If you’re into sports or outdoor adventures, you don’t just need a watch to tell the time but also to guide you on your fitness journey. Does the Suunto watch have what it takes to track your progress and motivate your success? Keep reading to find out!
What Is the Suunto Watch?
The story begins in 1932 with the Finnish engineer and competitive orienteer Tuomas Vohlonen looking for a compass with a steadier needle. His quest led to the invention of the first liquid-filled compass, setting the stage for a patent in 1935 and the beginning of the Suunto Company in 1936 [1].
Vohlonen died three years later in 1939, but the company he founded and the patents he registered paved the way for what is now known as the Suunto watch company. For any linguists out there, the word “suunto” is a Finnish word that translates into English as “path” or “direction.”
The Suunto Oy company eventually evolved to include dive computers and multi-sport watches, and in 1965, the company released the first dive compass. This was followed a generation later by the world’s first dive computer watch known as the Suunto SME-ML in 1987.
As the years passed, Suunto continued to be an avant-garde innovator and added features like thermometers, altimeters, and timepieces to its compasses and diving instruments.
The company eventually entered the sports watch market in 1999. Since then, Suunto has developed multi-functional watches for various sports that include GPS navigation, heart rate monitors, and various training metrics [2].
>>Explore the full selection of Suunto watches
What Makes Suunto Watches Stand Out?
While Suunto hasn’t always kept up with some of the current tech-oriented trends like being able to receive phone calls and texts or play music, the brand has a loyal fan base of athletes and adventurers who appreciate a classic that promises to last for years.
According to an expert review, Suunto is one of the most monumental tool watches ever made. It is extremely durable and rugged and is likely to make it through years of treks, outdoor expeditions, and camping journeys [3].
Even though the reviewer was covering his Suunto Core watch that was released nearly 10 years ago, this classic has all the core values (pun intended) and features of a timeless Suunto watch. Some examples are a dependable battery, accurate tools, and performance you can depend on in the middle of nowhere when it feels like you’re hiking at the end of the world.
Types of Suunto Watches
Check out the different kinds of Suunto watches and what each one was especially crafted for.
Suunto Sports Watches
These sports watches by Suunto are geared for active folks who are ready to reach their goals.
Suunto Race Watch
As the best Suunto watch for running and training, the stainless steel Suunto Race comes in black, midnight, and birch colors in either 45 or 49 mm diameters.
A high-definition AMOLED touch screen ensures readability in most situations, while the crown button allows easy browsing. Having passed military standards, this watch can also take a licking.
The battery offers up to 50 hours on performance mode, 200 hours on tour mode, and up to 26 days of non-training use. Plus, there are also heart rate variability readings, an AI training coach, and workout planning.
On race day, you can even access customizable screens for both pacing and the race route through this best running watch.
Suunto Run
This Suunto running watch is a lightweight sports watch designed for runners either headed out for a morning jog or the finish line of a big race.
Available in black, lime, frost gray, and coral orange, this stainless steel watch showcases a high-definition screen and easy browsing capabilities. The battery features a 20 hour performance and 40 hour power saving mode, as well as up to 12 days in non-training mode.
The run tools feature 34 sport modes, including run-specific training features and structured workout plans. There’s also training and progress monitoring, heart rate tracking, and recovery analysis, which is great if you’re hoping to grow stronger and build muscles.
Suunto Outdoor Watches
Suunto created these rugged watches for those who enjoy exploring the great outdoors.
Suunto Vertical Watch
An adventure watch for outdoor expeditions and training, the Suunto Vertical stainless steel watch comes in black, lime, and black sand.
Featuring outdoor offline maps you can count on, it’ll show all you need to know about the landscape and operate in offline mode too, so you’re not likely to get lost. Plus, there’s an altimeter, barometer, and Suunto watch compass, as well as weather forecasts and storm, sunset, and sunrise alarms.
The battery is juiced up more than 30% with solar charging for up to 90 hours of continuous tracking on performance mode and 500 hours on tour mode. It’s also military tested, so it’s certainly a tough machine.
>>View the Suunto Vertical Watch
Suunto 9 Peak Pro
Available in black or titanium slate, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is a pro version of the small and sleek multisport watch that is designed for smaller wrists.
The 9 Peak Pro features a thin 10.8 mm body, smooth interface, and great readability while you’re on the move. The battery features up to 40 hours on performance mode and up to 300 hours on tour mode with limited GPS. Plus, with no training modes on, you might even get up to 30 days of power.
There are over 95 sport modes, including a snorkeling mode, running power meter, and cycling meter. This watch is also waterproof and military tested for durability.
>>View the Suunto 9 Peak Pro Watch
Suunto Dive Watches
These watches by Suunto are designed for forays under the sea.
Suunto Ocean
The Ocean is a Suunto dive watch and sports watch combined in one. Available in all black and steel black, this stainless steel time piece can accompany you on your adventures both above and below the water.
