Wearable technology.
It is the future of an athlete’s go-to training accessories. Wearable tech is scattered everywhere you look, from highly trained professionals, to the every day user. We are all familiar with well-known brands such as FitBit, Apple Watch, Garmin, Nike Fuel, the list goes on. However, there is a new kid on the block and its gearing up for a race to the top.
Introducing Suunto’s Spartan Collection watches.
Yes, wearable tech is gaining another brand to back its booming industry, but what separates Suunto from the rest?
After releasing a product line which included the Suunto Spartan Ultra, Suunto recently added what they believe to be a “strong and sleek multisport GPS watch for athletes,” the new, Suunto Spartan Sport.
Suunto states that, “many athletes prefer a low-profile fit on the wrist over extra-long battery life,” which could back the logic behind creating a less clunky watch that could be worn at any time, not just training.
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Logic is the concept that Suunto has been pushing from the beginning.
Suunto’s website motto states, “Progress Beyond Logic.” It is the constant back and forth battle with your body in deciding if the pain you are experiencing, the sleep you think you need, or the goals you believe you cannot obtain are logical or if they are unobtainable.
The goal behind its watch line is to break the logic we battle with every day with what we believe we cannot do and make it possible.
The watch features a touch color screen which provides visibility even in direct sunlight, up to a 26-hour battery life (16 hours when using GPS), adventure features such as detailed route navigation and is composed of an option between titanium or stainless steel which is water resistant up to 100 m (300 ft).
Suunto Spartan’s “Sport Expertise,” incorporates 80 pre-loaded sport settings including running, cycling, swimming, triathlon and various adventure sports, such as hiking or ski touring. The watch accurately tracks your sports metrics such as pace, speed, distance, altitude, heart rate and calories, and provides support for running and cycling power and cadence (requires external power or bike sensors).
In combination with Suunto’s sport community dubbed, Suunto Movescount, the watch uses 24/7 training insights that collect data such as training load, rest & recovery and progress and compares it to your peers who are opertating using the same system. The watch gathers your personal bests, and aids in creating your own personal training plans.
Another feature when using Suunto Movescount is the Heatmaps capability. This feature captures the most popular places to run, hike, ski and more than fifteen other sport tracks that other users are active on.
The watch will release in four colors, black, white, blue and “sakura” (the Japanese word for cherry, which in this case means pink). As exciting as the watch’s capabilities sound, it comes at a cost – $549 to be exact.
The watch line is not set to drop until September 2016, but pre-orders are available on Suunto Spartan’s website. So if you are a sport activity buff, pre-order yours now. When the line does release, the company hopes to back the notion behind “the hype is real,” and prove that Suunto is a legitimate wearable tech company option.
Until then, I would start training. Your new “fitness buddy” will never let you doubt your inner logic, even on mile sixty.