S9 is the top model

Brad_Olwin

Now I had time to analyze the first experiences with the Suunto 9. I think the design is well done. The watch is certainly a good evolution of the Ultra. Who trains after heart rate should rather take a strap but that’s my opinion in all watches so. The new GPS chip delivers good values comparable to the Spartan Ultra. I’m curious if the GPS recording in the mountains works so well.

My moves are virtually all in the mountains…the S9 is working well

Brad_Olwin

After a few runs and a couple gym workouts, I am very happy with the S9. The tracks are as good or better than the SSU and the battery life is unbelievably good. It seems smaller than the SSU and is comfortable. I did not wear two watches to compare tracks, I leave that to the experts! The OHR works for daily tracking and sleeping, it is ok but not great for me for running…I will be wearing the belt for runs. The watch looks great and the intelligent battery monitoring is very nice. An example with OHR here and with the belt here.

Kurt68

@brad_olwin
my training is pace based so the pulse is not that important to me. but the example below with WHR shows that the results do not always have to differ greatly.

https://www.movescount.com/moves/move226059959

fleshymutant

Here is a track from this weekend. The recording is very good for what I would consider difficult GPS conditions, deep walled canyon with a lot of tree cover in some areas. Optical HR was great once I tightened the watch a little higher on my wrist (note that I have little arm hair and light skin.)

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move226842126

Note that I’m using a Stryd for power and distance as well.

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos

@fleshymutant I also still hoping to get glonass soon. Got the deepest canyon of the world race coming up and there things get wanky.

aldnet

After 2 tests I’m very happy to with Suunto 9, yesterday a run and today a hike.

With the run OHR works like a charm, only I tightened it up, not moving up my arm as Suunto suggest.

This is the workout

http://www.movescount.com/es/moves/move228077428

Today the hike in the beginning (from 08 to10) I have some up HR without reason but I tightened it up more, and moving up and everything starts to be correct and logical.

Today workout: http://www.movescount.com/es/moves/move228295684

Yesterday we start a discussion with @SlaSh on suunto app that perhaps the kind of strap goes with Suunto 9 mades OHR acts so well, encapsulating more the watch and avoiding noise, but today that I have some noise and wrong measures in the beginning, I understand that today behavior will be the habitual

With GPS what I expect, i some scenarios, specially into the cities, is less precise than the Baro, but in the forest and the country I acts perfectly and FusedTrack works as I expect.

Here a comparision between my Baro and Suunto 9:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/D6zkW69YH8LphdCs7

Brad_Olwin

@aldnet @SlaSh My experience with OHR has not been good! Most of this run was in Zone 1/2 HR with a bit of Z3 climbing. Most of the time I looked at the S9, my HR was 180 or above. My max is in the mid 180s. http://www.movescount.com/moves/move228337309

aldnet

@brad_olwin mmm, interesting, that was the behaviour I had sometimes with Baro

Do tou tightned up the watch to the wrist?

But it seems that in the case of OHR seems S9 is like Baro.

Today measures with walking workouts are good

Tomorrow I will test with treadmill

Brad_Olwin

@aldnet yes, done all of that. Walking is fine so is sitting. Not running.

SlaSh

@aldnet it depends what your hands are doing during running and on what kind surface you running and ascent or descent for stadium run ohrm will be just fine, for trail running don’t know

aldnet

@slash so, it’s a lottery? XD

Marius Jacobsen Eggerud

Based on what I have read so far ut is hard to justify an upgrade from SSU to S9. Or are you able to convince me?

SlaSh

@marius-jacobsen-eggerud same for me to replace baro maybe some day when it is going to be discounted to reasonable price.

SlaSh

@aldnet kinda, I know one weird runner who is barely moving his hands and elbows are tucked to his ribs, for him any ohrm is sufficient

cosme.costa

@marius-jacobsen-eggerud Same here. I do not see any advantage to replace the SSU for the S9. Of course if I need to buy a new watch, S9 will by my first option but to change from the top model to the new top model I do not see it yet.

BATTERY: In my case I usually run between 9 and 14 km and my longest runs are 20-25 km (mainly trail running). With that I am able to do 3/4 runs and recharge the watch every 7/8 days. If you do ultras maybe I would be tempted to get the S9.

OHRM: For the type of runs that I do is quite useless from what I read. Of course If I have it I will use it, but not for exercise monitoring.

GPS: I haven’t read any comment saying that S9 is better that the SSU. Probably it will be in the future but not right now. In my case I am not a track freak neither, I want that the stored tracks are real but I do not mind if I move 3 m and the GPS doesn’t detect it.

If Suunto continues improving the SSU, and adding nice features like battery management, etc. I do not see the advantages of switching from one to the other. (SUUNTO do not stop improving the Spartan series ).

Don’t get me wrong, I like a lot the S9. If I had any other Suunto model probably right know I would be writing about my new S9, but having the SSU and with the prices of the S9 it still isn’t my watch.

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos

@cosmecosta well said. And updates wont stop. SSu gets the same bat management.

SlaSh

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos how about baro and battery management?

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos

@slash same

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos

Just to be clear, I think and from what I see so far, Suunto does not fragment SW.

Except the S3F the rest of the models are on the same line of features SW wise of course…

S3F is an exception due to the Firstbeat FITNESS stuff (not ahtlete stuff)

cosme.costa

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos This is very good and nice from Suunto!! Lets hope this policy lasts!!