This Suunto Race S review might surprise you. The watch may be small in name, but don’t be fooled — this compact powerhouse delivers seriously impressive performance. Combining sleek, minimalist Scandinavian design with a surprising depth of metrics, excellent navigation, and battery life that holds its own against bigger, bulkier, and more expensive models, I’m starting to think the “S” doesn’t stand for small — more like sleeper, streamlined, svelte… or just downright sexy. Honestly, the only thing that is small about the Race S? The price.
Offering up to 30 hours of multi-band GPS tracking in “Performance” mode and 120 hours in “Tour”, the Race S has enough juice for all but the most ridiculous ultras (I’m looking at you, Cocodona 250). In this review of the Suunto Race S, we cover the features, flaws, and where it stands in the Suunto vs. Garmin debate.

Update 12th December, 2025: Since this Race S review, I’ve delved a little deeper into the Suunto ecosystem, publishing an in-depth review of the newly released Suunto Vertical 2.

Garmin: Connect+ or Disconnect?

I didn’t plan to kick off this Suunto review by talking about one of their competitors. I don’t want this to be a Garmin vs Suunto shootout, either (I don’t succeed). But the way I tend to write reviews is chronological — a bit of storytelling, a bit of context. So to explain how we got here, we do need to briefly talk about Garmin.

If you own a Garmin, chances are you’ve clocked the banner at the top of Connect pushing a free trial of Connect+. Many ignored it — content with what they’ve already got and not exactly desperate to add another monthly subscription to the pile. If that’s you, you might not even know what Connect+ is, let alone why there’s been so much noise around it. And honestly, even if you did activate the free trial, you may still be scratching your head.

At launch, Connect+ gave users a couple of “premium” challenge badges and something Garmin boldly called “Active Intelligence.” What did that look like? Well, here’s an actual insight I received:

“You’re doing great this week. You’ve completed 124 intensity minutes towards your goal of 150. That means you need just 26 more minutes over the remaining 6 days. Keep up the good work.”

Inspirational stuff, right? Technically correct, sure. But calling that an insight from a form of “intelligence” is a bit of a reach.

Now, £6.99 a month for that might already sound laughable. But what really riled people up was what it implied: that Garmin was gearing up to hide new features behind a paywall. Personally, I was undecided. I didn’t like where it was heading, but I’d bought my Epix Gen 2 for the features it already had — not what it might offer down the line. And, to be fair to them, Garmin did say existing features wouldn’t be touched. Case closed, right?

Not quite. Because what counts as an “existing” feature? The name? The function? A slight tweak to an existing tool and — boom — it’s suddenly “new,” and tucked neatly behind a paywall. That’s the heart of the frustration. These aren’t budget watches. Some cost upwards of £1,000. Imagine spending that, only for Garmin to roll out a genuinely useful new feature that’s locked unless you subscribe. That doesn’t scream community-minded, it screams shareholder-first.

Now, Garmin are of course a public company. Profit matters. But this move felt like a classic case of tone-deaf corporate greed. And it didn’t go unnoticed. While there hasn’t been a mass exodus, plenty of long-time users have said this’ll be their last Garmin.

With more eyes wandering toward alternatives, I wanted to test a few to see how they measured up. So when the opportunity came to review the Suunto Race S, I was psyched.

Suunto: From Compass to GPS Powerhouse

I don’t usually spend too much time researching and writing about the histories of the companies I review. I won’t be offended if this isn’t your bag, either. After all, the content here is usually more caveman small talk — “bouncy midsole feel nice” — than intellectual discourse. So feel free to skip ahead to my thoughts on the Race S. If you do stick around, I think you’ll see why Suunto’s roots practically demand their adventure-first focus.

Suunto’s story kicks off in 1936, when Finnish engineer Tuomas Vohlonen set out to make compasses more accurate and stable. He cracked it — inventing a new method for manufacturing liquid-filled compasses. That one idea sparked the birth of Suunto.

They didn’t stop there. Suunto expanded into clinometers (tools for measuring elevation angles — cheers, Google), marine compasses, and precision navigation gear for military and professional use. Then came the first big leap toward wearables — a wrist-worn dive computer offering real-time depth and decompression data. For divers, it was revolutionary. For Suunto, it was their first proper step into smart, wrist-based tech and an indication of how the future was to look. Next came the Vector — apparently a well-loved legend. Altimeter, barometer, compass, thermometer, all in one rugged unit. It was one of the first true outdoor sports watches and quickly became a staple for mountaineers and backcountry explorers.

