What she suggests instead

Route tracking (breadcrumbs)

You create a route in the Suunto app. The watch displays a line that shows you the path to follow.

Operation: The watch displays an arrow that points to the next point on the route. You follow the arrow.

Advantage: simple, effective, consumes little battery.

Disadvantage: you don't see the context (where the roads, forests, obstacles are).

Turn by turn

The watch tells you "turn right in 500 meters". Then “turn left in 200 meters”.

How it works: based on your route created in the app.

Advantage: very useful for roads with many turns.

Disadvantage: You must have created the route in advance.

Breadcrumbs

The watch displays your GPS track in real time. You see where you went.

Operation: each GPS point is recorded and displayed in real time.

Advantage: you can retrace your steps easily.

Disadvantage: It's just one line. You don't see the roads, the obstacles, the points of interest.

Return to start

The watch takes you back to the starting point by following your track in reverse.

Operation: you press "return to start" and the watch displays the direction.

Advantage: very useful if you get lost.

Disadvantage: you follow your track exactly (no path optimization).

Comparison: Suunto Run vs Suunto Race S

The Race S costs €100 more. You win the cartography. You lose music and AMOLED.

For whom is the absence of mapping a problem?

Hikers going off-trail. Trail runners running on technical trails. Runners who explore unfamiliar areas without a prepared route.

For whom is this not a problem? Road runners. Track runners. Runners who run on known or pre-prepared routes.

Alternative solutions

Create your routes in advance

Use the Suunto route creation tool (known as the best on the market). Create your route. Transfer it to the watch. Follow the breadcrumbs.

Advantage: you have a precise guide.

Disadvantage: you have to prepare in advance.

Import routes from Komoot

Komoot offers thousands of community-created routes. You can import them into Suunto.

Advantage: ready-made itineraries.

Disadvantage: You are limited to existing routes.

Use your phone as a complement

Keep your phone with a mapping app (Google Maps, AllTrails, Komoot). Use Suunto Run for GPS and running data.

Advantage: you have the cartography.

Disadvantage: You have to carry your phone.

Buy Suunto Race S

If mapping is really important to you, buy the Race S (€349). You have everything: mapping, 30-hour battery life, robustness.

Disadvantage: €100 more, no music, no AMOLED.

Verdict: do you need mapping to run?

No. For 95% of runners, route tracking and turn by turn are sufficient.

Yes. For trail runners and hikers exploring unfamiliar areas, mapping is useful.

The Suunto Run is made for road runners and trail runners who run on known routes. Not for explorers.

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