The race for the perfect GPS watch is heating up, and Suunto is aiming for the highest with its new Suunto Race GPS watch.
Recognized for its adventure-driven designs, the model is now making a daring push into the working world. However after years of carving out a distinct segment for path and out of doors lovers, can Suunto deliver one thing recent and thrilling to the desk for on a regular basis runners?
The Suunto Race is filled with options designed for athletes who need to dive into the main points—suppose superior metrics, restoration insights, and even race preparation instruments.
For seasoned runners who love having a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips (and who prioritize map and navigation options), this watch could possibly be excellent for you.
I’ve been testing this watch on street runs, on the monitor, and even on the treadmill, and I’m right here to share my takeaways. So let’s dive into what makes this watch stand out—and the place it’d fall brief for sure runners.
Who’s it good for?
- Novice Runners: It is a LOT of a watch, each weight-wise and on the options facet
- Present Garmin Customers: Follow what . This watch and the Suunto app don’t supply sufficient differentiators so that you can bounce ship.
- Path Runners: You could have discovered your subsequent watch! A number of GPS modes, map importing capabilities, plus altimeter and barometric features.
- Every day Utilization: Has quite a lot of stable coaching options however doesn’t characteristic cellular pay choices
- Worth for Value: The value has dropped to $399, which is aggressive for a mid-range watch.
This one could should be subsequent on our listing of greatest path working watches.
Suunto Race Watch Evaluate
What first struck me when unboxing the Suunto Race was the large show display (1.43”). It positively seems the closest to a sensible watch than something I’ve examined. The intense AMOLED show and contact display performance function a fantastic reminder how far working watches have come prior to now few years!
However yeesh, this watch is HEAVY, tipping the dimensions at 83g.
Comparatively, my Coros Apex 2 Professional weighs in at 66g and my older Garmin Forerunner 945 sits at 50g. Level being,it’s considerably heavier than nearly all of its rivals and also you positively really feel that distinction.
*Excellent news: there’s a Suunto Race S which goes to be the smaller model and weigh solely 60g.
The burden of the watch is additional amplified by the match of the silicone wristband. Whereas the secondary clasp does assist preserve the watch face in place, I discovered myself having to tighten the strap fairly a bit to stop any motion. Positive, I don’t need the watch bouncing round whereas working, however I additionally want the match to be comfy—and sadly, it’s not.
As a brand new Suunto person, I discovered the watch and corresponding app a bit difficult to arrange.
The menus and group of the watch’s options should not tremendous intuitive, so it did take me some time to really feel assured utilizing primary features.
This watch brings a boatload of knowledge to the desk and boasts complete coaching options I’ll get into shortly. However let’s take a fast take a look at a few of my takeaways from my time testing this watch.
Fast Take Professional’s and Con’s
Professionals
- Amoled Display screen and enormous show (1.43 in.)
- Knowledge galore: Steps, HRV, 24/7 HR, Resting HR
- Prolonged battery life
- A number of modes of GPS
- LOVE the flashlight
- Greater than 90 totally different exercise modes
Cons
- This watch is HEAVY 83g – in comparison with my Coros Apex Professional 2 that weighs 66g
- Strap match
- App is clunky and sluggish updating information
- Buttons on the watch are sporadically unresponsive or lag
GPS added .02~.04 mile for every mile I ran - Configuration and menu move on the watch isn’t intuitive
Fast Take:
100% we’re on board with the Suunto Race S for being lighter and cheaper! That being mentioned it does drop the battery life quite a bit, so there’s your commerce off!
Examine them each out right here >>
Sensible Watch
The watch packs in a number of helpful smartwatch options, together with name, textual content, and e mail notifications, climate alerts, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t assist media storage, so when you’re seeking to take heed to music or podcasts throughout your runs, you’ll nonetheless must deliver your cellphone.
The excellent news? You may management your media instantly from the watch. Equally, the watch doesn’t assist contactless funds.
For these of us who always misplace our telephones (responsible as charged), there’s additionally a “Discover My Cellphone” operate. And as foolish because it sounds, I’ve to confess—I like the flashlight characteristic.
That mentioned, syncing the watch with the Suunto app isn’t all the time seamless. Throughout testing, I typically needed to open the app and maintain it near the watch, and even then, information like climate updates and up to date exercises generally took some time to point out up. However this watch brings quite a lot of information to the desk, together with HRV (Coronary heart Charge Variability), steps, coronary heart fee, resting coronary heart fee, sleep evaluation, and extra.
