Mountain climbing is perilous enough without having to worry about where you are and how safe it is. Long a favored tool of the alpine sportsman, today the altimeter has found its way into the very watches we wear. If you are looking for the best prices on these indispensable tools, you may have found the last resource you'll ever need.

It's a simple function of air pressure that the higher you rise up a mountain, the thinner the air gets. That means less oxygen, a phenomenon that can become acute on truly challenging peaks. Inadequate oxygen can lead to a host of grave health concerns, including dizziness, blackouts, poor circulation, impaired immune response, pulmonary edema and even death.

With an altimeter handy, you can track not just the air density, but also how far you've come and how much farther you have to go. Knowledge such as this, laid out simply and readily, can be an invaluable weapon against poor decision-making and the sort of impaired judgment that can be an early warning sign of asphyxiation. When you can read your altitude on your wrist, you never have to worry about digging around for the information you need.

Experts agree it is wise to equip yourself with as much data as possible when climbing, particularly if the party you are with isn't technologically inclined. With a little homework on the subject, you can soon find yourself a sturdy altimeter watch that will last through years of punishment.