The time limit for Japan's leading trail running race, UTMF (Ultra Trail Mount Fuji, approximately 167km), is 46 hours. Even fast runners can run for over 20 hours
GPS watches with heart rate monitors have become indispensable for runners in recent years, but the reality is that there have been very few models that can provide high-precision tracking for endurance races of this magnitude
Suunto Suunto 9 BARO a multi-sport GPS watch with a reliable battery life , is a long-awaited watch for athletes who focus on long distances.
The battery life of up to 120 hours is truly ultra-class. However, even a high-performance gadget packed with complex functions can be wasted if you don't know how to use it optimally
In this review, I, a long-time user of previous Suunto watches, the Suunto 9 , what I noticed, and the optimal settings and functions. I hope this review will be useful for your active outdoor lifestyle.
A new companion has joined my long-time Suunto collection
table of contents
The pinnacle of SUUNTO GPS outdoor watches
the Suunto 9 is a GPS watch that's perfect for a variety of outdoor sports, including trail running, thanks to its ultra-long battery life, incredibly durable body, wrist-based heart rate monitor, and barometric altitude measurement. The GPS is compatible with the Michibiki satellite, which delivers more accurate satellite signals, and the unique "FusedTrack" feature, which combines GPS and an accelerometer, ensures consistently high-precision GPS measurements even when power consumption is reduced. The Suunto 9 Suunto 's flagship series .
What to do first
Linking with PC (SuuntoLink)
Suunto 9 data storage and installation management can be done on a Mac or PC, so we encourage you to take advantage of this
Personal data, various settings, and activity data are collected and managed on Suunto's community site, Suunto movescount.com (web service). In addition, the app that links Suunto movescount.com and Suunto9 is SuuntoLink.
Both Mac and Windows versions are available, so install it on your PC. Connect your Suunto 9 to your PC with the included USB cable. When SuuntoLink is running, it will update the software and sync your activity data
Linking with your smartphone (Suunto app)
Download and install the Suunto app on your phone from the iTunes App Store or Google Play
Then launch the Suunto app, tap the icon in the upper left corner of the app screen, and pair it. Enter the code displayed on the watch screen into the app and confirm pairing is complete
Now, the data from the Suunto 9 can be synced to your smartphone and managed at any time
Please note that Movescount, which has been available as Suunto's mobile app until now, scheduled to be integrated into the Suunto App , so if you are currently using it, please be aware of this.
Basic usage
What information do you want to know from your Suunto 9 while trail running? Distance, pace, heart rate, altitude, active time, sunrise/sunset, or simply the current time. With the Suunto 9, you can choose from pre-set basic display items for each activity. For trail running, these are "Basic," "Power," and "Mountain." Basic is the basic mode for trail running. This mode displays key measurements such as lap times, distance, heart rate, and duration. Other items such as Power and Mountain are pre-set for more hardy athletes
The basic and power Mac screens have a certain number of display items set for each activity
Basic mode is sufficient until you get used to it, and the display settings can be customized to some extent within each mode. Most people will be OK if you start using the basic mode on a daily basis, and then customize the information you want to see once you get used to it. Make sure to select the mode properly before starting an activity
Select basic mode before your activity
By the way, the display items set in basic mode are as follows. With a total of five screens, you can see how much data you can view with just these
5 Field Screen
- pace
- Heart rate
- Ascent altitude
- Current activity distance
- The duration of the current activity
2 row screen
- The duration of the current activity
- Lap average pace
- Lap average heart rate
Heart Rate Zones Screen
- pace
- Heart rate
- The duration of the current activity
Graph screen
- Heart rate
- The duration of the current activity
Interval, 3-item screen
- Current interval distance
- pace
- Current interval duration
Basic mode provides basic display settings for activities
However, as you get used to using it, many people may find the basic setting insufficient or that it contains too much unnecessary information. Also, depending on the activity, the information you want to know may not be available as a selection. In fact, I was very dissatisfied with the inconvenient situation that the basic setting does not display "elevation" and cannot be set by customization (although the elevation gain is displayed)
In such cases, use the "New Sports Mode" that will be introduced later to create your own original display items
Actual usability
The easy-to-read visibility even during exercise and intuitive operation with the touch panel are impeccable. However, the weight of approximately 72g is a bit of a concern. The SPARTAN TRAINER WRIST HR weighs approximately 56g, while the Suunto 9 weighs 76g. The AMBIT3 RUN is 72g. Some users may have switched from the AMBIT series to the SPARTAN series. To be honest, I have used the T3C/D → AMBIT2 S → AMBIT3 RUN → SPARTAN TRAINER WRIST HR, so it took some getting used to the size and weight
