Is the Suunto Ambit 3 Peak an Adventurers Best Friend?

Although the Suunto Ambit 3 Peak is no longer in production it is still an awesome outdoor GPS watch with a hardcore battery life.

Design

The Suunto Ambit 3 Peak is not a subtle watch. Because of this, the size is something you should think about, depending on the sports you participate in. For example, a classic rock climbers’ issue is often being unable to use a GPS device whilst climbing. But thanks to the smoothness of the case and external button for ease of use, the Suunto Ambit 3 takes away this trouble. There are no worries about losing the watch with the rigidity of the band, keeping the case secure to your wrist.

Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR Monitor Running GPS Unit, Black

Performance

The Ambit 3 is different from Garmin watches because of heart rate sensors. In fact, the Ambit 3 doesn’t have one. But you can get the Ambit 3 Peak HR version) or a separate heart rate strap. However, what you do get is a temperature sensor and altitude sensor instead – the former of which cannot currently be found on an Apple or Garmin.

Features

OK, this isn’t jam-packed with features, granted. Notably, you’ll find the Forerunner 945 will offer you more. Depending on how you look at it, the Ambit 3’s compromising nature might hold some appeal. Because it deliberately lacks things that you don’t necessarily need.

The Suunto Ambit 3 is for those who like outdoor sports and caters to those requirements only. For example, it has GPS, barometer, accelerometer and will tell you your speed, time, distance, laps and performance. Additionally, your smartphone notifications are also delivered on your wrist. So, yes, the Ambit can be seen as basic, or it can be seen as free from frills.

So if you’re looking for bells and whistles, head over to our review of the Suunto Core.

As the name suggests, the Ambit 3 Peak is particularly useful to people into mountaineering.

Use

Suunto is the king of rugged, wrist-mounted devices. Plus, their meticulous attention to detail means users have a very easy ride. Namely because of the inclusion of buttons on the side. And the Suunto Ambit 3 holds this feature, too. Another thing Suunto does well is triaging tasks. So your data will seamlessly sync from your watch, to app to desktop (when you sync it).

Again, only the necessities are on board the Suunto Ambit 3; start, stop, record, adjust the time, toggle between sports and navigate preloaded routes. Apart from that, everything will require setting up or customising, which you can do through the Suunto MovesCount site and app. Both are user-friendly and reliable.

You are able to configure the SuuntoAmbit 3 so it shows as much detail as you desire. Anything after that, you’ll have to create a dedicated sports mode for yourself. For example, you can set up a running mode which will show you distance per mile. Or, your cycling mode can show you speed in mph, distance and elapsed time. Similarly, swimming mode shows strokes per minute, elapsed time and distance.

Essentially, the customisation is unlimited with Suunto’s app as you have access to thousands of other users’ custom developments.

To reiterate again, the simplicity is the beautiful thing about this device. The Ambit is a remarkable watch, because it’s basic and you can truly make it your own.

Battery Life

The battery life of a GPS watch is always hard to test. Namely because users have different uses and the battery life of a device is open to many variables. For example, how long it’s in GPS mode, how the data is synchronized, to what device and reliance on smart notifications. So, what we can go on is anecdotal from user experience and the what the brand promises. Suunto claims the Ambit 3 will give you an astonishing 200 hours with GPS turned on. If not turned on, you’ll easily get over a week in smartwatch mode.

Accuracy

When it comes to accuracy, the Suunto Ambit 3 is sensational. Largely down to the fact Suunto incorporates a motion sensor which monitors the GPS data. How does that improve accuracy? Your wrist-mounted accelerometer will catch small errors in your running or walking rhythm. Then, when it senses these tiny irregularities, it will ignore the GPS location of that specific point and will instead, measure the distance and rate and come up with a calculation that makes more sense.

Ease of Set-Up

The Suunto Ambit 3 isn’t perfect but it does belong in the list of top-rated GPS watches. It’s easy to set up but it’ll take you some time. And once you do, you’ll find your device is tailored to your exact requirements and will be a faithful companion in your outdoor adventures. So, if you want something that is good to go straight out the box, this isn’t it. But if you’re a serious athlete with a keen interest in your own data, this is going to be great for you.

Value for money

Because the Suunto Ambit 3 is so highly customisable, it’s really great value for money. Suunto is a reputable brand, committed to continual software updates. So whilst it’s not cheap, it’s still not as expensive as others in the Suunto catalogue.

Conclusion

Suunto knows that athletes have a tolerance for bulky and rugged devices. However, with bulk comes a big screen and this is necessary for anyone on the go who only gets a split second to check their information. If you’re a swimmer, runner, hiker, or even a skier, you’ll never actively choose to have a heavy watch on your wrist. Luckily, Suunto (and granted, most Garmin) watches offer you a suitable solution that will last for years.

In conclusion, it seems that despite the growing desire of brands to stuff as much technology into sports watches as they possibly can, Suunto has found a perfect balance. The Suunto Ambit 3 is a demonstration of knowing when enough is enough.