The time limit is 46 hours, one of Japan's leading trail running races. Even a fast runner will definitely run for more than 20 hours.
The reality is that GPS watches with heart rate measurement, which have become indispensable to runners in recent years, have hardly ever been able to track with high accuracy when it comes to endurance races up to this point.
Suunto Suunto 9 BARO has a reliable battery life , is one of the long-awaited items for athletes whose main players are long distances.
The maximum operating time of 120 hours is truly ultra-grade. However, even high-performance gadgets packed with complex functions are a waste of money if you don't know how to use them optimally.
In this review, I, who has been using past Suunto watches, will introduce my impressions, points I noticed, and the optimal settings and functions I have seen while using the Suunto 9 I would be happy if this would be useful as a reference for my active and outdoor life.
A new partner has joined my previous Suunto collection, which I have been using for many years.
table of contents
The pinnacle of SUUNTO GPS outdoor watches
the Suunto 9 is a GPS watch that is suitable for a variety of outdoor sports, including trail running, with an ultra-long battery, a sturdy, uneven body, wrist heart rate measurement, and barometric pressure altitude measurement function. In particular, GPS is compatible with the "Michibiki Satellite", which delivers more accurate satellite radio waves, and even when power consumption is reduced, the unique "FusedTrack" function combines GPS and accelerometers allows for high-precision GPS measurements at any time. Suunto 9 the flagship series that SUUNTO .
What to do first
Link to PC (SuuntoLink)
You can save and manage Suunto 9 data on Mac and PC, so I hope you will make use of it.
Personal data, various settings, and activity data are consolidated on Suunto's community site Suunto movescount.com (web service) and can be configured to manage settings. Also, the app that links Suunto movescount.com to Sunnto9 is SuuntoLink.
Both the Mac and Windows versions are available, so install them on your PC. Connect the Suunto 9 to your PC using the included USB cable. If SuuntoLink is running, the software will be updated and activity data etc. will be synchronized.
Link to your smartphone (Suunto App)
Download and install Suunto App from the iTunes App Store or Google Play on your smartphone.
Then launch Suunto App, tap the icon in the top left of the app screen and pair it. Enter the code displayed on the watch screen into the app and confirm that the pairing has been completed.
Now, Suunto 9 data can be synchronized and managed every time it is on your smartphone.
Movescount, which had previously been deployed as a Suunto mobile app, expected to be integrated into the Suunto App , so please be careful if you are currently using it.
Basic usage
What information do you want to know from Suunto 9 while running on the trail... It could be distance, pace, heart rate, altitude, activity time, sunrise setting, and simply the time of the current situation. With Suunto 9, you can choose basic display items from preset presets for each activity. In the case of trail runs, those are "basic", "power", and "mountain". The basic mode is for trail running. This mode displays key measurements such as lap time, distance, heart rate, and duration. In addition, power and mountains are pre-set with items for even more hard athletes.
A basic and power Mac screen with some display items set for each activity.
Until you get used to it, basic is sufficient, and display settings can be customized to some extent within each mode. Most people try using it on a daily basis in Basic Mode and once you get used to it, you can customize the information you want to know. Before you enter the activity, select the mode properly.
Select Basic Mode before the activity.
Incidentally, the following display items set in Basic Mode: With a total of five screens, you can see how abundant data can be viewed from this alone.
5 Field Screen
- pace
- Heart rate
- Rising altitude
- Current activity distance
- Current activity duration
Two-row screen
- Current activity duration
- Average lap pace
- Average lap heart rate
Heart Rate Zone Screen
- pace
- Heart rate
- Current activity duration
Graph screen
- Heart rate
- Current activity duration
Interval, 3 item screen
- Current interval distance
- pace
- Current interval duration
Basic mode is the basic display settings for activities.
However, once you get used to it, many people will feel that basics are not enough or that there is a lot of unnecessary information. Also, depending on the activity, the information the user wants to know may not be present in the selection item. In fact, I was very dissatisfied with the troublesome situation where the "altitude" was not displayed in basics and it was not possible to set it using customizations (although the rising altitude is displayed).
In such cases, use the "New Sports Mode" that we'll introduce later to create your own original display items.
Actual usability
It has a visibility that is easy to see even when exercising, and its intuitive operability with a touch panel, etc. is undeniable. However, I'm a bit concerned about the weight of about 72g. The SPARTAN TRAINER WRIST HR is approximately 56g, while the Suunto 9 is 76g. The AMBIT3 RUN is 72g. There are probably some users who have switched from the AMBIT series to the SPARTAN series. To be honest, I used it to be T3C/D → AMBIT2 S → AMBIT3 RUN → SPARTAN TRAINER WRIST HR, so I had to get used to it in terms of size and weight.
