Suunto Spark

[Tieutieu]

@Audaxjoe yep they’re headphones, so for calls and music, you can just connect to your phone and your good to go

[Tieutieu]

I have to go deeper into user guide (and Spark app?) because yesterday I was on a small hike, watch recording activity, and listening to music into the spark. I accidentally launched « start activity » of the spark meanwhile ; after I stopped it, it recorded directly in the app a running activity with metric. Watch still recording my hike.
I don’t know if it’s because I was not on a running activity or if running metrics are anyway recorded appart watch activities.

[dreamer_]

I’m probably buying the Spark to use with the Vertical 2 Ti. Since both products are already in the market, with these headsets, I think Suunto has a very good oportunity to go a lot further. The combo of the heatsets when paired with the watch, could be used to improve several things:

I.E:

• Voice notes while in activity
• Ability of making phone calls without taking the phone of the backpack when you are in a trail run. I.E, click button and say something like: call sister.
• Improve the pedometer features (no other brand has a product in the market which such a nice feature). I.E: When the GPS signal is lost because you are running indoor or in a treadmill.

I think there are many more use cases that would make an instant buy probably for many people.

[Svenning]

I just tested the new Suunto Spark in standalone mode (without a phone, only Race2). Lap alerts are working correctly, but I’m not receiving any notifications for heart rate zone changes, which is a crucial feature for my training. My firmware is up to date. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Egika]

@Svenning have enabled voice feedback in the exercise settings on the watch?

[Tieutieu]

@Svenning thanks for sharing : I guess you need to use the spark app for that ?

[Svenning]

@Egika Sure thing dude ;o)

[Svenning]

@Tieutieu said in Suunto Spark:

I guess you need to use the spark app for that ?

Yes, from the SuuntoPlusStore.

[dreamer_]

said in Suunto Spark:

I’m probably buying the Spark to use with the Vertical 2 Ti. Since both products are already in the market, with these headsets, I think Suunto has a very good oportunity to go a lot further. The combo of the heatsets when paired with the watch, could be used to improve several things:

I.E:

• Voice notes while in activity
• Ability of making phone calls without taking the phone of the backpack when you are in a trail run. I.E, click button and say something like: call sister.
• Improve the pedometer features (no other brand has a product in the market which such a nice feature). I.E: When the GPS signal is lost because you are running indoor or in a treadmill.

I think there are many more use cases that would make an instant buy probably for many people.

About this Suunto should also add navigation voice prompts (turn-by-turn directions, out of the route…). It is specially interesting for trail runners because sometimes you are in very technical paths or going down and you don’t want (or can’t) look at the screen of the watch.

[Gunnar]

@dreamer_ that would be a major reason for me replace my shokz open run pro.

[dreamer_]

@Gunnar said in Suunto Spark:

@dreamer_ that would be a major reason for me replace my shokz open run pro.

In fact, considering how Suunto’s watches are focused for the mountains that is very likely the very first thing that should be addressed (if possible).

I’ll receive the spark next week.

BTW, there’s also some feedback here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Suunto/comments/1slacal/suunto_spark_voice_coaching_does_not_work_with/

Edit: I have seen this very nice review: https://youtu.be/88WuoxM0W80 (it’s in Spanish but there’s an english audio track). He says that the POD functionality means that you have 2 activities (one with the Suunto Spark and the other one with the watch). He also says that you need to start the activity in the watch and also in the spark.
Is it that true?
It seems like a bug, because if you are running with the Spark paired is because you really one the metrics of the Spark. It has not sense at all to have 2 activities if you are also running with a Suunto watch.

[Tieutieu]

@dreamer_ that’s what I have noticed so far in a previous feedback above : two activities. I personally deleted the spark one.
Won’t use running metrics if it’s stay as it is for now.

[Egika]

@Tieutieu which running metrics does Spark provide, that the watch don’t have?

[snow*]

@Egika as per Joaquin video other than these

• Running Dynamics: they track your step cadence, total steps, and vertical oscillation.
• Running Symmetry: this metric measures the balance between your left and right feet by comparing ground contact time.
• Activity Stats: sensor records ascent and descent (elevation changes), estimated calories, and the total duration of the workout.

there’s:

• Cervical Mobility Assessment: the device can perform a test where you move your head (up/down and side-to-side) to measure the symmetry of movement between your left and right sides

[Egika]

@snow so there are no running metrics that recent watches don’t have.
I see no need to record an activity with phones and watch at the same time.

Using the phones to record a run makes sense to me, when you are not using your watch.

[Tieutieu]

@Egika you’re right recent watches have those metrics ; not my SRs neither my SV1 (unless I missed something). So using the sparks and having those metrics in my activities would had been a plus.
But I didn’t bought the spark for that so not a big deal to me

[dreamer_]

@Egika those running metrics are far superior in something like the head than in very moving one arm. It is explained in that video. That is also a reason with PODs exist in other brands or chest straps with POD features. And pod features could also be improved in a future firmware update.

An analogy is running with an HR chest strap. It’s better than the wrist sensor and if you are running with the strap, is because you do want the metrics of the strap. It has no sense to have 2 activities in that scenario. Watch’s metrics should be avoided when running with the Spark paired (in my opinion the contrary is clearly a bug once you have both products in the same workout)