Suunto has simply introduced the Suunto Race S, a smaller and lighter model of the Suunto Race they introduced final fall. Besides, it’s obtained extra options, higher accuracy, is considerably cheaper, and is even manufactured in Finland. In contrast to a few of their rivals, it seems Suunto is definitely listening to what their prospects need. Nicely, largely anyway.
The brand new Suunto Race S contains some massive ticket options folks have been asking for, akin to a Suunto Climb Steerage (a ClimbPro-like function), higher coronary heart price sensor accuracy, extra watch face customization, and higher UI responsiveness. Plus, a boatload of different objects. In some ways, we begin to see Suunto having the ability to concentrate on among the smaller tweaks that folks need, versus being caught on enjoying catch-up on massive ticket objects. To not say there nonetheless isn’t some much-needed omissions, however Suunto is clearly beginning to discover their groove right here.
Earlier than we get into it, word that Suunto supplied a media loaner Suunto Race S watch to check. As ordinary, I’ll get that again to them right here shortly. I’ll exit and decide up my very own to proceed testing the brand new options as soon as they arrive. In the event you discovered this overview helpful, you should use the hyperlinks on the backside, or think about changing into a DCR Supporter, which makes the positioning ad-free, whereas additionally gaining access to a largely weekly video sequence behind the scenes of the DCR Cave. And naturally, it makes you superior.
With that, let’s get into the brand new bits!
What’s New:
The Suunto Race S is clearly new {hardware}, particularly in that it’s smaller {hardware}. However, it’s additionally obtained some up to date internals too – akin to the brand new optical coronary heart price sensor. After which on the software program facet, there’s a slate of up to date options. All of those options are going to the present Suunto Race (in addition to Suunto Vertical and Suunto 9 Peak Professional). Thus, all these proceed to get up to date from a software program standpoint.
Right here’s what’s new (as in comparison with the present/bigger Suunto Race):
– Suunto Race S is a 45mm case measurement with a 1.32” AMOLED touchscreen
– New optical HR sensor design
– Manufactured in Finland (see notes beneath)
– Added Suunto Climb Steerage (a ClimbPro-like function)
– Added three new watch faces
– Added skill to customise watch faces, coloring, and problems (from the watch)
– Added colourful emojis (versus black/white stenciled emojis)
– Elevated from 300 emojis to ~1,000 emojis
– Elevated efficiency/responsiveness of the person interface (doesn’t suck anymore)
– Added sport-mode particular show settings (e.g. brightness/and so forth…)
– Added new paused display screen (enables you to see exercise information screens when paused)
– Elevated map zoom degree as much as 20km (from 2KM)
– Diminished turn-by-turn notifications to simply the underside of the display screen (versus full display screen takeover)
– Added greater than half a dozen Suunto Apps as a part of the June 2024 replace (together with Moxy sensor help)
– Including menstrual biking monitoring within the Suunto App (guide logging/monitoring at this level)
– Improved step counter to scale back misdetection (e.g. lowering enamel brushing steps)
– Added Vietnamese language help
– Elevated map storage to 32GB (from 16GB for the stainless-steel Race)
– 28% lighter weight than the Suunto Race (60g vs 83g))
– 14% thinner than the Suunto Race (11.4mm for S vs 13.3mm)
– Has 50m waterproofing, as an alternative of 100m on Suunto Race
– Maintains 100% carbon offset inclusion
– Maintains dual-frequency/multiband GNSS
– Maintains identical 22mm band/strap design
– Glass is Gorilla Glass (versus sapphire crystal on Suunto Race)
– Chrome steel bezel
– Priced at $349/349EUR
By way of manufacturing, Suunto is bringing again manufacturing to Finland for the Suunto Race S. With the Suunto Race, that manufacturing was achieved in China. The Suunto Race S although will ultimately be manufactured in two totally different locations, relying on the place shipments are going. For the Americas, Europe, and sure South Africa distribution, it’ll be items from Finland. Whereas for Asia, it’ll be items made in China. Suunto famous that there could also be short-term edge circumstances the place items come from one space versus the opposite, however on the entire, that’s the plan. That stated, to start, manufacturing is barely initially in Finland. Down the highway it’ll be began/ramped up in China.
