Why I've shelved my Peak for a 9

[Foxster]

I really like my Peak but there are a couple of niggles that I’ve struggled with. The big one is the size of the screen.

I don’t wear glasses for running as I only need them for reading and I find the Peak’s display small, dim and the fonts narrow. This means that checking the exercise display can be hard, especially for the smaller items like the current time. I sometimes have to stop and peer closely at the watch.

I also find the watchface small in daily use. The date and charge% are especially hard to read.

So I looked at the other Suunto watches to see what has similar functionality but a larger display and the 9 seemed right.

My concerns were about losing two features: baro and oxygen level.

Baro for me is not that important as the accuracy of the GPS altitude is fine for my trail running and hiking. I just don’t need it accurate to within a couple of meters.

Then there’s the blood oxygen reading. This is something I just don’t use on the Peak. I have a medical device if I ever need to check this accurately and wouldn’t trust the watch anway. I don’t do high mountaineering, so knowing whether I’m acclimatising is not useful.

So I bought a standard 9 and have just been for a run. It does everything I used the Peak for but I can actually easily read the display.

Just wish I’d figured this out before spending the small fortune on the Peak.

[Egika]

@foxster Thank you for sharing your insights.
For me other advantages of the Peak are:

• big improvement in the wrist HR measurement
• super quick charge

[Foxster]

@egika I’ve found the Peak’s HR increasingly less accurate as the weather has cooled. Typically, the first 5 mins of readings are junk, often going up to 200bpm. This renders the averages and some performance data for the run useless.

On todays run, I found the 9 didn’t suffer from this issue. Though I appreciate this is a sample of one and it might not be good on the next run.

I’ll not be too bothered if the 9’s HR is a bit less accurate as long as its reasonably close, say within 5bpm or so. I generally only use it as a gauge of when I’m pushing on too hard.

The faster charge of the Peak is certainly nice. However, I check the charge after a run and charge it then if needed, so the speed of charging doesn’t matter much. So far, I’ve not been in the situation of needing a really quick charge, say just before a run. Other’s will no doubt find it handy though.

Of course, the ideal would be a Peak with a larger display. Hopefully that’s something Suunto is considering.

[markytarky]

@foxster I experienced quite the opposite situation, huge problems in winter months on baro and fewer problems on peak…I guess it depends on how the blood is flowing in each person.

[Foxster]

@markytarky I expect you are right. Might also have something to do with wrist size.

My sample of one run isn’t enough to tell much. Especially as today wasn’t as cold as some days; about 6C as opposed to previous 3-4C.

I have my fingers crossed though that early-run junk readings stay away with the 9.

[helgonet12]

@foxster I went back to S9B from S9P due to the screen size. My eye sight are not as good as it used to be and it made it almost impossible to see the info on the S9P while exercising.

I hope that like many others here in this forum for a S9P XL.

[freeheeler]

@foxster said in Why I've shelved my Peak for a 9:

Of course, the ideal would be a Peak with a larger display. Hopefully that’s something Suunto is considering

would be my potential next watch

[surfboomerang]

It would be nice if Suunto keeps the same diameter of the S9P, but removes the bezel of the screen. It would increase the screen size a lot.

[freeheeler]

@surfboomerang
this might make the watch a bit un-rugged, don’t you think?
I would prefer to have the same sizes as S9B and maybe a tiny bit bigger screen…
I live in a place where I have to keep up with all the Rolex and other big chunky time pieces

[helgonet12]

@surfboomerang I agree about removing the bezel but I really like the size of the latest S9B. It would be awesome if the did the same on both watches or offered an S9P xl

[surfboomerang]

Ok, maybe a small bezel looks beter then no bezel at all
I’m sure Suunto will figure something out to surprise us.

[freeheeler]

@surfboomerang
THIS!!

[DMytro]

@surfboomerang I wonder if such a tiny bezel would influence the durability of the watch upon impact. But I really like the idea!

[surfboomerang]

@freeheeler Nah… THIS is what you really want

[freeheeler]

@surfboomerang said in Why I've shelved my Peak for a 9:

Nah… THIS is what you really want

you nailed it!!!

[___Alejandro___]

@surfboomerang I think I read somewhere that the bezel hides the GPS module, which sits underneath it in a ring-shape board… Or I could have imagined it!

[freeheeler]

@alejandro
that makes sense
and brings me back to an old topic that I do not find anymore… does anybody know where we can find teardown pictures of S9B?

[___Alejandro___]

@freeheeler I think it’s coming back to me… that’s how they were able to remove the GPS “bump” that’s on the strap of the A3P.

I believe (but please don’t quote me on it!) that’s why the A3P was perceived as more accurate – as long as the bump was facing up toward the sky. ;–)

[freeheeler]

@alejandro
It’s nice when you notice that you can be part of improvements.
I’ve criticized a couple of times the position of the baro holes and now S9P looks pretty nicely improved for this issue

[TonyG]

@egika said in Why I've shelved my Peak for a 9:

@foxster Thank you for sharing your insights.
For me other advantages of the Peak are:

• big improvement in the wrist HR measurement
• super quick charge

I would also add the

• adaptive light function, I think it works great
• clicky buttons