Fast forward to the 2000s, and Suunto was deep into the multisport game. GPS, heart rate tracking, route navigation, training insights — all dialled in with the same rugged reliability they were known for. In 2018, the Suunto 9 landed. A no-nonsense beast of a watch with massive battery life and smart GPS modes, built to handle long days in harsh terrain.

Today, Suunto’s tech is sharper, smarter, and easier on the eyes. Many of their latest watches feature crisp AMOLED displays, dual-band GPS, and a bucket-load of performance metrics — all wrapped in that unmistakable clean, Scandinavian design. But beneath the polish, they’ve stuck to their roots. These aren’t lifestyle gadgets pretending to be outdoor tools. They’re still built for the mountains, the mud, and the miles.

Design and Display: Small Watch, Big Clarity

I know, I know — I said I wouldn’t just compare the Suunto Race S with Garmin. It’s a standalone device. But sometimes, comparison is the quickest way to explain how something feels.

The Race S has a 45mm case which, on paper (and in reality), is just 2mm smaller than the 47mm Epix Gen 2 I’d been using. But the difference in-hand is dramatic. When I first unboxed the Race S and looked down at the Epix on my wrist, it felt like I was looking at tech from two completely different eras. The Garmin is a bulky unit, though it is sold as an “adventure” watch, so the hard-wearing industrial approach makes sense. The Suunto? Sleek. Modern. Minimalist.

There’s nothing particularly special about the Race S’ design. It isn’t flashy. It’s an all-black watch with no unnecessary embellishments. But it’s beautifully executed. That pared-back, understated elegance — it screams Scandinavian design. Small. Slim (11.4mm). Sleek. I’ll say it: sexy.

And despite its compact form, the Race S still manages to squeeze in a 1.32″ AMOLED display. One that’s bright, crisp, colourful, and bold. It makes navigating through menus and maps a genuinely pleasant experience. The clarity is right up there with the best of them — Apple-tier sharpness, I’d argue.

What really surprised me, though, was learning that the display is larger than that of the Epix Gen 2. Only just, mind you. The Epix sports a 1.3″ AMOLED display. I’m sure even the keenest eye would be hard-pressed to see that 0.02″ difference. But because of the Epix’s hefty build and the Race S’ sleek one, it’s a surprising realisation.

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Suunto Race S Navigation and Route Planning Review

The Suunto Race S does a lot well — but navigation and route planning steal the show.

Maps don’t come preloaded, so you’ll need to download the regions you want via the Suunto app. The setup is straightforward, and Suunto helpfully guides you through it when setting up the watch. Annoyingly, you will need to have the Race S connected to its charger during the process. It’s mildly frustrating when you’ve just unboxed a new toy and want to get out the door. But, due to another gripe — how long the downloads take — it’s understandable. I grabbed two UK regions (roughly 440MB total), and the whole process took well over an hour. I’d imagine it’s one of the quickest ways to burn through battery, hence the requirement to keep it docked. It’s not the end of the world, of course, and once completed you’ll be able to explore the downloaded areas while offline. But it’s certainly something to keep in mind if you often travel for work, races, or weekends away and like to run in new places. If this is you, my best advice would be to download the entire country you reside in. Great Britain, for example, takes up 3.3 GB of space. Nothing on the Race S’ 32 GB capacity. Just be prepared for this to take up the bulk of your first day with the watch.

Once the maps are on the watch, the experience changes completely. Navigation on the Race S is excellent — easily one of the best I’ve used. The crisp, bright AMOLED display makes following a route simple. You can tell that the team involved in designing navigation do actually use said tools and thought about ways to improve the user’s experience. Little touches like highlighting the next segment of your route in a different colour so you know the direction of travel. Useful generally, but extremely so on overlapping paths. It might seem like a minor point, but it’s surprisingly useful.

What I also love is how intuitive it all is. There’s a common stereotype about men not reading instruction manuals (I’m sure this applies to women, too), and so, when I first took the Race S out to follow a route I hadn’t done before and needed to zoom in on the map, I thought, “Damn, really should have checked how to do that.” But fear not. What I did know was that there was a functional crown on the side of the watch. I thought to myself, “What would I want that crown to do?”, turned it clockwise, and voila, we had zoom.

That point leads to another, which is how fast and responsive the Race S’ navigation is. I often found Garmin’s maps took a tad too long to load when you wanted to move around or zoom in. Not annoyingly so. But when they’re downloaded onto the watch, why should they be anything but instantaneous? Well, the Race S really is. It’s quick to respond, which could make all the difference in risky situations.

