Back in April 2013 the Chronicle of the Horse’s editorial staffer Lindsay Berreth posted this review of the Hi-Pique Eventing Watch. After reading her review and getting feedback from our eventing team, we decided to invest in some inventory.
Editor’s Pick – the Hi-Pique Hi-One+ Eventing Watch Review
As an eventer, I require a lot from my equipment. I need my hors’s boots to be sturdy and waterproof, I need a saddle pad that won’t slip, and I need a shirt that keeps me cool and comfortable (and maybe a little bit stylish at the same time).
I also want those same qualities in a cross-country watch, and the new Hi-Pique Hi-One+ Eventing Watch has all those features, plus more.
The last thing I need when galloping on cross-country is to have to squint to read my watch. The Hi-One+ features a large screen with easily readable numbers. The face is square, which took a little bit of getting used to after using my round Optimum Time watch for so long, but I didn’t find it to be any less ergonomic or comfortable.
The watch counts up or down, depending on your preference; for my first event of the season I had it count down. It beeps at each minute marker, then again if you go over the time you’ve set. It then starts counting up so you can see how many seconds over the optimum time you are.
The Hi-One+ comes in either black or white. I have the black model, on which the start/stop button is white, making it easy to find when I glance down to push it as I’m leaving the start box.
I knew whenI got the watch that it was supposedly waterproof, but I wasn’t about to test that theory during my round! But I’ve since doused it pretty good and found that it still functions just fine.
The battery is located on the back of the Hi-One+, and it’s easy to change by using a coin to twist open the latch. You’ll probably have to remove the band to get to the battery compartment, but it’s easily detachable. A warning icon will show on the screen when the battery gets down to 15 percent.
My favorite feature is the interchangeable bands. There are 20 color and pattern combinations to choose from, and I found the perfect red and black one to go with my cross-country colors. They’re easy to change and feature argyle, stars, stripes or dots, but each band costs $13, so it could get expensive if you decide to change it often.
Eventing watches are made to last, (I still have my yellow Optimum Time watch after more than five years of use) and with that durability comes a higher price. The Hi-One+ retails for $99, so it’s definitely an investment, but if you’re in the market for a new watch, it’s great to have this new option on the market.
Review written by Lindsay Berreth, Editorial Staff at the Chronicle of the Horse.