Suunto - Race 2 All Black

I have been a Garmin customer for a long time, but both due to prices and given it is an American company I was looking into moving away from it. While Suunto is not perfect (Chinese ownership), it still very much designs its watches in Finland, which is really great. The big issue for me has always been the HR part - no watch is perfect, but Garmin has been vastly superior to Suunto in terms of HR performance for trail running and cycling (both sports that I do). However, it does seem Suunto Race 2 is finally the product I has been waiting for. Amazing display that beats Garmin or Polar (1,5" and 2000 peak brightness - wow), seemingly very smooth OS performance and vastly improved HR sensor. The initial reviews are in and they are loooking very promising. Check out the one from e.g. DC Rainmaker (well-known Dutch reviewer) [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpEoe4npYZM). Honestly, I was waiting for this moment for years - initially I considered moving to Polar (X2 Pro), but Suunto seems just so much better on paper - larger display, birghter display, better/on-par HR, in my opinion nicer design, lower price. For 599€, this watch is nothing short of amazing - I paid more than 50% for a Garmin that seems genuinely like a worse device (flashlight is a nice to have, but nothing amazing). If I manage to sell my current Garmin at a decent price, I am jumping the ship soon! P. S. Already one question - I use Komoot extensively to plany my cycling routes. How easy and feasible it is to either use Komoot app on Suunto to navigate or upload my Komoot route to Suunto and navigate it via Sunnto's default cycling app? It is really smooth on Garmin, curious how it works on Suunto watch. Thanks!

The thing is, I prefer to keep it simple and avoid too many devices. If I pay few hundreds €, I also expect some level of precision. Garmin is good enough to ditch the chest strap for running and cycling, the output data is really reliable. Seems with the upgraded HR sensors, Suunto Race 2 is the same - good enough to rely on your wrist sensor.

can't say for garmin but general rule is like that * garmin have more features. you can route maps on watch which means you can set a point where you wanna go without use of phone while on suunto you need to do that via your phone which can be annoying in areas where singal is questionable. also suunto have no names on watch itself on map but yea, their maps re more snappier, faster, etc. * garmin have way more data. now some were locked behind subrsicption, i'm not sure which data excat. suunto have less data but imo better organized * application on phone matters for me alot and there suunto is just better. they have one app for everything which imo is more user friendly. garmin have more apps for each purpouse one and steeper learning curve (my father have garmin edge 1040 bike computer and yea) but thats just from user to user, at the end it matters how you fell. * smart functions there is no question that garmin is better. suunto is really behind. you will get basic notifications with opiton to control music on your phone and call my phone function and function to turn down phone call with a SMS and thats pretty much it. garmin here have huge edge with their stuff * battery life on the other hand, here suunto wins no question at all! while in smart watch mode they re about the same, maybe 2 or 3 days difference, on gps mode there is just too much difference IMO, garmin is more than 2x behind in battery. now, does that matter to you? are you gonna do some multi day hikes or really some long lasting stuff like running 100km or you just in general wants more battery life? thats up to you. * as of GPS accuraccy, i can't really speak but i ve doubt you will be dissapointed by any of those watches. GPS recievers came soo long way in few last watch generations on all devices including Polar, Coros, Suunto, Garmin, even Amazifit and others that you can't go wrong with any of those devices in terms of gps quality. yea there re some minor + - offs bettwen watches, for example i can compare Vertical vs Fenix 7x pro sapphire on same route we logged 4,45km on Fenix vs 4,6km on my Suunto, I ve started my watch slightly faster soo there might be 50m. we also both logged slightly different alltitude gain, me with around 1065m alttitude gain vs my friend fenix 1059m allitude gain, my highest point on watch was more towards official readings of 1242m (it showed 1243m while my friend logged i think 1236m or similar soo yea, if you are like "well well, garmin for 800€ can't beat vertical from suunto i ve got for half the price" kind of attitude then sure, be my guest but in reality those re soo minor difference that if you re gonna argue on that..... yea. but just to show you what i ve meant * HR data i ve heard that suunto really did a big step foward with Race 2, still some minor problems but they really solved that issues Vertical and Race have. but imo me as some1 who do more trail runs / hikes / bike rides i just took my polar h10 with me and this is by far most accurate data imo. still just to point out suunto issues * can't say for sleep tracking or quality of life features since i'm not using that, maybe will start in future. soo yea at the end imo its more towards your usuage case. me as a trail runner or bike rider or hiker i preffer battery life, snappier maps and overwall better application more than garmin extra fuctions. plus yea in my case suunto vertical costed me 400€ while back then garmin forreruner 955 and 965 costed around the same but imo inferior watch with far less battery on gps mode + plastic desing with only gorrila glass which imo is bad for hiking specially if you go some via ferrata route or more demanding rocky area where its real fear to strach your watch. and garmin 7s solar sapphire glass costed me 600€ and yea, that was far too off to spend on. soo yea, your user case will determine at the end what you wanna buy, simply as that, what you preffer more, what u value more in your watch bcs at the end you can be happy with both options or just hated them soo its really hard to say.

