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The Finnish sports watch manufacturer Suunto can look back on many years of experience. Its own app is now fully developed and the watches have an unrivalled battery life. Suunto is therefore widely used in running. Market leader Garmin benefits above all from its sophisticated navigation functions. With its new Race model, however, Suunto offers an attractive rival product.
If we started this test with an unboxing video, Suunto would have already scored the first points. The design of the packaging is as functional as it is appealing. After opening the outer packaging, the view falls on a three-part inner packaging. In addition to the watch, it contains a USB charging cable and the wristband. The latter is very easy to attach and replace.
Installation and connection with the app
The customisation of the watch and the connection with Strava work smoothly. The basic sports are pre-installed and can be easily selected. However, personalising the display for a sport is a little cumbersome. A little patience is required when downloading the offline maps. Suunto relies on the OpenStreetMap.maps here. Big advantage: you can download any region of the world and map updates cost nothing. The disadvantage is obvious: OSM maps are updated by the community and do not have the quality of a professionally created topographical map. In practice, this will hardly cause any problems - the level of detail was sufficient in the test, even in remote mountain regions. The reduced display could even be seen as an advantage: a quick glance at the watch while cycling or running allows you to quickly recognise the further course of the track. One disadvantage is that the maps are not routable - it is not possible to re-plan a tour on the go using the map on the watch. You would have to take a diversion via Komoot, for example. But if you don't leave the pre-planned track, you won't have any problems.
Suunto Race: powerful display
The 1.43-inch touchscreen is one of the clear strengths of the Suunto Race: the Amoled display is razor-sharp, the colours are vibrant and everything is easy to read even in sunlight. Thanks to the sapphire crystal, the manufacturer promises good protection against damage - understandably, we have not tested this.
Long battery life
The long battery life was already a selling point for other Suunto watches. Anyone who spends long periods in the saddle or is out trail running over ultra-distances will also appreciate this with the Suunto Race. In the test, the watch was not charged for days - an objective value is difficult to determine as it depends heavily on usage behaviour (lighting/navigation/temperature). The manufacturer states that the watch's battery lasts for 40 hours with maximum recording accuracy and all functions. With reduced accuracy and without heart rate measurement, it should last five days and without sport even 26 days.
Suunto Race operation
The app has a simple structure and tracks can be quickly loaded onto the watch for navigation. The reduction to three operating elements makes it easy to control the watch. Even if you don't read the operating instructions, you will quickly understand how to navigate through the options. This is much easier than competitor products with five controls. A plus point of the Suunto Race is the operation via a digital "crown". On mechanical watches, this wheel was used to set the time. The small wheel on the Suunto Race navigates through the menu and is easy to operate even when wearing gloves. Turn it to make selections and press it to confirm commands. Particularly practical when travelling: you can zoom in and out on the map using the wheel. This is much easier than with competitor models. Operation is easier to control than via the touchscreen, especially when doing sport on the move.
Sensors
A lot of praise for the Suunto Race - but it's not perfect. Small points of criticism lie with the sensors. If you want precise heart rate measurement, you should buy a heart rate belt. The measurement on the wrist was not always accurate. There were minor weaknesses in the GPS accuracy (with unchanged default settings). In rare cases, the watch was one or two metres off. This is noticeable if the recorded track is close to the road or if a slight offset is suddenly recorded after several laps on the same route. The comparative recording with a Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar was a little more precise here. Normally, however, this will hardly be a problem. The Suunto Race did not show any relevant deviations in the recorded data such as altitude and distance.
Conclusion
The new Suunto Race sports watch is a serious competitor to the market leader Garmin thanks to its map display and attractive price. Thanks to free OSM maps, an impressive display, long battery life and simple operation, the watch is a companion for many sports. For 449 euros, you get an attractive package in the steel version (83 g). The sports watch is available from Amazon or Mountain friends available. If you like it particularly light, you can get 549 Euro the titanium version weighing only 69 g. In the market for watches with map display and navigation, this is a fair price. This was made possible by production in China - other watches from the manufacturer are produced in Finland using renewable energy. The watch was convincing in the test - but if you want precise heart rate measurement, you should also buy a heart rate belt.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