Right here’s a fast chart comparability between the Suunto Race & Suunto Race S, from a specs standpoint:
Right here’s the official battery chart for the Suunto Race S:
I’ll say, that these battery life values for the Day by day Use part appear very optimistic based mostly on my testing. I’m seeing about 3-4 days for always-on show (albeit with roughly an hour coaching per day), and about 5ish days battery life with AOD off (with an hour or so per day GPS coaching). The GPS battery charges have been spot-on.
Bought all that? Good, let’s get cooking.
The Fundamentals:
On this part I’ll concentrate on the day-to-day utilization of the watch from a usability, widgets, exercise/sleep monitoring standpoint, in addition to different non-sports targeted areas. Within the subsequent sections I’ll cowl sports activities/coaching options, then navigation/mapping options. Little or no of this has modified from the earlier Suunto Race unit launched lower than a yr in the past, however for these bits which can be new, I’ll dive into the variations.
The Suunto Race has each buttons in addition to a Digital Crown. The Digital Crown is used for navigating up/down lists, in addition to zoom in/out on maps. That is along with the 2 different buttons above/beneath it, and the touchscreen itself.
From a usability standpoint, the Digital Crown works wonderful, although, people who know my opinions over time know that I don’t actually discover the Digital Crown nice (on any watch, Apple included) for something besides zooming in/out on maps. Generally, I discover digital crowns finicky to make use of, particularly throughout sport actions, in comparison with simply urgent buttons. However, that’s largely a private choice.
In the meantime, the 1,000 nit AMOLED display screen is good to see, each in brilliant sunny situations and darker situations. I spent most of my time during the last week+ in Greece, on a really sunny island. I by no means had any points seeing the display screen in any situations throughout mid-summer-sun, or at evening.
Within the case of the Suunto Race S, as with most AMOLED shows, there are basically two modes: At all times-on, or Gesture-based. At all times-on means the display screen is always-on, however will dim whenever you put your wrist down. Whereas Gesture-based implies that the display screen turns off completely whenever you put your wrist down. That is clearly achieved to avoid wasting battery, with Suunto saying that in gesture-based mode Suunto claims 7 days of battery life, versus always-on claims of about 5 days of battery life. As famous earlier on, I’m not fairly getting these numbers, however relatively nearer to 3-4 days in always-on, and 4-5 days in gesture-based. On this case I had the “Show Solely” possibility, which ought to save extra battery.
Now, one new bit right here with the Suunto Race S is the brand new watch face customization. Certain, the Suunto Race S obtained three new watch faces, however what issues right here is the flexibility to rapidly and simply customise the watch faces (together with problems and coloring) proper from the wrist. Merely double-tap the display screen and it enables you to tweak the varied problems:
My solely grievance right here is that almost each bathe I took, resulted in it activating the watch face complication configuration. This wasn’t an enormous deal, roughly akin to how my Apple Watch appears to at all times be swapping watch faces as a result of rubbing towards clothes/and so forth. It’s barely annoying, however not a deal breaker.
Now taking a look at among the every day stats, every morning whenever you wake-up you’ll get a morning report of your sleep particulars from final evening. That is one thing Suunto has had for a yr or two, however is now improved with the Suunto Race and carried by means of to the Suunto Race S in that the display screen will keep there for a minimum of an hour or so, till you dismiss it. Beforehand, it’d disappear the second you rubbed your eyes open, that means you nearly by no means noticed it.