One useful feature is Suunto’s “Find Back”, which, aside from having a pretty rubbish name, works perfectly. It’s actually something I had to use this past weekend having found myself slightly lost in a Welsh town I’d never visited before. It wasn’t a life or death situation, and had I the energy I’m sure I would have just taken a proper look at the map and worked out where to go. But, having never used this on the Race S (or Garmin for that matter), I thought it presented a great opportunity. On the display, a blue cursor pops up with a second blue slot for the cursor (which is the direction of your starting location). Simply line the two up and head in that direction. It’s accompanied by the distance to the location (so you can verify you’re headed in the right direction) and an estimated time of arrival. Tap the screen, and you’ll see how many minutes it’s estimated to take. It’s a brilliant safety feature. Sure, it’s not unique to the Race S or Suunto, but it adds to your peace of mind that you’re not just going to go missing on your next adventure.

Now, when it comes to turn-by-turn navigation, this is an area that could do with a couple of tweaks. It’s not that it doesn’t work or isn’t accurate. It is. Very much so. But the gentle vibration and tone that alerts you before a change of course isn’t particularly loud. It’s a small watch, so I doubt there’s a massive boy-racer set of speakers in there. But still, this could be improved with more intense vibration or louder tones. They certainly work, and I use them frequently. But I wouldn’t rely on them. I’ve missed more than one turn in my time with the Race S because, quite frankly, I don’t want to have to stare at my watch the whole time I’m running.

On the topic of tones, a further grievance is that Suunto doesn’t let you select tones for activities independently of the general system’s settings. It’s all or nothing. (Unless I’m missing something). As you can imagine, the tone wears thin when you’re flicking through menus on first exploring the device. So I turned them off. I completely forget I had when I next went for a run, so found myself relying solely on vibrations to notify me of turns. They worked, but naturally it wasn’t as effective as having both. Being able to set sport-specific profiles would fix this and I can’t imagine it would be a difficult feature to implement.

While navigation in the field is superb, what really sets Suunto apart from the competition is their route-building ecosystem. Route planner in the Suunto app is a genuine pleasure to use. There are multiple map layers available, including terrain, topo, and satellite. You can also view heat maps by sport, which shows the most frequently used tracks by (presumably) members of the Suunto community. Theres also a feature (currently in beta) that lets you filter tracks based on surface type — a super-handy tool for shoe and gear selection.

Equally useful is the ability to search an area of the map and view popular (I think) routes. This makes it super-easy to run in unfamiliar areas. Simply click the route and you’re presented with a bunch of information — distance, elevation profile, estimated duration. Click to save and you’re good to go. One downside, at least browsing in the Peak District, is that there aren’t many routes to go at. I hope these keep growing in the near future, as it’s a genuinely fab tool. If anybody knows where these routes are pulled from, drop me an email or DM as I’d love to contribute to the system.

And that brings us nicely to our final highlight. It’s a simple one, but after a year or so with Garmin’s system, it’s a breath of fresh air. I don’t know about you, but I love browsing the internet for trail routes and downloading their accompanying GPX files. On Garmin, to import a GPX file, you have to first download it and then access Connect on a PC or other desktop device. Unless you pay for a premium subscription with one of their partners, such as Strava, you’re unable to send the file to Connect on your mobile. On Suunto, irrespective of how you get the GPX file, you simply press import and the job’s done. It’s fast, intuitive, and exactly how this process should work. I realise that perhaps my way of finding routes is a little … archaic (or as archaic as using Google can be). I’m sure most people use things like All Trails, Komoot, or Strava and have never found Garmin’s GPX imports to be an issue. But for those who do follow my technique, you’ll likely feel the very first-world pain that I feel of having to open up a laptop and login to a web app instead of just being able to do it all on our smart devices. I’m being facetious, if you hadn’t clocked.

Training and Recovery Metrics: Data When You Need It

Now, for reasons that’ll become clear, I have to admit: I’ve barely used the training and recovery metrics on offer on the Race S. But, I’ll tell you what I know.

The Race S features an impressive amount of metrics powered by Training Peaks. It’s the usual suspects: VO2 Max, Training Load, Recovery Time, and one Suunto calls Progress.

Progress (pictured below), is quite an interesting metric for a number of reasons. It’s Suunto’s answer to Garmin’s “Training Status.” If you’ve spent any amount of time with Garmin, you’ll know how divisive this metric can be.

With Garmin’s Training Status, your training is placed in one of the following categories: Peaking, Productive, Maintaining, Strained, Unproductive, Overreaching, Recovery, Detraining, No Status, or Paused.

Suunto’s Progress, on the other hand, is less convoluted. They went with: Going too hard, Productive training, Keeping fit, and Losing fitness or recovering.

