Español The review of the Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro (and the new year) serves to debut a new format that I want to start using from now on. More condensed and direct, to tell you the same thing but in a faster way. Clearly time is the fundamental factor, because if I write three times more I have to dedicate much more time to each test and that is something I lack enormously. There are other reasons too, such as "mental health" (sometimes I end up writing about the same thing over and over again). But the most important one is for you, I will try to make it shorter and more concise so as not to bore you, because I'm sure you are not short of time either.
Even more so as in this case, when the Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro (from now on Spartan Baro, to finish sooner) can be defined very quickly. This is a new model in the Spartan range that combines the best of the Spartan Ultra and the Spartan Sport. There are no specific functions in this model that are not present in other models of the range. In spite of that I think that this Spartan Baro is the most balanced model of the whole range.
You'll tell me what you think about the new format in the comments, for the moment we'll know all the details of the latest Suunto model, the Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro.
C1M score
Overall operation - 8.5
Training possibilities - 8
Platform and applications - 8.5
Autonomy - 7
Finish and comfort - 8.5
Price/performance ratio - 7
7.9
TOTAL
The good
- Huge screen with great resolution. Using it is a real pleasure
- Distills quality from every pore
- After the latest updates you can easily compete with the competition
- Fully compatible with Stryd
- The Movescount platform is very good, highlighting the ease of creating navigation routes
- All the design additions in the user interface have been satisfactory. They are not only beautiful, but also very functional
The bad
- High weight
- Not suitable for all dolls. It's a big watch
- It is not yet possible to set up the triathlon mode, nor do we have a duathlon mode
- Suunto is stumbling in the smart clock race. The smart notification function could be improved and there are no applications
- We still have to work on the possibilities of interval training
Summary
The Suunto Spartan Baro is the perfect fusion between the model intended for the mountain - the Suunto Spartan Ultra- and the more asphalt or triathlon model - the Suunto Spartan Sport.
In essence, this is a Spartan Sport Wrist HR that receives the most adventurous features of the Spartan Ultra, thanks to the addition of the barometric altimeter. Or if we look at it from the other end, it's the version with an optical pulse sensor that the Spartan Ultra will never have. Be that as it may, the only thing that differentiates the Spartan Ultra from the Spartan Baro is the battery life and the glass material, as the latter is content with a mineral one and there is no sapphire option.
Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro
There are no surprises in the Spartan Baro that we haven't seen in the rest of the range. As you may know, it has a touch screen that allows you to use all its functions quite precisely, and if one day you don't feel like operating the watch by sliding your finger around the screen you have the three side buttons to do so.
You can also use these physical buttons when training, always much more intuitive than using the touch screen especially when we are running.
Apart from the aesthetic differences with the rest of the Spartan range (basically the bezel with different size), there is another noticeable change: the strap. The Suunto Spartan Baro is the first Suunto that allows you to place it completely flat on a surface.
In my opinion the design of the belt has improved, it is now of traditional format and includes the possibility of being replaced quickly thanks to the quick release system.
The strap of the black model (called Stealth) doesn't convince me. The grooves it has are too marked and it costs a little bit of work to tighten it. I haven't tried the strap of the orange model (called Amber), but it seems that it will be a little more comfortable.
But not to worry... because as I say changing it is a matter of seconds, and it is compatible with any 25mm strap. And in case you were wondering, the Spartan Sport can also mount the new Spartan Baro straps, so podrás "upgrade" without any problems.
In use
Using the Suunto Spartan Baro I can differentiate three different aspects that I want to briefly discuss:
- Use as clock and menu possibilities
- Configuring sports options and profiles
- Playing sports
- Navigation
In these three aspects, you have particularities that stand out or absences that you need to highlight, so it is good to go point by point.
Use as clock and menu possibilities
As previously mentioned, Suunto Spartan Sport and Ultra have a touchscreen that can be used to scroll through the various menus and screens, which is a fundamental difference compared to both competitors and older Suunto models. The positive side is that Suunto does not force you to use the touchscreen to operate the watch, and that you can use the physical buttons for all functions.