Along with the morning report, you may dive into your actual sleep stats as effectively within the sleep particulars widgets (clearly a special day beneath, versus above):
By way of the accuracy of sleep information, I’ve discovered the occasions I went to sleep/woke-up spot-on, in addition to dealing with circumstances of briefly waking up early morning (e.g. 5-7AM briefly for a couple of minutes), which is at all times good to see. As for sleep levels/section accuracy, it’s not an space I choose, as a result of the comparative instruments to attempt to do this merely aren’t that correct – solely within the 80% vary (and we’d by no means choose coronary heart price accuracy on one thing solely 80% correct). Thus, I simply take the final place that many of the sleep stage/section information is iffy at finest from all corporations. Do word that Suunto will observe naps, although, I haven’t taken any naps throughout this testing interval. I’ll in all probability get proper on that later at present, in any case these opinions exit. I did nonetheless discover that the SpO2 readings at evening (blood oxygen ranges), had been principally rubbish.
Additional, the Suunto Race S tracks your Coronary heart Price Variability, or HRV. Suunto rolled this out final yr to the Suunto Race (and different items), and it displays your HRV values all through your sleep, and reveals you the common. In evaluating Suunto’s values to that of Garmin, Polar, Whoop, and Oura, all of them have been inside +/- 2ms for the complete time, every time. Thus, the variations tended to come back extra from how every unit categorized awake-time inside that. You’ll see HRV standing in a wide range of locations, however most notably within the ‘Restoration HRV’ widget down beneath within the widgets roll. Right here this reveals your present HRV ranges (which take 14 nights of preliminary sleep information to first populate), adopted by the place you at the moment stand.
Now, that is simply one of many numerous widgets that you simply’ll see whenever you scroll down from the watch face. Different widgets embody the stopwatch, notifications, coronary heart price, sources (principally your power for the day), sleep, dawn/sundown, and extra. You may see your coaching associated standing right here in addition to different stuff like climate.
Now, all of those stats are seen within the Suunto App in your cellphone. You may see it first on the high-level for the whole lot within the final 7 days, after which in case you open up that day you see a little bit of a ‘feed’ to your day, displaying your sleep, exercise, exercise, and so forth stats:
And these stats are additionally out there for coaching quantity/and so forth too – however extra on that later.
Subsequent is smartphone notifications. The Suunto Race S enormously expands the variety of emoji right here, from ~300 to ~1,000. And much more importantly, they now have shade in all of them (versus black and white Commodore 64-style emoji beforehand):
Additionally of word is that the Suunto Race S carries ahead the flashlight through show of the previous. This isn’t a devoted flashlight like on the Garmin watches, however relatively, makes use of the display screen as an alternative. It’s also possible to create a hotkey for this (to carry down the higher proper button for 2 seconds). I discovered it completely practical for locating my means round accommodations rooms at evening. It’s not as brilliant because the Garmin ones, however once more, it does the trick.
Lastly, it must be famous the bands are swappable. It comes with a 22mm commonplace band attachment, so you may simply swap it out for different Suunto Bands, or an any variety of a gazillion different 22mm watch bands on Amazon. Your alternative. Additionally, Suunto has a wide range of bands they’re promoting the unit with. The one seen on this overview is the decrease proper orange/purple one.
The inventory bands are fairly snug, so all is effectively there. And naturally, given they’re designed for sport-usage, let’s shift into the following class.
Sports activities Utilization:
After all, the complete function of shopping for a Suunto watch is for doing exercises or sporting actions. Or a minimum of, I hope that’s why you’d purchase this watch.
The Suunto Race S has all the identical sports activities as the present Suunto Race, which is to say, the whole lot. All of those in flip have various ranges of sport-specific information and customization of issues like information fields. Generally, Suunto sport modes are typically extra about calorie burn and categorization of your actions, relatively than having distinctive information metrics for every sport sort. Clearly, the big-name sport varieties like operating/swimming/biking have distinctive per-sport metrics, however whenever you get to among the less-popular ones, it’s extra about basic information fields. Suunto has been increasing this a bit although with a few of their Suunto Apps, that are little apps that may run on the watch, and are generally a bit extra particular when it comes to information they observe.
