If there may be one piece of tech that everybody appears to be getting these days, it will be a smartwatch. Whether or not they’re used to trace workout routines or streamline the usage of your cell phone, smartwatches are rapidly changing into everybody’s favorite accent. So for those who’re available in the market for a brand new smartwatch that can assist you attain your health targets, there’s a lot to like concerning the Suunto 5 Peak.
To me, one of the best factor about smartwatches is that they will help elevate your on a regular basis life, particularly for those who train usually. However as a result of the vary of smartwatches is so giant, it may be tough to determine which one is one of the best match for you.
We’re no stranger to testing out smartwatches here at Lifehacker Australia, so once we have been supplied to assessment the Suunto 5 Peak, we jumped on the likelihood.
Designed for out of doors health lovers, the Suunto 5 Peak is manufactured in Finland with 100% renewable, carbon-neutral power which is a welcomed level of distinction from different watches available on the market.
Primary capabilities on the watch embody clever battery modes, greater than 80 sports activities modes, sleep and exercise monitoring, music controls, stress and restoration monitoring, GPS navigation, over-the-air updates and water-resistant to 30 metres.
With out additional ado, right here’s what I assumed concerning the Suunto 5 Peak.
What’s good
Modern design
After I first obtained the Suunto 5 Peak, I immediately fell in love with the design. It’s each glossy and trendy and appears like an precise watch, which I respect.
For reference, I’ve a Garmin Forerunner 935 which is kind of hefty on the wrist and may be very clearly a smartwatch.
The opposite factor I seen right away was how gentle the Suunto 5 Peak was. In keeping with Suunto, it’s 41% lighter than its predecessor and weighs round 39g — 10g lighter than the Garmin.
Along with the glossy design and the load, the opposite factor that appealed to me was the font, which was each elegant and gorgeous. Though a small element, it actually helped elevate the watch.
Should you’re somebody who’s hypersensitive to sturdy vibrations or is simply usually irritated by them, the Suunto 5 Peak is the watch you’re after. If I evaluate my Garmin once more, the Suunto wins me over merely with the truth that the notifications come via as extra of a delicate nudge, whereas the Garmin’s vibrations are extremely forceful.
What helps with the glossy design is the straightforward push-in clasp on the watch’s strap. You may inform it was designed for out of doors train as a result of it holds very firmly in place which is nice for whenever you’re operating. In saying that although, the clasp will most likely go away a bit of mark in your pores and skin however that’s the case with many watches.
GPS monitoring
A characteristic that’s onerous to miss on the Suunto 5 Peak is its unimaginable mapping and navigation instruments.
Utilizing the Suunto app, you may discover new routes and blend up your personal operating/biking routes and observe all of it throughout the watch.
When attempting to plan out a brand new route in your space, there’s an choice to make use of warmth maps which let you see the preferred/used trails, paths, roads and tracks for no matter your chosen exercise is.
This characteristic was tremendous helpful to me as I had simply restarted my operating coaching and was in search of a wide range of totally different routes in my space.
Through the use of the warmth maps, I might then determine what would work finest for me for a way far and the way intense I wished the run to be, based mostly on what different runners had tracked.
Should you discover a explicit map you want, you may title, save and switch it to your watch inside seconds so you may exit and discover it.
The built-in GPS system works nearly instantly upon beginning a brand new exercise on the watch.
One thing that I deeply appreciated concerning the Suunto 5 Peak was that you could possibly see your CO2 emissions and the influence of your journey.
The watch would observe my human-powered travels (whether or not that be by bike or operating/strolling) which I might then tag as ‘commutes’ and see how a lot CO2 emissions I had saved in comparison with if I have been driving the identical distance.
Health options
As talked about, with greater than 80 totally different sports activities modes, the Suunto 5 Peak actually comes alive whenever you begin utilizing it for train.
It’s on the level I began going for runs with it that I might inform it was designed for health lovers in thoughts.
Like most sports activities watches, I might rapidly see my heartbeat and the tempo at which I used to be operating. Nevertheless it’s what the watch did after my run that impressed me probably the most.
Inside the app, I acquired adaptive coaching steering and will see my health monitoring ranges to judge how a lot I had exerted in my runs. It additionally gave me totally different train and exercise solutions to offer me a well-rounded coaching regime.
One other characteristic that I used to be stunned (and relieved) to see was that I used to be instructed to go a bit simpler on my coaching if I had too many high-intensity exercises in shut proximity.
Random quirks
Apart from the massive options of the Suunto 5 Peak, there have been just a few different little quirks that I appreciated.
The primary is that it had each dawn and sundown alarms (for those who enabled them). It will additionally present the time the solar was going to rise and set in your watch face.
I used the sundown alarm probably the most as a result of I wished to know the way a lot time I needed to go for a run earlier than it obtained darkish exterior.
One thing that’s neither good or unhealthy however simply slightly humorous was the charger. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it. It’s a claw/crocodile clip-like charger that hooks onto the watch.
I suppose you could possibly run into points with this for those who left it someplace and wanted to cost your watch.
What’s not so good
Brightness
One thing that I used to be a bit of upset by was the brightness ranges on the Suunto 5 Peak.
As a result of the watch was constructed with a color memory-in-pixel show, it requires much less energy than different smartwatches may. Nevertheless, the sacrifice of that appears to be the show’s brightness and vibrancy.
It wasn’t actually a problem in the course of the day however at evening, it was a bit tough to see the watch face at sure occasions.
I’ve seen just a few different folks say that they don’t just like the plastic watch face however I didn’t actually thoughts it. It didn’t influence me in any manner however I can see how this may annoy some folks.
Cost
Suunto claims that the watch has as much as 10 days cost on ‘In Time Mode’ and as much as seven days with 24/7 monitoring and cell notifications.
I discovered myself having to cost the Suunto 5 Peak each six or so days (with 24/7 monitoring and notifications on) which isn’t too unhealthy nevertheless it might have been higher.
In saying that, it did give me a good warning concerning the cost ranges so I didn’t overlook to cost it. It additionally charged fairly rapidly, in order that’s an upside.
Worth
The Suunto 5 Peak retails at $499.99 which makes it a mid-range smartwatch.
Whereas it’s a lot pricier than other watches available, you’re nonetheless getting fairly a good quantity out of it for a sub-$500 watch.
It’s additionally one of many least expensive Suunto watches out there however nonetheless has some fairly nice tech inside it.
Nevertheless, at that value level, you may favor choosing a watch that’s extra well-rounded and fewer fitness-focused.
General verdict
General, I actually liked my time with the Suunto 5 Peak smartwatch.
From the warmth map GPS monitoring to the glossy fashion and design, I used to be completely impressed with the watch.
Though there have been just a few little issues that took away from the general expertise, they weren’t deal breakers in my eyes.
For these desirous to get into health and stage up their train routines, that is the right smartwatch for you.
You should purchase the Suunto 5 Peak here.
