Linde Werdelin Land Instrument Review: More Than A Watch

"Instrument" is probably the best term to describe this nifty little device. It packs a lot of functionality, probably more than you'll ever use. The best way to describe it is a multifunction wristtop computer (term borrowed from Suunto) suitable for extreme conditions that can actually help you survive if you use it properly. The Land Instrument is made by Linde Werdelin, a manufacturer of primarily... luxury watches, and interestingly enough, the Land Instrument is more reasonably priced than you might suspect given its pedigree and functionality. The current price is about $1,100. The name really sums it up: "Land Instrument." It is meant for land based operation as opposed to Linde Werdelin's upcoming Sea Instrument. Specifically, the functions are focused on cold weather, high altitude exploration. For example, it features such notices as an "avalanche warning" or "frostbite warning." This might seem gimmicky, but using the external thermometer and internal barometric pressure gauge and altimeter - as well as its logging functions - the Land Instrument can actually give you accurate information that is worth paying attention to (and can save your life in dire situations). To help you understand the full functionality of the Land Instrument, it is best to go over everything it does and what it comes with. Let's start with what is actually contained inside the instrument itself, and then move on to the included accessories which contain external sensors. Inside the land instrument is a 3 axis compass with a tilt sensor (this provides you with a compass as well as ascent and descent monitoring), and an atmospheric pressure sensor (for barometric pressure and altitude reading). There is also the internal low power consumption 16 bit RISC computer with 4Mb of storage that has wirelessly upgradeable software. While the storage might seem scant by today's device standards, this is plenty to store the log data for all the sensors. Then there are the external sensors. First is a carabiner clip with a temperature sensor built in. This accessory does two things rather cleverly. First, it serves as a connecting point for the Land Instrument itself. Meaning you attach the Land Instrument to the clip and it can hang off of a belt or bag. Second, the internal thermometer in the clip communicates wirelessly with the Land Instrument. Not having the temperature sensor in the Instrument itself is helpful because it allows you to get an accurate reading of the ambient temperature. If the sensor was included in the Land Instrument itself, it would potentially be influenced by your body heat (as is the case with virtually all other temperature reading watches). The other included sensor is a heart rate strap that goes around your chest. This also connects wirelessly to the Land Instrument and provides you with accurate heart rate data every 5 seconds.