I don't miss the two buttons on the left side of the clock, and I don't find the touchscreen uncomfortable to operate. I prefer to use one type of control for some things, and the other for others. I think it's a good thing that Suunto engineers combined the two formats, contrary to what other manufacturers usually do when they equip a touchscreen without buttons.
As for the development of the menu Suunto has designed it in a "vertical" way, with the time dial in the center. And I want to make an aside, the new clock display that Suunto brought to the Spartan with the presentation of the Baro model is sublime. A very nice design and very functional with information on sunset and sunrise times, altitude, moon phase and battery. Practical, aesthetic and loaded with information. With this kind of thing I do not miss not poder install other watch displays.
But back to the menu. As I say you can think that the clock face is located in the center, if you scroll up you will find the different menus you have access to (Exercise, Navigation, Diary, Stopwatch and Settings), and below the time display are the activity and training screens: Activity, Training, Recovery, Sleep and Outdoor. This last one is specific to Spartan Baro and Spartan Ultra because it has a barometric altimeter, which shows graphs of the last 2 hours of altitude changes or the last 12 hours of air pressure.
There is no screen where you can check the notifications from your mobile phone, as they will only be shown briefly on the screen when you receive them, but there is no way to go back to them later. There is also no possibility to interact, not to answer, but even to delete them. But well, did you want a smart clock or a tool for your days in the mountains?
Configuring sports options and profiles
Although there is a settings menu in the watch, all settings are made directly in Movescount. There is no possibility to modify details of sports profiles or data displays directly in the watch.
Except for a few moments, it's not something you'll need on a regular basis. You'll set up your sports profiles when you get your watch and as a rule you'll leave it that way for quite some time, so it's not too much of an imposition. Also, the initial setup is much faster because you can do it with a mouse click and in a much more visual way.
In the clock we have access to more than 80 preconfigured sport profiles, but of course you will prefer to prepare yours individually with the data you choose, at least the most used ones. There are several possibilities to display the information on screen, depending on how much data you want to control.
This is where the possibilities offered by Suunto's superb display begin to shine, with more than enough resolution to make the data screen you choose perfectly readable, even those with 7 fields. Similarly, the inclusion of the 2 and 3 column screens is great, making it a fantastic aid to be able to see our evolution in training or running as the kilometres go by, and which is also perfect for days of training series.
On this screen you will have space for 4 lines and can configure the data you want, for example heart rate and average rate for series, or power and time ... as you want.
It is also possible to display graphs, but at the moment they are only available for pre-configured profiles and we cannot add this screen to one of the ones we create. I am still confident that it will come with a next update, although at the moment Suunto has not confirmed anything about it.
Of course, when it does, the sports profiles we set up will win a lot of business.
This as for the possibilities of the data screens, additionally in each sport profile you can configure the rest of options such as the operation of the altimeter, the devices to search or the more classic lap and automatic pause.
The initial setup can be a bit tedious because of the amount of options it offers. I particularly miss being able to share sport profiles and other options between different watches (like Polar does), because every time I get a new Suunto model I have to do all the setup for ALL the sport profiles. It's true that my case is one in a million, so what suits me won't matter to the vast majority.
Playing sports
Of course, you'll want to know how Suunto Spartan Baro works when you're playing sports, because that's what you bought it for.
All the sports profiles you have set up will be available on the clock after synchronization.
These profiles are always sorted according to the last sport you played, and over time the ones you use the most will always be at the top, leaving the sports you spend the least time on at the end.
And if you are going to practice a sport for which you have not prepared a specific profile, you don't have to worry because you can access the "Others" option, where you will find more than 80 profiles that Suunto has automatically in each watch.
These are predefined in terms of their screen settings and cannot be changed.
With the sport profile selected you will see the main screen for searching satellites and sensors, and if you scroll down you will find some of the basic options that we can change from the clock, such as GPS accuracy, power saving modes or the options it offers for interval training (among others).