Race 2, aestethics, all the important functions without unnecessary stats, great gps and battery

I have never used garmin before, but a friend of mine is looking to switch to suunto from garmin. He's sick of the many paywalls and since you get a boatload of data with the suunto app without having to commit to a subscription, he's really looking forward to the new system. I myself am very happy with my race 2 and would recommend you keep it, but what else can you expect in a suunto sub haha

How do you know they failed again the watch is bearly out for a few days? I moved from garmin to suunto and in general my experience is far better with suunto. Hr metrics are as good as on garmin if nit even more precise. There are a few videos of guys mesuring heart rate and vo2max with garmin, polar, suunto and some other watch and then doing the lab tests (the real thing) and it shiws that suunto is more precise 🤷🏻‍♂️.

You can pair both on the Race 2. You cannot on the Race 1 (only on sensor of each type).

I tested both. Depending on what you want/like, the Race 2 is half the price of the Enduro. Is payments and a flashlight that difference worth to you. To me it’s certainly not. I always have my wallet and I survived 30 years of endurance sports without that hyped flashlight. Handy? I guess so, so is an automatic vaccüm cleaner. Do I need one? No because I stretch my hams while cleaning. 2 for the same price.

I’ve been using Garmin for most of the last 10 years. I tried Polar for a while, but moved to the new Suunto Race 2 because the HR sensor on the Polar V3 was terrible and the app was honestly a mess. I’m very happy with the Race 2 overall. It’s sapphire glass, so no scratches, has awesome battery life, and looks great. I run, bike, and lift weights. I didn’t want another Garmin because I couldn’t stand the Body Battery and Training Readiness features, Garmin has a very negative approach to this. Lots of things to like on Suunto Race 2 but training load tracking is they really nails it for me. You can base load on power (powermeter), HR, zone‑based stress, or different running metrics. There’s a learning curve, but once you get it, it’s a great model. Much better training load caluculation for weight training which garmin sucks at. The Suunto app is miles ahead of Garmin and Polar in my use. Tons of metrics, and you can easily track volume, time, and distance across sports. If you run/ride the same route, it shows if you were faster or slower than before (very Strava‑like). Heatmaps make route planning easy. Lots of well‑thought‑out sport profiles and you can have up to 7 diffrent data fields for cycling, running, etc. Recovery & resources is similar to Garmin, but Suunto splits things out more (e.g., “training recovery” that blends training load and your subjective feel after a workout). No weird EPOC accumulation that keeps stacking just because you trained again. HRV tracking is solid. Sleep detection (sleep/wake times) is accurate for me; sleep stage breakdown and scoring aren’t amazing—but I don’t care much about that anyway. Optical HR is much better than my old Epix 2 Pro. Suunto Plus is great. You can use two mini‑apps at the same time. For cycling, I really like TrainingPeaks (Cycling Power) which give you live NP/IF/TSS from the powermeter, auto sprint which auto‑detects sprints and shows count, duration, and power for each effort and Zonesens for easy rides. For running i use Ghost Runner for pacing, RaceTime / harathon & half‑harathon estimators for live finish‑time on tempo/race efforts, Manual Intervals (pace/hills) when I don’t want to pre‑program a workout, Cadence coach for cadence + stride length work and last km/mile pace (rolling average that’s more meaningful than instant pace). There are some minor bugs where the app sometimes shows different resource/recovery numbers, but I just disabled those on the watch, so I don’t notice them. Overall it’s a great watch at a great price, and I have no problem recommending it. I never used smartwatch features on Garmin, so I don’t miss music or payments. Suunto Race 2 is a fantastic choice.

