By Marnie Kunz
Certified trainer and run coach

This Suunto running watch review is based on my experience running, walking, and trail running in NYC for over a month with the Suunto Run watch. I decided to give the latest Suunto running watch, the Suunto Run, a try after years of running with Garmin. As the battery life finally started to give out on my Garmin Forerunner 55, it was time to try something new. Since I’m a running coach in NYC, I walk and run all over the city, and I also enjoy trail running outside of the city. I tried this watch for my daily steps, city runs, trail runs upstate, and tracking stats like my sleep time. And since I am training for some trail runs coming up, I was also excited to test out the acclaimed trail running features like compass, maps, and breadcrumbs for navigation on the trails. I’ll also go over other features of the Suunto Run and break down how it stacks up against other GPS running watches.

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Suunto Running Watch Review

First Impressions and Design

As soon as I opened the Suunto running package, I was already in love with the branding. I love the trail running and adventure theme on the box. But of course, the important part is the actual watch, and luckily, that also impressed me. The Suunto Run All Black is modern and sleek looking, with a bright, touch-sensitive watch face and a flexible black band with adjustable velcro closure (for the textile strap, which is the one I got).

The Watch Band

Suunto running watch review Suunto Run watch

One thing to note when you first get your watch is that you need to put the band on it. I didn’t realize I needed to look for the small pin to secure the band and almost missed the small black envelope with the pin in it. The watch band has a small clip you can pull back to get the band in place, and the other side has a small clip to put in. I got the textile strap, so I’m not sure about the setup for the silicone strap.

Suunto Run Design

Here are some design features for my Suunto running watch review to give you insights into the look and feel of the watch:

I love the Suunto Run All Black aesthetic, as the black gives a modern, classic look that can go well with any outfit, from running gear to daily life and workwear. The display size is just right, not too big or small, and with the adjustable strap, it fits well. If you prefer a more minimalist strap design, check out the Suunto Run All Black with Silicone Strap, which is the same watch but with a silicone strap.

Setup

I am not the most tech-savvy or patient person, but I was able to instantly scan the Suunto Run QR code, download the app to my phone, and sync it with the watch easily. I learned how to use the watch within minutes, which is great and a record for me with learning new technology. The interface is pretty self-explanatory, and you can add or remove widgets in the settings easily. You can also sync the watch with Garmin or other apps, set up music, sync with your phone alerts, and enable the navigation features.

Key Features of the Suunto Running Watch

GPS Accuracy

The Suunto running watch really shines when it comes to GPS accuracy. It connects quickly to multiple satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou, so you get strong coverage whether you’re running in the city, on trails, or in wide-open spaces. In my runs through NYC streets, where tall buildings can interfere with the signal, the Suunto consistently delivered accurate pace and distance tracking. I also tested it on upstate New York trails, where it always got a signal.

Another useful feature is the ability to choose different GPS modes. For shorter runs, you can opt for the most precise tracking, while longer efforts like marathons or trail ultras allow you to extend battery life without losing too much accuracy. This flexibility makes the watch a reliable training partner for everyday runs and big race days alike.

Navigation - Breadcrumb

Suunto includes a handy breadcrumb navigation feature that’s perfect for runners who like to explore new routes. The watch records your path as you run and displays it as a simple line on the screen, so if you take a wrong turn or want to retrace your steps, you can easily follow the breadcrumb trail back to your starting point.

Suunto running watch review trail running — Trail running with the Suunto Run watch.

This feature is especially useful on trails or in unfamiliar neighborhoods, where it’s easy to get turned around. I tested out the feature on trails, and once I figured out how to pull up the breadcrumb map, I found it helpful to see my route for retracing back to the starting point. While it’s not as detailed as full turn-by-turn mapping, breadcrumb navigation gives you peace of mind knowing you won’t get lost mid-run.

Heart Rate Tracking

Like most GPS watches, the Suunto offers wrist-based heart rate monitoring. It’s a convenient way to keep an eye on your effort levels without needing extra gear, but it’s important to note that a heartrate sensor on the wrist is never 100% precise, especially during high-intensity interval workouts or when your watch isn’t snug against your skin.

For runners who need very accurate data (such as training by heart rate zones), pairing the watch with a chest strap monitor for the most accurate HR sensor is the way to go. That said, Suunto’s heart rate tracking is consistent enough to show general trends, like whether you’re running easy, moderate, or hard, and it gives a good overall picture of your training load and recovery.

Water Resistance

Suunto advertises its running watches as water-resistant, but in my experience, the performance didn’t hold up well in the rain. On one of my runs in Brooklyn, it wasn’t raining hard, yet the watch’s sensors started jumping around, and the data became unreliable. When I tried to restart the watch mid-run, it ended up discarding my entire workout.

While the Suunto Run watch is rated to withstand rain and even swimming, this issue shows that real-world conditions can sometimes affect its performance. Other Suunto users have reported similar glitches in wet weather, so if you often train in the rain, this is something to be aware of.

Marathon Mode

Suunto’s Marathon mode is a battery saver and is also designed with marathon runners in mind. When you activate it, the mode highlights stats that are especially useful for marathon running, such as benchmark splits at 5K, 10K, half marathon, and beyond. It also gives you a predicted finish pace based on your current effort, which can be a game-changer for pacing strategy on race day.

Instead of juggling different screens or data fields, Marathon mode puts the most relevant numbers front and center, helping you stay on track from the first mile to the finish line.

Sport Modes

The Suunto running watch has multiple sport modes so you can track everything from triathlon training to walking and cross training (I use this mode for weightlifting). I also use walking mode for Japanese interval walking and times when I want to track my walks around the city. Whether you enjoy bike rides or just want to do some general fitness tracking outside of running, these different sport modes make it easy.

