Watches
Product 2020
Woman, Man
Suunto, after having launched its flagships on the market, the Spartan Ultra, the S9 Baro, it’s the S5 and S3’s turn to show the Finnish manufacturer’s expertise (Amer group, now Chinese).
We were interested in the Suunto 5 because its technical characteristics and its price, around 300 euros, makes it an excellent alternative to Garmin, Polar and even certain Suunto models, high-end outdoor watches.
Does the Suunto 5 keep its promises? We tested it for many months, cycling, trail running on the sand and elsewhere, in the rain, mud, on night-time escapades and swimming for triathlon training.
Our opinions could clash a geek’s, who are very focused on the latest widget and technical aspects.
While we were extremely critical at the release of the Suunto Spartan Ultra, with the Suunto 5, we are more cheerful. Of course, we could pick up on a few little details or highlight a few shortcomings, but overall it is an efficient watch for any outdoor practice. It is simple to use and also reliable (we will silently ignore the after-sales service disappointments of certain brands …). It is a well finished, efficient and beautiful product, none of which spoils anything.
BATTERY EFFICIENCY
Our priorities for a watch are: battery life, GPS reliability, synchronization via smartphone and its ergonomics. The battery is stated as lasting for 14 hours in time mode, 7 days receiving notifications, and most importanlty between 20 and 40 hours in training. Autonomy is obviously a choice function for GPS accuracy (or Glonass and even Galileo). Tested in use, the battery life is largely sufficient for those who want to train and not necessarily run an ultra. Long cycling trips are also passable.
To recharge or update, or find the clip-on connectors, a bit bulky contrasting with the latest magnetic and thin clips that equip the top-end Suunto models. The performance is ultimately the same provided you clamp it correctly.
We have not encountered any synchronization problems and all operations are smooth. Everything goes through the Suunto App whose design and functions should improve (we hope)… The aesthetics, ergonomics and some of the functions could be improved.
GPS: SOME MINOR INACCURACIES
The Suunto 5 weighs 66 grams as opposed to 79g for the Suunto S9 Baro and 36g for the latest Suunto 3. Less bulky than the S9, version 5 is practically forgotten, especially when you are swimming. It is easier to wear with snug fitting trail running jackets that are especially tight around the cuffs. The GPS: the Suunto 5 is perfectly satisfactory for a runner or cyclist. Of course, we did note some distortions in the woods or inaccuracies in the track curves, but overall, including navigation, the watch does the job. Please note that the Suunto 5 does not have a compass. It also does not have a touch screen (is that a big mistake?) Or a barometric altimeter. The GPS antenna is on the bracelet like the old Suunto Ambit!
But it provides a lot for a mid-range watch. We don’t like this labelling much because the watch is beautiful, made with flattering materials that do not get tatty over time. The white bracelet remained spotless even when it was subjected to deliberate spoiling. It is also very comfortable with precise adjustment. The mineral crystal glass (the top of the range is equipped with Sapphire crystal) is not scratched (unlike the Suunto 3), the bezel was not marked (we should see what happens on a mountain guided or climber’s wrist) and the buttons are precise and seem tough.
EFFICIENT AND SIMPLE
Access to the 80 different sports modes is easy and you don’t need to swallow a 20-page user manual. Press the button on the top right and the menu scrolls with all the available exercises: pool swimming, basic running, indoor cycling, basic cycling, trail running, walking, weight training. To access the other types of exercises, just press “Other”. You then discover: roller skating, aerobics, yoga, kayaking, etc. a multitude of more or less exotic programs. You will find Alpine skiing on this list, triathlon too. Via the application, you can, like a Suunto 9, customize the exercise screens. For triathlon, it is strongly advised to go through this option to display the information you want, priorities: heart rate, speed, distance, etc.
Intervals are managed within the exercise modes, you program (on the watch) in a classic way: repetitions, interval and recovery duration. However, there is no possibility of doing pyramid intervals.
SWIMMING & TRIATHLON
We used the Suunto 5 a lot swimming. For the same performance as the S9, you have a lighter watch that fits more easily under the sleeve of your suit. Like its big sister, you need to learn a little trick that allows you to better manage recovery and pool splits. Once the swimming exercise has begun, simply press the middle button twice in succession to see a screen appear, a copy of the large chronometer clocks that can be seen everywhere on swimming pool walls.
The colored hands are very legible with swimming goggles on, so you can easily do short (or long) recoveries visually.
Like other watches on the market, the Suunto 5 does not count pool lengths when the arm where you are wearing the watch is not moved. So, for example, not all stroke lengths are taken into account.
We compared the pool performance of the Suunto 5 with the Suunto 9 Baro, the Suunto 3 and the Garmin Swim 2. In sessions of about 2,200 meters, the margin of error is small, between 25 and 50 meters. We didn’t do the comparison in open water.
PERFECTIBLE SCREEN
Overall, Suunto 5 can be criticized for two things in terms of screen reading. The first is the relative smallness of the area devoted to information compared to the size of the watch (when we go back to the S9, what a pleasure, especially when you have a drop in vision!). The second point concerns the brightness and contrast of the screen which could be improved. The Garmin Swim 2 is much more readable in water.
The optical cardio sensor works in the water. To be totally clear, it is better to pair the Suunto with a cardio belt like the excellent Suunto Smart Sensor. The cardio-optical sensor takes a while to set-up at the start of the exercise, for example on trail running. Then it gives an overall reading, so you have an idea of the heart rate zone that you’re in. But for training, to have greater precision and usable information, you must use the belt. Pairing is a breeze, like most power sensors. Note how great the Suunto compatibility is with different devices, it should be said because most watches at this price are not.
As for the cardio optics, the watch continues to emit a green light at night. Some people can’t stand it. So you just cut the daily HR monitoring to delete it, and you gain a little more battery life.
It would no doubt be complicated for Suunto engineers to set up, but in the long term, we would like to see a function that allows you to set the power of the vibration of the watch on your wrist (notifications, lap counting, altitude alarm). Depending on the case, and especially when you are exercising, the vibrations go unnoticed: skiing, or swimming for example.
MULTIPLES INFORMATIONS
The Suunto 5, like its big sister models, delivers an indication that we find relevant and interesting: recovery time. At a glance, you can see how tired you are and how long it will take to recharge your batteries. The information (in hours) is in a training submenu accessible by several presses of the button from the bottom right. We would have seen this accessible information well before that of the number of steps.
Beyond all these aspects related to training, Suunto can also get notifications directly from your smartphone (but you can’t change your music), HR indications, whether you are under stress, training encouragements (Firstbeat), the choice of different watch faces, VO2Max automatic estimation, the watch face’s metal bezel is replaceable.
The Suunto 5 is a watch that offers a great price/technical performance ratio. Its affiliation with the high-end S9 Baro is blatantly obvious. A reliable, well-designed product that allows you to train in trail running, triathlon, cycling, without any complications thanks to its fluid navigation. Its battery and GPS accuracy make you forget all about the uninspiring Suunto application.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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