Suunto Software update Q2 (2.56.18) - July 14th, 2026 - Vertical 2 and Race 2

[sky-runner]

@Steven-Hambleton

As I said above, the problem isn’t necessary with the font size. The problem is with an poor choice of colors, but probably also insufficient outlines and spacing between letters.

Let’s compare. Here is a screenshot of my Vertical 2 map on the Light map - can’t read this at all unless I enlarge the image a lot:

Now for comparison a couple of pictures of Fenix 8 map that I downloaded from Garmin Forum:

Garmin fonts aren’t necessarily much larger, but look how crisp the letters are compared to what we see on a Suunto map.

The differences that I.can see are the following:

1. Garmin renders letters as black on white with a relatively thick outlines so letters stand out.
2. The font is bolder, which makes better contrast
3. The spacing between letters seems to be a bit wider so that letters are more distinct.
4. Labels are offset from roads which makes it easier for them to stand out against the solid background.

It seems that Garmin labels have been specifically optimized for the best possible readability. Now look. At the Suunto screenshot.

1. Letters are rendered as white with thin black outlines - the worst possible contrast!
2. Letters are very close to each other which makes them sort of blend into each other. Even spacing between words is too tight. The legibility is just horrible in my opinion.
3. Labels are rendered directly on top of roads or trails, which makes the contrast even worse.

It seems like someone developed this on a computer looking at a large computer screen and called it done without trying to use it on a real watch. Was there a usability study or feedback collected from multiple field testers before this was released? I highly doubt it!

The worst thing is that now it will take forever to get this improved.

[Svenning]

@Steven-Hambleton No offense intended, this is a serious suggestion as I’ve been using something similar for a while now: Amazon

Maybe sports glasses with built-in reading zones/bifocals could be a helpful workaround for you in the meantime.

[Tami999]

@sky-runner
Huge difference here. Well probably Suunto will work with font in next update/future.
So far I find out Dark Mode good enough. In normal bright map mode sadly for me it’s unreadable.

[Speed Man]

@sky-runner Try switching the offline map to Dark Mode if you’re having trouble seeing it.

For me, city names aren’t really necessary—I actually turn them off because I already know where I am. What I want from my watch is a smooth, real-time map that shows my route without lag.

That’s one thing I really like about Suunto. The map rendering is fluid, even while moving, unlike Garmin, which can sometimes feel choppy. The color scheme is also well designed, especially in the forest, making trails much easier to distinguish and read at a glance.

Sometimes the issue isn’t the map itself—it might just come down to how it’s being used. A few small adjustments to the map settings can make a surprisingly big difference.

[sky-runner]

@Speed-Man said:

@sky-runner Try switching the offline map to Dark Mode if you’re having trouble seeing it.

Both Dark and Light maps are quite poor at rendering trails at 500 ft and 0.2 mi zoom levels - the contrast is just too poor due to choice of colors. The only acceptable option for me is High Contrast maps.

I shouldn’t have to use a workaround just to see labels. I think Suunto developers should improve this for everyone in all map styles. And I am not alone - here is a screenshot of a poll I did on Reddit:

[Speed Man]

@sky-runner I understand your point, but the reality is that everyone sees and uses maps differently. That’s exactly why Suunto offers multiple map styles, including High Contrast, Dark, and Light.

I don’t think the goal should be to make every map style look the same. If Suunto changed everything to match one group’s preferences, another group of users might end up unhappy. Personally, if Suunto maps looked like Garmin’s, I probably wouldn’t buy their products either.

Different preferences are exactly why having choices is better than forcing a single design on everyone.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@sky-runner pass me the poll so I can tranfer it to PM

[maszop]

@sky-runner The text on the Garmin’s screen is easier to read – hard to argue with that. But Garmin’s maps look more like graphics than actual maps.

Suunto’s maps, despite sometimes poor colour choices, are often much more readable in the field.
Note that even on professional paper maps – the Holy Grail of maps – the text isn’t the most important thing; it’s the landscape features.

[brechtvb]

@Egika for others, of course, but this is avery tiny user base being addressed.

[André Faria]

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos said:

@sky-runner pass me the poll so I can tranfer it to PM

https://www.reddit.com/r/Suunto/comments/1uz9eni/do_you_find_map_labels_street_or_trail_names_to/

[Audaxjoe]

@Svenning I have the same issue with ages and loosing close up eyesight and use sunglasses with built in ready lens. It works well.

Even if Sunnto changed all the fonts increase size on map etc sooner or later glasses will be needed.

[MikeC30]

I do not need to wear glasses but I do struggle to read the labels on the maps purely due to a lack of contrast between the text and the background. It is also hard to pick out trails which are green on background of lighter green sometimes when outside so a different colour or a thicker line would be useful. I appreciate what everyone else has said and that my needs are not necessarily the same as most other people.