To start, you’ll faucet the higher proper button to open up essentially the most not too long ago used sport mode, from there you may choose the game mode and alter it to one thing else. When you faucet a sport mode, you’ll be dropped at this web page right here, which reveals GPS standing, sensor connectivity standing, battery life estimates, and extra.
From right here you may change your battery mode (which might supply longer battery life, however often on the discount of another function or information replace price), in addition to add issues like a route. You’ll additionally see the flexibility to decide on the map fashion (mild or darkish), and most notably, SuuntoPlus Apps. SuuntoPlus apps are each Suunto-developed and third social gathering apps you can load onto the watch. This is available in two fundamental flavors: Apps and Guides. Apps are all-encompassing, whereas Guides are typically for issues like structured exercises.
With the Suunto Race S, Suunto pre-loads sure Suunto Apps tied to sure sport profiles. For instance, a tennis-focused app developed by Suunto whenever you launch the Tennis sport profile. With at present’s announcement of the Suunto Race S, there’s much more new Suunto Apps being introduced, which after all go to extra than simply the Suunto Race S, however all the opposite current watches as effectively.
That stated, as I’ve complained for years, Suunto can be utilizing them as a little bit of a crutch. Many of those SuuntoPlus Apps which can be developed by Suunto ought to actually be built-in options of the watch. And the explanation that issues, is you can solely add in 2 apps per sport profile at a time, or 1 app and 1 information (they do a minimum of keep in mind them every time now). Thus whereas Suunto as an organization has most of the sport options Garmin does, you may’t truly use lots of them concurrently collectively, due to the boundaries Suunto has in place – thus making it a lot much less helpful.
Suunto actually wants to select a minimum of a number of of those per quarter, and ‘improve’ them to built-in options. Undoubtedly they’ve the information on which of them are hottest (particularly over longer intervals of time), so this shouldn’t be an enormous ask.
That stated, Suunto did build-in a structured exercise builder into their app, making it simple to get structured exercises on there. These nonetheless take up the slot of a ‘Suunto Information’, however you may run them concurrently with an app, so it’s much less of an annoyance there. You may create a number of steps after which ship it to the watch (even to a particular date). Additional, additionally they help TrainingPeaks structured exercises, in addition to exercises from quite a few different related platforms.
In my case, I created a sequence of 800m repeats, after which executed it on the Suunto Race S. This was simple to create through the app, and even simpler to observe on the watch. I merely ran when it instructed me to ran, and dropped useless when it stated I used to be achieved operating.
As for altering your information pages/fields, you’ll do this through the Suunto App in your smartphone. You may customise these per sport profile, with variants for whether or not or not you’ve obtained a biking energy meter related, or different sensors (and operating energy is built-in, in order that occurs routinely with no exterior sensors). That stated, what’s relatively annoying right here is you can’t edit present (default) sport profiles. It’s a must to begin over and re-create, even if you wish to change a single information area…which, is (and lengthy has been) weird – leading to duplicate sport modes. I’m unsure why that is nonetheless the case.
Lastly, earlier than we begin truly operating, we’ve gotta speak about sensors/equipment. The Suunto Race S can hook up with Bluetooth Good sensors together with coronary heart price sensors, biking energy meters, biking cadence/pace sensors, and operating footpads. Nevertheless, it’s going to solely hook up with a single sensor of every sort, it can not save multiple sensor sort. Additional, it doesn’t even present you the title of the sensor it related to (it’s going to a minimum of present you the ability meter crank size possibility although, if relevant).
Look, I’ve stated it earlier than in my Suunto Race overview, and I’ll say it once more on this Suunto Race S overview– this simply isn’t ok in 2024. It wasn’t ok in 2018 both. And even 2012. Each different watch helps saving a number of sensors of the identical sort, which is especially essential for cyclists. Particularly these cyclists with dwelling trainers or indoor bikes that wish to hook up with these, else, you’re always having to re-pair sensors (with out ever figuring out in case you’ve paired to your bike, or maybe your buddy’s bike). Suunto actually must have this be a spotlight space for the winter, forward of subsequent season. I’m unsure why this may retains getting kicked down the highway.