As for these trainings, the programming is done exclusively from the clock and there is no possibility to create them from the computer (as in Garmin) or from the mobile application (as in Suunto Ambit3). The advantage is that they are very quick and easy to set up. You only need to enter the number of repetitions to be done, the interval time or distance and the duration of the break.
No warm-up or cool-down time is set, as preparing the intervals will add a specific interval screen that you can start at any time.
When you have finished your warm up you can click on the start button and start with the first interval.
Upon completion of that first interval in the distance or time you have selected the watch will alert you, automatically switching to the standby screen where you can review all the details of the interval and see how you have behaved.
All this multiplied by the number of times you have selected. When you are done you can do the cool down, or rest a bit and repeat the same intervals again.
I really like the ease of creating workouts and how they are presented on the screen, it makes everything very simple. But I really miss being able to have targets in the intervals and have them warn us if we are above or below target pace, power or HR. This is something that was present in the previous Ambit3s and has not yet seen the light of day in the Spartans, although I still hope that it will be included in a future update.
When we finish training we can see on screen the summary of the activity with all the details, as in no other watch you can do. And there are several screens to review, for example to be able to review the automatic laps (usually per kilometer) separated from the laps you mark manually (for example on a slope, or to perform intervals). These data are shown in column and it is very easy to compare.
The final exercise summary screen is also impressive, including details such as power, altitude and heart rate graphs, COPD and ETP data, etc. It is, without question, the best activity summary screen there is.
Of course you can also see all this synchronized in Movescount with more details, even if it is a workout where you have made intervals with the watch will be specified under the title of the activity.
Note that the Spartans that have an optical pulse sensor (as is the case with the Baro) will also make use of this sensor for swimming (although it is advisable to use the sensor on the chest).
And now that I'm talking about swimming, it's also worth stopping a little bit in open water swimming. Like the rest of the Spartans, the results are bad. So, no hot cloths. Measuring meters always in excess because of an algorithm that doesn't work too well.
You see, the GPS signal is digital, and digital signals are not transmitted underwater (which is the same reason why the pulse sensor in the chest must have memory to record data while swimming), so every time you put your hand in the water the watch loses the signal, having to retrieve it quickly when the hand wearing the watch is above water.
As you can assume, this is not an easy task, and if the algorithm is not well implemented, in the brief moment that the hand is above the water the location will not be at all precise so it ends up adding an excessive amount of meters too much and giving as a result a track worthy of a dizzy duck.
The "positive" part is that adding extra meters to our training will give you impressive paces. 1.06min/100m for 3.000m, make way for the Olympics, here I come!
Navigation
Finally, we must not forget the route navigation, one of the best implemented functions in the new Spartans. It is not strange because the relationship between Suunto and the mountain has always been very close (both Suunto and Amer Sports, the parent company that also owns brands such as Salomon, Arc'teryx, Armada, Atomic...). Therefore, it could not leave aside such an important function.
And I don't mean that it's good on the clock (which has been greatly improved with updates to the Spartan range), but that the implementation of Movescount with regard to routes is fantastic. For example, it allows us to import routes created on other platforms or registered with other devices (or those provided by race organisers).
But what users like best (and I include myself) is the ability to follow routes created by others or to review a heat map. And what is that heat map? Well, the areas that other Suunto users pass through most. This way you can find out which areas are most used for running, which roads are most friendly to cycling, or which roads you need to follow to reach a peak - and all without ever having been in that location.
Once you save the route you want to follow, which as I say will be imported or created directly on the platform (and doing so is really easy), you can synchronize it with the clock.
It is not only possible to create routes, but also POIs (points of interest), both in Movescount and on the clock itself. For example, if you are in the middle of a tour, you can mark the place where there is a source for reference. Or locate yourself with reference to your home. This is always combined with the red arrow you see in the image that indicates where the geographic north is.