At first, the three-button format would possibly really feel a bit difficult, however when you get the hold of it, customizing your watch and arranging your favourite widgets is a breeze. The crown scroll button helps you to simply navigate by options, or you should use the touchscreen, relying on desire.
Whereas the Suunto Race gives extra smartwatch capabilities than another working watch I’ve examined, it does miss a number of key options that many runners worth, like contactless funds, multi-bluetooth pairing, and media storage—which you’ll typically discover on competing fashions.
Battery Life
- As much as 16 days in smartwatch mode
- 40 hours in all programs coaching mode (a number of GPS frequencies)
- 65 hours in all programs coaching mode (single GPS frequency)
- AMOLED shows often drain battery fairly shortly, however the Suunto Race has sufficient energy to remain dependable as a day by day wearable, which is a large plus! The watch takes between 1-2 hours to cost fully and begins notifying you of low energy as soon as the battery stage reaches roughly 30%.
GPS and Navigation
Navigation is the place the watch really shines. You may add maps and race routes, and select between a number of totally different modes of navigation.
- Route Navigation (Breadcrumb Trails): Observe a preloaded route with a easy path show.
- Again to Begin: Navigate again to your start line with a reverse breadcrumb path.
- Compass: Know which route you’re going through to take care of a way of orientation.
- Waypoint Navigation: Navigate towards particular factors of curiosity you’ve set as waypoints.
- Maps: Use detailed maps for navigating extra complicated or distant routes.
It’s vital to name out that multi-band GPS mode, route navigation, and mapping options will drain the battery extra shortly than commonplace working options. I didn’t have the possibility to check the watch on the paths however the suggestions I’ve learn highlights the navigation as this watch’s greatest characteristic!
In the case of the GPS operate, I used to be shocked to seek out the Suunto Race measured my run distance as about 0.02 to 0.03 miles longer per mile in comparison with the Coros Apex Professional 2, which I wore alongside it. I additionally swapped out the Coros for my Garmin Forerunner 945 and received just about the identical outcome.
After digging into it, I discovered that different runners on the market seen the identical discrepancy. A bit ironic that the navigation is spot-on however the GPS isn’t fairly as correct.
Coronary heart Charge Monitoring
Wrist-based coronary heart fee displays typically get a foul rap for accuracy. The guts fee information from this watch was persistently on par with the Coros I used for comparability throughout testing. In the event you’re critical about dialing in your coronary heart fee information, Suunto additionally gives a coronary heart fee belt for extra exact readings.
Personally, I’m nonetheless getting the hold of low coronary heart fee coaching, however Coach Amanda swears through the use of an correct coronary heart fee monitor as a key coaching element.
For some tips about tips on how to get extra correct coronary heart fee readings and take advantage of your GPS watch, you’ll want to take a look at her GPS watch ideas!
Exercises
We’ve already coated how a lot this watch can do, however I need to spotlight three options which might be particularly nice for runners.
First up is Suunto’s FusedSpeed know-how.
This distinctive characteristic combines GPS information with an accelerometer (which tracks your motion) to present you extra correct readings of issues like tempo and distance. It’s particularly useful in areas the place GPS alone can wrestle, like in cities with tall buildings or dense, wooded trails. Runners love their information, however let’s be actual—it solely issues if it’s correct, proper?
The second standout characteristic is the Ghost Runner mode.
You set a distance and time aim on your exercise, and when you begin, the watch updates you in actual time on whether or not you’re forward, behind, or proper on tempo along with your “ghost runner.” It’s a enjoyable, recent take that may assist lighten the temper throughout more durable coaching periods.
This watch has a TON of superior coaching information for us to nerd out on, factoring in your brief and long-term coaching masses, restoration, and the depth of your exercises. In the event you’re a fan of deep-diving in information, the Suunto Race is a superb choice for you!
Ultimate Ideas
In the event you’re after a watch that permits you to geek out on information and gives a number of stable smartwatch options, the Suunto Race is a superb decide. However when you’re actually explicit about match and GPS accuracy, this won’t be the one for you.
You would possibly think about the Garmin Forerunner 965 or Coros Apex 2 Professional.
Properly there you will have it! I hope this assessment helps you discover your subsequent working watch!
On the lookout for extra gear and path ideas?