Likewise, Suunto additionally doesn’t have any broadcast coronary heart price function, to transmit the optical HR sensor to apps like Zwift, Peloton, and so forth… Once more, in 2024, with many individuals utilizing that perform for indoor coaching, it looks as if an apparent hole. Particularly now that Suunto has mounted the accuracy points with the brand new optical HR sensor discovered within the Suunto Race S.
Okay, with the whole lot all set, let’s get this exercise underway. After tapping begin, you’ll see your information pages as configured:
I had no points with information pages, crashes, or something of the kind throughout any of my runs/rides/swims/and so forth… Every little thing labored precisely as I anticipated. Likewise, I had no points viewing the information pages of the AMOLED show throughout brilliant sunny exercises, or night sundown exercises. Once more, AMOLED shows of 2024 are very stable in comparison with AMOLED or LCD screens of only a few years in the past. Visibility is solely not a difficulty anymore.
Oh, and that new ‘pause’ display screen? Right here ya go. It means that you can iterate by means of your information fields/pages like regular, even when paused:
As soon as achieved, you’ll save the exercise and see an entire abstract of your exercise information.
And naturally all of this information is seen on the Suunto App as effectively. When you have related platforms like Strava or TrainingPeaks, these will present up a number of seconds later as soon as synced to the Suunto App.
In that very same vein, you’ll see coaching load and restoration stats throughout the watch, in addition to app platform. On the watch itself, you’ll see the TrainingPeaks metrics of TSB (Coaching Stress Steadiness), TSS (Coaching Stress Rating), and CTL (Power Coaching Load), down within the widgets.
However these are additionally proven on the Suunto App, on the primary homepage, and you’ll dig into them in additional depth if you wish to right here too.
Suunto has licensed these from TrainingPeaks, in order that in idea they need to match your TrainingPeaks account, assuming the information you’ve gotten matches what’s in your TP account.
Mapping & Navigation:
The Suunto Race S accommodates the identical maps and navigation options of the Suunto Race, besides now including in Suunto’s new ‘Climb Steerage’ function, in addition to elevated map zoom ranges, and minor tweaks to turn-by-turn prompts in order that they don’t overtake the display screen.
The Suunto Race S has 32GB of storage, which is notable as a result of the bottom version of the Suunto Race (stainless-steel) solely had 16GB. Virtually talking, each is loads of the maps that Suunto makes use of, as they’re much smaller than Garmin maps since they lack road names/POI/and so forth… To get maps onto the watch, you’ll want WiFi connectivity, and the Suunto App in your cellphone, permitting you to pick and save WiFi networks.
Subsequent, you’ll select which maps/areas you need. Suunto’s area picker means that you can get pretty granular on the precise space you need. That is nice you can obtain smaller map areas in case you’ve obtained restricted connectivity proper earlier than an journey (whereas Polar & Garmin are huge multi-GB map sizes). It additionally means you’d must attempt actually darn arduous to replenish the 32GB of storage (or about 28GB of usable house). On the draw back, in case you’re touring abroad, you won’t know the proper/actual area title for the realm(s) you’re in, since these don’t often align to provinces or cities. It can present you your close by maps although, which helps get the best ones, when you’ve arrived:
Downloading maps makes use of the aforementioned WiFi, as soon as positioned on the charger. You’ll see it hook up with WiFi and obtain any maps within the queue. That is kinda good in that if you realize you’re happening a visit, you may select a bunch of areas, then put your watch on the charger to top-up. Suunto’s map obtain course of doesn’t are typically quick although, so give your self a while.
As soon as maps are loaded, they’ll be in your machine until you delete them. First although, let me rapidly give an summary of the ’state of maps’ in relation to varied gadgets out there at present:
Breadcrumb path solely: That is whenever you don’t have a background map, however simply observe a bit path on a clean display screen. That is basically Suunto’s older gadgets, and Polar’s older gadgets. No maps, only a line.
