Suunto Vertical first Anniversary : share to celebrate !

nseslija

Great watch, after one year of use almost no issues at all. Very satisfied!

kriskus

After six years with a Spartan Ultra, I finally decided to switch. I bought the SSU after its initial hiccups. It had originally been launched prematurely, but received many updates afterwards and became a very reliable watch. So much that I didn’t see any reason to update to any newer model. In fact, I think that for amateur running there isn’t so much more that a sportswatch must do. I ended up using manual laps for my workouts. Breadcrumb navigation also seemed enough. And battery life after all these years was still great.

Still, I thought I wouldn’t buy Suunto again: I remember endless discussions/requests to introduce e.g. structured workouts which had been present on the previous Ambit3 series or a sudden stop of updates to the Spartan series without any comments. I also didn’t see any convicing feature upgrades in the numbered models (e.g. Suunto 9 Baro/Peak/Pro). I thought I’d just use the watch as long as I could.

And then the new era began - much better batteries and offline maps. I started looking at what was available and thought about Garmin. Their maps are very good and you can also upload your custom maps. However, enthusiastic reviews upon the relase of the Vertical and Race made me think twice. In addition, I really liked SuuntoApp and didn’t feel like changing the environment.

Finally, I found a great deal for a new Suunto Vertical (Solar/Titanium), so I didn’t think too much and quickly ordered one. It’s been a month now and I’m very happy overall: maps are great, battery is fantastic. Even the oHR seems to be enough for my needs - I use a Polar H10 belt for all sport activities anyway. Just one negative point from my side: the bottom of the watch is too sharp for me: the lugs cause pain and I have visible marks on my skin. I have even seen is some reviewes a bleeding wrist of some cyclists. I ordered a Chinese strap for a couple of $$$ which has the standard 22mm mount, but is overall wider and covers the lugs and this seems to help. However, I miss the SSU in this regard. No discomfort whatsoever, even if it was slightly bigger/heavier.

I also don’t get why some long-awaited and requested features that were once part of Suunto watches can’t be brought back - e.g. swim drills. There’s a fancy swim clock, but no way to record leg-only activities. Or the 15-routes limitation. Plus, some of the watch faces look like they were sketched by a 10-year-old child. And of course the missing ClimbPro-equivalent. However, my overall feeling in this regard didn’t change: I have zero expectations and just accept the watch as-is. Whatever positive future brings - will only make me happier. I would highly recommend the Vertical (or Race, depending on which screen type one wants) to those with older units thinking about an upgrade.

Brad_Olwin

A perfect watch for fun runs!

surfboomerang

@Brad_Olwin Those are some numbers… respect!

pilleus

@Brad_Olwin said in Suunto Vertical first Anniversary : share to celebrate !:

A perfect watch for fun runs!

Quite a long distance. Not bad.

But the Vertical seems to have real problems navigating from the start to the finish, as it navigates in all directions and takes far too many detours …

Mff73

@pilleus
i think the watch is intimely following its beloved owner 🥳

isazi

Happy birthday Vertical! Ordered the titanium model on launch day, got it a week after, used it a lot and still my favorite watch!

Tami999

I got Vertical Titanum since November 2023. You know when You get new gadget, tool or something You enjoy and look at it, but after some time it become normal thing. I still enjoy when I use SV when I look at it just like I would get it yesterday :D. You can count it as recommendation!:)

wmichi

I have the Vertical Titanium since launch. It’s still the most accurate sports watch I have ever owned with a battery that lasts forever*.

*…Possibly exaggerated, but not by much.

Outdoorsy

My Vertical’s battery lasts about 12 days with 24/7 HRM, sleep and SpO2 tracking. Is this normal battery life?

Audaxjoe

@Outdoorsy I think you’d need to add how many hours of GPS you use.

Mine lasts about 2 weeks without 24 hour HRM or sleep monitoring. But with notifications enabled and approx 13/14 hours of GPS usage.

GPS is the biggest single drain for me, but last week on holiday with 35 hours GPS the watch still lasted a week. Best quality GPS.

Outdoorsy

@Audaxjoe About 30-40 mins of GPS almost every day as I try to go for a walk after lunch at work. Phone notifications are always turned off. DND set from 10pm - 5am.

I still like the battery life on it, but just wondering if what I am experiencing is normal.

Todd Danielczyk

@Outdoorsy I was having quicker than expected battery usage until I changed a few settings. Went from about 10% daily usage to 4% by changing the following.

Display is going to be the number 1 user of battery. Don’t belive me? Turn the flashlight on and watch the battery level drop. You will lose a percentage over 15 minutes, but it takes an hour for GPS to consume the same.

https://forum.suunto.com/post/140333

Shout out to @Brad_Olwin for helping me sort it out!

For me I wanted a quicker raise to wake but could stand a dimmer background so I set mine up that way, where Brad has it brighter but slower raise to wake. Either gives you better battery but having both in high drains it.

freeheeler

1 year Vertical Titanium Solar and I simply love that awesome piece of adventure equipment!!!
of course the Race is a nice sibling, but let’s celebrate that one another time

my son got a Vertical Titanium Solar for his birthday, too and is proud like a god

Tami999

@Todd-Danielczyk said in Suunto Vertical first Anniversary : share to celebrate !:

@Outdoorsy I was having quicker than expected battery usage until I changed a few settings. Went from about 10% daily usage to 4% by changing the following.

Display is going to be the number 1 user of battery. Don’t belive me? Turn the flashlight on and watch the battery level drop. You will lose a percentage over 15 minutes, but it takes an hour for GPS to consume the same.

https://forum.suunto.com/post/140333

Shout out to @Brad_Olwin for helping me sort it out!

For me I wanted a quicker raise to wake but could stand a dimmer background so I set mine up that way, where Brad has it brighter but slower raise to wake. Either gives you better battery but having both in high drains it.

Usually screeens takes most of battery, smartphones or smartwatches. I had low brighness and always on display ON, now i turned wake on hand on low brightness and so far its like 50% less battery consumption. While AOD my battery lasted usually 14-17 days. I still have 13%, when recharge I will observe how long it will last. Its crazy-battery watch.

Brad_Olwin

@Todd-Danielczyk I have noticed when under tree cover or the sun blocked the backlight does not sufficiently light the display. There are discussions at Suunto to see if something can be done on this. Might help us both.

Todd Danielczyk

@Brad_Olwin Thanks for the “subtle intel” regarding that. Yes I have seen the same and it took me a few weeks to get used to having the backlight set to low, but I have gotten used to it for the sake of battery life.

If the Suunto software engineers can do some tweaks we would get the best of both worlds, bright display in those types of conditions as well as the extended battery life. I would not complain one bit about that!

krakra

@Brad_Olwin I notied this as well and i am surprised nobody mentioned it before. Could be that my Vettical was defective (reason i return it). The display way just not making enough brigthness when in forest and therefore visibility was bad for me.

Tami999

@Brad_Olwin I miss true adaptive mode for brightness like in smartphones where in most ocassions it works great. L

krakra

@freeheeler i want to be your son also. Any chance for adoption?