Suunto  Race 2

Let me start by saying that Race 2 is probably the best watch Suunto has made so far. Positive: impeccable craftsmanship, excellent design, wrist HR sensor is leagues ahead of Race model. Slimmer, ligter, more elegant. Now to the bad: no matter how good your hardware is, if your firmware and/or software is unable to keep up with it, it makes it useless. As long as you NOT exercising with it, or at least not doing invervals training, it works pretty well. I was comparing Race 2 to my older Race w/ Polar H10 HR belt, and the HR trcaes are off the charts on Race 2, kind of all over the place. Tried a few other times with the stap tighter on my wrist, looser. Makes no difference. If you are doing some steady-state low level training, it should be OK, but I cannot trust it even at that after what I have exepriensed. DC Rainmaker overhyped this watch in my honest opinion. Suunot has realeased this model with minimal FW and SW support and development and is very silent on when the issues will be fixed. I got mine from REI and will be returning it shortly. 3 weeks of usage showed that Suunto still has some work to do on this model, but it looks promising. Time will tell.

I bought the watch at REI and have been using it for nearly two months. It has been a dream. I travel frequently and average six to seven hours of different sports each week. It was a great companion during a recent hiking trip in the Himalayas and since returning I have used it to track fitness activities almost daily. It has everything I need: enough options without unnecessary complication, consistent data, seemingly endless battery life and a stylish look that does not call attention to itself. Great for travel and adventure. Most surprising? How rugged it's been. Despite the large, beautiful, and delicate-looking watch face, it has held up extremely well. Time will tell whether it stays scratch free over the long term, but after two months of punishment it has been solid. Not a peck on it. I've got the Titanium version by the way.

I have been wearing my Suunto Race 2 for about a month now and really like it. Initial setup and syncing was quite easy, even for an older guy like myself who falls on the lower end of the tech savy scale. The initial setup required a software update but that was flawless. I synced the watch to my iPad just for more screen real estate when using and viewing the associated Suunto app. The Race 2 is extremely well engineered and the user interface and navigation system are so intuitive and user friendly that the initial learning curve is almost nonexistent. The display is quite easy to view, even in direct sunlight. GPS seems quite accurate. I mostly use the fitness-part of the watch for walking and lifting weights. I have found that the heart rate and blood oxygen readings are fairly accurate. I charge it once a week, even though it still reads about 25% battery remaining. I have found the Race 2 to meet and even exceed my needs for a fitness watch. The one thing that really stands out for me is just how well this watch is engineered. It is obvious that a great deal of thought went into the design of the Race 2.

Beautiful Finnish design. It simple, accurate and does everything I need it to. The app gives cleanly displayed metrics and is user friendly. Only complaint is when ending an exersize in cold weather the middle knob occasionally does not work properly and I have to go back to the previous screen.

It took me a while to narrow down a watch that I would buy to replace my Apple Watch. After watching so many videos on reviews, and going in person to look at the options available I chose the Suunto Race 2. I didn’t need anything that could have downloaded music, or an ability to pay with my watch. I needed something simple. To track my health, give me notifications on calls, texts and emails. Also, have a sleek look to it. This watch checked off everything I was looking for. Knowing the casing is made of steel, and has a sapphire crystal gave me a sense of security especially since I work around big machines, and metal that destroyed my aluminum Apple Watch. This item feels like it’s built to last.

AWU3 - 12mm+ thick, Switched to stretchy nylon band, weight in the 70 grams range. Had since Nov 2025, and AW8 for 3 years previously. Using AllTrails and WorkOutdoors, I’m looking for a more native outdoor watch with longer battery life where I’m not compelled to carry a charger for less than 4-5d. Steered clear of Garmin because I’d end up with the Fenix 8 Pro circa $1300. Maybe next time. $499 Suunto Race 2 Research: AMOLED, 12.5mm thick, crown, larger charger (second is $50, but aftermarket ones exist on Amazon) - Switched to stretchy 22mm nylon band ($12/3), weight in the 60 grams range. People go with MIP screens to extend battery life, but this has similar battery life with an AMOLED screen. Reality: App is not as good/intuitive as Coros, syncing is slow (esp the initial maps load, which was buggy). While the watch is missing native features (e.g., nutrition reminders), many are available from the SuuntoPlus store (though LiveTracking requires a subscription!). Buttons/crown are a little stiff, though no accidental triggering. BUT, the screen is a million times better. I found the watching genuinely helpful on a long hike for navigation and general information (elevation changes, advisement of POIs like water sources). I found 6hr of use depleted 20% of the battery. AllTrails gpx sharing to Suunto app integration worked fine. Activity syncing issues with Apple Health. Does not feel thick/bulky. Beeper is an adequate substitute for a speaker. Default Barometric altimeter is not as accurate as GPS. CAN’T modify the activity data screens during an activity. Unlike the Coros, the Suunto is not configurable for the right wrist (crown out). See the Coros Apex 4 46mm for my review. $699 Suunto Vertical 2 Titanium - AMOLED, 74g, 13.6mm, buttons to use with gloves, flashlight — Since heavier, it makes sense to offset the weight with the titanium model, but not likely worth the $200 extra and pushing up into higher cost tiers.

Bought this over the garmin as the stainless steel crown and body is beyond premium. Priced below the Forerunner 570, this is feature rich and blows the garmin out of the water with construction. Doesn't disappoint at all. Connects to my Apple iPhone 17 Pro with ease.

you’re trying to lose weight and ease into jogging without overcomplicating things, the Suunto Race 2 is honestly one of those rare pieces of gear that just works with you instead of overwhelming you. From the first run, what stands out is how intuitive everything feels. You don’t need to be a data nerd to benefit from it—but if you want the details, they’re there. The GPS is fast and accurate, which makes tracking distance and pace super reliable—something that’s huge when you’re trying to build consistency and actually see your progress over time. Where it really shines for weight loss is the way it keeps you honest without being annoying. The heart rate tracking is spot-on, so you can stay in that fat-burning zone instead of going too hard too early (which is usually how people burn out). It’s like having a quiet coach on your wrist saying, “Hey, this pace is perfect—stick with it.” Another big win: motivation. The daily activity tracking, recovery insights, and training suggestions give you just enough structure to stay on track. If you’re someone who struggles with consistency (which is most of us), that gentle accountability makes a real difference. You start to want to close those rings and hit those goals. Battery life is also a game changer. You can go days—sometimes longer—without charging, so it never becomes one more thing to manage. That sounds small, but when you’re trying to build a new habit like jogging, removing friction matters. And it looks great. It doesn’t scream “fitness gadget,” so you can wear it all day, which helps reinforce that mindset shift—this isn’t just something you do occasionally, it’s part of your lifestyle now. Bottom line: the Suunto Race 2 isn’t just a watch—it’s a steady, reliable companion if you’re trying to drop some weight and turn jogging into something you actually stick with. It meets you where you are, pushes you just enough, and makes progress feel real.