Non-routable Maps: That is when you’ve gotten a map displayed behind your route, which reveals terrain/trails/lakes/water/mountains/and so forth… Relying on the corporate, it might or could not present title terrain labels too. Nevertheless, this isn’t routable, so it doesn’t truly *know* in case you’re on the ‘Deer Lake Path’ – it simply is aware of you’re on the breadcrumb observe. In the event you stray too removed from the path, it’ll offer you an off-course warning, however it can not well re-route you again. It simply tells you through compass find out how to discover the path once more. That is what the Suunto Race/Vertical are, all COROS watches, and the Polar Vantage V3/Grit X2 Professional.
Routable Maps: That is the ‘highest’ degree, and is when the watch can truly route on the paths by itself, if wanted. It is aware of you’re on Deer Lake Path, and the following path developing is Massive Bear Path. And it is aware of in case you miss that flip, whether or not or not that you must turn-around, or can catch-up afterward. That is what many of the higher-end Garmin gadgets are (any gadgets with mapping, just like the Fenix/Epix sequence, or higher-end Forerunners).
Now, virtually talking – I’ve routed with all three varieties for years, and customarily talking, you’ll get to your vacation spot simply wonderful. Nevertheless, having maps (both routable or non-routable) is a large enhance in confidence, largely when that you must decide at a fork within the path. With breadcrumb routing and slight path junctions, it’s usually only a little bit of a guess or trial/error. However with maps, you may often see terrain options (like a stream or hill) that make it simple to verify.
With the Suunto Race S, it has the non-routable maps, albeit lacks place/location labels. Nonetheless, that is greater than sufficient generally. The one state of affairs that you simply really need routable is whenever you go off-course completely. In that case, you desire a new route, and the Suunto Race S can’t do this for you. You’ll be by yourself there, whereas a Garmin with routable maps can provide you a brand new/up to date route. However that occurs tremendous not often to me.
With all that background, let’s have a look at some routing. I did a run the there different day, which I created a route on Strava first, after which it synced to the Suunto App. From there, it synced to the Suunto Race S. Nevertheless, notably, on the Suunto App, you’ll see the brand new climb data proven alongside the underside. At proper is one other route I created to indicate extra variation within the climbs, and the way the climb metrics are displayed (you’ll see the one at proper has 4 steeper climbs, versus my Greek Mountains route has one steeper climb.
When you’re prepared to begin, you’ll choose the route out of your route itemizing. You may see a fast overview of the route stats, however you may’t see the main points of upcoming climbs like you may with Garmin ClimbPro. Nonetheless, that is Suunto’s first foray into climbing metrics, so it’s start line.
Subsequent, as soon as your route has began, you’ll see the route atop the map. You may zoom in, pan round, and so forth… That is the place the brand new 20KM zoom restrict is available in (versus 2KM beforehand), and is useful when that you must get a a lot wider image of the realm round you. For mountaineering, 20KM in all probability received’t be used a lot. However when biking, 20KM is barely 35-40 minutes for fast using. Notice the terrain topo map proven, although you received’t see road names/and so forth:
As you method a flip, you’ll get a flip notification immediate, which now not takes up the complete web page like earlier than. As a substitute, it’s only a banner alongside the underside, permitting you to proceed seeing your information pages. Subsequent, as you method a climb it’ll briefly present an upcoming climb warning, with the climb quantity (e.g. Climb 1 of 4).
As a substitute, it’ll set off the climb web page to begin displaying up, you’ll must press the tiny little +/- on the prime proper (which might be arduous to see in sure lighting situations). Once you faucet that +/- button, it’ll present you the brand new climbing web page, displaying your home on that particular climb, and the gradient stats:
Once more, I respect what Suunto has began to do right here. It’s, begin. However, I’m searching for a bit extra…aptitude…in my climbing metrics. The above 2.5KM climb had loads of variability in it, from 2-5% sustained, to shorter 10-14% chunks. Loads of ache to go round. But trying on the above, you’d suppose it was just about same-same all the way in which up.
