Choosingthe right smartwatch for youis goon . Wearable devices are now commonplace , and as a answer , there are more pick than ever . A key first step is distinguish which features are the most crucial to you . If you ’re looking for a fitness - first smartwatch , then Suunto , while perchance not the first name that spring to mind , is a name worth think .
The Suunto Race is Suunto ’s bounty smartwatch for runners , but it ’s important to take down that it ’s not just for runners . With a wide range of support for runner , gymnasium - goers , hikers , cyclists , adventurers , and jock of all chevron , the Suunto Race is a upstanding smartwatch with a secure focus on fitness and exercises of all type .
It ’s not a perfect smartwatch by any way , and those look for the “ fresh ” smartwatch around would do well to steer clear of this Finnish sentry . But if run , cycling , or any number of other workout are a big part of your life sentence , then sit down and pay tending .
Suunto Race: design and comfort
The Suunto Race is a cock-a-hoop smartwatch , and that ’s one of the most crucial element to keep in intellect when you ’re looking to purchase it . It measures 49 x 49 mm , which make it as long as the supersized Apple Watch Ultra — but unlike the Ultra , the Race is round , so it ’s just as wide as it is tall . If you have a small wrist , it ’s going to dominate it . I was sent the Ti example , which weighs in at a substantial 69 grams , and the cheaper brand model rocks the scales at an enormous 83 grams . To put it into context , that ’s heavier than two Apple Watch Series 9 smartwatches .
It ’s comfortable , though , and it has n’t ever feel uncomfortable on my radiocarpal joint , nor has the include shoulder strap caused any itch or discomfort . I also did n’t have any issues wearing it at Nox to sleep . I removed it to play with theSamsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classicfor a mean solar day or two , and put the airstream back on felt like pulling on a downy sock . By default , it comes with a sport - style shoulder strap that ’s secure by fight a alloy oarlock through one of the shoulder strap ’s hole . It ’s far more unassailable than any other shoulder strap I ’ve used and the root of the machine ’s comfort . It ’s the most comfortable shoulder strap I ’ve ever used , but you may change the strap if you desire to , thanks to the Race ’s standard 22 mm shoulder strap attachment .
The Suunto Race is also a thoroughly - looking watch . The good example I received is the titanium version in charcoal . It looks and feels like a premium product , and while the size does detract slightly from the elan , it does n’t scream “ fitness vigil , ” and you likely wo n’t feel awkward wearing it in classy milieu .
Mark Jansen / Digital Trends
Suunto Race: display and controls
The Suunto Race is monolithic , but unfortunately , the 1.43 - inch presentation is n’t as enceinte as I ’d like it to be due to chunky bezels . The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 , for comparison , has a much smaller 44 mm frame but squeezes in a large 1.5 - column inch display .
Thankfully , it ’s a great panel . It uses AMOLED tech , sports a 466 x 466 resolution , and is protect by sky-blue crystal glass . It ’s clean and crisp , with vibrant color and ink-black blacks . I ’ve had no issue read it in the ( admittedly rarefied ) strong British sun , and I have no complaints about how it looks .
The always - on display is good , too . When toggled on , it fades out to a dumb backlight but still render a minimal time show , so you’re able to still peek at the time without waking the screen . This will depend on the lookout face you use , and unfortunately , there are only 13 to opt from . you could change the semblance scheme of these 13 faces , but it ’s shake up to go from basically any other smartwatch to one with such a paucity of watch faces available .
Mark Jansen / Digital Trends
The display is unclouded and crisp , with vivacious colors and ink-black Black .
you may hold the spotter using the touchscreen , but if you ’re anything like me , you ’ll find the expectation of a rotate crown much more beguiling . Roll the diadem to move smoothly through the menu and push it down to take . There ’s a back button below the crown , while the button above changes depending on the context . As ever , with rotating peak , it ’s easygoing to use , and the watch feels reactive and immobile . If I had one complaint , it ’s the tactile feedback bond to the treetop ’s revolution . I was n’t keen on this and attempt to turn it off , but switching that off also turns off vibrations for telling . It should go without saying that these two setting should not be tied together . I ’ve learned to live with it , but I ’d rather I did n’t have to .