The way the navigation is displayed is through a dotted route. It is not a guided navigation in a way that tells you to "turn right at 50m", but you will have to keep an eye on the clock screen. In clearly marked trails there is no problem, but if the delimitation of the same is complicated by undergrowth or a lot of grass, things get complicated, so you must be more aware of the screen. Of course, there is a warning to leave the route in case you deviate too much from the path.
Within the navigation menu options (by holding down the centre button) you can also adjust the zoom, so you can get very close to determine the route to follow, or zoom out to see your location in relation to the rest of the route, POIs you have marked, or the start and end of the route (in case you want to take a detour).
The maximum scale that it admits is 50m.
The watch has a magnetic compass, so as well as being able to follow the route marked, you can also navigate in the direction indicated, marking the remaining distance to the desired point.
And finally, I would like to highlight the altitude profile screen which, personally, is the only thing I use in mountain races. Here I can see approximately how much is left, the meters I still have to climb and how many meters I have already climbed.
Logically, for this to work, you have to have loaded the route in advance.
Suunto navigation is probably the best in the industry, both because of the possibilities of the clock and especially because of everything available on the Movescount platform. I even like it better than the Garmin Fenix 5X, because even though it doesn't have maps on the device, the other features and the great screen make up for it.
Your competition
Suunto Spartan Baro's clearest competitor is undoubtedly the Garmin Fenix 5 (not to be confused with the 5X with maps). Both are intended for use mainly on trail and mountain, although we can then use it in many other disciplines such as road racing or triathlon. But both are top-of-the-range models of their respective brands, have barometric altimeters and incorporate the latest advances made by each manufacturer, including the optical pulse sensor. It could also include the Garmin Forerunner 935 or the Polar V800But the first one does not reach the premium aspect of these and the Polar is about to be replaced.
If we think about the amount and depth of features it is evident that the Fenix 5 is more complete. But not everything is the list of functions and you have to look at the "intangibles". Although in this case it is rather visual, and is that the screen of the Spartan is far superior to that offered by the Garmin. Size, contrast, clarity, color ... without being an OLED or LCD screen of a smartwatch the screen of the Suunto Spartan is very Good. Just not as good as the rendered images might make you think.
Another aspect to consider when using this type of watch is range, at least if you are planning to make long journeys of several days or eternal ultra trail races. While the range of the Spartan Sport is limited to 10-12 hours with 1-second positioning (although there are many ways to extend battery life with on-screen power saving or lower quality positioning options), the Fenix 5 can offer up to 24 hours in the same conditions. Of course if you are going to make long mountain routes or participate in Ironman is something to be valued. Or opt for the Suunto Spartan Ultra, although you will not have an optical pulse sensor.
Both Garmin Connect and Suunto Movescount are at a very good level, with each of these platforms standing out in some details. Garmin is better at reporting daily activity and offers more possibilities on the platform, as well as having a more consolidated and seamless mobile application (Suunto is redesigned for yours). Movescount, on the other hand, is more user-friendly when preparing navigation routes or importing GPX files to upload to the clock, something that Garmin does not offer directly.
Finally there is the price factor where the Suunto is clearly a winner. Officially it is 50 euros cheaper but when looking at the different offers available the gap between the two grows and I don't forget that it is an important buying point.
What I am clear about is that whatever you buy, knowing the good and bad of each one, will leave you totally satisfied.
Conclusion
The Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro is the most versatile watch in the entire Spartan range, combining in a single model what the Spartan Sport lacks (barometric altimeter) along with what the Spartan Ultra lacks (smaller size and optical pulse sensor).
And of all the Spartan range, the Baro is definitely the one I like best. I don't need the extra battery that the Spartan Ultra offers and in return I have everything I could possibly need, including the storm warning.
The Spartan range gets better every time you get an upgrade, because every time you add something it further enhances the user experience your screen offers, which is simply fantastic in both size and resolution.
