Watches
Product 2021
Woman, Man
We are used to the Suunto world through regularly using the Suunto 3 Fitness, Suunto Spartan Ultra, Suunto 5 and Suunto 9 Baro. The Finnish brand is now marketing a new 9 Baro Titanium… of the same name. As you will have gathered, this is more of a lifting, an evolution than a revolution with a new model.
So, this update? The changes are twofold, aesthetic and especially the software.
The new Suunto 9 Baro Titanium has an even more refined design with a very sober bezel (the old one isn’t that bad at all). The case is the same (identical dimensions) and uses the same three-button principle. Suunto have played with the strap. The old watch weighs 80g with the strap (50 grams the watch alone), the new one, 66g with the short strap (47g the watch alone), a 14g difference. It may not seem like much, but you do feel the difference on your wrist when running and even more so when swimming, while biking it is not at all noticeable.
The new ultra-thin bracelet doesn’t soak up water, is easily adjusted, but the excess strap end protrudes as the loops are fixed. Tough, this strap is not at all slightly stretchy like the other one. But honestly, the comfort differs very little. Like most Suunto straps, it is very easy to change without needing tools.
So much for the exterior appearance, not forgetting the Sapphire crystal face which is still just as resistant and practically scratchproof: We used the old Suunto fitted with this type of glass daily for almost three years without getting a single scratch (but we didn’t use it rock climbing).
Let’s check out the nitty gritty, what the new features are.
We immediately notice a different central screen, with an upper crown (inspired by marine compasses) with several layers of colors displaying the time, atmospheric pressure, sunset and altitude. A light pressure on the touch screen and the screen changes: this time you have the battery charge. Another touch and you access the barometric trend and altimeter. At the bottom of each screen is the time. For those with deteriorating eyesight, this information is not easy to read; on the other hand, you can choose a more readable display from the bank of screens available in the “Watch” menu.
But the real novelties mainly concern navigation, the creation of POIs and battery management with a new “Tour” mode.
Since Movescount’s planned demise, Suunto relies on its own app and partners. Newcomer Komoot lets you plot a route on a map, transfer it to the watch, and have tracking that guides you through every turn. If this choice is theoretically interesting, you should know that not all the maps are free on Komoot and that after using the maps included when buying the watch (what Suunto calls the Value Pack), you have to purchase more maps. Instead, we used the Suunto app which has made good progress and you can import your plotted routes. For example, you can now return to the last point determined on a route without having to start back at the beginning.
POIs (Points of Interest) can be created on the Suunto 9 Baro Titanium or on the Suunto app. When navigating, the direction and distance to a POI are indicated.
A “Tour” mode appears, it makes it possible to manage its longevity but by reducing the GPS capture frequency and other energy-intensive functions (vibrations, HR sensor, Bluetooth, etc.). This mode gives you 170 hours but with relatively imprecise tracking that is far removed from “Performance” mode which calls on the GPS every second. That said, this feature is for long-haul adventurers who may also use other types of GPS (or their watch) to access other information. With Performance, Endurance, or even Ultra modes, we already have plenty we can do in terms of saving battery life to tackle an ultra-trail or Ironman with confidence.
During physical exercise, we used the SuuntoPlus function, which includes features that add to the chosen exercise mode (trail running, biking, etc.). The “Safe” function lets you find your GPS point quickly in case you need to give it to emergency services, without having to search through all the watch’s menus. The “Sprint” function identifies the intervals (distance, duration) within a running or cycling trip. The “Weather” function warns of the onset of a thunderstorm or that the excursion may go on after sunset into the dark. Other features are available, we haven’t explored everything yet.
There is still no possibility to plan pyramidal intervals, to manage music from your smartphone or Mp4. On the other hand, we appreciated how easy it was to pair sensors, especially the HR sensor. Synchronization with the Suunto app is fast, but the exercises are still missed.
In terms of GPS precision, the optical wrist sensor, we have the same thoughts as the old Suunto 9 Baro (which we had for several years without any problems with reliability). Except here it seems to us that the wrist sensor is even more efficient, it increases the measurements by around 10%, whereas on the old model we had more extravagant readings. Suunto confirmed that the software has progressed here. Anyway, while waiting for a technological leap that will advance (or remove optical sensors), we use the HR strap in conjunction with the watch.
We appreciated the fitness and fatigue readings. The tools available let you manage your training better and progress using very meaningful visualizations.
This update of the Suunto 9 Baro Titanium may not be a revolution but it’s definitely a relevant evolution in terms of navigation, and battery life with the new “Tour” mode. The S9 Baro Titanium has come of age for athletes who engage in long and technical excursions.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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