Review: 5 Best Suunto Watches for Every Active Lifestyle

Suunto watches are undoubtedly one of the most trusted timepieces by the sports industry. The Finnish multi-sport and smartwatch brand come up with generally robust timepieces. Its stunning designs and heavy-duty specs make for the ultimate multi-sports smartwatch. However, Suunto also excels in producing watches that will keep you ready for anything on the battlefield. With a history that traces back to compass watches, accuracy is definitely something to look forward to from the brand.

Today, the watch may not be at par with Fitbit or Garmin, but it sure already gained a loyal following among enthusiasts. The great thing about Suunto is that it’s just as great as these brands if not better. Suunto has a variety of multi-sport watches, smartwatches, as well as GPS and lifestyle watches. With this wide array of choices, it’s hard not to fall in love with the brand itself. It also boasts a whole other set of products for the multi-sports enthusiast.

Whether you’re into sports or looking for a watch that could withstand intense environments, then Suunto may be the best watch for you. But with the many watches to choose from, it’s almost impossible to settle for one. So we gathered the best of Suunto to match your lifestyle’s needs!

Brief History of Innovative Suunto Watches

Exploration is in Suunto’s DNA, as proven by over 80 years of experience. In 1936, Finnish orienteer Tuomas Vohlenen aimed to create a more accurate compass. As an adventurer, Vohlenen chiefly sought for better technology to accompany him in his own explorations. This creation kept him from getting lost and he wanted to share this with other adventurers like himself. So, through this journey, he explored and later invented a new method of manufacturing liquid-filled compasses.

To attest Suunto’s reliability comes a story about a Finnish soldier during the Winter War and a British sports diver. In 1939, a Finnish soldier was shot by a Russian sniper and a Suunto M-311 field compass in the pocket saved his life. In 1965, a British diver discovered that his Suunto compass still worked while underwater. This led the company to produce their very first diving compass, the SK-4. These are stories that the brand carried through the years of success. They proved to be a particularly fascinating test to pass.

But the company didn’t stop innovation there. Until 1987, the diving industry only used dive tables to calculate times. This encouraged Suunto to further push their tech and created the Suunto SME-ML. This was the first dive computer from the brand and revolutionary innovation in the industry. This chiefly marked the research in making dive computers more portable. Ten years later, in 1997, Suunto launched the first watch-sized dive computer, the Spyder.

This only led to more instruments and watches produced for explorers of the land and sea. For instance, in 1998, they came up with the Suunto Vector, then the Suunto t6 in 2004. Its most recent invention is the Suunto 7 which, needless to say, took over the hearts of sports enthusiasts upon its release.

Suunto Today

To this day, Suunto remains at the top of their game in producing ingenious products. They do this not only for the brand’s legacy but also for the adventurers that look up to their heritage. The most amazing thing about the brand, however, is the undeniable Nordic identity that stands out with their watches. Its aesthetics reflect its roots while its endurance is for every fighter all over the world.

Through the years, Suunto leverages with technology’s finest discoveries. This led them to create undeniably one of the best watches in the industry. The company also came up with their own app, same with Garmin and FitBit. This further expanded the capabilities of their smartwatches with deeper insights and more functional features. But even with an app of their own, third-party apps remain to be their greatest partners. In fact, the brand boasts a range of partners that will surely keep your progress tracked and analyzed. These include Strava, UA MapMyRun, Training Peaks, Lifetime, and a whole lot more.

Aside from watches, Suunto also produces other products for diving, hiking, and other sports management devices. Surely, the brand has come a long way from accurate compasses and took measurement to a bigger market.

5 Best Suunto Watches for Every Lifestyle

The greatest thing about Suunto is that it doesn’t discriminate its market. They offer a variety of products that are great not only for sports enthusiasts but also for city folks in search of practicality. These include casual enthusiasts as well as 24/7 hustlers who like to stay on top of things. But because Suunto knows enough to produce robust watches, it’s safe to say that most of their watches are battlefield ready.

Whether you’re into hiking, diving, trekking, or getting through demanding nine-to-fives, there would be a watch for you. So, without further ado, here are the best Suunto watches that will suit whatever your lifestyle is!

1. Suunto Core for the Weekend Warriors

The Suunto Core is one of the best out there. And by that, we meant not only among Suunto watches but also among multi-sports watches out there. It features one of the most functional altimeters and accurate barometers on watches we’ve seen. It also has waterproof buttons that you can take for snorkelling. Despite its rugged look, it’s actually very easy to use and has a menu that you can easily get a hang of. However, it’s quite on the more expensive scale despite it being a non-GPS watch. But this is not without reason.

Most enthusiasts, especially those who casually trek and hike, go for the Core as their entry-level accompaniment. This is due to the altimeter and barometer functions that more than make up with accuracy. The Core calculates long-term pressure changes for an even more accurate reading. Moreover, the watch works with you as you ascend with changes in the barometric pressure tracked accurately. Suunto Core is also wise enough to differentiate barometer pressure changes from elevation gains. This is where other watches fall behind on. To further make its readings accurate, it displays elevation in three-foot or one-foot intervals.

Furthermore, the Suunto Core can be taken to shallow depths as in snorkelling or a recreational swim. You can take it as deep as 100 feet. However, the watch can only tell you the depth you reached until 30 feet. Among its other features include a sunrise/sunset times, thermometer, as well as a multilingual menu.

