Cell phone ever, so am glad to have a light wt multifunction watch/altimeter/compass, but understand your freedom....

>>Presumed....I have not worn any Palm or Tie for many years or Cell phone ever, so am glad to have a light wt multifunction watch/altimeter/compass, but understand your freedom....<<

I don't think you'd trade your large freedom for my small one. :-)

The Suuntos are large watches, but they're *amazingly* lightweight (you have to heft one to appreciate it), and the curved contours mean that they don't interfere with sleeves nearly as much as some thinner watches with hard lines. Good design.

I haven't had to wear a tie in a few months now, but that's fairly unusual as far as my career goes. To be honest, in many of the places I've worked, a high-tech watch is not really acceptable anyway. No one will TELL you that they're not, they'll just alter their opinion of you for wearing it. I think it was Paul Fussel who observed that the less information a watch conveyed, the higher the class signal in our society. With a suit , when I wear a watch, I wear one of three analog watches without even a date or second hand- they're just masculine jewelry, part of the uniform, like the smallsword in the late 18th century.

I've been toying with the idea of asking for suggestions related to the outfit anyway. I like to carry a folding knife. For years, that has usually been a CRKT Sampson's KISS clipped to the backside of the leather Palm case on my belt, out of sight.. but my new Palm is much smaller, and that doesn't work anymore.

These (warmer) days, the uniform of the day is usually polo shirt, khakis, and loafers... not much room for easy concealment. I carry a lot of stuff in a shoulder pouch to and from work, but I'm often out of my office (meetings, lunch) without it. Sometimes I remember to pocket the "Altoids" style tin on the way out, but there's still no convenient place for a decent size folder. Front pockets tend to be cluttered already, back pockets and clips are too revealing. Mutter, mutter....

Presumed,

Polo shirt tucked in or out?

If out, try clipping a decent folder to your waistband under your belt. The clip is nearly invisible even if tucked. I carried an Emerson Viper this way for nearly 12 years with almost no one seeing it.

Now that my low class status is fully entrenched, I can wear a big fat watch, and my Filson vest everyday and cover up all sorts of stuff. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Another place I have carried a folder is clipped to the neck line of my undershirt. Vee necks tees or scoop neck undershirts support something like a polymer framed Spyderco very well. I am sure a sleeveless undershirt will be hidden by a Polo....sort of weird but....

I have also worn a Belly Band holster (4"wide elastic band with a couple of pockets), under a normal dress shirt that easily concealed a large folder.

You are absolutely correct about the Suunto watches; they look huge but wear light. I am a chemist working in a casual business writing code, so everyone expects me to fit the eccentric geek mode....I do not disappoint.

Just be a little careful with the knife positioned around the chest region. If you are driving and wearing your seatbelt (which you should) the possibility of impact could cause the hard sheath trapped under the shoulder portion of the seatbelt to cause considerable damage to the chest. Pete

Yep, I did the same thing..saved a bundle.. M