Suunto9 BARO (left) and SUUNTO SPARTAN TRAINER (right). It's within the acceptable range, but the Suunto9 BARO is slightly larger.
The belt is soft and stretchy. The holes are also frequently opened, allowing for delicate adjustments and a good fit. If you tighten it a little tighter, it will become more adhesion to your arms and become more stable.
The face is made of sapphire glass, which is said to be the hardest after diamonds, and is extremely durable. Whether you hit it, drop it, or throw it, you'll be a bit hectic. In fact, I am basically left-handed, so I have a habit of wearing a watch on my right wrist. However, the right hand is used to take and throw things, and the dominant hand is divided. This means that it will damage your watch more than anyone else. A common occurrence is when you pick up a drink at a vending machine. Pull the watch on your right arm into the outlet. But with Suunto 9, there's nothing to worry about. Of course, if you hit an obstacle such as a tree branch while running on a trail, it's not a problem.
Reliable super long battery
I would like to touch on one of the features of the Suunto 9: the battery. The battery mode seems to be based on the operating time of the exercise: 25 hours of performance, 40 hours of endurance, and 120 hours of ultra.
Once you have actually set up the activity, check the battery mode. You can select the battery mode using the button on the top right. I think it depends on the charging status, but when I actually tried it out, I found that on trail running, I was shown to have 25 hours of performance, 38 hours of endurance, and 138 hours of ultra.
Select the battery mode according to the time of your activity.
The unique feature "FusedTrack" that combines GPS and acceleration sensors reduces GPS power consumption while improving the accuracy of recording distance and trajectory. It's also a great feature that will notify you when the battery life reaches 20% or 10%.
In addition, the other model, SUUNTO SPARTAN ULTRA, has a maximum of 140 hours in training mode using GPS. Compared to the Suunto 9's maximum 120 hours, the SUUNTO SPARTAN ULTRA looks 20 hours longer in battery life. However, as mentioned above, don't forget that the Suunto 9 has significantly improved GPS accuracy in Ultra Mode thanks to its Michibiki satellite reception function and FusedTrack.
Usability-friendly exterior and operability
The diameter of the watch face is approximately 5cm. It gives the impression that it is a little bigger than the conventional GPS witch. However, it improves visibility and makes it easier to operate the touch panel.
The fine text and screen display provide excellent visibility even in bright places.
Even when you're still wearing gloves, the buttons on the side are stress-free.
The LCD panel uses sapphire crystal, which is said to be the hardest after diamonds, so it boasts strong resistance to being scratched, no matter how intense it is. Suunto 9 is mostly used outdoors when dealing with nature. It may be a bit over-spec, but the extraordinary battery and durability lead to enormous reliability.
Of course, it is also very useful for everyday use.
More practical use for trail runners
If you've become accustomed to basics and want to customize the displayed items to your liking, choose the "New Sports Mode" where you can freely choose the displayed items. The display method and number of items displayed are selected from among the items that can be selected according to the field (screen). Incidentally, you can create new sports modes and write to your watch using Movescount.com web service on your PC.
With the new sports mode, you can freely set the display.
Author's settings
I think there are individual preferences too, but you should definitely check distance, heart rate, elevation, and time (on-time, active time) each time. When switching displays (fields, columns), we recommend that you always display the data you want to know. I would like to keep the display simple and to keep the screen pattern within three screen patterns. Set the display settings to be simple, assuming activity.
For reference, I have set four items in the field screen that I see most often so far: distance, heart rate, elevation, and activity time, and the next screen has set pace-related numbers, current time, and active distance. I have taken as few items as possible except for the items that I think are necessary for my regular training, and put them on three screens (photo below).
Summary: What kind of people do they recommend?
The Suunto 9 multi-sport GPS watch is strong and durable and has an ultra-long battery. The price is a little high, but I think it's worth more. To be honest, I can't help but feel uneasy when I'm in the outdoors and have a dead battery or a sloppy watch. The wrist heartbeat measurements without wearing a chest belt, as well as GPS measurements for more accurate trajectory and distance are also great points. For those who like long-term activities, those who want to ride long trails forever, those who are prone to hitting watches (someone with different dominant hands), and those who find it lazy to charge frequently, those who are sure to give it a try. Once you get used to it, you can freely customize it in the new sports mode. Let's finish it as a one-of-a-kind watch in the world.
NEWS: New colors to be released in the SUUNTO 9 series
On sale on Thursday, May 23rd, 2019!
Almost a year after its release, Graphite color has been added to the ever-popular Suunto 9 BARO.
The elegant and calm colors are sure to add color to your everyday life, not just as a sports measuring instrument, but also as a wristwatch.