When you look at Garmin’s approach, it’s easy to see why one of those options is “Paused” (hint: it’s because people turn it off out of anger, frustration, hurt, upset etc.,). Don’t get me wrong, if you actually look at how Garmin describes each of these categories, there isn’t anything inherently wrong or offensive about them. But the labels themselves — Unproductive in particular — aren’t particularly helpful. If you’ve never used a Garmin, picture the scene: You’ve just put your heart and soul into a run. You’ve given your all. You’re super stoked about how it went; how it felt. You look down at your watch and see your Training Status has changed to a big, fat, “Unproductive.” Thanks a lot, Garmin.

While many of us would simply shrug it off, content with how we felt the session went, it’s easy to understand users’ frustration. It’s far from the best choice of wording. I much prefer Suunto’s approach. Even the category with the most negative connotations — Losing fitness or recovering — provides the out that you might not in fact be losing fitness, but instead recovering from an event or hard training block. And at the top end — Going too hard — well, personally, I just think that sounds kinda cool. It’s much better than overreaching. It might not be where you want to be, but it tells it how it is.

As well as being labelled more appropriately, the corresponding data’s presented in a much nicer and legitimately useful way (see below). Your Fitness (CTL (Chronic Training Load)), Fatigue (ATL (Acute Training Load)), and Form (TSB (Training Stress Balance)) are all neatly plotted on graphs. This way, you can see if your Fatigue and Fitness are progressing as you’d expect and can easily rein it in if your Fatigue line is significantly above your Fitness line. Your Form is calculated, and the different shades of red on the left-hand side of the graph correspond to the aforementioned Progress categories. It’s super simple, even if my explanation isn’t.

Put simply, Suunto’s Progress metric feels like it’s actually useful. Garmin’s Training Status, on the other hand, often feels like little more than a sly dig.

It’s a similar story when it comes to recovery. Suunto’s tracking is simple, but smart. You receive a recommended recovery duration post-session, and when you hop on the Suunto app you’ll be able to see the “Recovery state” you’re currently in. This takes training (intensity and volume), sleep, HRV, and daily activity into consideration and churns out a percentage. I’ve included a few images below so you can check it out for yourselves.

At the start of this section, I mentioned that I haven’t paid much attention to training and recovery metrics since switching to the Race S. That’s not down to laziness or a lack of training. It’s because my relationship with data has fundamentally changed, thanks to Suunto.

Suunto and Garmin take entirely different approaches. On Garmin, the data is ever-present. It’s the first thing you see when you glance at your watch or open the Connect app. It demands attention. Suunto, by contrast, keeps things low-key. The metrics are there — plenty of them, in fact — but they stay in the background unless you go looking. It’s data when you need it, not when you don’t.

If I can use an admittedly odd analogy: both Garmin and Suunto serve up Michelin Star–level running data. But Garmin marches it straight to your table and starts spoon-feeding it to you — whether you ordered it or not. Suunto, on the other hand, quietly places it at another table across the room. It’s there, in sight, ready when you are — but only if you choose to reach for it.

Most days, my Race S functions as a simple timekeeper. But when I hit the trails, it transforms into a proper running companion — delivering just the right amount of information, along with a crisp, clear map and suite of navigational tools to guide me from A to B (and back to A). It’s a nudge back to the good stuff — the miles, the moments, not the metrics.

Depending on your mindset, this could be a huge plus — or a potential dealbreaker. If it’s levelling up metrics and collecting virtual badges that gets you out the door, Garmin might feel more rewarding. But if you’re tired of running feeling more like admin than adventure, the Race S offers a quieter, more grounded experience. It’s not lacking in metrics — far from it. It just doesn’t slap you in the face with them. Out of the box, it feels like it was built for runners, not for number crunchers. It respects your body and your brain. No gamification, no forced optimisation. Just solid insights when you want them, and silence (and the time) when you don’t.

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Battery Life

In the aptly named “Performance Mode”, which uses multi-band GPS for maximum accuracy, the Suunto Race S offers up to 30 hours of continuous tracking. Switch over to “Tour Mode”, which dials back GPS precision and disables heart rate monitoring, and you’re looking at up to 120 hours.

Those are impressive numbers for any fitness watch — but especially so when you consider the Race S’ compact size. It’s more than enough for most races this side of Cocodona 250. That said, the Race S can be charged mid-activity, so if you really wanted to top up at an aid station, you could. Just remember to pack the charger — and hope you’re not too far gone with hallucinations to plug it in. Still, if you’re regularly signing up for multi-day epics, another of Suunto’s offerings — the Vertical — might be a better fit.

