the5krunner impressions

Bulkan

I read it, the GPS looks very good.

This phrase:

<<Readers should note that the Suunto 7 absolutely DOES support external sensors like chest straps and STRYD. You just need an app that connects to them and the Suunto app doesn’t do that. FWIW I use qooapps’ SPORTYGO>>

I agree with it, maybe in the future we could have native support for external sensors in the suunto app if the users are using it… I would like to know how many users of the suunto 7 use external sensor via third party apps.

@Fenr1r Oh my, oh my! And here was I hoping to run home through the Lincoln Tunnel. I hear exposure to car exhaust works miracles against coronavirus.

@Bulkan You know my answer. I use it. A lot. Suunto should just buy out Sporty Go developer, rebrand the app to Suunto 2, and call it a day.

pilleus

Oh. I have the better S7 than the 5krunner. My S7 has a perfect OHR. Tested several times in comparison with the Polar H10.

Woohoo! ️

Bulkan

@NickK @Fenr1r using Stryd The tunnels aren’t a concern.

sartoric

Do not underestimate the POWER OF TUNNELS

Fenr1r

@sartoric Also the metaphorce.

@sartoric My girth clearly disqualifies me from those

Brad_Olwin

@pilleus said in the5krunner impressions:

Oh. I have the better S7 than the 5krunner. My S7 has a perfect OHR. Tested several times in comparison with the Polar H10.

Woohoo! ️

I have the same and it is a pre-production model!

Brad_Olwin

@Bulkan said in the5krunner impressions:

I read it, the GPS looks very good.

This phrase:

<<Readers should note that the Suunto 7 absolutely DOES support external sensors like chest straps and STRYD. You just need an app that connects to them and the Suunto app doesn’t do that. FWIW I use qooapps’ SPORTYGO>>

I agree with it, maybe in the future we could have native support for external sensors in the suunto app if the users are using it… I would like to know how many users of the suunto 7 use external sensor via third party apps.

I am not the target for the S7 so I will defer to those users. For me, battery life is king for the S7, I want a full 8h-10h of skiing/running/hiking with GPS. At this time I cannot get that, 7h yes, but not 10h. Adding external sensors will drive the battery life down to 4-5h, which for me starts to become unacceptable.

So how about this? Keep the battery life and use the recording capabilities of the Stryd and smart sensor to record but not necessarily display in real time. If external sensors display in real time then the battery life will tank, no other way around it. I have done many 4-7h exercises on the S7 because of the ability to use the co-processor. I realize one could switch off or on but I am hoping that a more creative alternative will come. If so, it won’t happen immediately.

pilleus

@Brad_Olwin said in the5krunner impressions:

I have the same and it is a pre-production model!

I don’t understand. You mean the 5krunner has a pre-production model? And did the tests with this watch?

Bulkan

@Brad_Olwin said in the5krunner impressions:

So how about this? Keep the battery life and use the recording capabilities of the Stryd and smart sensor to record but not necessarily display in real time. If external sensors display in real time then the battery life will tank, no other way around it. I have done many 4-7h exercises on the S7 because of the ability to use the co-processor. I realize one could switch off or on but I am hoping that a more creative alternative will come. If so, it won’t happen immediately.

I use stryd actively but my runs aren’t as long as yours. For me is not a good solution, furthermore, when Suunto watches are exceptional supporting native power. As you say, you are not in the target of the S7. That’s my point, the users won’t run 8-10 hours, I think maybe a marathon over 4:30h to 5h is more in the target of this watch.

Suunto will have the data, so if the 15% uses third party apps and sensors there is no need to make a change but if the 60% is using third party apps and sensors maybe the option to ON/OFF would be a satisfactory decision.

pilleus

To be honest. If I buy a WearOS watch, I know about the limited battery life. And I know that it is a smartwatch.

Most of the users will be astonished that there exists devices like foot pods and heart rate belts in the world of the big players. 🧐

The unique and innovative feature is the S7 app, that allows to record even long turns (hiking, walking, cycling) for everyone without running out of battery life. And the great accuracy of the hardware!

And that’s really cool and worth buying the S7!

I never was interested in reviews of the big players, who need S9, Fenix XX, Polar XX or any other top sport watch, but are testing a WearOS watch.

isazi

@pilleus said in the5krunner impressions:

I never was interested in reviews of the big players, who need S9, Fenix XX, Polar XX or any other top sport watch, but are testing a WearOS watch.

I believe this is a very good point, and something we’ll see in the reviews a lot. The big names, they’re all triathletes, and this in itself is a bias because it may not match our situation, or the average user situation.