It is not a perfect watch. The strap of the Spartan Wrist HR Baro Stealth (the one with the black strap) has left me with a bittersweet taste. It has a kind of very pronounced "grooves", as if it were the caterpillar of construction machinery. Tightening the strap is quite uncomfortable for me, because the buckle has to go in and out of its notch. But this is something that does not happen with the Amber (the one with the orange strap) because its strap has a different design. Apart from that we still need improvements in the multisport profiles (set up triathlon, have duathlon mode, etc.), give more flexibility with targets in interval training and graphs in custom modes.
But I guess nobody's perfect.
Don't forget to share the test with your friends and... thanks for reading!
Thank you very much for the review, great as always! Although the truth is that the great level of detail you gave before is missing!
I have a question about the Baro: how does the optical pulse sensor compare to the fenix 3-5?
Thank you very much!
Well, the rest of the watch is really the same, so everything I said before about the optical sensor and GPS is the same as in the Spartan Sport and Ultra test, so I haven't repeated it.
Compared to the Fenix 5, which is quite similar, they have their good days and their bad days in both models. If I had to choose one, it would be Garmin's, simply because in principle it has a lower battery consumption, but in terms of reliability they are quite even.
Congratulations on the test...
Being the same as the other Spartans except the barometer function7 has been good enough...
LAMINATED you still can't train or compete under the maximum HR parameter, any 50 euro heart rate monitor does....
HEALTHY 2018 for everyone
Cordial greetings, I have a Fenix 5 and has no application or default mode for tennis, as if it has the Polar, this Suunto if you have it?
Yes, in Movescount you can select a specific tennis profile
I've been told that the battery wears out in about four and a half hours at full capacity, which means that 10 hours of operation is nothing, a bit disappointing. It's a clock to go down to the street gate and come back up to charge it
Well, whoever told you about it should check sources, or send it in for repair!
So it was with gps at maximum performance and with active glonass.
Greetings
In all the Spartans I have used (and there have been many) the battery has lasted as long as it should. If the clock turns off after a little more than 4 hours it means that you have a problem THAT clock.
I with a Spartan Sport (NO BARO NI WRIST) leaving it on the balcony at home in GPS at maximum resolution lasted me 11h30m. I'm testing it because I think the battery lasts as long as it should, but it is not calibrated and it turns off when it indicates more than 30%. It's new and I'm testing it, I'll let you know.
Good Eduardo, great analysis as always, a luxury to have your contributions ... a question ... I have seen that several colleagues are like txus with the spartan sport, when the clock reaches the 30% battery is as blocked and only comes out the battery symbol on the screen not letting you do anything, no buttons, no screen, no time or anything until you put to load ... in my v800 when it stays at 8% gps is disabled and you can continue training and the clock works with its normal time display and so on ... suunto has some option to change that, or comes as standard so .... because I think it's a little strange that the screen is locked to 30% without seeing the time or anything ....
It's something that has never happened to me with any of the Spartans. We have to see if it's a merely punctual failure that can be attributed to any software failure, temperature that is now, etc. In that case I wouldn't give it much importance.
But if it is something habitual and constant there is some problem with the battery and it would be necessary to go to the guarantee of the watch, because it is evident that there is a problem.
Good morning master, I have a suunto ambit 3 peak delighted. The only thing I'm looking for is the gps accuracy. Which one do you advise me the one I have, or the suunto baro or suunto ultra I have the doubt between baro or ultra. Best regards
If you only value GPS accuracy I would stick with the Ambit3 Peak. But if you want to go a little further the Spartans offer things that go beyond what the Peak can have, especially for its screen quality.
As for Ultra and Baro, it already depends on what you prefer: optical sensor autonomy.
I checked three times that when the download arrived at 35%, the icon of plugging in the USB cable appeared and the clock was blocked. It was not possible to interact with either the display or the buttons. The clock was completely new and already had the most modern version of firmware. I contacted Suunto support, and they recommended resetting it to the factory with the SuuntoLink App (in my case Mac OSX). When doing this the SuuntoLink App returns to flash the same version of firmware to the clock and leaves it at the factory, the initial configuration dialog appeared (Language, system units, etc ... ). Then you synchronize with the computer and recover your sports modes, etc... After doing all this I got my first download from 100% to 1%, AND a low battery warning to 20%.