Suunto Race: specs and sensors
If you ’ve used a fitness ticker lately , then the list of the Suunto Race ’s sensing element and specification will look very familiar . You get GPS connectivity for position trailing , a ticker rate sensor , sleep trailing , tension tracking , a daily energy level , training recovery , and a bunch more innovative features . There ’s no option for an LTE connectedness , but since it does n’t have any ability to stash away music or run apps independently , you ’re not going to need one .
The caliber of the sensing element is beneficial . The heart rate sensing element has tallied well and liken well with other heart rate trackers from Polar , Samsung , and Garmin . The blood - oxygen tracking seems a little off . It reported my sleeping blood - atomic number 8 tier around the 80 % stain , which , I am told by a doctor , would mean I was numb . But I ’ve noticed those issues in a routine of smartwatches , and they are in all probability connected to not jade the sentry correctly at night .
Nestled within the watch is an ample amount of storage , no matter which of the two models you pluck . The stainless brand Race gets 16 GB , while the titanium model gets 32 GB . Do n’t put too much stock in how much storage you get , though , as it ’s of limited value unless you’rebiginto downloading mapping . Since there ’s no ability to download apps or music , the storage is mostly there for offline single-valued function accession . It ’s a worthful resource , do n’t get me wrong , and I sleep together the map feature article — but I was capable to download the totality of the United Kingdom ’s map while barely tickling the internal depot . It ’s peachy there ’s a luck of reposition , but there ’s not that much to do with it .
Mark Jansen / Digital Trends
The processor is n’t specialise anywhere , but operation is effective . It responds quickly to rolling the pate , and I only experienced moment of lag or hitches when open mathematical function or anything that queries the entrepot space — but it ’s never a long interruption . It can take a few minutes for the GPS to link when starting an exercise , though , and that can be rag . However , it ’s by no agency a deal - surf .
Suunto Race: fitness tracking
It ’s unsurprising that the Suunto Race excels at fitness tracking , but the depth of the choice on whirl still surprised me . Although the Suunto Race is set in the first place as a functional smartwatch , it can happily address any exercise it ’s capable of .
The user interface is fairly mere during runs . By default option , it offers your pace and nitty-gritty pace , and you’re able to switch to a map opinion , lick , and music contain . It ’s everything you need , but a little barebones if you ’re used to the more colorful interface from smartwatches fromSamsungorGarmin . But there ’s still a lot of depth . Before start up , you may dive into a massive list of feature and pinch , including lay distance or time targets , changing up the battery musical mode to keep the watch tracking for longer , voice feedback , and even changing whether the map is bear witness in light or sour modality . You wo n’t dive into these modes every time you go for a run , but it ’s handy they ’re here . I ’ve used physical fitness watches in the yesteryear that only offered these variety of changes in companion apps or deep in the place setting , and it ’s a great option to have .
The interface may be a petty barebones during runs , but it ’s anything but later . stick out into your stats , and it ’ll offer up your running game power ( a key metric for experienced runners ) , cadence , affectionateness rate breakdown , and how long it ’ll take you to recover from your exercise . But it also offer some stats you may necessitate to Google , like your PTE ( apex training effect ) and EPOC ( superfluous post - exercise O consumption ) . These phone number are n’t overwhelming by any means , and you may centre on the more familiar number , but it would be nice to see Suunto offer up a bite more of an explanation of what these number actually imply .
Mark Jansen / Digital Trends
I ’m a big hiker , and despite being sold as a running watch , the Suunto Race is a very good vigil for Zimmer frame . The big screen means viewing maps is well-fixed , and the recollective battery life means it pig all but the heavy walks . It ’s my machine of choice on paseo , brusque and long , and if I ever get around to walk some longer lead , this will be the picket I take with me . Using my watch to make trusted I was on the trail or check out a quick way to get back is great , and it ’s a lineament I ’ll miss when I go back to using other watches .