After 8 years, a lot of sports and some products, I am now a former garmin user since a few days now. I just bought a suunto race 2 and going to get a Karoo. I agree Garmin’s products are top notch, but it does not worth the recent price hike nor ditching top-end products less than 2 years after their release.

I use intervals.icu to plan my structured workouts. They sync with your Race 2 perfectly

DCrainmaker gave the previous race s a great review. he even praised the heart rate sensor! i bought mine off the back of that (and other fittech 'influencers') and was totally shocked by how much of a downgrade it was from my garmin FR55 (yes, really). not in the screen and GPS and that kind of stuff, but in the basics of guided workouts and sleep/HR tracking. i feel like these reviewers go through the spec sheet and don't really use it like a 'normal' person. like it was immediate how unworkable the watch was for me, as a runner in training.

As an owner of 9 Peak, Vertical 1 and Race 2, buy Garmin without hesitation.

Don’t forget to check out Suunto they make comparable watches that are cheaper in price. Went from a Garmin epix pro gen 2 to a Suunto Race 2 and it’s honestly slimmer and has a lot of the same features

To be honest. I tried the Suunto Vertical and the Race 2 and they both were buggy. I bought a Forerunner 970 and I’ve been really happy. I honestly have always preferred Suunto but their technical side is just so behind Garmin it’s getting noticeable.

I had both and I had to choose... The FR970 crashed 7 times in one day between screen freezing, watch turning off on its own, reboot etc etc and even screen split into 2 half map half data.... And then good look level the Race 2 is so superior! In the end I kept Race 2 and zero regrets

The Suunto Carto alone is superior to the Garmin! I had the 2 I had to choose and I chose Race 2, it's not always easy to decipher the Training Peaks and you also have to get used to the ecosystem but once you get past all that, believe me it's on top!