It’s also important to note, that while the numbers are good, they’re based on perfect conditions and optimised settings. I’ve not tested the Race S’ battery continuously (i.e., in a 100K race), but typically I’ve been charging the Race S once a week. For that, I’m getting 5-6 hours of GPS activity tracking with full, mapped navigation, continuous HR monitoring, sleep tracking (with blood oxygen turned on), and raise to wake enabled. That’s thoroughly impressive for any watch, but particularly so considering the Race S’ slim build. Additionally, that’s not the battery going from 100-0. I typically charge the watch when it hits 20% and, more often than not, take it off before 100. I’m under the impression that’s the best way to charge devices like these to increase the longevity of the battery. When the Race S does need a charge, it takes approximately 40 minutes to go from 0-100. Handy if you’re ever in a rush and need a quick top up.

It’s easy to remember to charge the Race S, too, as it delivers reminders that pop up when the watch hits 20%. A little message appears — “Training soon? Don’t forget to charge” — or something along those lines. I believe there’s also a reminder at 10%, this one accompanied by a question asking if you’d like to put the watch in power saving mode. Sure, it’s nothing groundbreaking. But these helpful additions reduce the chance of you running out of battery while out running. Not only is this favourable from a safety point-of-view (particularly if you’re out in the mountains), it also means you’ll be able to log the entire run on Strava. And, as we all know, if it’s not on Strava, it never really happened.

While I’m yet to put the Race S through some really long efforts (the longest so far being a 30K training run), I’m confident in its ability to see me through 50 and 100K events. I’m sure it would be fine for a 100 miler, too. But, out of respect for the distance, I don’t want to be so presumptuous! If you are thinking of pursuing longer events, its bigger sibling, the Suunto Race, provides a staggering 50 hours in Performance Mode.

How to Track Gear in the Suunto App?

At first, I was a little disappointed not to see something akin to Garmin’s Gear — the section of the Connect app where you can record the mileage you’re putting into shoes (and other equipment). But then I realised, not only is this possible in the Suunto app, it’s actually better executed.

To track your use, hit ‘edit’ on an activity, add a tag with a name that corresponds to the shoe (or bike etc.,) you want to track, and hit save. The tags are saved, so the next time you edit your activity, all you have to do is select the appropriate one. It probably sounds a little more complicated than Garmin’s, but in reality it’s a much quicker system.

What makes Suunto’s approach even better is when you head to your activity summary page (the section of the app where you can see your monthly mileage and so on), you’re able to filter activities by these tags and receive a bucket load of information about your performance in each shoe. For example, if I select my ‘Mont Blanc Carbon’ tag, I can see that I’ve run a total of 136.8kms with an average heart rate of 151 bpm. I can see my average pace while wearing these shoes and that we’ve (me and the shoes) climbed a total of 3138m. This could be particularly helpful for comparing race day shoes to see which pair you’re quicker or have a lower heart rate in. Personally, I find it quite cute — almost sentimental — to see how much climbing I’ve done in each pair.

Minor Quibbles, Fixable Flaws, and Room to Improve

Vo2 Max

I know that watch-based VO2 Max is only an estimation based on each brand’s own algorithm, but as I’ve never had mine measured in a lab, I was excited to see and compare Suunto and Garmin’s estimations.

When you first set up the Race S and navigate to the “Progress” metric, there’s a note telling you to complete a minimum of one outdoor run to get a VO2 Max reading, and three outdoor runs to receive Running Estimate (predicted times over 5-42.2KMs). Despite meeting both requirements, the message remained the same. Baffled, I turned to the internet for answers. Instead of answers, I realised this was an issue that many were struggling with. Some suggested it was down to incorrectly calibrated HR Zones. Others were less optimistic, saying it was a bug yet to be resolved. I reset my HR Zones and went for a run. Still nothing.

So, I contacted Suunto’s customer service team. They told me to update the watch. I did. Nada. At this point, I was pretty frustrated. I know I’ve been praising how refreshing the Suunto feels with its reserved approach to metrics. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want them. It just means I don’t want them shoved in my face.

I can’t remember how many runs it took, but, thankfully, I did receive a VO2 Max reading. The reading came through after a sort-of threshold session. It was actually a completely impromptu session. Boiling hot outside (for the UK) but itching to run, I decided to go for a quick 5K and voila, there it was. Suunto labels your runs much the same as Garmin does — aerobic, anaerobic, VO2 Max and so on — and this one was, surprise surprise, classed as a VO2 Max session. But it wasn’t the first VO2 Max run I’d done, so I’m really not sure how or typically how long it takes for Suunto to give this measurement.

In terms of accuracy, Suunto says I have a VO2 Max of 51. Garmin? 52. Sure, they’re estimates. But I was happy to see both watches place me in the same sort of ballpark. I certainly don’t feel like a “Superior” athlete, so when I crept into that promised land while wearing my Garmin, I did have my doubts.