Personalization

One of the nice features of the Suunto Run is how customizable it is using the Suunto app. You can explore a wide range of widgets - such as steps, sleep, training load, recovery, or weather - and decide which ones you want displayed on your watch’s home screen. This makes it easy to tailor the watch to your personal training style, whether you’re focused on mileage, heart rate trends, or overall wellness.

The interface is straightforward, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time digging through menus to make changes. Over time, you can also adjust your setup as your goals shift—for example, prioritizing recovery and sleep during base training, or pace and mileage during a marathon build.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the strong points of the Suunto Run. In standard GPS mode, the watch offers up to around 20 to 25 hours of continuous tracking, which is plenty for long runs or even a marathon.

In daily smartwatch use, including regular workouts, I usually need to charge it about every 3 days. Suunto also includes multiple battery modes, so you can extend runtime by adjusting GPS accuracy - for example, switching to a more power-saving setting for ultra distances. While it’s not the longest-lasting watch on the market, the balance between performance and endurance makes it reliable for most training schedules.

For charging, the Suunto running watch comes with a USB Type-C magnetic charging cable that I plug into my laptop to charge. The charging cable features a magnetic connector that attaches securely to the back of the watch. The USB-C end plugs into any standard USB port, such as those found on computers, wall adapters, or power banks.

More Features

There are so many more features, but my Suunto running watch review would be a book if I included them all. The watch can do everything from estimate your calories burned to offer sleep metrics and recovery data. You can also listen to music using the watch by connecting to Bluetooth headphones.

For a complete list of Suunto Run features and detailed instructions on how to use each one, check out the Suunto Run User Guide.

Performance on the Run

Overall, I have been very happy with my Suunto Run watch. The user interface is easy to set up and navigate, and the user experience is very intuitive. I like how it’s easy to personalize, so if you want a streamlined, beginner-friendly experience, you can have it. On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned runner who loves to geek out on the stats, the watch has plenty of metrics and data options.

I prefer to keep my running watch focused on workouts, so I did not connect some of the smart watch features like text notifications. I set the watch to automatically stop when I do since I often get stopped at lights in NYC on my runs, and this is a convenient feature. The running modes are simple to use with the start stop button prominently on the right side of the watch and I like that there is a separate trail running option that includes the breadcrumb navigation feature by default.

The Suunto Run comes with built-in goals for daily step count, sleep, and calorie counting, and these were generally a higher standard than my goals, so I tweaked them. (For instance, the default 9+ hours of sleep a night was wishful thinking, but I set mine to a more realistic 8-hour goal). I also set my daily step count goal to 10,000 steps a day, and I get an alert when I reach this amount.

For more on how the Suunto Run compares to similar GPS watches, read on for the rest of my Suunto running watch review.

How Suunto Run Compares to Other Running Watches

For a Suunto running watch, the Suunto Run offers impressive real-time stats for both beginner and experienced runners. The Suunto watch is an excellent option for a running smart watch that’s in a mid-range budget, comparable to the price range of the Garmin Forerunner 165 and the Coros Pace 3. The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a lower-cost option with all the basic GPS features for runners.

Overall, after using Garmin and Suunto extensively, I find the quality comparable between the two, with a sleeker design for the Suunto Run than for my Garmin Forerunner 55. The Garmin has some additional features in advanced models like the Fenix series, with routable maps that adjust to your location in real time. While the Suunto Run has the ability to program a map into your watch and follow the route, it does not give you advanced options like map rerouting while you’re on the run.

Many runners are creatures of habit, and switching from Garmin to Suunto had some changes I had to adapt to, with similar features called different names (such as Garmin Body Battery versus Suunto Recovery) and some variation in how stats are displayed. However, I made the transition more easily than expected thanks to the ease of use of the Suunto.

The Suunto Run is overall a good value if you want a solid running watch that has some smart features and many metrics. This watch is best for most runners who want to track their pace, stats, and health metrics like daily step count with a user-friendly format. The Suunto Run’s high-quality AMOLED screen, accurate GPS, and core training metrics are perfect for most runners.

If you want a more advanced user experience and don’t mind a higher price tag, the Suunto Race 2 has full, detailed, and free offline maps that you can download and store on the watch. It provides real-time turn-by-turn navigation on pre-planned routes, and the new, faster processor makes map rendering much smoother. For advanced heart rate training and interactive maps, the Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin Epix Pro are also popular options.

Suunto Run Pros and Cons

Pros

Excellent battery life
Sleek, lightweight design
Accurate GPS
Easy to set up and user-friendly interface
Less cluttered and easy to navigate interface
Good value for the money

Cons

Lacks music storage
Not waterproof
Fewer smartwatch features than some GPS watches
Less accurate heart rate data than some watches
Basic navigation lacks detailed maps

Final Thoughts: Suunto Running Watch Review Recap

In closing, my Suunto running watch review shows that the Suunto Run delivers a great balance of sleek design, accurate GPS, and intuitive features that make it a strong choice for most runners. While it doesn’t have every advanced mapping or smartwatch feature, its ease of use, long battery life, and reliable performance make it a solid option whether you’re logging city miles or heading out on the trails.

If you value a stylish, straightforward running watch that gets the core training metrics right, the Suunto Run is definitely worth considering. Have you tried a Suunto watch? Share your feedback in the comments or tag me at @Runstreet on Instagram to share your experience.

And if you’re looking for extra support in your running journey, check out my custom training plans in the Runstreet Training Center - I’m a certified running coach and would love to help you crush your next race. Happy running to you!

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified personal trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, NY. Marnie likes helping people get and stay active to enjoy a better quality of life. When she's not doing fitness things, Marnie enjoys exploring with her dog, a mischievous rescue Akita.

Suunto Running Watch Review Based on My Experience