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some thoughts from the Suunto community. I'm a longtime fitness watch user (mainly CrossFit and running with H10 chest strap), coming from a Garmin 945 + Apple Watch 10 combo to the Suunto Race 2, which I've been using for about two weeks. I want to start by saying the hardware on the Race 2 is superb. However, I'm really struggling to justify the €600 price tag when I feel the software is holding it back significantly. I'm torn because I really *want* to love this watch, and in many ways I do, but some aspects are proving to be very frustrating. Here is a summary of my experience so far: **What I love (Pros):** * **Build & Design:** The build quality is amazing, and I love the look and feel of the watch. * **Display:** The big, beautiful AMOLED screen is fantastic. * **Performance:** The UI is clean, fast, and fluid, and the map loading speed is impressive. * **Core Tracking:** GPS accuracy has been excellent, and the sleep tracking (length, timings) agrees perfectly with my other wearables. The nap detection is a great touch. * **Suunto App:** I find the Suunto app to be a much cleaner and more user-friendly experience than Garmin Connect. * **Suunto Coach:** The coaching feature in the app is a nice addition. **What I'm struggling with (Cons):** * **Structured Workouts:** The on-watch interval and structured workout experience feels like a significant step down from the Garmin 945. * **SuuntoPlus Limitations:** Being limited to two apps (or one app and a guide) feels very restrictive for a premium watch. * **Strength Training:** The support for strength/weight training feels almost non-existent compared to other platforms. * **Data Bugs:** I've noticed some data inconsistencies, like my recovery percentage getting stuck at 1% on the watch while showing a totally different value in the app. * **Body Resources vs. Body Battery:** Suunto's "Body Resources" feature doesn't feel nearly as precise or useful as Garmin's Body Battery, even after I've let it settle and adjusted the RHR. * **Battery Life:** The battery life is less than I anticipated, lasting about 8 days with AOD off while doing \~1-1.5 hours of GPS activity daily. * **Missing QoL Features:** Small but important things are missing, like customizable alarm patterns for different weekdays and the lack of on-watch routable maps with labels. **Mixed Feelings:** * **TrainingPeaks-like Metrics:** I love having access to the raw data and TSS-style metrics. However, I find that some of Garmin's metrics (like Training Readiness), while less "raw," provide quicker and more actionable insights for daily training decisions. My main concern is that while some of these "Cons" are software-based and *could* improve over time, I'm just not sure if Suunto's pace of development will be fast enough. I'm at a point where I'm genuinely torn. I am considering sending back the Race 2 and getting a Forerunner 970 or Fenix 8 instead. Appreciate any advice or shared experiences. **Edit:** The more I watch/read about the Forerunner 970, the more I lean towards back to the Suunto Race 2... Even with the cons/drawbacks that I listed, the Race 2 still provides a competent and smooth experience for the most part. **So in the end I decided to keep it and give Suunto a chance.**

The more I watch/read about the Forerunner 970, the more I lean towards back to the Suunto Race 2... Even with the cons/drawbacks that I listed, the Race 2 still provides a competent and smooth experience for the most part.

Both are excellent watches. I ended up ditching both and decided to go all in on AW Ultra series for the last year. I tried Race 2 last week and it certainly has made strides with thevOHR but nothing really compelling for me to keep it. New custom workout features coming in the new release + Athlytic app get me 99% of what I require for a sports watch. The 1% I miss is the flashlight Garmin offers but that is a nice to have. 

Hi, I’ve been with Coros in the past and I moved to Suunto Race 2. So far it’s been a learning curve as it’s a new system / platform but i am very happy with the purchase. If you are used to with Garmin get another one like 970 for example but in my case I didn’t want to pay £600+ for a watch really as I only use them as a tool for my training. What you can do is order the Suunto race 2 on Amazon and if you don’t like it returned…

That was my point too… I don’t want to pay more money for a watch that really does the same job 😂 I am very impressed with Suunto Race 2 HR monitor to be honest. It’s works really well even better than Coros. I used to run with an HRband and now I don’t have to anymore… I would use it for specific trainings but for a casual run works great. I am not sure if you can send back the watch from Suunto Store I would check the return policy but Amazon allows returns for sure. Edit - I have the titanium version and it’s beautiful!

I was in the same spot as you and I went for the Race 2. The screen is amazing and bright! Weight is like a feather I really don’t notice I am wearing the watch at all and I like Suunto because it’s a tool for my goals. In my case I don’t want to receive notifications and stuff like that I have a phone for that. I like a watch as a tool to achieve my goals and training!

I’ve used them all and honestly Garmin is the best . I ended up returning my Suunto Race 2 . Their flagship watch because it’s not accurate with collecting data. If it can’t do that then any info it provides is also unreliable . I’ve used a Fenix 8 Pro. It did everything I wanted and more but I couldn’t stomach the $1300 price and returned it. I actually regret doing so . I had been using an apple watch all these years but getting serious about cycling is why I tried the Suunto and Garmin. I use a Garmin Edge 1050 with a Garmin HRM chest strap for my riding. At the gym lifting and for everything else including sleep I use an Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Athlytic App. Apple’s sensors are so damn accurate . With all of this said I still wish I had a Garmin

Heart strap is definitely advised since I didn’t find heart rate accurate compared to an Apple Watch. Steps were not too accurate but close enough. Sleep wasn’t accurate . I don’t put much faith into sleep stages on any watch but it was recording when I would lay down in bed as sleep even though it could take me 60-90 minutes to fall asleep. The recovery and training load data in the app was different than what the watch states. It really was a shame I had to return it because I liked the build quality the screen, and the look of it .

