Since the start of the year, the Aspire team has had the opportunity to put some of Suunto’s products to the test. Founded by Finnish adventurer Tuomas Vohlonen in the 1930s, Suunto has built a legacy of precision, durability, and innovative design. Decades later, the brand continues to be a trusted choice for athletes, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.
So, how did Suunto’s products perform in real-world conditions? Here’s what our team had to say…
MONICA’S VERDICT:
Product: Suunto Race S watch
I’ve only ever used a very basic FitBit so I was super keen to experience Suunto and I have to say, I love my Suunto Race S. It’s 100% given me my running mojo back and kept me accountable as I am very ‘stop start’ when it comes to running, so that is huge for me personally. The data keeps me ambitious with my goal setting and intentions to get to where I want to be as an everyday runner.
As I’m not performance first when it comes to my physical and mental wellbeing, the other things I am really enjoying utilising and exploring on my Suunto Race S are the simple, more basic data and stats:
- the number of different activities it can track. Being able to track the different types of exercise classes I do is brilliant as I can see exactly how hard I am working in the classes, just how much is achievable in under an hour at each one, and where I might need to shake things up.
- the calorie counter. I have a sweet tooth so being able to see what I am burning off when I exercise is great as for me, it’s less about what I am burning, and more about what I can then treat myself too!
- the prompts when I have been sat still for too long at my desk. Just a stretch and a walk around, helps with clarity on projects.
- the alarm function which is now part of my weekday waking up routine, along with my iPhone alarm. I will never get used to having to wake up at 06:20 so my Suunto acts as my five-minute snooze.
- the battery life and speed at which it charges, plus the cool charger.
- the aesthetic overall – it’s a smart, sleek looking watch and definitely ticks both the form and function boxes.
Surprising discovery: nothing to do with fitness whatsoever, but I can cheekily control Netflix from it, perfect for when I need my children to listen to me and they are absolutely not!
LOTTY’S VERDICT:
Product: Suunto Race S watch
The Suunto Race S is Suunto’s ultimate performance watch, with all of the same technology, just smaller, so perfect for anyone with a smaller wrist or looking for a more subtle design for everyday wear.
As soon as I put on the watch I could feel that it was much lighter weight than similar watches I’ve previously tried. I loved the sleek look which suits different styles, meaning I can wear the watch when on a run or when heading into town for a meeting and still look stylish. The bright high high-definition touch screen was really easy to navigate and operate even whilst on the move.
Best feature: You can easily navigate on-route with the free offline maps feature.
Surprising discovery: The display is super sharp and clear even in bright sunlight.
Perfect for: Anyone with smaller wrists due to its smaller more compact fit.
ALLAN’S VERDICT:
Product: Suunto Vertical watch
Simplicity – Love the way that Suunto keeps things simple. I’ve spent the last 10 years using another brand of smart watch and I spent too much time getting bogged down with metrics and options. The Suunto combines simple (yet extensive) options and blends well between watch and phone app for viewing activities, metrics and personal fitness updates.
Battery life – WOW – hardly ever have to plug in. And I have solar charging functionality too, so come on British summer time and shine!
Big clear display – As a long-sighted person, I wear glasses for reading, so a big watch face makes it easy to see my progress out on a run.
I love the display options too. Each section from activity type to settings is clear and accessed by button or touch scroll. I can even toggle between activities with one hand while kite surfing.
Illuminates on movement – A simple turn of the wrist and the face illuminate’s day or night.
Design and fit – Totally subjective this one, but the big bold diving-inspired watch face, with ‘Canyon orange’ coloured strap and easy-to secure clasp does it for me!
SAM’S VERDICT:
Product: Suunto Race S watch
I’ve started to ramp my training back up since the start of 2025 and have built back up to 50k a week running while also enjoying some indoor cycling sessions and mountain biking. The Suunto Race S and the Suunto app have brilliant at measuring this varied training and warning me when I’m likely to overtrain.
I’m a bit of a sucker for stats, so the inbuilt estimated performance metrics and TSS/TSB tracker are incredibly useful in seeing the impact of my training in real time and balancing the paces of my interval sessions. I’m coming with experience using a different watch brand and have been amazed at the battery life of the Suunto Race S.
Best feature: The CTL fitness tracker.
Surprising discovery: How good the mapping is for Mountain Biking as well as running.
Perfect for: Anyone who loves the outdoors, regardless of the sport/activity
LORY’S VERDICT:
Product: Suunto Race
Such a great upgrade from my Garmin 230 and Apple Watch. The perfect companion for the trails training I am taking in since the beginning of the year and the races I will be taking part in.
It goes so much deeper into the data when you want to track your recovery after workouts. Yes, you must listen to your body and how it feels but to have an indication of how much faster or slower you recover after exercise helps you tailor the next one or switch if needs be to save some energy throughout the week.
It goes without saying that the battery life is extraordinary even in performance mode, and the Oled touch display screen is a blessing and makes this watch even cooler.
Useful features from a Trail running perspective:
Offline maps. Suunto offers the possibility, on top of uploading GPX routes, to download all the maps of your favourite locations and region. You are then able to create your own routes, drop pins and run to them with precision and for free!
Suunto Plus store. You can really customise your watch with all the add-ons that make sense to you and your training from a Pacer mode for races to Nutrition notes for longer outings.
AT A GLANCE:
Watch prices start from: £129
Visit suunto.com for more information on the Suunto brand and product range.