2. Suunto 3 Fitness for Rookie Fitness Enthusiasts

The Suunto 3 Fitness works best for people who are looking to improve general fitness. All these can generally be done despite busy work schedules and what-not. But more than a fitness tracker, the watch makes for a good choice for people who simply want to monitor health points. For instance, your heart rate powers the Suunto 3 Fitness’s adaptive training guidance. This keeps you from reaching fatally exhausting routines. If you’re someone who doesn’t really need GPS on their wrist, this can be a great choice!

For a quick take, it’s a beginner’s fitness watch but with great features to offer. Aside from its sleek and stylish look, the watch keeps you moving without making routines hard for you. The watch, in itself, is a motivational tool that will keep you on your toes. To monitor your fitness levels, you’ll get the usual pace, distance and calories sport tracking. These may be used not only for running but also for cycling, swimming and simply walking. Moreover, with its 24/7 tracking, it keeps track of your sleep, heart rates, and more. Don’t worry about swimming with it on as it can withstand up to 30 meters of depth. Take a dip on the pool while you’re at it!

But the Suunto 3 Fitness is also a smartwatch that gives you all your notification without having to check your phone. Its battery functions better despite its many functions. If you’re in it for the smartwatch features and 24/7 tracking, then the battery could last up to 5 days. Meanwhile, if connected with the phone GPS, it lasts about 30 to 40 hours in training mode sans the GPS. It’s great for daily runs and more!

3. Suunto D4i Novo for Recreational Divers On-the-Go

The brand is no stranger to creating compact dive computers. One of their greatest creations is the Suunto D4i. But despite the success of the model, the Finnish company decided to take on greater challenges. They wanted to make the D4i more stylish and comfortable to wear. This watch is perfect for recreational divers who travel a lot. It’s something you can definitely wear day in and day out. It has a comfortable silicone strap with a variety of colour options.

The Suunto D4i features various dive modes you can expect for such a watch. It has four modes, namely air, nitrox, free dive and gauge. The watch also makes diving a whole lot more convenient with its wireless air integration. It lets you see your live cylinder pressure on-screen via a single wireless transmitter. Moreover, depending on your depth, the watch also lets you in on how much time you have left on your dive.

Furthermore, it allows about 140 hours of dive profile data. This ultimately lets you scroll through previous dives and their profiles. Moreover, this also provides accumulated dive information from your previous dive data. Generally, there’s nothing more you can ask for from the D4i Novo. It has everything you would need and more, especially for recreational divers on-the-go.

4. Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro Stealth for the Multi-Sport Champs

The Spartan Sport Wrist HR is already a great watch in itself. But, just like any other day at the Suunto headquarters, there’s will always be room for improvement. So this time, they equipped the same watch with a barometer. While a lot of GPS watches don’t do well in the barometer feature with inaccuracies in elevation levels, Suunto proves that they can defeat this odd. They’ve done a great job with the Core for its highly-functional altimeter and barometer. Now, it’s time to up their game.

The FusedAlti function marries the GPS function with its barometric function. You can also measure altitude on a daily mode, displayed on the watch’s face. The watch also allows you to stay one step ahead with storm alarms.

But what could be the greatest features it has are most probably the sports modes. There are over 80 of them with insightful data to match your lifestyle. If you’re someone who’s already finished a triathlon or a marathon, or does occasional hiking or other activities, this would be perfect for you. You may set your display depending on your activity. For instance, you may choose running, cycling, swimming, or even triathlon as display settings. It also has a GPS function right on the watch, unlike the Core. Also, unlike the Suunto 3 Fitness, this watch would most likely be an experienced enthusiast’s must-have.

5. Suunto Traverse Alpha for the Ultimate Outdoorsman

Here’s a start: stainless steel bezel, premium sapphire crystal glass, and water repellent strap. If that doesn’t speak to you already, you might want to hold on a little longer because there’s a lot to unpack with the Suunto Traverse Alpha. It’s not only a multi-sports smartwatch but also a GPS watch. Moreover, it’s everything a hiker, hunter, fishing enthusiast, and even military men need for maximum convenience in the wild. The rugged look is just one of its many qualities to consider, but the features will surely sell it harder.

The GPS/GLONASS navigation allows you to leave a breadcrumb trail. But it doesn’t only track your trail. The watch can also let you set points of interest along the way. You may choose from a variety of options specific to fishing, hunting, and hiking. It also has a barometer, altimeter, and compass to keep you from getting lost and facing the unexpected with weather situations. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for the watch’s many features.

It gives you sunrise/set times and alerts as well as moon phases. The watch provides automatic shot detection in hunting mode and a red backlight with night vision goggle compatibility. You may also discover new routes with heatmaps provided by the Suunto app once synced! On the watch, you may see the route preview as well as the altitude profile of your trail. It provides vibration alarm just in case the sound alarm doesn’t do the job or for the basic enjoyment of it! As a smartwatch itself, it also provides appropriate mobile notifications.

Now, this is one watch that’s best for people who live life on the edge. It’s for the warriors on a battlefield but it could also be for the people who like to answer to the call of the wild. If you’re one of them, you need this one. Stat!

Suunto Watches for Any Adventure Ahead

The most fascinating thing about Suunto watches is that they’re more than just watches. They’re supercomputers right on your wrist. With insightful information right on a tiny screen, there’s some much we can get from a watch. Technology has surely come a long way but it proves to be a friend with brands like Suunto. These watches may be the future of sports, fitness, and military. While it feels like Suunto has already given it all they got in their watches, the possibilities remain endless.

Looking for robust watches to last in battles? Check out these military-grade watches we compiled just for you.