Suunto 9 BARO (left) and Suunto Spartan Trainer (right). The Suunto 9 BARO is slightly larger, although it's within the acceptable range
The belt is soft and stretchy. It has many holes, allowing for delicate adjustments and a good fit. Tightening it a little tighter will increase the fit and stability of the strap
The face is made of sapphire crystal, which is said to be the second hardest material after diamond, making it incredibly durable. It can withstand bumps, drops, and throws without a hitch. In fact, I'm primarily left-handed, so I usually wear my watch on my right wrist. However, I use my right hand to pick up and throw things, so I'm not dominant with either hand. This means I'm more likely to damage my watch than most people. A common example is when I'm picking up a drink from a vending machine. I often hit the watch on my right arm against the dispenser. But with the Suunto 9, I don't have to worry about that at all. And of course, it's so sturdy that it can withstand bumps like tree branches while trail running
Reliable ultra-long battery life
I'd also like to mention the battery, one of the features of the Suunto 9. The battery modes seem to have a standard operating time of 25 hours for Exercise Performance, 40 hours for Endurance, and 120 hours for Ultra
Once you've set your activity, check the battery mode. You can select the battery mode using the button on the top right. It probably depends on the charging status, but when I actually tried it, the display showed 25 hours of performance, 38 hours of endurance, and 138 hours of ultra for trail running
Select the battery mode based on the duration of your activity
The unique "FusedTrack" feature, which combines GPS and an accelerometer, improves the accuracy of distance and track recording while reducing GPS power consumption. Another convenient feature is that it notifies you when battery life reaches 20% and 10%
The other model, the Suunto Spartan Ultra, has a maximum battery life of 140 hours in training mode using GPS. Compared to the Suunto 9's maximum of 120 hours, the Suunto Spartan Ultra appears to have a battery life 20 hours longer. However, as mentioned above, please remember that the Suunto 9's Michibiki satellite reception function and FusedTrack significantly improve the GPS accuracy in Ultra mode
Appearance and operability with excellent usability
The watch face is about 5cm in diameter, which is slightly larger than previous GPS watches. However, this improves visibility and makes the touch panel easier to operate
The finely detailed text and screen display are easy to see even in bright places
You can operate the side buttons without any hassle, even while wearing gloves
The LCD panel is made of sapphire crystal, which is second only to diamond in hardness, making it scratch-resistant even during the most intense activities. The Suunto 9 is mostly used outdoors, facing nature. While it may be a bit over-specced, its exceptional battery life and durability make it extremely reliable
Of course, it's also great for everyday use
More practical use for trail runners
Once you're familiar with the basics and want to customize the display items to your liking, choose the "New Sport Mode," which allows you to freely select the display items. The display method and number of items can be selected from the items available depending on the field (screen). By the way, new sport modes can be created and saved to the watch using the Movescount.com web service on your PC
The new Sport mode lets you customize the display settings however you like
Author's settings
While individual preferences may dictate what you want to see, you'll want to check distance, heart rate, altitude, and time (on time, active time) every time. When switching displays (fields and columns), we recommend always displaying the data you want to know. Try to keep the display simple, and limit the number of screen patterns to three or less. Set a simple display based on your activity
For reference, I currently have four items set on the field screen I look at most often: distance, heart rate, altitude, and activity time. On the adjacent screen, I set pace-related figures, the current time, and activity distance. I've kept the display items I don't think are necessary for regular training to a minimum, confining it to three screens (see photo below)
Summary: What kind of people do they recommend?
The Suunto 9 is a multisport GPS watch with robust durability and an ultra-long battery life. While it's a little pricey, I think it's well worth it. Honestly, a watch that runs out of battery or is flimsy is unreliable when outdoors. Other great features include wrist-based heart rate monitoring without a chest strap and more accurate GPS tracking of track and distance. This watch is perfect for anyone who enjoys long-term activities, wants to keep running long trails, is prone to bumping their watch (for those with mixed dominant hands), or finds frequent charging a hassle. Once you get used to it, you can customize it freely with new sport modes. Create a one-of-a-kind watch
NEWS: New colors for the SUUNTO 9 series
On sale from Thursday, May 23, 2019!
Now, nearly a year after its release, the ever-popular Suunto 9 BARO is available in a new Graphite color.
This elegant and subdued color is sure to brighten up your everyday life, not just as a sports measurement device.
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