Examine that to the beneath, side-by-side, shot from Garmin’s ClimbPro, displaying extra clearly the variations of what’s coming:
The excellent news is, that is one thing that Suunto can simply replace sooner or later. I didn’t discover any of my climbs to indicate something greater than a single shade. So whereas figuring out how a lot distance/ascent is remaining to the highest is a vital metric, the color-coordinated visualizations of the grade is what seals the deal on usefulness. In any case, I had no points with these popping up throughout my exercises, nor any points with navigation.
By way of GPS battery life burn/utilization, each with out and with out navigation, I discovered that having navigation enabled did have an effect to the battery (as anticipated). In these circumstances, I used to be not often on the map web page actively, however on different pages as an alternative. Albeit, among the influence may need additionally been the warmth. On days I used to be utilizing navigation, it was fairly sizzling (90*F/32*C). Versus the non-navigation days ended up being cooler (about 80*F/27*C). Simply how the cookie crumbled. Nonetheless, right here’s some random stats:
Navigation Enabled: Recorded battery burn charges with an estimation of 17-19 hours throughout my exams
Navigation Disabled: Recorded battery burn charges with an estimation of 27-29 hours throughout my exams
The 30 hours is spot-on with Suunto’s battery claims. These had been measured utilizing the DCR Analyzer, which enumerates out the recorded battery life values from Suunto’s watches (in addition to Garmin/Wahoo/Hammerhead/Levels/others), after which determines the pattern to estimate battery life:
As famous above, when it comes to non-GPS battery life (e.g. simply every day smartwatch mode), I discovered the battery burned a bit sooner than Suunto’s claims. Seeing roughly 3 days for always-on mode (with it in sleep mode at evening), after which about 5 days for normal gesture-based show
Accuracy:
In my authentic Suunto Race overview final yr, I began off the guts price accuracy part with none fanfare saying the “…optical coronary heart price sensor accuracy. It’s dangerous. There’s no two methods to slice it.”
Excellent news! Suunto clearly heard the suggestions from myself and plenty of different opinions about how dangerous the Suunto optical HR sensor was, and because of this, they doubled the variety of LED’s, and revamped the algorithms. In flip, it went from “worst sensor within the endurance business” to “rattling, very sturdy”. It’s not fairly Apple/Garmin good, however, it almost aced all my exams.
Right here’s a run I did, comparatively steady-state, and as you may see – after the primary 90 seconds or so, it’s very a lot the identical the complete time:
Subsequent is a run that originally goes up a mountain almost 1,000ft, after which ultimately comes again down. And out and again of types, that ended up as an interval run. Every little thing could be very stable right here, minus one fascinating blip on the 1hr 2min marker…once I stopped to drink water out of a faucet. It didn’t like that.
Subsequent, we’ve obtained a route that features a bunch of climbing, adopted by a bunch of descending (operating). That is notable as a result of it’s these types of routes the place your a get cadence lock whereas descending (the place the unit will lock onto your footsteps, as an alternative of your coronary heart price). Nevertheless, no points right here:
Subsequent, trying at an interval run (800m repeats), it had no issues in any respect holding right here. Once more, we see a slight fumble within the first 90 seconds of the run, after which it’s all good. The slight fumble within the final interval is definitely simply me holding the digicam, so I received’t maintain that towards it.
Now, when it got here to biking coronary heart price (open air), it was all simply bad-bad. That’s not terribly stunning, given it’s one of many tougher issues for optical HR sensors to get proper:
Identical true for one more experience as effectively. On this case, the one labeled ‘Karoo3’ is the Garmin HRM-PRO chest strap supply.
So, shifting onto to GPS. Suunto maintained the very sturdy land-based GPS accuracy, but additionally seemingly labored to repair the openwater swim accuracy (lastly!). Even happier occasions. So, let’s dive into it.