I think Suunto should change their approach to this. If I remember correctly, it takes 2 weeks for Garmin to show performance metrics. As a result, you’re not left checking after every run like I was with the Race S. It’s a minor quibble, but one worth mentioning in case anybody else finds the same issue. From my research, there are plenty of examples of people still not receiving a VO2 Max score, despite weeks and weeks of data. So, if it’s a bug, sort it out, Suunto!

Trail-Specific Training Plans

I believe Suunto are missing a big opportunity to attract even more trail and ultra runners who currently use Garmin by not having something akin to Garmin’s Daily Suggested Workouts and training plans. I’d love to see something trail or ultra focused, but Suunto would do well to include road, too.

In some respects, I understand why they’ve not spent time here. I get the impression that trail and ultra runners operate from more of a feel sort of vibe than a metrics, metrics, metrics one. But there’s likely a good number who would still like that option.

Music

I sort of get it. From what I can tell, Suunto’s approach is more one of “enjoy the moment”, and perhaps they’ve always believed that music detracts from that. Additionally, trail and mountain running demands a little more attention than road running. So again, maybe the lack of music comes from a place of safety.

I don’t know if either of these assumptions are true. They’re assumptions, after all. But I do think Suunto may be missing out on a big chunk of runners who, like me when I started, wanted a fitness wearable with music playback so that I didn’t have to run with my phone.

The thing is, while Suunto may be more heavily-invested in the trail scene, there are plenty of reasons — many of which I’ve touched on in this review of the Race S — for choosing something other than Garmin. I’m sure there will have been plenty of road runners who, at the very least, considered Suunto, only to go another route due to the lack of music playback.

I do think Suunto are realising this, too. While I’ve been testing the Race S, Suunto released a new device with dedicated music storage — the Suunto Run — which is quite clearly aimed at the road runner market. I don’t know if we’ll see them bring this feature to their more trail-oriented devices, but I’m hoping they will.

What Do I Miss About Garmin?

I’ll Never Get the Elusive 100 Sleep Score

OK, I’m kind of joking — but also not. Garmin has been clever here. It creates features that are hard to “complete,” which causes them to become desirable achievements in the community. Case in point: the 100 Sleep Score. I’ve never hit it, and if I switch to Suunto, I never will.

Does it really matter? Not at all. I have no doubt that, had I stayed with Garmin and received said score, I’d likely have found that night’s sleep to be terrible. Will it stop be from moving over to Suunto? Probably not. But there’s something oddly satisfying about chasing that perfect score. It gamifies recovery — and once you’ve hit it, it feels like you’ve levelled up in some odd corner of the fitness universe.

Monthly Challenges

From what I can tell, Suunto doesn’t offer anything resembling Garmin’s monthly challenges. I didn’t expect to miss them, but they work. When you’re not in the mood to run, the nudge of being close to earning a virtual badge can be all the motivation you need. Suunto feels a little quiet in this department, but hopefully it’s something we see in the near future.

Garmin Coach and Daily Suggested Workouts

I haven’t used Garmin Coach or Daily Suggested Workouts recently, but they were once a staple of my training. Suunto doesn’t have an equivalent — and for a brand so well-suited to trail and endurance runners, this feels like a missed opportunity. Tailored guidance or training plans, especially for trail and ultra runners, would be a brilliant fit for Suunto’s ecosystem.

Suunto Race S: Verdict

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed testing the Suunto Race S. Since it landed, my poor Garmin Epix Gen 2 has barely left the bedside table (aside from the odd launch across the room courtesy of Trevor, our cat). From all the positives, you’d be forgiven for thinking this verdict is going to be straightforward: Suunto wins. Job done. But, courtesy of my overthinking, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Or rather, I’ve made it more complicated than it probably needs to be.

To keep things digestible(ish), I’ve split my conclusion into three sections, each answering one of the following questions:

1. Will I be sticking with Suunto — and the Race S specifically?
2. Would I recommend the Race S to someone buying their first GPS running watch?
3. And if you’re already in the Garmin ecosystem, is Suunto worth switching to?

Answering these turned out to be more nuanced than I expected. Fair warning, this section leans a little philosophical in places. Oh, and it’s pretty long, too. Strap in.

Stick or Twist?

Let’s start with this: the Race S is a fantastic bit of kit. It’s sleek, well-priced, and packed with features. In terms of value for money, I genuinely don’t think it can be beaten. £299 isn’t exactly pocket change (at least not for me), but for what you’re getting, it’s an absolute steal. It punches well above its weight. The stainless steel version I’m using would still feel fairly priced at ~£400 — and yet for less than that (£395), you can upgrade to the titanium model. Truthfully, the Race S competes with watches that cost significantly more. The Epix Gen 2 — you know, that watch I’ve definitely not been comparing to the Race S all review — launched at £799. I’m still trying to figure out what that extra £500 actually buys you.

