REVIEW: GPS-watch Suunto Ambit2

This summer, I finally managed to test Suunto Ambit2, watch that the Finnish company Suunto has released spring of last year and has already prepared for the exit Ambit3, but the second generation is still true, and performs all the basic tasks of good triathlon hours, and award Red Dot Design Award in 2013 just does not give. In addition, in anticipation of Ambit2 line upgrade can be purchased at a discount to $ 200.

Suunto products have always been famous for the design, execution quality and appropriate price to them, Ambit2 no exception. When you take into the hands of the clock, you immediately realize that this is not a descendant of Casio with integrated GPS, but rather a good Swiss watch; knowingly Suunto compasses are commonly used in the army, where the valued accuracy and reliability. And they know how to make beautiful videos about their products.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch? v = njC31g3didM & w = 615 & h = 346]

On the test I got the black watch, which of the entire line I just liked more than others. Packing unremarkable, minimalism at its best manifestation.

Inside the set too minimalist (heart monitor included I did not), to the extent possible:

1. Watches Suunto Ambit2.
2. USB-cable for synchronization and charging.
3. Instructions.

Everything. Even adapter to charge from a wall outlet is not.

During the testing time Suunto Ambit2 I ran 180 km, cycling 25 km and swam in the pool 10 km. We begin, as always, with the run.

Run

The first thing I did was, of course, went for a run, before which wanted to set up screens with data for themselves, and could not find where in the clock setting is done, decided to find out later. To start the training we press Start / Stop button and select the desired activity. After switching amazed how quickly caught the Suunto GPS signal and were ready to go, in fact, faster than you can read this sentence, literally 5 seconds. Once again we press Start and run.

On Suunto Ambit2 during activity can be displayed with one to three data fields, or graph (e.g., in height). I wonder how it is possible to switch the display between full (Next button), and change only the bottom field (click View). This approach is very much, because it helps to manage a smaller number of screens and fields to them.

Here is an example of the screen with two fields on the clock on the background of the two fields of sunflowers.

I was pleasantly surprised suuntovsky belt heart monitor (I borrowed it from a friend at the time of testing), I thought he was much softer and more comfortable than, for example, the Garmin belt. Unfortunately, the Suunto uses a Suunto ANT instead of ANT +, so their accessories are not suitable for other hours, but Ambit2 ANT + themselves are well aware, so it fit to any ANT + -kardiomonitory, power sensors, speed and cadence. I've tested them with a belt Garmin HRM Run: found, plug and play without any problems.

The Suunto Ambit2 have TrackBack feature, which allows you to find your way home if you suddenly lost during a long race somewhere in the forest or in the mountains. But it is better to think about using it is not the end, but in the middle of the scheduled distance, so as not to have to chance instead of the planned 30 km run 60 km.

After jogging Ambit2 tell how much time is required for recovery. I tested several times together with Garmin Fenix ​​2, which has a similar functionality, and number of recommended hours of rest are the same - probably, they use an algorithm for its determination.

With a built-in accelerometer, the clock can count cadence (number of steps per minute) while running. Of course, the reading will not be as accurate as of futpoda or chest strap, both Garmin HRM Run, but quite fit to assess how close you are to the ideal of 180 steps per minute.

And now the bad news. As I wrote, I could not find how to change in Suunto Ambit2 screens to fit your needs. At first I thought it was just a bad looking, but it turns out that, like most other settings, simply can not be done directly on the clock - it is necessary to adjust all Movescount, Sport online service for owners of watches Suunto.

On the one hand, to make such settings on the laptop, of course, easier to use than the small screen of hours, but on the other - it is sometimes necessary to change something on the go or before exercise, you will not have you run home and connect your watch to computer. And if the data fields and screens to watch is rarely changed and basically set up a time from the beginning, the the inability to create interval training directly to Suunto Ambit2 is at least surprise. And in Movescount intervals is very basic, it is impossible to create a challenging workout with different lengths of segments.

This attachment to Movescount - it is a big disadvantage, because, for example, I sometimes go on a short trip without a laptop, taking with them only the tablet. Suunto Ambit2 not entirely self-contained unit: to complete the work with them need to constantly have on hand a computer and Internet access. reminiscent of the legendary release "Jumble" about the clock, but instead of two suitcases battery - laptop.

The Suunto also understand it, so Ambit3 added Bluetooth, and now all the settings can be quickly changed using the mobile application.

Bike

About traditionally led to little, because I ride for fun only a few times a month. And for the GPS-clock running on bicycle differs only in the presence of additional sensors: cadence, speed, power. Suunto Ambit2 understands ANT +, so the problems with the connection of all this should arise, although personally I have not tested it, but believe in the word and standards.

Ambit2 for fixing on the steering wheel, you can use any handlebar mount for hours, I sat down they are well on the standard of Garmin.

Again, among the disadvantages is the lack of quick release kit, and the shape of the hours is unlikely this will ever.

Swimming

The Suunto Ambit2 there are two kinds of water activities: outdoor swimming and pool. In the first case, the clock with GPS determined distance and rate, and the number of strokes via an accelerometer. And in the pool, where GPS is not available, if it is, of course, is not an outdoor pool, an accelerometer only works: is the number of turns and is multiplied by a predetermined length of the pool.

Ambit2 also considers SWOLF (term, formed of two words - SWim and gOLF - and defining navigation efficiency, and its value - is the amount of time and number of strokes per pool).