First, some land stuff. Significantly, that is so boring as a result of there’s nothing to take a look at. Not within the mountains, not within the timber, not within the metropolis, it’s simply…equivalent to the opposite top-end items I in contrast it with (Garmin Epix Professional, and Apple Watch Extremely 2), akin to this run:
On a run within the mountains a bit, with some protection and/or steeper sections, I had no points with it holding lock simply the identical as the opposite items.
Identical goes right here on these small roads. That is truly a reasonably steep part descending (12-15% grades), and didn’t see any significant variations right here between items.
If we have a look at biking routes, once more, it’s all nearly equivalent to a heap of various bike computer systems:
And regardless of the place on that complete line I zoom in, it’s all similar to this, boringly the identical:
So final however not least – what about openwater swimming? In spite of everything, that’s lengthy been essentially the most difficult factor for Suunto to get proper. Nicely, lastly, they did:
Or a minimum of, fairly good. Certain, it’s not fairly as good as you’d see from Garmin’s openwater swim tracks, however it is a huge enchancment over the Suunto Race.
In the end, there’s some very stable enhancements right here. The most important is clearly optical HR, which went from ‘very not good’ to ‘very stable’, a minimum of for operating. In the meantime, for GPS, it maintained the accuracy I noticed beforehand for land-based actions for the Suunto Vertical/Race, and improved upon it for openwater swimming.
(Notice: The entire charts in these accuracy sections had been created utilizing the DCR Analyzer software. It means that you can evaluate energy meters/trainers, coronary heart price, cadence, pace/tempo, GPS tracks, and lots extra. You should use it as effectively, extra particulars right here.)
Wrap-Up:
Simply over a yr in the past in Spring 2023, when Suunto launched the Suunto Vertical, I commented that it appeared Suunto was turning the ship round on {hardware} – however wanted to work on the value facet. Then, final fall once they launched AMOLED-based Suunto Race at $449, constructing upon the Vertical’s function, however dropping the value, I stated in my overview abstract “this seems to be Suunto’s finest watch ever.” I went additional and famous that if Suunto needed to be within the combine, they needed to maintain doing what they had been doing when it comes to pricing – however that they’d to enhance in accuracy.
Seems, they did each. Strongly.
Bringing the Suunto Race S right down to $349 is astonishing. All whereas growing optical HR and openwater GPS accuracy, growing responsiveness, growing a slate of options, and bringing manufacturing again to Finland. They greater than caught the touchdown. One would possibly argue they went for blood. Not Garmin’s blood, however COROS and Polar’s blood. The pricing right here appears designed particularly to trigger extreme heartache for these two manufacturers. Garmin can nonetheless lean on extra options, deeper mapping/navigation, and different smartwatch stuffs (funds/music/and so forth…). However Polar & COROS? This considerably undercuts their pricing methods, much more than the $449 Suunto Race did.
Now, that stated, there’s nonetheless some areas Suunto actually must work on. Every little thing and something to do with paired sensors (e.g. biking sensors), largely sucks. Likewise, as superior because the ever-growing assortment of on-watch Suunto Apps are, these want to begin being baked in to the core watch features, versus being a ‘decide solely two’ alternative each time. Suunto is doing nice work right here, it simply must be consolidated into the core product, else most individuals received’t hassle to make use of it.
Nonetheless, Suunto is nailing it with the Suunto Race S. And like I stated with the prior Suunto Race overview – I hope folks reward them for that. Their choices illustrate that they not solely have a plan, however are executing on it in a means that’s clearly aimed toward growing marketshare.
With that – thanks for studying!
FOUND THIS POST USEFUL? SUPPORT THE SITE!
Hopefully, you discovered this submit helpful. The web site can be a labor of affection, so please think about changing into a DC RAINMAKER Supporter. This will get you an ad-free expertise, and entry to our (largely) bi-monthly behind-the-scenes video sequence of “Shed Talkin’”.
Help DCRainMaker – Store on Amazon
In any other case, maybe think about using the beneath hyperlink if purchasing on Amazon. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t price you something further, however your purchases assist help this web site so much. It might merely be shopping for bathroom paper, or this pizza oven we use and love.