For all its strengths, I’m still on the fence about whether the Race S will become my long-term companion. Why? Two reasons.

On paper, the Race S’ battery life is excellent. 30 hours of multi-band GPS in a watch this thin is wild (take note, Apple). It’ll easily get me through any race I’ve got on the calendar this year — the longest being the 54km Ladybower trail event from RunThroughTrails. In fact, it’d probably see me through the event after a full week tracking training, sleep, navigating, and serving as a timepiece.

But I’m eyeing up a 100-miler in the not-so-distant future, and I’d want (need) a bit more buffer. Sure, professional trail runners can smash out the world’s hardest 100-milers with the Race S — but I’m no Zach Miller. What’s more, if I’m relying on the Race S for navigation (which likely drains more juice), the last thing I want is for it to die while I’m hallucinating at mile 76.

Just to set the record straight — I’m not saying the battery life is lacking. Far from it. The Race S’ battery is phenomenal. It’s one of the watch’s strongest assets. This isn’t some Apple Watch-style situation where you’re praying 100% charge will survive your Sunday 10K. This thing will see you through most events, no problem. All I’m getting at is this: looking ahead to the possibility of running 100-mile races, I’ve got absolutely no idea how long it’ll take — if I even make it to the finish. The problem isn’t the watch. It’s my pace.

I’m also someone who’s directionally challenged, so there’s a not-insignificant chance I’ll end up wildly off-route. Suunto’s offline maps are fantastic and sure to get me back on course. But, ideally, I need a watch with enough battery leeway to handle multi-band GPS tracking with navigation for significantly longer than the event’s cut-off time. There’s already so much to think about in those events. Pointlessly causing anxiety about a wearable’s battery isn’t something I want to add to the list. And if I’m being totally honest, if I’m dragging my poor body through 100 miles, I damn well want to track and upload every inch of it for my Strava fan club to see. All 13 members.

The other thing that gives me pause about ditching the Garmin for good relates to motivation. Garmin’s ecosystem is littered with motivational crumbs. There’s Training Status, Challenge Badges, Weekly Leaderboards. You can even create your own challenges to compete with friends, where the farthest running, swimming, or cycling distance, or the most steps, takes the crown. As you rack up the miles and elevation, progress bars inch forward until you’ve virtually dragged yourself up Everest or trudged the length of the Appalachian Trail — all from the comfort of your local loop. And while you’re well aware that you haven’t actually completed either of those mammoth feats, it’s motivating to see your hard work displayed this way.

If extra motivation to prioritise sleep was ever in short supply, Garmin fixed that with Sleep Score — turning rest into a numbers game. Suddenly, everyone’s chasing the same dream: the elusive, perfect 100. It’s something I’ve never “achieved”, and if I switch to Suunto — I never will. It’s all nonsense, really. But it’s motivating nonsense. But is that all there is to it?

It’s taken me a while to figure out exactly what i’ve been missing about Garmin’s ecosystem. Initially, I thought it was motivation. But then I realised, it’s reward. That’s the thing — these features make it harder to leave. Not because they’re necessary, or even particularly useful, but because they’re rewarding. There’s the physiological buzz we all chase — the runner’s high. But on top of that, Garmin adds a second hit: drips of dopamine from progress bars inching forward, challenges being completed, badges earned, better sleep scores, and friendly rivalries on leaderboards. It’s not just the act of running that’s rewarding — it’s the entire gamified feedback loop wrapped around it. That loop doesn’t just motivate — it gratifies. And when you step away from it, you notice the absence of those subtle, extra rewards. That’s what I’ve really been missing.

With Suunto, there’s none of that. At first, I thought it was a flaw. But I’ve come to realise it’s one of Suunto’s biggest strengths. While Garmin feels designed to keep you engaged, Suunto feels designed to help you find your way, then quietly steps aside. That difference shows in how I’ve used the Race S compared to the Epix Gen 2. I check the time, track my runs, glance at the maps to stay on course. Occasionally, I’ll look at VO2 Max or see if the Progress graphs line up with how I’m feeling. But everything feels more balanced. I’m not chasing badges or obsessing over sleep scores. I’m making decisions based on feel — not on what a watch or an app tells me I should be feeling.

That second hit of dopamine — the one handed out by the gamified elements — is part of the problem. It shifts our focus. It trains us to look outward for validation, rather than inward for meaning. Running has always offered its own quiet reward: the rhythm of breath and footfall, the solitude, the strength found in persistence. When we start needing progress bars and perfect sleep scores to feel like it was ‘worth it’, we’ve already lost sight of what made it valuable to begin with. The real reward isn’t measured in metrics — it’s in the miles we choose to run when no one’s watching.