JorgeFD

I’m a mixed runner. I’ll try to explain:

· From Monday to Friday I’m a “normal runner”. My training routine is weight training and short runs (60’ maximum).
· Satuday & Sunday I go wild and do trailrunning/hiking between 3 to 8 hours.

My scope is train to ultramarathons from 10 to 16 hours.

For me it would be great to use a S7 from Monday to Friday and my lovely S9B from Saturday to Sunday. I know that sometime I could use a S7 for my trailrunning/hiking sessions but I don’t want to be worried about battery.

What keeps me out of have both watches to day is:

1-. Use my stryd in S7. I know that other apps can do it buy I want to use Suunto Wear OS App
2-. The chance to have both watches in sync with the same app without the need of pair/unpair every time I want to sync

the5krunner

For what they were worth, they were first impressions on accuracy, stated as provisional (gives me some wiggle room )

I like the S7. There are lots of positives and personally I like Wear OS as well (others clearly do not).

Simply because of a lack of competition it must be the best, smartwatch FOR SPORT in Wear OS.

It will be interesting to see how all the PR goes as there are a few obvious flaws. If you focus on those it’s rubbish, if you focus on the positives it’s awesome.

Some perceptions will be akin to what happened with Polar’s M600. It wasn’t what Polar users were used to and wanted. Same with the S7, it’s appealing instead to a mostly new market. #OldMarket #MightNotBeHappy.

Remember, the S7 could be a commercial success and that gives Suunto more money to invest in #OldMarket.

Kindest regards,

tfk
(the5krunner.com)

the5krunner

@pilleus @isazi I’ve said numerous time that “we are all different” so I fully take your point and thank you for the implication that I am a big name Today has started well !

It’s very difficult for anyone to put themselves precisely in another person’s shoes.

FWIW my PERSONAL approach to things like the Suunto 7 is to TRY to put myself in the shoes of who the intended market, which is why I often outline who i think the intended market is and often ask the companies who the intended market is (they don’t usually answer that one! )

I suppose the advantage of being a wannabee triathlete is that triathlete’s are exposed to lots of hours of training and across a wider variety of disciplines/scenarios than most people. Hopefully triathlete’s wider needs are as human as everyone else and use smart features similarly to buy coffee and listen to music.

The great thing with most forum regulars, and regulars who are kind enough to visit my site from time-to-time, is that you’re all a clever bunch seeking out more than one opinion in order to make your own mind up.

Kind regards
tfk
the5krunner.com

isazi

@the5krunner it wasn’t a critique from my side, BTW, just a comment on the fact that we all are people and have different experiences, and YMMV for a variety of reasons

@Brad_Olwin said in the5krunner impressions:

For me, battery life is king for the S7, I want a full 8h-10h of skiing/running/hiking with GPS. At this time I cannot get that, 7h yes, but not 10h.

Interesting. I normally get about 8% per hour in Suunto app (GPS, OHR, never really used their maps as I know the course I run – typically a a mile or so long loop, don’t check my watch too often for same reason). With that, I’d estimate I should be able to hit Suunto promised 12 hours. But I’d say even 6-8 hours should be enough for target audience, whether they run, trail run, or hike.

Adding external sensors will drive the battery life down to 4-5h, which for me starts to become unacceptable.

Wouldn’t HR from BLE sensor require less power than a built-in OHR?

I think for a regular Joe or Jane, the battery is perfectly adequate. Even if the said Joe or Jane decide to run a marathon. The remaining poor souls staring down dozens of hours of training can still benefit from S7 as a daily smartwatch and an occasional training companion.

@the5krunner said in the5krunner impressions:

Some perceptions will be akin to what happened with Polar’s M600. It wasn’t what Polar users were used to and wanted. Same with the S7, it’s appealing instead to a mostly new market. #OldMarket #MightNotBeHappy.

As somebody who got M600 on its release and used it for a while, I must say Polar’s biggest mistake was twofold. Even though they were not going for traditional Polar crowd they designed M600 like a cheaper, but somewhat more modern looking version of V800. A big mistake in times of Moto 360 and Huawei Watch that looked increasingly like normal watches.

Second, they pretty much dropped the ball on supporting M600 soon after the release. In all years on the market, the watch only gained one feature. Their new Sleep Plus. Maybe a few more marginal enhancements. It was perfectly capable of 24/7 heart rate, but did it get it? Nope. It was perfectly capable of using footpods. Did it get them? Nope. Was anything done to improve GPS tracks? Nope again. How about race pace or zone lock? Nada. Orthostatic test? Get out!

So, regular folks have been put off by a bulky parole bracelet like design. Fitness people quickly realized they would need to look elsewhere for their training needs. And this IMHO represents a cautionary tale for Suunto 7. Making a sporty smartwatch is a very tough balancing act.