How good is pace on S9B

ug237

I have an Ambit 3 Sport, and I am considering getting a new watch. I tried going to a (er…) Fenix 6 Pro, but the instant pace data was so erratic I decided to return it. Compared to my A3S, distance, average pace, cadence were in agreement, but like I said instant pace was crazy: all it took was a sharp turn to make it report 1.5 to 2 mins/mile pace slower, and it took forever to recover. By comparison (and I have run with both watches) the Ambit is much more consistent. Sure, it tends to get thrown off, but never by much, and it recovers quite quickly.
So my question is: how good is pace on S9B compared, say, with the Ambit?

sky-runner

@ug237 Yes, as the current user of Fenix 6 I can confirm that pace on Fenix is truly atrocious. That is my single biggest complaint about Fenix 6.

Compared to that pace on Suunto 9 was reasonably good the last time I used it about a year ago, although a bit optimistic, but still way better than on Fenix.

freeheeler

I am curious where this discussion is heading to… I feel like I should place bets

isazi

I have only pace comparisons between Suunto devices right now, and they more or less always match, even compared with a Stryd.

ug237

@isazi That is actually very good to know.

Brad_Olwin

@ug237 I think the S9baro pace is better than the Ambit. The S5 is probably the best as it has an antenna outside the bezel but no barometer so that is a no go for me. I use it for running intervals based on pace with no issues. I have a Stryd as well and don’t notice much difference. However, the Stryd for me is short on distance, I have this confirmed on a measured course.

ug237

@brad_olwin Interesting. Do you mean that Stryd reports a shorter distance? My Ambit goes slightly long on distance, as I have verified many times when on measured courses. But I don’t know how much of that is due to me not hitting all the tangents and how much to the watch itself. I’ve had it reporting 50.5 for a 50M race.

isazi

@ug237 Stryd is known to be short on distance without calibration. For me it’s pretty close actually, but depends on the running, e.g. I think it’s more precise when I’m going faster.

herlas

@isazi do you recommend set calibration on for STRYD during a measured distance to get the factor right? I have had it with calibration off as suggested by them (STRYD) and I get short distances vs my Wife’s Suunto 7.

isazi

@herlas I’m fine with a slightly shorter distance, at least it’s not giving me free credits.