The battery mount provide a ace - economical enlistment setting , and Suunto brag that mood offer an incredible 120 hours of trailing . That ’s above and beyond most other smartwatches and fitness tracker , and a serious fillip for hikers and nature lovers .
Other trailing is just as impressive . The weightlifting tracking offers a function to quickly switch between sets and rests , and can interpolate rest clock time on the fly . trivial touches like this really emphasise how good Suunto ’s exercise tracking is , and it entail the Race is an excellent choice for fitness fanatics of any creed , not just runners .
Suunto Race: software and app
The Suunto Race runs Suunto ’s proprietary software , and while that have in mind first-class trailing , it fare with downsides as well . I ’ve discover the options to be lacking , like the antecedently mentioned palpitation options , and other element are likewise simplified . It ’s not forged by any means , but it certainly feel like there ’s work to be done .
get around the watch is simple . ramble down on the crown to get at a customizable lean of contraption , or roll up to find a list of exercises . Pressing the top winder will take you straight to the last exercise you begin , while a press of the lower winder will afford the ascendancy instrument panel ( circumstance ) . The software package is wide-eyed , but that ’s no bad thing and it ’s unmanageable to get lost .
The software program is simple , but that ’s no bad thing and it ’s difficult to get lost .
The Race is a bit limited where bright features are concerned . you’re able to get at music controls , but there ’s no onboard music storage or apps . Notifications are the strongest aspect of the sassy feature , and they ’ll keep you abreast of your latest pings . Do n’t expect to do too much with them , though — you may wish or transport light , pre - write replies to messages and schmooze but nothing else . It ’s a elementary implementation , and it ’s not run to appeal to anyone who wants to type reply on their sentry or anyone who sees their smartwatch as a smartphone replacement .
That ’s not the case for the companion app , however , which is charitably described as “ fitness focalise . ” need to see your latest exercise and dive even deeper into your performance ? Excellent ! you may do that in the Suunto app , and it even explains many of the advanced term I bring up earlier , like EPOC and PTE .
The app reminds me of Strava — the plate page has a scrolling list of your practice session , and the following page are dedicated to when you exercised , how you ’ve convalesce , and how you may keep going . It feels less like a smartwatch hub and more like a virtuous physical fitness app , and it ’s a minuscule odd . health element are shroud in the app , but they ’re tuck away into a swipeable surgical incision of the home page . It ’s in spades one of the Suunto Race ’s frail power point , which feel unjust when it ’s not really the scout ’s break .
Of course , this all depends on what you desire from your watch . If you ’re a fittingness monster , then this may be precisely what you need . Athletes will sure get a lot from it , and it ’s clearly lay up to invoke to them . However , it may leave a mainstream hearing cold .
Suunto Race: SuuntoPlus and connected services
But there ’s more to research in the app than just the information you put into it . Indeed , there ’s a lot it can proffer you in crook , thanks to the SuuntoPlus service . These are Suunto ’s own apps that can be downloaded to your watch , and while it ’s noWear OS , they can add a great deal of additional utility program to your watch . For illustration , the weightlifting function with band / rest timers I mentioned in the beginning is a nonpayment SuuntoPlus app , and other options exist to sum interchangeable functionality . In brief , it adds depth to specific exercises . It ’s a great mind , and I enjoyed look what was on offering .
Also included in SuuntoPlus are a phone number of guide that can assist you with dissimilar aspects of fitness or get you set forth . I chose to ascertain out some running form drills and swimming drills , but there are plenty more to prefer from . It ’s a fantastic imagination if you ’re just embark on out in your seaworthiness journeying , and it ’s a bit of a shame Suunto does n’t have this functionality more to the forefront because getting the basics right can be tricky for beginners , as these sort of guides can help oneself entrant get started .
you could also connect your Suunto watch to a number of SuuntoPlus partners , including TrainingPeaks and RunMotion , and you could get in touch to an AI double-decker through AI Endurance . I was quite thwarted that there was no connectivity to some well - known fitness apps , though . I ’ve add up to wait smartwatch apps to connect to Strava , or Google Fit , and try as I might , I could n’t find any connection option here . It ’s especially important to me because my life story insurance is tied to my action levels , and my clip spend with the Suunto Race is represented by a magnanimous absence of data in my life insurance policy plan . Yes , I do n’t expect every troupe to supportmylife insurance ship’s company in particular , but I feel connexion to services like Google Fit should be standard .