Distance in Suunto Ambit2 pool I felt almost perfectly, once thrown over 25 meters, when floated on his back, but that all sin. What is strange is the fact that the clock itself still think it's right, but after synchronization Movescount where distance is displayed for a couple of swimming pools less. It's hard to explain, where they go, but this behavior and heard from other owners Ambit2 and 2S.

"Out of the box" clock no matter define the style of swimming, in contrast to the same Garmin 910XT or the Fenix ​​2 - I had a complete mishmash, although I only swam breaststroke. But Ambit2 is a function of education: when you set the style and floated them one pool, watch memorize it and begin to learn in the future. Suunto is even a special movie made about it.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch? v = Qsg5JTDa-ws? w = 615 & h = 346]

In general, they have to Youtube channel many helpful tutorials about different clock function.

Multisport

Suunto Ambit2 - a watch for triathlon, so they can safely go to conquer Cohn well or a local sprint to start. To start a triathlon choose from the list and hit Etpu Start, the first to be swimming in the open water, to go to the bike press Lap and hold the button, and after veloetapa hold the Lap and run again at the finish we press and hold Start for preservation. Each activity will have their own screens, which are configured in Movescount, and can display the total time of the entire race.

Everything works fine, except that in the Suunto forgotten such a thing as a transit zone, which is not provided by default. But it does not matter: in Movescount, you can simply create your triathlon with blackjack and hookers transit zones, as well as any other activity of a complex consisting of different sports. After the finish of your triathlon remain in Movescount as a whole, and not broken into swimming, biking, running and transit zones, as does Garmin. Then everyone must decide for himself how it is more convenient.

apps

For Ambit2 there are a variety of App Store with a simple application that can be installed on the clock. Of course, Angry Birds or Facebook then you will not find, but here is a quick count how many beers you burn calories while jogging - it's easy. To install the application on the clock go to the App Zone, select the desired application, such as displaying the current speed in knots.

Hit Save app and go to the clock settings. The application can be added to any existing activity: simply select the desired display and change / add the figure of the My Apps item.

After completing and saving activity data from the application will be displayed among the other graphs (speed, heart rate, height, and so on. D.) In Movescount. Everything is now possible to swim and sailing.

To be honest, some applications superpoleznyh I did not find many of them are just for fun and very simple, but Suunto developing this direction, so there is hope that in the future there will be something really cool.

Battery operation

The battery is one of the main advantages of Suunto Ambit2: mode every second GPS-data updates they will be work up to 16 hours, if you set a 5-second update, the clock is stretched twenty-four hours, and at 60 seconds - 50 hours. But if you regularly synchronize Ambit2 with Movescount, the clock will be recharged in parallel. The Suunto very meticulously approached the issue of energy efficiency, for example, if the evening to remove the watch and put on table, after a while the screen turns off and turns on only when You take them in the morning to put on hand.

I for two weeks, during which tested Ambit2, specifically charged them not even once, only when connected to the computer for synchronization with the charge level never fell below 50%.

miscellanea

• Integration with Strava. Previously, the synchronization of activities between Movescount and other services (Runkeeper, Strava, and so on. D.) Has a non-trivial task, but recently appeared "native" export to Strava. For this purpose, it is necessary to go to Movescount Connect - 3rd party applications - Strava and click Connect with Strava.
  
  Everything is now (almost) all activity will be automatically sent to Strava, where if you want you can take away them in different "Rankipery" and "Endomondo" with the same "Tapiriika».
• Hybrid altimeter. In a so-called Ambit2 FusedAlti - a hybrid of a barometric altimeter and GPS-. This makes it possible, firstly, to define more precisely the height, and secondly, to define it where normal barometric altimeter does not handle, such as on an airplane, where the pressure is artificially increased and usually corresponds to a height of 2 400 meters, but Suunto not fooled.
  
• Built-in thermometer.
• Magnetic compass.
• The ability to create point. If you find a nice place in the forest or in the mountains of the source, you can create a point on this site, which can then be easily found.
• Speed! Suunto Ambit2 work simply reactive. Start activity, browsing history, search for satellites - everything happens almost instantly.

fly in the ointment

• The absence of vibration. I do not know what there think the Finns, but the vibration is simply vital sports watch! Try to catch whose peak hours there, when you run among a few dozen runners, that really there to talk about the starts of a few thousand people. A sound in the water at all unrealistic to hear. Sadly, that is also not added to Ambit3 vibration, although in each survey pointed to this as one of the biggest drawbacks.
• Attachment to your computer. I have already described above, that Ambit2 can not exist without a computer: most settings, intervals, conservation activities - all via cable, a computer and the Internet.
• Intervals. More precisely, they can not be established in the clock itself.
• Beneath the screen acts as a GPS receiver, because of this Ambit2 have a curved shape that can not all go. I initially was not very comfortable to wear, but then got used.

Output

Last year, I chose his watch and shortlisted were just Suunto Ambit2 and Garmin 910XT. Then I chose the latter, and one of the main factors was the price, because Ambit2 with HRM cost $ 550. But now, in anticipation of the Suunto Ambit3, the main difference that the addition of Bluetooth and integration with mobile application Ambit2 price fell by as much as $ 200! For the price of conventional cross-hour average level of the last year you can buy a top model triathlon watches from Suunto. This is an excellent choice, as for me, if you do not chase Bluetooth and not against the clock to customize the computer.

Now Suunto Ambit2 with HRM are sold at special price $349And without a heart monitor - for $319. If you do not need a barometric altimeter, magnetic compass, thermometer, and a long operating time battery, you can save another $ 100 and take the Suunto Ambit 2S - younger brother Ambit2, whose price is $249 (S HRM) and $219 (No HRM).