The SUUNTO Race S is one of the most exciting sports watches we’ve had on our wrists in recent years. It feels pleasantly unobtrusive while hiding a wealth of technology and practical features: strong GPS signal, long battery life combined with extremely short charging times, and numerous sports profiles that can be configured according to your needs and preferences.
But let’s rewind for a moment: SUUNTO was founded more than 80 years ago by a Finnish adventurer.It all started with robust compasses. Today, their product line includes not only navigation devices, but also a wide range of sports and diving watches as well as headphones. The Race S slots in as one of the more compact models and is the smaller, lighter version of the SUUNTO Race. And it’s precisely this product group that, in our view, is best suited for MTB use.
The Race S is manufactured climate-neutral in Finland – a plus point that’s anything but guaranteed these days. It’s available with either a stainless steel or titanium case. Naturally, there are several colour options, and the straps can be swapped too. For our test, we had the titanium version, which weighs just 81 g and is barely noticeable when worn. Price-wise, SUUNTO take an astonishingly aggressive approach: € 399 for the titanium variant and € 349 for the stainless steel model. Compared to comparable watches from Garmin, Fitbit or Polar, that’s significantly less – without having to compromise on the core features.
Display, GPS and fit of the SUUNTO Race S
The SUUNTO Race S uses a 1.43” AMOLED display. The display is razor sharp, vibrant in colour and easy to read both in direct sunlight and in deep forest shade. When you turn the watch towards your head, the display activates automatically. This works reliably in around 90 % of cases – not perfectly, but absolutely suitable for everyday use. The technology is protected by Gorilla Glass, which impressed us throughout this test: we exposed it to countless impacts, crashes and sharp edges, and the Race S handled everything flawlessly. No dents, no dull spots, no scratches.
Even more impressive is the multiband GPS mode. SUUNTO advertise high precision, and they kept their promise. We have several spots where most other devices – including top-tier models – have caused problems in the past: deep valleys, dense forests, no mobile reception, and yet the Race S tracked our rides in complete, precise fashion. Over 165 logged activities, we didn’t encounter a single error or missing data.A major plus point, because there’s nothing more annoying than realising after a long day on the bike that the device didn’t track your ride. In our 8-month test period, almost 5,000 km and 730 h were recorded over 152 days – without failures, GPS drops or data loss.
A traditional rubber strap ensures a secure fit, and combined with the case shape, it offers real added value. The watch doesn’t slip during sport activities, neither on the MTB nor while running, and sits reliably on both strong and slender arms. On hot days, however, the strap can be a little sticky – nothing major, but slightly uncomfortable at times in everyday use. In addition, the strap discoloured slightly, though not very noticeably, and replacement straps can be purchased at a very reasonable price. The optical heart rate sensor of the Race S provides solid results, but the rule applies here as well: as with virtually all wrist-based measurements, accuracy depends strongly on how tightly the watch sits. For everyday training values, this is perfectly adequate, but for precise intensity zones or competitions we would still rely on a chest strap, which SUUNTO also have in their range.
Operation, navigation and battery life of the SUUNTO Race S
The SUUNTO Race S relies on a combination of three buttons on the right side of the case, one of which is designed as a rotating crown. This is complemented by a very sensitive touchscreen that works surprisingly well – even with gloves. However, it also reacts strongly to moisture such as sweat drops or water in the shower, which means that the Race S can start doing its own thing from time to time. That’s exactly why we usually kept the watch locked during everyday use or while recording, since the touchscreen can’t be deactivated. When navigating, however, it’s very helpful. The operation itself isn’t intuitive at first and it takes a few days to understand how to switch between menus, widgets and activities. But once you grasp the logic, navigation paths are short and the watch can be operated quickly and smoothly.
Like every modern sports watch, the Race S comes with its own SUUNTO app. It’s clear, reliable and does essentially everything you’d expect: customising designs, analysing activities in detail, linking to Strava, Komoot & Co., personalising sports modes and reliably syncing activities. The watch already includes over 100 sports modes, from MTB and trail running to parkour, motorsports and indoor biking. The usefulness of each mode comes down to personal preference – but the sheer number of options is impressive. All modes can also be personalised, and we adapted our MTB mode so that it only shows the information we actually need on the trail. The Race S can also display notifications such as WhatsApp messages and phone calls. Replying, however, isn’t possible – which, to be honest, we don’t miss on a sports watch. Beyond that, SUUNTO offer countless additional features, which would go beyond the scope here.
For navigation, you first need to download the map material via the app free of charge. This takes some time and only works when the watch is placed on its charging station. Once that’s done, you have the maps fully available offline – a real advantage when you’re in areas without reception. Routes from the SUUNTO or Komoot app can be transferred quickly and are immediately ready on the watch. The maps are very detailed and navigation works reliably. We navigated extensively throughout this test and almost never got lost. The only real limitation appears while cycling: at junctions, you have to sneak a look at your wrist, which inevitably means a moment of one-handed riding. With a bit of getting used to, this works very well and is a perfect addition for longer tours or unfamiliar trails.
One important point beforehand: The SUUNTO Race S uses a proprietary charging pad, where you have to place the watch. This means: be sure to pack it when travelling.
The battery itself is top-class. Based on our test values, you can expect around 25–30 hours of GPS recording. For everyday use without tracking, the battery easily lasts a full week. A 3-4 hour ride uses about 15% battery, and for each mode you can set which battery profile you want to use to further adjust the runtime individually. Needless to say, navigation uses slightly more battery, but even that remains manageable. What’s truly impressive is the charging speed: in about 15 minutes, you can recharge enough energy for several more hours of riding. This is perfect if you notice before a ride that the watch is almost empty – just place it on the pad, make one more quick coffee, and off you go. Not that this ever happened to us ;).
Conclusion about the SUUNTO Race S
The SUUNTO Race S is a damn good sports watch for MTB use and turned us into genuine fans during this test. It combines a low weight, excellent fit and extremely reliable, precise tracking – all at a very fair price! Added to this are many practical features such as widgets and navigation, as well as strong battery life and ultra-fast charging. A compact watch that truly delivers on the trail.
Tops
- Excellent price-performance ratio
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Precise and reliable
- Long battery life
Flops
For more information, visit SUUNTO’s website.
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Words & Photos: Peter Walker