Now I'm hoping to confirm that everything is still okay. Happy as a clam
Watch: SPARTAN SPORT BLACK (Without WRIST HR)
Hi, I need some advice, and I think yours is the best.
I have an m400 fleece that I want to change and make a jump in quality. After looking and looking at forums I am between 4 models: Garmin fenix 3, forerunner 735, forerunner 935 and suunto sport wirst.
I practice all sports, in winter swimming, in summer running and cycling, and all year round hiking. I am interested in being able to follow tracks with my watch, and get data in swimming.
Of those four models, which one do you think is best for me, and where can you find the best deals...
Thank you in advance
Any of the four will meet your requirements... From there on it's totally subjective. The only thing I can tell you is to check the tests and see which one will best suit your particular use and tastes. As for the best prices, you have them here: https://www.correrunamaraton.com/ofertas-relojes-gps/
By the way I see that the SPARTAN SPORT is at 199 euros on the official website of suunto. 224 euros with HR band.
http://www.suunto.com/es-ES/Productos/Relojes-deportivos/Suunto-Spartan-Sport/Suunto-Spartan-Sport-Black/
I want to buy this watch, thanks to you I decided, and I found this offer https://www.amazon.de/Suunto-Spartan-Sport-WHR-Baro/dp/B076H54FJG I think it's great if you want to put it on your page and I can help you.
But is it because you live in Germany? Because if not in Spain it is cheaper counting VAT and tax adjustment: http://amzn.to/2DSKWQO
If you're in Germany, here's the link: http://amzn.to/2BAR1Mq
Thank you!
It seemed to me that the link from Germany was with the pectoral tape included so I thought it was a good offer, and I also didn't know that at that price you had to add the vat
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That's right, I hadn't noticed. Then it's a better choice in Germany, right.
There is no VAT to add, just to adjust. In Germany the VAT is 19%, so the price increases by a few euros in the final step. But as you say it is worth it for the sensor.
Hi Eduardo, now I'm using a Polar M400 that is going great, and thinking about changing to something more modern and for daily use I really like this watch and it's not bad in price but I read complaints with the battery, and especially with the App for the mobile, that the truth the App Polar Flow is fantastic and does not give me any problem, the complaints are exaggerated? so bad is the App compared to the competition?
Thank you.
With the battery life I have never had any problems.
As for the app, it's certainly not the best of the lot, but Suunto is working on a new application that is about to go out of beta mode.
Thanks, I will be attentive to the new application, because I like the clock a lot, but always depend on a pc is a burden.
Thank you, again.
The Baro records temperatures ?
Can you read during training?
Yes, it records the temperature at all times and allows it to be displayed on the data screens (current, average, maximum and lap temperature).
Thank you very much Eduardo, it would be very helpful if you could explain to me how to read the temperature in real time, I can't find it
You have to add the specific data screen via Movescount.
Thank you very much, Eduardo.
Hello, can I display the pulse of an OH1 polar pulse meter?
No problem.
Excellent test Eduardo. I wanted to ask your opinion about the doubt I have between the purchase of this watch the sport baro and the spartan ultra. Currently they are at similar prices and my doubt would be which watch would suit me better. I train and compete in swimming, cycling and running and occasionally I do trail running and mountain outings but that do not exceed 5 hours. I know that the ultra has much more battery but it is a watch released in 2016 and so it will be renewed. I do not know if this can also penalize you in terms of possible updates that could come to one and another. On the other hand I understand that it should be more comfortable spartan baro ... I do not know, I would appreciate your opinion. Thank you very much.
The main difference is in the optical pulse sensor, so it all depends on whether you are interested in it or not. Otherwise, the other differences are few (beyond the autonomy itself).