The Ocean features multiple dive modes for below the surface, including a wide variety of alarms, wireless tank pressure, and a freedive mode. There are also visualized dive logs for a record of your underwater travels.
The battery features up to 60 hours of dive mode and exercise tracking. As for land features, you get over 95 sports modes, free offline maps, premium outdoor features, smart daily features, and sleep and recovery tracking.
>>Discover the Suunto Ocean Watch
Suunto D5
An easy-to-use dive gadget with stylish interchangeable Suunto watch straps, this Suunto dive watch comes in white, black lime, aqua blue, wildberry, and all black. What’s more, it lasts between 6 to 12 hours in diving mode.
An IF Design award winner, the D5 features wireless tank pressure support, extensive scuba and free dive features, a digital compass, and vibration alarms.
The clear, high contrast color screen is easy to see underwater. Plus, the menu is clear, concise, easy to browse, and simple to customize for the gas settings, algorithm, and dive alarms you desire. You can also transfer your dive logs over Bluetooth to share and relive with friends.
>>Dive into the Suunto D5 Dive Watch
Key Features of Suunto Watches
Here are some of the features that make each Suunto watch tick.
GPS and Navigation
An adventure is defined by the space to be crossed between where you are and where you hope to get. Whether it’s a hike, a race, or underwater, the route to your destination will be clear (and recorded) with a Suunto watch.
Featuring breadcrumb trail navigation that links with satellite systems like GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS, there are also altimeter and barometer features, a digital compass, weather features, and offline maps to keep your adventures on track.
Battery Life
The battery in a Suunto watch is just as intelligent as its other features, allowing you to control the output of power available for the tasks and time constraints at hand.
The performance mode lets you allot power for whatever features you need, while the tour mode makes it possible to conserve power and extend the battery life by turning off features you don’t need.
Durability and Build Quality
Every Suunto watch is built with quality, durable materials like stainless steel, titanium, and sapphire glass. What’s more, most models are water-resistant or waterproof and built to military standards, assuring their ruggedness.
Many watches also come with either 45 or 49 mm faces to make visibility easy and convenient whether you’re hiking, running on the trail, or even diving underwater. For the fashion-conscious, there is also a wide selection of durable and colorful straps available to fit your mood and style.
Health and Fitness Tracking
Some of the health and fitness tracking features built into the Suunto watch include diverse sports modes, heart rate and fitness monitors for testing stress levels, as well as indicators to monitor recovery status and sleep levels.
Some models even include training plans that are combined with detailed analysis to monitor your progress, whether you’re going for your daily run, limbering up through yoga sessions, or diving deep under the ocean.
Suunto App and Ecosystem
Find out how the app and ecosystem connects your Suunto watch to your smartphone and other useful programs.
Mobile App Integration
The Suunto mobile app acts as a central switchboard that lets you monitor your various activities. The app can help you plan the routes for your next adventures, customize your watch settings, and analyze the data compiled by your training, recovery, and sleep tracking programs.
Compatibility With Third-Party Apps
The Suunto App goes beyond just helping you navigate all the features of your Suunto watch, it also allows you to connect with other sports platforms like TrainingPeaks and Strava to share your training experiences and adventures.
You can also link up with friends and the broader Suunto community at large to see what other like-minded enthusiasts are thinking and doing.
Suunto vs. Competitors
Curious about the competition? Discover how the Suunto watch stacks up against other interesting alternatives!
Suunto vs. Garmin Watch
According to a head-to-head comparison in an expert review, the line was drawn between tech features and user-friendly design.
Whether it’s the Garmin Forerunner or another model, it was determined that Garmin watches offered more extensive data, such as highly detailed street maps and state-of-the-art smartwatch features like music for the more tech-oriented [4].
On the other hand, Suunto watches generally have a more user-friendly interface, most of the core data you’d realistically need, and a better battery life [4].
One reviewer on Reddit agreed, saying Suunto and Garmin are both great watches, with Suunto being like a friend along for the adventure and Garmin being the techie who constantly needs to be in touch with cyberspace [5].
Another Reddit reviewer concurred, saying that both Garmin and Suunto watches are excellent and offer a lot more data than the average user would ever need. What’s more, they thought that if you just picked the one that looks nicer, you’d be well-served. They also added that the Garmin price tag is usually a lot heftier [6].
Suunto vs. Polar Watch
Another expert review compared both Suunto and Polar watches head-to-head. Suunto rated better for battery life, mapping and navigation, and data management and apps, while Polar excelled in accurate readings. There was a tie in terms of display and tracking [7}.
What do actual users say? One Reddit user who switched from Polar to Suunto preferred Polar’s analytics to Suunto’s app when it came to insights on how their training was progressing. They also liked Polar’s sleep tracking capabilities, saying it was amazingly accurate [8].