The Race S might not have quite enough battery for my glacial-paced 100-miler. But one thing’s for sure: there will be a Suunto on my wrist. Model TBD.

Buying Your First GPS Running Watch?

Would I recommend the Race S to someone buying their first GPS running watch? Absolutely. It’s the best-value device on the market right now, and probably the best-looking too. That might sound shallow, but let’s be real: a lot of running watches are ugly as sin. If you’re on the fence about wearing one every day, aesthetics are likely to matter. The only catch — and it’s a genuine one — is the lack of music support. That could be a dealbreaker for beginners. Actually, scratch that. It could be a dealbreaker for anyone. Running with music isn’t a beginner thing — it’s a personal thing. So if a banging playlist is a necessity, Suunto’s radio silence won’t do you any favours. It’s a shame, because everything else is so well executed. The absence of onboard music is a huge miss.

Should You Switch to Suunto?

If you’re already locked into Garmin or Coros, switching will come down to the kind of runner you are. If you live for leaderboards, badges, productivity scores, being told when to rest — and having all that data constantly flashing in your face — you’ll probably feel Suunto’s silence. But if you prefer a cleaner, more stripped-back experience — one that gives you the tools but lets you steer the ship — the Race S delivers. And if your running leans towards the messy stuff — trail, fell, ultras — Suunto starts to make even more sense. Navigation is excellent, and the SuuntoPlus Store is stacked with genuinely useful apps: Backyard Ultra, Hill Reps, Race Nutrition, Weekly Ascent. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just well-built tools for people who actually use them.

Concluding Remarks

When I said at the start of this review that I didn’t want it to become a Suunto vs. Garmin comparison — something I’ve utterly failed at — it was because they’re built on entirely different philosophies. Sure, they both make excellent GPS watches for runners, but that’s about where the similarities end.

Here’s the contradiction I keep circling back to: the very things I miss from Garmin are the same things that make Suunto so refreshing. I love that Suunto collects the data and quietly steps aside, leaving you to decide what to do with it. I love that it doesn’t gamify something as inherently meaningful as running. But — and I say this begrudgingly — I do miss that occasional kick up the arse Garmin gives you. I miss the silly little badges that nudge you out the door.

But do I miss it because it actually helps — or just because it gives me a quick dopamine hit? Thankfully, there’s a simple answer… backed by data. Since switching to Suunto, my average weekly mileage is higher. If Garmin’s gamified approach were more effective, that probably wouldn’t be the case. The truth is, motivation and discipline don’t come from collecting virtual badges. They come from within.

And there’s another metric — one harder to measure, but far more important: enjoyment. I’ve been enjoying running more. I’m not saying that’s purely down to the Suunto, but I’m convinced it’s played a part. I’ve spent more time on trails, in woodlands, on peaks — and less time obsessing over numbers. Less time being told I’m strained or unproductive. Less time feeling like I’m chasing optimisation for the sake of it.

Because sometimes, the goal isn’t progress. It’s just being out there. Enjoying the movement, the views, the quiet. And in that sense, the Suunto facilitates the kind of running that really matters — far better than Garmin ever did.

Alternative Buying Guide

Suunto Run

If you’re new to running, less concerned about navigation, and more bothered about being able to play music without your phone, Suunto’s newest (and cheapest) GPS running watch has just launched — the Suunto Run.

It features a 1.32″ AMOLED display, offers 12 days of battery with daily use, 20 hours of Performance Mode GPS tracking, and 4GB of dedicated music storage. You’re still able to navigate, but with breadcrumb trail only (which is sufficient for most people).

Essentially, while I was writing about the areas I thought Suunto could improve in, they had already designed and manufactured a device that addresses nearly every complaint. At £199, it’s practically unbeatable. A great (and cheaper) alternative to something like the Coros Pace 3 or Garmin Forerunner 265.

Suunto Vertical

If you like the sound of the Suunto ecosystem, but like me think you’ll need a little more battery life, the Suunto Vertical might just be what you’re looking for. The solar and titanium variant offers 85 hours of activity tracking in its most accurate multi-band GPS mode, while the non-solar stainless steel variant provides 60 hours. I’m pretty even I could make those cut-offs.

It’s currently on offer, too. At £369, it’s unbeatable. There’s also the recently released Vertical 2. It’s ditched the MIP display in favour of an energy-efficient, bright, colourful, and vibrant LTPO AMOLED one. If you want to read more, I’ve just published an in-depth review of the Suunto Vertical 2.