Looking for a good hiking altimeter.

I have done the whole google search for a good light weight pockes size NON-ELECTRONIC altimeter. I can't seem to find advice with first hand experience for any brands or models. Any recommendations?

Thanks

Cameron

Thommen makes the best non-electronic alitmeter that I know of. Very expensive, but I have seen them offered on ebay sometimes at reasonable opening bids.

Many of the less expensive mechanical alitmeters are not very good, so beware of them.

Top center in this image is my Thommen....

try one of these not the best but they work
Item number: 280100335594 ON E-Bay

That one certainly is inexpensive.

+/- 75' accuracy and not temperature compensated. I would not recommend it.

ebay has a Thommen listed which is vastly superior.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Thommen-SWISS-HANDHE...1QQcmdZViewItem

An cheap altimeter is just not worth the money in my view. Compass and altimeter navigation requires excellent instruments and most of the cheap altimeters are more toys than instruments.

I second the thommen altimeters. $300+ new, but can be had for ~$100 on evilbay. That's for the Tx series models, there is a cheaper altitrek model that has worse accuracy, 100ft instead of 30ft.

Schwert,

Many thanks for the advice. Curiously what are the other "toys" in your picture other than the compasses?

Cameron

Check out:

http://www.peetbros.com/HTML_Pages/altim.htm

I have the Model 80 and it has held up nicely. (Here in the Blue Ridge & Smokies I only need the range available on that model. If I used it in the Rockies or elsewhere I'd need a different model.)

There is a store in Berkeley Ca that had a lot of analog altimeters in stock and they were practically giving them away.
I think they were made by Suunto.
The store is called Wilderness Exchange here is a link to their phone number.

http://www.shopinberkeley.com/w/wildernessexchange/index.php

Peet Brothers published just about the best little booklet on altimeter use I have ever seen. They note it on their website...The Sportsman's Altimeter/Barometer".

A friend of mine had the model 88 Peet and it performed just as well as my Thommen. I have never seen their lower elevation model 80, but since it is temperature compensated I would bet it is pretty good too.

Cameron,

The other item in my photo other than the compasses is a wind speed device (Kestrel). This is a nice instrument, but really just a toy in my use. They are sold for sailors use more than outdoors use, but it is fun sometimes.