I come from a Polar S810 before I moved onto the Ambit 2S back in 2014 or so (because there was no way to synchronize this old Polar on a new Windows 8.1 computer… ). The Polar gave you different phases with each a number of repetitions. So when you wanted to program a pyramid interval, you had a lot of sets of one interval each. A hassle to set up, but it was possible. The Ambit series allow you to program it in some sort of code, the latest Suunto models don’t allow this currently it seems. How useful it is? I honestly don’t know. For ramping isometric strength training you work with constant intervals but ramp up the intensity so the fixed intervals of the the latest models are fine. But for running I actually like variable intervals and/or recoveries. When intervals are supposed to be all out, it is just easier to work with intervals decreasing in length (like the second half of the pyramid intervals). I think you’d otherwise end up preserving energy for the last few sets whereas otherwise you will actually always go all out the way you’re supposed to. But maybe the experts will tell me here that this makes zero sense from a training perspective ;). Indeed all training exercises I’ve been given by actual coaches have been with fixed length intervals.
Either way, what the Suunto 5 and Suunto 9 seem to have is SuuntoPlus with the “sprint” option. I haven’t tried this yet (have the Suunto 5) but it is supposed to recognize when you perform the interval. So if you have a separate interval timer (like the Gymboss unit, an old Polar watch, or a coach, or a training partner, or landmarks etc) you can just let that/those trigger you to perform the interval and the Suunto watch will register this as such. This function only works for running with GPS or footpod though, so for other sports you might need something else.
