Suunto Race S vs Suunto Race: price, comparison table and final verdict
We come to the crux of the matter: what do you take, concretely, between Race and Race S? And at what cost?
Suunto Race S vs Suunto Race comparison table
| Model | Case size | Weight (approx.) | Max GPS autonomy | Autonomy shown (real use) | Price range observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suunto Race S | 45mm | ~60 g steel, less titanium | 30–40 hours depending on mode | 3–7 days depending on usage | ≈ €280–370 depending on version and promotions |
| Suunto Race | 49mm | ~70 g depending on materials | 40–50 hours depending on mode | 5–10 days depending on usage | ≈ €340–450 depending on version and promotions |
In short: the Race maintains the advantage in terms of autonomy and comfort in reading maps thanks to its larger screen, but it requires a strong wrist and a little tolerance for large cases. The Race S sacrifices a little margin on these two points, but suddenly becomes much more livable on a daily basis.
Buying experience: how not to go wrong
The Race S can be found at specialist running/outdoor resellers, on the Suunto website and at some major online players. The ideal: check if you can put it on your wrist at least once, especially if your wrist is very thin or on the contrary very wide. Two minutes in store can save you a return.
Frankly, if you recognize yourself in the profile “I run regularly, I prepare for races, I like mapping, I have a not huge wrist and a budget around €300–350”, the Race S clearly deserves to be in your top 3. The “see price and reviews” button under the article will no longer seem so intimidating once you have checked all these criteria.
Suunto Race S FAQ: questions I get asked all the time
Is Suunto Race S suitable for small wrists?
Yes, clearly more than the Classic Race. Its 45mm case and lighter weight make it much more wearable on a thin wrist. If you have already found the Fenix XL too massive, the Race S will often be a good compromise.
What real autonomy for the Suunto Race S?
In mixed use (3–4 sports sessions/week, notifications, wrist-mounted screen), allow 3 to 7 days depending on your tolerance to recharge and your training volume. On a single long outing (marathon, long trail), the 30–40 hours announced in GPS are consistent as long as you don’t force the screen to stay on permanently.
Suunto Race S or Suunto Race: which one to choose?
If you want to maximize battery life, take advantage of a larger screen for maps and want your wrist to support large cases, the Classic Race remains the most logical. If you want a more compact, more comfortable, more versatile watch for everyday use, the Race S is probably the best choice.
Is the Suunto Race S suitable for long trail running?
Yes, as long as you manage your settings as little as possible: reasonable brightness, no screen on permanently, possibly a slightly optimized GPS mode. For ultra-long or multi-day trips, models more geared towards extreme autonomy will remain more suitable.
Final recap: Is the Race S worth the “yes”?
- Yes, if you want a real performance watch with mapping, coach and solid GPS.
- Yes, if your wrist doesn’t like 49mm bricks and comfort matters as much as specs.
- Yes, if your budget is around €300–350 for a serious sports watch.
- No, if you’re looking for a smartwatch packed with functions (payment, calls, offline music).
- No, if you absolutely want 10+ days of AMOLED battery life without ever thinking about the charger.
In the end, the Suunto Race S ticks a lot of boxes for the modern runner or trail runner: technical enough to support real preparation, compact enough not to end up at the bottom of a drawer. So yes, for this profile, the final “big yes” is well deserved.
Review written by David Deteve, GPS and sports watch tests on L’Swiss Made Watch.
