Are you looking for a robust running watch that’s a high-quality exercise tracker and an impressive smartwatch? The Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR could be the one for you. Featuring smart notifications, long battery life, and a wrist-based heart rate monitor. This sleek and highly functional device is a good choice for serious sports enthusiasts.
What’s The Suunto Spartan Design Like?
The Suunto Spartan comes in a choice white, gold, black or blue colours. Its slim shape fits closely to your wrist with a comfortable strap that’s easy to fasten. While this isn’t the heaviest smartwatch on the market at the moment, you’ll definitely know you’re wearing it. Nevertheless, it can be worn every day as long as you don’t mind a little extra weight.
The 218 x 218 resolution display may be on the small side, but it’s still perfectly legible. There’s no way to customise the screen from the watch, although it can be done via the app. There are three buttons to the right of the watch for navigating the interface with a start/stop key to the top and the bottom button to trigger a lap. The central button cycles through your workout stats and, while it’s all fully functional, it isn’t very intuitive.
Does The Suunto Spartan Have Plenty Of Features?
The Suunto Spartan is a powerful sports tracking watch that comes with a host of features, despite its low price tag. It has an integrated heart rate monitor which boasts high accuracy even without a chest strap. It also features integral GPS for extra convenience when you’re out on the trail. This, too, is pretty accurate and boasts haptic feedback whenever a lap is triggered.
The app syncs with the brand’s Movescount app which is better than nothing, but isn’t as effective as the more popular Strava app. Updating the device is also quite clunky since it can only be done by connecting the device to your computer.
One excellent feature, however, is the heat map which shows popular local workout routes. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to work out while travelling or staying with friends, and it’s simple to create your route.
Although there’s an integrated sleep tracker, it isn’t the best. It sometimes gives incorrect information and the app doesn’t include your sleep patterns.
What Are The Suunto Spartan’s Fitness Tracking Functions?
The Suunto Spartan is designed to cope with multiple sports, so it’s a breeze to switch instantly between disciplines. There’s even a triathlon section which records transition times with just a single long press. Easy to use on the move and very reactive, this device is capable of logging activities very well. It can display post-run three-dimensional maps that show you the details of your run including where you went, when your heart rate was at its peak, and your fastest times. This device can also be used for tracking swimming although the metrics are quite limited – it can’t determine the number of lengths completed, for example.
What Are The Main Advantages of The Suunto Spartan?
- Accurate integral heart rate monitor
- Heatmap of local popular running routes
- Waterproof for use while swimming
- Tracks a wide range of sporting activities
- Dedicated triathlon section
- Sleek, easy to wear design
What Are The Main Disadvantages Of The Suunto Spartan?
- Poor quality sleep tracking
- Unintuitive buttons for control
Which Are The Main Rivals To The Suunto Spartan?
One of the top contenders has to be the Garmin Forerunner 235. It costs about the same but offers more functionality, especially for runners. If you’re more of a runner than a multisport enthusiast, the Forerunner could be the right choice thanks to its sleek design and powerful platform. For more choice read guide for Garmin v.s. Suunto.
If you need a cheaper fitness tracker combined with a running watch, the TomTom Spark 3 could be ideal. With its low price tag and its ability to play music, it could be just what you need. Alternatively, the Polar M430 fuses function with fitness tracking beautifully. If good looks aren’t important to you, this rugged contender could be a much better choice if sleep tracking and a low price are your top priorities.
Is The Suunto Spartan Right For Me?
If you’re looking for a smartwatch and fitness tracker with a slim design, an accurate heart rate monitor and strong functionality, the Suunto Spartan will tick all your boxes. Its accurate GPS is ideal for logging all kinds of workouts and its range of colors means that there’s sure to be one that suits your preferences. If you’re a multisport enthusiast, you’re also going to be delighted by the speed with which you can effortlessly switch between activities while you’re on the go. For alternatives, you may consider the Suunto 7 and Suunto 9 which have both an appealing look and a wealth of features.
But if an attractive and highly intuitive interface is most important – along with speedy and powerful processing – the Spartan will probably leave you frustrated. Having to connect your device to a computer in order to update software is a little old-fashioned these days, and the awkward button controls make this a less than an appealing option.
If you’re a serious fitness enthusiast who needs a very powerful watch to track your latest ultra marathon, there are better options for you than the Suunto Spartan. On the other hand, if your top priority is to choose an effective running watch that will fit easily into your budget and which will help you stay on top of your fitness data, the Spartan will fit the bill perfectly. It may not be the sleekest design and it may not offer as much functionality as some of its rivals, but it’s a solid contender for anyone who is looking for a lower-cost option.
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Last Updated on December 13, 2020
Jacquelyn Ellis has written content, managed our social media, and edited our blog. Apart from that, she was our bookkeeper and management accountant for many years.