Another Reddit reviewer preferred Suunto watches, saying they appreciated Suunto’s style, flair, and modern layout, as well as the brand’s advanced analytics for workouts, workout summaries, and Suunto Coach [9].
Pros and Cons of Suunto Watches
Let’s weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the Suunto watch to help you get an overview.
Pros
- Accurate GPS tracking
- Altimeter and barometer
- Free offline mapping capabilities
- Heart rate monitoring
- High definition AMOLED screen
- Up to 95+ sports modes
- Advanced training metrics
- Crown button for fast browsing
- Military tested for ruggedness
- Long battery life
- AI-powered Suunto coach
- Workout planning
- Customizable sports screens
- Race apps for pacing and route
- Sleep tracking
- Suunto app
- Many service partners in different countries
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- No music storage capability
- No phone or texting
- Inconsistent gauging swimming distances
Who Should Buy a Suunto Watch?
Are you an athlete or adventurer who likes to compete and explore or a fitness enthusiast who aims to lose weight? According to a 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, approximately 21% of Americans say they wear a smart watch or wearable fitness tracker [10].
If you’re a runner or biker, a Suunto watch has smart capabilities that can come in handy as you train and excel in any race. From familiarizing yourself with the course to monitoring your pace and your max heart rate, a Suunto watch is like having your own trainer right there with you on the course.
If you’re an adventurer who loves to explore where few have been before, a Suunto watch has capabilities you might need, from one of the best GPS tracking to offline mapping, a strong battery, and military tested ruggedness.
For all you divers, a Suunto watch can monitor your tank pressure and provide extensive scuba and free dive features, like a digital compass, vibration alarms, and visualized dive logs.
That means, if you’re serious about being out there and making things happen on the race course, in the wilderness, or underwater, a Suunto watch could be the race crew, seasoned guide, or dive buddy you need.
On the flip side, in case you’re planning to use your Suunto watch to monitor diseases, track heart rate zones, or measure blood oxygen levels, be aware that more research is needed to understand the deeper potential of smart watches in healthcare.
>>Learn which Suunto watch suits you
Expert Insights
Various sports and military experts have varying opinions on smart watches, as well as the different brands on the market.
Alastair, a professional running shoe reviewer and blogger, described the Suunto Run as a GPS watch that delivers the core training features runners actually use, without too many overwhelming functions or a premium price tag [11].
As for the Navy Seals, they do not have an official wristwatch they use on missions, Yet, a wristwatch is an important piece of Seal gear, particularly for its GPS and navigational technology.
According to Navy Seal Richard Machowicz, who specializes in weaponry and military technology, he prefers to use the Suunto Core Watch. He appreciated this Suunto military watch for its muli-functional digital capabilities, long battery life, and rugged construction [12].
To learn what the fitness community thinks about the Suunto Core watch band, Apple Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch, or other smart watches, you can also explore related subreddits on Reddit.
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Suunto Watch FAQs
Here are some questions that readers have been asking when it comes to finding the best Suunto watch for their needs.
Are Suunto Watches Waterproof?
Yes, all Suunto watches are either water-resistant or waterproof in varying degrees up to 100 m. Some can also tell the water temperature, find safe swimming spots with Suunto Heatmaps, and track your swim with GPS.
What Operating Systems Are Compatible With Suunto Watches?
To sync data and use the Suunto app, older Suunto watches are compatible with mobile phones that are equipped with Android OS version 8.0 or later and iOS version 11.0 or later. However, newer models like the Suunto 7 and Suunto Race run Google’s WEAR OS and require a compatible Android or iOS phone connection to enable Suunto smart watch features.
How Accurate Are Suunto Watches for Fitness Tracking?
According to an expert review, the optical heart rate monitor on Suunto watches has been one of the company’s standout features and rates right up there with the best models for reliable wrist-based heart monitors [13].
Do Suunto Watches Support Multiple Sports Or Activity Modes?
Yes, according to the official website, some Suunto watches do support multiple sports and activity modes. For instance, the Suunto Spartan and Peak models have Triathlon Sport modes for tracking various activities, races, and workouts. To track other multiple sports activities, do it directly from your watch as instructed on the company website.
What Are the Most Popular Suunto Watch Models?
According to the Suunto watch official website, the top sellers as of this writing are the sports and running watches Suunto 9 Peak Pro, Suunto Run, Suunto Vertical, Suunto Race S, Suunto Race, and Suunto Ocean. Interestingly enough, it was consistently the all black version of each model that ranked as the best seller.
Suunto Watch: Conclusion
If you have a race to run, a mountain to climb, or underwater mysteries to explore, there may be a Suunto watch that can help you train more efficiently and find your path.
With features to help you make workouts more productive, measure your heart rate, map your course, and record underwater, a Suunto watch is like a coach and guide built into one.
Every adventurer needs a trusty sidekick, and it’s up to you to decide if a Suunto watch is the right one for you!