SkyCaddie Aire II GPS review
What do we make of the new Aire 2 from SkyCaddie?
READ: Best golf GPS 2015 test
Name: SkyCaddie Aire II handheld
Weight: 68 g
Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 2.5 cm
Touchscreen: No
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Course maps: Pre-loaded with 35,000 TrueGround course maps
Colours: Black
RRP: £130
Key features
- Precise yardages - accurate distances to front, centre and back of green
- TrueGround target list - fairway target and layup target approaching the green
- Digital scorecard - stores up to 20 rounds
- Intelligent automation - auto-course select, auto-hole advance and auto-distance
- +Fitness - stopwatch and odometer features
Ease of use
The Aire II is slightly smaller than some of the other handhelds in this test, and for that reason, we recommend it highly. It clips neatly onto a belt or a golf bag and fits snug in the palm of the hand.
Although not a touchscreen like some of the other handhelds, the buttons at each side are easy to operate and the course data is one of the boldest and clearest we have seen.
Best features
The Aire II is a vastly improved unit in comparison to the original Aire handheld with precise yardages to the front, middle and back of the green now based on the golfer's angle of approach - perfect for when finding yourself playing an approach shot from the adjacent fairway.
Our local course was picked up within seconds of reaching the first tee, and the digital scorecard function appeared neat and easy to operate.
We also appreciated the "Fairway Target" and "Layup Target" features that tell you the distance to certain points from your current location, as well as the distance to the centre of the green.
Other features of interest to many golfers will likely include a distance measurement odometer, calorie counter and distance tracker.
Setup
The Aire II is easy to setup providing you have access to Microsoft Windows Vista/7/8 and MacOS 10.6 or higher.
A rechargeable lithium battery powers the Aire II for up to 10 hours between charges, but we recommend you charge it up before each round to be safe.
Conclusion
The SkyCaddie Aire II is ready to play with over 35,000 error-corrected courses straight out the box.
Its impressive "Intelligent Automation" (auto-course select, auto-hole advance and auto-distance) feature ensures you can keep your hands free and your mind focused on shooting lower scores.
The only slight niggle with the Aire II is that if you want added information, such as the shape of greens or distances to hazards, you are required to unlock these by paying for one of the SkyCaddie subscriptions.
The Aire II narrowly misses out on a gold award, but it is light, accurate, versatile and offers terrific value for money at £130.
For more information visit www.skygolf.com
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
