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Are you a data nerd when it comes to tracking outdoor activities? Always have to know your mileage, elevation gain, heart rate? Searching for a GPS watch that can tell you all that and more that ALSO has a super impressive battery life? Me too, friends, me too. So allow me to introduce you to the Suunto Vertical, our favorite new GPS watch.
Yup, this smart GPS watch designed for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes has lots to offer. And yes, it is designed for outdoorsy folks who like to get their adventure on on a regular basis, because it’s loaded with features that are probably overkill for those who just go on a weekly jog around the neighborhood. BUT! If you like to bag peaks, mountain bike fast and far, or trail run into the wilderness, well then, this watch just might be for you.
So let’s get into what makes this watch special. We’ll talk features, pros, cons, and more and what we liked and disliked about the watch after a few weeks of testing.
Suunto Vertical: About
The Suunto Vertical is a high-performance GPS watch tailored for serious adventurers. There are three different versions: stainless steel solar, non-solar, and titanium solar, meaning there’s a style for every type of explorer. Yup, most of the options, including the stainless solar that we tested, have a solar ring around the watch face, which extends battery life while you’re out in the wild (but more on that below).
There are also plenty of customization options, including a variety of watch faces and band colors, making it as stylish as it is functional and well-built.
Internally, the watch has 95 sport modes (!!), the ability to download offline maps, and detailed training data, all accessible through not only the watch itself, but in the sleek Suunto app.
Suunto Vertical: Pros
There’s plenty to like about this watch. It is, after all, a fitness data powerhouse.
- Design & Customization: The Suunto Vertical is not just functional, it’s customizable. From the color of the watch band to the watch face, you can personalize it to match your aesthetic. Multiple watch faces can be downloaded via the Suunto app, and you can even choose which widgets appear with the push of a button or swipe of a screen.
- Battery Life: With up to 85 hours of battery life on the solar model, this watch is built for multi-day adventures. While the solar feature won’t fully charge the watch on its own in a reasonable amount of time, it does extend the battery life, which is great for longer trips. I wouldn’t hesitate to bring it on a three-day backpacking trip and with normal use, only needed to charge it once a week, max.
- Training Screen: When you’re in training mode, you can see all the main metrics you want to see right on the main screen: mileage, amount of time you’ve been moving, elevation change when doing things like hiking, distance, and yes, time of day, which isn’t a given on every watch. Swiping also lets you see maps and more data. The watch can also send you weather alerts and show you how long you have until sunset.
- Detailed Metrics: The training and recovery data are super robust and seem accurate, especially when compared to similar models and the “calorie’s burned” metric seems more realistic than other options on the market (like this Polar Grit X2 we tested).
- GPS: Actual GPS tracking is highly reliable. It uses a dual-frequency system to help ensure you always know where you are, including when it comes to altitude.
- Durability: The stainless steel and titanium options ensure that this watch can withstand rugged conditions. It’s water-resistant, and the simple button layout makes it easy to use, even when you’re on the move.
- App Integration: The Suunto app is pretty dang impressive, offering tons of info, recovery suggestions, and visual progress reports. It also syncs seamlessly with popular apps like Strava so you can automatically upload your activities to your favorite apps.
- Offline Maps: Whether you’re running in a new place, looking for new routes, or just want to know where you’re at without pulling out your phone, the option to download offline maps for regions around the world is all but required.
- 95 Sport Modes: For those who like to mix it up, there are 95 (!!) sport modes to choose from. But don’t worry: you can choose which ones show up on your watch so you don’t have to scroll through options like “mermaiding” or “cricket.” (No, no I don’t know what mermaiding is…)
- Music Controls: You can control music through the watch when it’s connected to your phone and a pair of headphones (I recommend the Suunto Sonic bone conducting headphones ‘cause they’re dope).
Suunto Vertical: Cons
No watch is perfect. Here were some of the things we wouldn’t mind seeing improved upon, though to be honest, none of them are deal breakers.
- Limited Face Customization: While the watch offers a solid number of digital watch face options, some widgets, or “complications” as Suunto calls them, are restricted depending on the face you choose. So you may find yourself stuck choosing between style and functionality. A bit of trial and error will likely help you find the right combo, though.
- Daily Syncing Required: The watch requires frequent syncing with the Suunto app to stay updated, which felt a touch annoying. However, syncing is usually super quick.
- Price: At $629 for the stainless steel solar model and $70 more for the titanium solar option, it’s not a budget-friendly watch. That said, it’s still more affordable than some top competitors like the Garmin Fenix Solar, which starts at $800.
- Charging Cable: Like many smartwatches, the Vertical comes with a dedicated charging cable. Meaning you have one more cable you have to take with you on longer trips.
- No Wireless Functionality: If wireless features like tap-to-pay are high on your list, this watch might disappoint, as it doesn’t support wireless functionality. But it’s not designed for “everyday” use, it’s designed for use in the mountains, so we’re cool with that.
Bottom Line: Suunto Vertical FTW!
Overall, the Suunto Vertical is a stellar choice for passionate outdoor adventurers and athletes. Honestly, its robust design, extensive battery life, and detailed data tracking make it well worth the investment, despite a few minor drawbacks. Plus it’s easy to use, provides all the info you could ever need about training sessions, and looks good doing it. So if you’re after a GPS watch that’s built for rugged use and serious training, the Suunto Vertical is definitely worth checking out. So get tracking, get outside, and wander on.
Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com