Last year, I ferried a Scout glider-towplane 250 nm over the Canadian Rockies. Two hours at 8,000-10,000’ and one hour at up to 11,000’. After I had landed, it was obvious to me and others that I was mildly hypoxic.
I’m definitely going to buy a pulse oximeter before flying high again. I’m also planning to use oxygen with a nasal cannula. A friend of mine, who is of a similar advanced age, routinely uses oxygen on glider flights above 6,000’ or so. He says it definitely improves his performance and airmanship during the flight, and he feels less tired after the flight.
As others have pointed out, readability is quite variable in pulse oximeters. I would not buy one, without having viewed the display in various lighting situations.
cats_five,
Almost all of the pilots in my club use pulse oximeters when wave flying.