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The complete analysis is already finished, so if you want to know all the details of Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR, I recommend you to read the complete review by clicking here.
Suunto today adds a new model to its Spartan range. The new Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR will cover the Suunto access range that previously consisted of the so-called Run models. But unlike these models, the Spartan Trainer does not see its performance cut in comparison to its big brothers. It is effectively a price reduction while maintaining the same performance. A good ball from Suunto.
Content
Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR: what it is
When it comes to explaining Spartan Trainer, the comparison is with his older brother Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HRThere are several things they share (like their software), but others that differ. I'll give you a brief list and then go into some details.
- ScreenSmaller and lower resolution (because the size of the watch is smaller), but the main difference is that it is not tactile. Instead Suunto returns the classic 5-button control design.
- Smaller sizeThe Suunto Spartan Trainer is now the smallest watch in the range, yet for many it will still be too big, with a diameter of 46mm (by 50mm for the other Spartan models). The thickness is also smaller, with 15.7mm for the Trainer against 16.8mm for the Spartan Wrist HR. And even the steel-bezel versions are even thinner, at 14.9mm thick.
- Less weightThe new models reduce their weight to 56 grams for the models with plastic bezel, and 66 grams for the two options with steel bezel.
- Different materialsIf the Spartan Trainer is cheaper than the Spartan Sport it is mainly for one reason: it is cheaper to manufacture. The standard model of the Spartan Trainer is made entirely of polyamide (i.e. plastic), although there are two versions with steel bezels. But more than the steel, what stands out is the lens, which in the normal version is plastic and in the steel ones is mineral glass. It is also important to note that while the top models of the Spartan range boast of being hand-made in Finland, the Spartan Trainer will have to make do with coming from China.
- Differences in immersion resistance. But I doubt it's a detail that 99.9% of users are going to take into account. The Spartan Trainer's rating is "only" 50m, but given that the vast majority of us won't even get past 10m (hopefully) it's more than enough for any situation I can think of.
- Antenna on the bottom of the strapThe Spartan Trainer recovers the classic Ambit aesthetics, with the GPS antenna integrated in the strap area and not under the bezel of the watch. Aesthetically and in terms of comfort it is not the best solution, but from a functional point of view it is the best position to ensure good satellite reception.
- GPS only, no GLONASSMore cost savings. The Spartan Trainer loses the possibility of using the GLONASS satellites, which are present in the rest of the Spartan range. Don't you know what you could be losing? Here I tell you all about what GLONASS satellites can offer.
- No magnetic compassIn the case of the Trainer, we have to settle for the GPS compass.
- Longer battery lifeThe Spartan Trainer has a slightly longer range than the Spartan Sport Wrist HR -which, as I said, is its most direct comparison-. With the use of 1 second GPS and activated optical pulse sensor the Spartan Trainer holds 10 hours, for 8 of the superior model.
These are the most notable differences, i.e. what makes the watch cheaper: non-touch screen, cheaper materials and no GLONASS. This is what makes a watch cheaper.
Features of Suunto Spartan Trainer
Suunto has dispensed with a few things to reduce the selling price of its new model, but what it doesn't reduce is the performance of its software. That is, the Spartan Trainer remains a multisport watch that can be used not only for running, but also for swimming, cycling or any of the 80 sports it has pre-set, including triathlon, duathlon or any other competition where you have to record more than one sport in the same session.
Route navigation (and the options offered by Movescount to do so), interval training or activity monitoring are also maintained, and as a new feature for the Spartan range, Suunto will launch an update at the end of August that will include sleep and average heart rate monitoring while you've been sleeping.
In short, the Spartan Trainer offers practically the same functionality as its big brothers, but at a much lower price.
Opinion Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR
[clickToTweet tweet="This new watch from Suunto is going to be a real baller. https://www.correrunamaraton.com/nuevo-spartan-trainer-wrist-hr/" quote="This new watch from Suunto is going to be a real baller. And it's going to sell VERY well."]]I have no doubt that the new Spartan Trainer is going to be a sales success, first of all because Suunto has been able to wait for the right moment to launch this watch. Almost all the details were already known several months ago, but in Finland they have decided to wait for a consistent software to be included in the watch, unlike the launch of the Spartan Ultra. In the time that has passed since the presentation of the new model until today Suunto has worked a lot on the performance of their new models.
But what is going to make it a real bestseller is its price. For the £279 it costs Suunto offers a lot, making it the cheapest triathlon and multisport watch on the market. Suunto has seen a gap in the market and has decided to attack it with full conviction, which I think is a much more interesting strategy than trying to fight Garmin one on one.
With this new presentation there will be a main victim: Suunto. And is that for the 90% of users what the Spartan Trainer offers is more than enough, removing possible sales of more expensive models such as the Spartan Sport Wrist HR. But I guess as long as those customers stay "at home", it won't be very important.
As I said in the definitive proof of the Spartans just a few weeks agoThe Spartans are a model that I like very much. For my use have some insurmountable problems, mainly because of their compatibility with external sensors. But for the use of the vast majority of you with a more traditional profile these watches work perfectly and I have no problem recommending them.