Suunto Race: battery life
I ’ve leave behind this class until now , but that ’s because the best should be left for last . The Suunto Race has a in truth phenomenal battery life . Suunto boasts it will last 11 days between charge , and while I did n’t hit that , the vigil lasted 10 days from when it was first charged to dispatch 7 % . Even then , it probably could have made it to the end of that tenth twenty-four hour period on the splinter forget .
Recharging was n’t particularly fleet , though . It rent around two hours to in full charge the picket from that low point . Still , I ’ll take two hours every 10 days over the everyday charging demand by a stock smartwatch .
That recollective battery biography mean the wash is a in particular enticing familiar for those who often hazard out into the wilds . The combination of offline map and the watch ’s Tour mode means it can track action for days on end , with a few recharges from a small barrage pack or abbreviated sojourn into civilization .
Suunto Race: price and alternatives
The Suunto Race is currently usable from Suunto , embark on at $ 449 for the stainless blade theoretical account and $ 549 for the Ti . The steel manakin follow with 16 GB of storage , while the titanium strain occur with 32 gigabyte . There ’s a smaller version available , the Race S , which appraise in at a still - sizeable 45 mm , but I did n’t get a chance to have hand - on prison term with that exceptional model .
What about alternatives ? At $ 449 , the Suunto Race starts at a pretty in high spirits point for all but the more premium end of the fitness watch market . TheGarmin Forerunner 265starts at a similar price and offers comparative features . The Suunto Race is decidedly further to the fitness end of the seaworthiness - smartwatch equation , though , with even more modified smartwatch feature but an even stronger emphasis on exercises and depth psychology . The Forerunner 265 is much more user - friendly , with a brilliantly colored interface and a more cursory approach to stats .
If you ’re looking in smartwatch soil , well , you ’re spoiled for choice . TheApple Watch Series 9,Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic , andMobvoi TicWatch Pro 5are cheaper than the Suunto Race and volunteer a much hard smartwatch experience . Sure , the fitness element wo n’t be quite as inviolable , but all but the most hardcore athletes wo n’t be disappointed by what those watches have to declare oneself .
Suunto Race: verdict
Really , the biggest vote of confidence in a machine is whether a commentator keeps using it after the review is over . And in this case , the answer is complicated .
Unfortunately , for the Suunto Race , it wo n’t be detain on my radiocarpal joint after this review article . In fact , as I type this , there ’s a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on my carpus . This is n’t because the Suunto Race is a regretful picket — on the opposite , it ’s outstanding , as attest by the score above . For the right person , this is the smart twist to keep tight at hired man ( literally ) . The stamp battery life is in a course of instruction of its own , the fittingness tracking is truly phenomenal , and I enjoy what the package offer , even if the app is a little lacking .
The Suunto Race is well deserving your money .
Would I keep it on if some element were different ? Absolutely . The lack of transverse - app backup is a big progeny for me , and the phantasma of next year ’s insurance premiums being higher weighs intemperately on my pick . However , it ’s a picket I will decidedly be reaching for in certain circumstances . It ’s perfect for long hikes and other escapade , and I love how well-to-do it is . Heck , if I had a fresh ring that funneled data to my insurance policy app , then this would be a different story . But I do n’t , so it is n’t .
Is it a smartwatch for everyone ? No . The want of app support and literal overbold feature are deal - breaker for anyone looking for a more standard smartwatch experience . But if you ’re look for a gym partner that can also throw down in the wild out-of-doors and course a mean value marathon , then the Suunto Race is well worth your money .