You have the same concerns and problems I had. I couldn’t risk missing the return period while hoping for software updates that may not address the issues I was having. Ultimately, I returned my Race 2. It’s a shame. I still think about that watch because the size , appearance , screen, and battery life were all great for me compared to my Apple Watch Series 10. I ended up buying a Fenix 8 Pro and it did almost everything I wanted but ultimately I couldn’t stomach the fact I spent $1300 on a watch and sent it back. I’ve now landed on the Apple Watch Ultra 3. I still wish it had much more battery life but it’s better than the series 10 I had. My series 10 contacted emergency services when I lay in the middle of the road after getting hit by a car while cycling 3 months ago. No other watch would do that for me . I decided I was going to have to sacrifice battery life and stick with Apple .

The most recently I had been using whoop, before I've had apple watch and then before Fenixes, now I own Suunto Race 2, so far it's great, not much different from Garmin, but keep in mind I'm casual sport user, though I don't care about any smart features as well, before getting Race 2 I was thinking about Garmin Enduro 3 because of battery but price difference was too big to justify couple extra days of battery. I was also considering Garmin Fenix 8 Pro because of LTE connectivity until I read how it works. The screen looks great, the only thing as Garmin comparison, watch face gallery is very limited, though for me it's enough I only need to see, time, date, battery and some one extra data. The app is fine, though far away from whoop for example but I don't need that much data, what I see on Suunto is good enough. In summary for me the ratio value/price was good enough to this time go with Suunto

I switched from Forerunner 945 to Suunto Race 2 and so far I love the race 2 much more (to be fair - it’s much newer 😅). From my feeling sleep tracking and Body Battery are much more realistic on Garmin. But the App, the watch quality and simplicity is outstanding 👌. I use a Garmin Edge for tracking rides and have HR Sensor, Powermeter and Radar connected. Using RunGap to transfer it to Suunto, Strava and so on. Friends use Wahoo instead of Edge which seems to be slightly better (especially hardware buttons). But both do a fantastic job.

Used to have Suunto until 2019 and switched to Garmin. Was happy with both. Garmin has a few more features. Still using Epix Pro Gen 2. Suunto Race 2 looks promising and is half as much as the next gen Garmin Fenix watches. Had hoped AWU could at least get to a week of battery in normal use and maybe 24 hours in GPS use but looks like we have to wait a few more years.

My experience is basically the same as yours. Though the sleep tracking hasn't been great for me and I don't care about Garmin's fancy strength training features. I'm can't return mine so I'm going to keep it for now.

I’ve used both the Suunto Race and now the Race 2, and I’ve never had HR sensor issues with either. If you want really reliable HR data (especially for running or anything where accuracy matters), a chest strap is the way to go. I’d never swap my Suunto for another watch, they’re just so much more aesthetic, simple to use, and overall amazing. I compete in endurance sports, vertical Ks, long races, and high-intensity comps like Hyrox, and my watch has never let me down.

I’m all in on the Race 2. Tired of Garmin prices and tired of Apple battery life inadequacy.

Sí, el 26 de septiembre se me ha actualizado mi Race. Desde entonces se agota la batería en entre 6 y 7 horas, han hecho un grandísimo trabajo, sí. Y todo eso usándolo como un reloj normal, sin registrar ninguna actividad ni nada. Ya les vale.

Ah, lo compré en diciembre del año pasado, y durante casi dos meses no medía o medía mal el sueño. Y claro, la atención al cliente solo funciona de lunes a viernes. Nada, reclamaré el producto donde lo compré y pensaré a que marca me cambio. 

I have used AW, Garmin, Polar and Suunto and AW is by far the worst sportwatch. After switching back to Polar after AW the quality of life improved immediately by not having to charge the thing more than once a week.