The keys to the Spartan Trainer revolve entirely around its price/performance ratio. For less than 300 euros you get a multisport watch that offers a multitude of possibilities, a very solid platform like Movescount and a quality optical pulse sensor like Valencell's. That said, a ball.
And when will the full test be available? Well, it is likely to be available throughout September, as I will mainly focus it on the GPS and optical sensor performance, since the software is the same as the one I already analyzed in depth "a few days ago".
Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR, availability and pricing
There are two versions of the Spartan Trainer Wrist HR, with five colors in total. First is the entry-level version, priced at €279. The bezel is made of plastic, as is the lens; and it can be purchased in black, the traditional "Suunto" blue or ocean blue with a greenish tint.
These three models will be available the first days of September, both in Amazon as in Media Markt.
The two models with steel bezel and mineral glass will be in black and steel and white and gold.
These will arrive a few days later, specifically during September, and with a price of 329 euros.
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Your tests are great, thank you.
Between the new Suunto Spsrtan Trainer and the Garmin 235, which one do you recommend?
Although I haven't received it yet (a matter of days), my choice is clearly Suunto. It is superior in almost every way, and forces Garmin to launch the successor before the end of the year.
It allows for swimming, but what swimming metrics it reports. And, it gives information on water pulses.
Yes, just like in the Spartan Sport Wrist HR (you can see their proof).
Allows the use of the optical sensor, although the sensor in the chest will be more reliable.
Thank you. So you were saying that when you were swimming you couldn't see the screen, this circumstance keeps happening and it can take the turn as a break
And, between the Suunto and the Garmin forerunner 735XT which one do you stay and why
And, between the Suunto and the Garmin forerunner 735XT which one you stay and why.
I don't think Garmin has gps like you indicate for Suunto. Or at least I missed it in your comments.
By the way, check out the link to Media Markt, because it doesn't lead to the clock and you won't be able to benefit from your magnificent work and effort that comes in handy for non-experts
I mean, in swimming we don't keep track of the clock.
Compared to the 735XT, there are some points that Garmin is better:
- Support for external sensors, manages it better - Open water swimming, Suunto's algorithm is not very refined - Slightly longer battery life - More possibilities to create workouts, although it has to be done on the computer
Otherwise, Suunto is equal to and even superior to Garmin. And the biggest difference is the price.
Unless one of those points is critical, my recommendation is Suunto.
I think this watch is spectacular in terms of performance/price. I am planning to buy a triathlon watch soon and I was decided by the Fénix 5, Fénix 5s and 935. My question is if the Suunto has something similar to the "virtual partner" or "estimated time of completion", for me, essential. And also the function on routes, back to start.
Thank you very much.
No, at the moment there is no virtual partner function. In the Ambit3 this function was available through the applications that could be loaded into the clock, but the Spartan do not support this function.
As for the return to the start, yes, it is available.
Good afternoon:
I love your reviews, I would like to know what do you recommend (I treat you from you). If the Suunto or the polar m430. Because I think q "only" there will be 40 Euros difference. And which of the two has the more reliable heart rate monitor.
Thank you very much in advance.
Well, you can treat me as your own, no problem.
The optical heart rate monitor is of good quality in both models. Suunto allows swimming, multisport activities, better display, navigation... A priori it is superior in everything, although the Polar offers a little more possibilities when it comes to creating workouts to follow with the watch.
Fabulous articles, my question is, now that the ambit 3 is in similar prices. Which one would you prefer between the new trainer and the peak or vertical? I would use it for cross country running, dualcross, mountain biking(enduro). I would not use it on a daily basis. And swimming 0. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
If you are going to do mainly field work, you probably want good altimetry data. In that case it is better to opt for the Peak. It is better option for that as well as for autonomy, but for everything else (especially amount of information on screen) I would opt for the Spartan.
Eduardo between this suunto spartan trainer and the fenix 3 hr sapphire which one of the two would you choose, I am a person who likes a lot the sport that has planned to do triathlon, trail and prepare in the future some marathon.
They are not very comparable. Clearly in gross performance the Fenix is much more complete. It also has an altimeter and a little more autonomy. But it is much bigger and weighs almost twice as much. In favor of the Suunto its size, weight, more information on the screen... In short, you must evaluate the pros of each model and choose the one that most suits you.
hello, I would like you to advise me and/or give your opinion... I am behind a sports watch and I hesitate between fr235 of garmin, the ambit 3 vertical (I discard the peak or sport for
the vibration warnings) and this spartan trainer.
I want it mainly to run both on asphalt and in the mountains and to train series (by pulse, times and rhythms), so I do not know how will be the accuracy of the pulse readers on the wrist against sudden changes in pace.
another thing that concerns me "to some extent" is the suunto/android synchronization.
I'd like to know what the Suunto chest strap looks like, if it's stable and fits the body well. I also practice a lot of mountain biking, and although I have a garmin for this one, I don't rule out using the watch as a support element.
Of the three, my choice is clearly the Spartan Trainer. It is the most complete of the three, and the only thing that can be criticized is the lack of barometric altimeter.
As for the chest sensor, Suunto's is quite comfortable because of the strap and because the sensor itself is very small. The Spartan Trainer is also in the 2017 Black Friday article.