Zonesense readings
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Either I don’t understand how it’s supposed to work or it just doesn’t work properly. This is hill reps interval training and it turns out that whenever HR is higher the Zone is lower.
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@Dragan-Djurovic I recommend watching the six-video series provided by Suunto to fully understand the algorithm.
Ep1: https://youtu.be/YBVSs8ju0JM
Ep2: https://youtu.be/XFbgiljNBXc
Ep3: https://youtu.be/-fidaYqS988
Ep4: https://youtu.be/bD3O4BZ9vIc
Ep5: https://youtu.be/4q6XHYcN-_A
Ep6: https://youtu.be/6UULahZUMQM -
@Dragan-Djurovic
“ZoneSense is ideal for steady workouts, such as long aerobic, hard threshold sessions or long interval sessions that last over 3 minutes. For short intervals, like 1-minute sprints, use running pace or cycling power for more accurate measurement. ZoneSense requires the athlete to work on given intensity at least 2-3 minutes in order to properly show the intensity level.”
https://www.suunto.com/en-ie/sports/News-Articles-container-page/zonesense-faq/ -
Back in the day when dinosaurs were roaming the Internet, there was an acronym RTFM. It seems that it’s still alive and well.
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@Łukasz-Szmigiel Thats not fair! For a feature to work it should not be necessary to study that much material and adapt the own behaviour. And if it is it should be marked ‘experimental’ like Runalyze does.
I think we should be honest that Zonesense is an absolutly interesting thing, but it doesn’t just work out of the box - at least not for anyone -
@VoiGAS Everything requires reading the user manual. Even the most basic operation of a any watch requires it.
Unless you think it’s better to waste time writing various nonsense on forums
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@maszop Not entirely true, with modern smartwatches users expect them to be somehow intuitive. Also one page of the manual is not comparable to 6 episodes of a video.
I don’t want to attack Zonesense, but we should be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages fair and honest. And thats not the case here -
@VoiGAS And who’s hiding the flaws? It requires a chest strap, it’s not suitable for interval training, and as a relatively new tool, it has some flaws that will come and go over time.
To use any advanced tools effectively, reading the manual is required.
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@maszop Nowhere in the manual does it say that there is no countdown of how many intervals you have left, that it will not measure sleep correctly… The instructions are for the basics, and for everything else we talk through forums like this one. There is no need to call each other names and insult each other. After all, I have not ruled out the possibility that I did not understand well how it should work.
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@VoiGAS it works as intended.
There’s no need to study anything, just read two or three paragraphs and that is all.
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@VoiGAS said in Zonesense nonsense !!!:
with modern smartwatches users expect them to be somehow intuitive
I would argue that a smartwatch, as a whole, is intuitive. The UI/UX could be better but it’s a process not a finished system.
As for S+: This whole functionality is made for very specific use cases that don’t make sense to have built into the watch firmware to occupy memory for all users, all the time. Which means it can be a little bit more complex in some applications and less in the others, as the use case requires.
ZoneSense is very “techy”, but made to work with very little effort from the end user. I’d say that the science behind this technology is also pretty transparent to the user.
Wear the strap, do constant effort or slowly ramp it up, get the effort on screen as well as post workout. It may not work correctly on quick intervals or with poor data source (dry belt, poor battery, etc.).
Everything else is just nerdy stuff that’s not necessary to know in order to use it but can be accessed anyway (forum or YouTube) if one so desires.
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@VoiGAS ZoneSense works flawlessly. The challenge lies in understanding it, which takes time for some users. The more experienced an athlete is—particularly those who have relied for decades on pace, heart rate, or power to analyze their training—the more effort is required to adapt to a new model. Dismissing the algorithm altogether is simply denial. Still, it’s understandable; traditional methods have proven effective for thousands of athletes.
ZoneSense was developed by Suunto in collaboration with MoniCardi, a research-driven company from Tampere University. It’s built on scientifically validated methods that analyze heart rate variability to detect intensity zones in real time. The algorithm doesn’t “work for some and not for others” — it applies the same physiological principles consistently to all users.
If the results feel inconsistent, it’s not the algorithm that’s flawed, but a misunderstanding of how it functions. Unlike fixed-threshold zone models, ZoneSense adapts dynamically to your body’s real-time responses. It demands a shift in mindset, not a rejection of its legitimacy.
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@Łukasz-Szmigiel True! @Ghost : I don’t say it has no legatimicy and agree on the last part: It needs a shift. And that should be clear: If you want to use Zonesense you have to invest time and effort.
I did and will try even more in the future without a positive result. I just think the rea tion to criticism shouldn’t be: Its your own fault.
But to be fair ‘Zonesense Nonsense’ is a little bit provocative too… -
@Ghost I admit that I forgot that Zonesense is designed for longer, more stable workouts. I read it once, a long time ago. But if I need to change my entire training because of some unproven theory, then it’s just not for me. This is for someone who is just starting to run. Everything is progressing, including the measurement of sports activities. This certainly does not mean that it is right, time will tell.
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@Ghost completely agree - and I think you are right about it being difficult for people who relied on certain systems like interpreting HR / Pace / Power etc. to quantify their performance to change or adapt to a new system, especially when this new system doesn’t relate in a way they expect.
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@VoiGAS ZoneSense is a game changer for me.
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@Ghost I never said its nonsense, if you read my last post you can see that I also think its not ok to call Zonesense nonsense!
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@VoiGAS my apologies. Edited.
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@Dragan There are six in-depth videos demonstrating that it’s 100% reliable, proven, effective, and efficient — all validated by solid research. RPE, which is widely used by elite athletes to manage training intensity through internal perception, is the closest proxy to what ZoneSense captures. That said, I fully respect those who feel they’re losing touch with familiar methods. Sticking with what makes training enjoyable is part of what keeps sport meaningful.
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@Dragan The example that you provided is not what ZS is intended for, I think you realize that now. I completely agree with @Ghost, ZS is a game changer for me and I use ZS for most runs. (Not for 2 min hill intervals that I just finished a block of). After using RPE to gauge my runs for well over a decade ZS matches my RPE well. Where ZS is especially useful are long runs where I feel fatigued by the end and don’t think I should. ZS confirms my feelings are accurate. I will use ZS to better adjust my efforts at the beginning of ultras.