Suunto Run 2 Review: It Adds Maps and a More Accurate Heart Rate Sensor
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Pros
- Offline maps, rare at this price point
- Bright screen that doesn't get washed out in sunlight
- Dual-band GPS
- Improved heart rate sensor
Cons- No SuuntoPlus app store
- Nearly double the cost of the original Run
Table of Contents
Garmin may be the leader in running watches, and Coros may make one of my very favorites, but I've also had my eye on Suunto for a long time. Suunto is an outdoor-focused Finnish brand, and their Run is the best value out there: Originally $250, it's now usually under $200, and it packs dual-band GPS and plenty of useful training features for running or other fitness activities.
The Run 2, which I'm reviewing today, is an improved version of the Run. At $349 for the 4 GB version, or $399 for 64 GB, it's a substantially more expensive watch. With maps and other perks, it's perhaps more of a competitor to Suunto's more premium Race 2. Pricing-wise, it's positioned between those two watches, so I took it for some test runs and can now report what I've found.
How I tested the Suunto Run 2
I wore the watch for about a week between when I got my review unit. (You'll hear more about this watch as I get more time with it.) I took it for several runs, including an interval session where I compared its improved heart rate sensor with that on the old Run. I always track battery life when I'm doing these tests, but something strange happened—the battery seemed to die in about two days. This is so far away from the promised battery life, and different from what other reviewers seemed to experience, that I restarted my test. After another two-day test (with a GPS-tracked workout on one of the days), I'm only down to 83%. That suggests I can expect about 12 days on a charge, which is on par with what the company advertises, and similar to other watches in this category.
Suunto Run 2: The maps feature
While all the major running watches can show you the path you've taken, only the higher-priced watches can do that while displaying an actual map. (Otherwise, you just see a line in a void—still useful, but minimalist.) The Run didn't have maps, and I certainly didn't expect it to. The Race 2 does, because it's a premium offering, and I pointed out when I reviewed it that Garmin doesn't offer maps until you pay $749 for a watch; the Race 2 gives them to you for $499.
And now the Run 2 enters the fray with maps on a watch that retails for $349 or $399. The difference between those two models is storage space: The $399 version has 64 GB of storage that you can use for maps and/or music. But if you don't expect to use those features, you can save $50 and buy the 4 GB version. That's not a typo—it literally has 1/16th the storage space.
I downloaded the map for all of Pennsylvania, and it used 0.5 GB. That means the 4 GB version is probably just fine if you stick to one home area and use your phone rather than your watch for music. But if you think you'd use maps from all over the world, or if you like to have music on your watch, the extra $50 is surely worth it for the space.
I found the maps easy and convenient to use, but it's worth noting that Suunto's maps don't have street names. Garmin and Coros maps do.
Suunto Run 2: Size and weight
Like the Suunto Run before it, the Run 2 is a lightweight watch with a flat, easy-to-read screen. It's 46 millimeters wide, which is bigger than I usually prefer, but something about the build just makes it feel a lot more comfortable than other watches of that size. The Run 2 takes after the Run in this way, with both watches feeling nearly identical to wear. The Run 2 ships with a silicone strap, rather than nylon, which adds a few grams of weight if that's something you're concerned about. You can always swap it with any other standard 22-millimeter watch band.
Notably, it does not use the same charger as the Run, but rather uses the same design as the Race 2. That doesn't really matter if you're buying a watch new, but if you already have a Run, upgrading to the Run 2 will sadly not mean you have two of the same charger.
Suunto Run 2: The screen
Suunto boasts that the 2000-nit screen is three times brighter than the screen on the Run. I found the Run perfectly readable in most conditions, so I wasn't expecting much—but looking at the two watches side-by-side in bright sunlight, I believe it. Screens don't always show up accurately in photos, but the photo here pretty accurately reflects what I saw. It's hard to get watch screens to show up in a sunny photo at all, so that's a big plus.
Suunto Run 2: The heart rate sensor
Suunto says both the GPS chipset and the heart rate sensor have been redesigned to be more accurate. I didn't have any problem with either when I originally tested the Run, but I took both watches out for a comparison to see how much the Run 2 has improved. On my tests, I didn't see any significant differences between the two on location accuracy; it's possible that in a different setting, I might notice a difference.
But the heart rate accuracy stood out. Here's the Run 2 in a greenish color (I'm trying to match the band colors, as in my photo above) and the Run in yellowish. I took both on an interval run alongside a chest strap heart rate monitor. The older Run sometimes didn't quite catch up to my actual heart rate, but the Run 2 kept pace just fine. I'm impressed.
Is the Suunto Run 2 worth the money?
There's no question that the Run 2 is a good running watch. I'm giving it a solidly high score, because it does everything right, and improves pretty significantly on the Run.
That said, my favorite thing about the old Run was its price point. It truly feels like a steal to get dual-band GPS and all the training analytics and everything else at such a low price. The Run 2 costs more, and that brings it into competition with Coros's Pace 4 (cheaper, at $249) and even with Suunto's own Race 2 (more expensive, at $499).
I could easily recommend the Run 2 over the Race 2, unless you need the SuuntoPlus store, which is available on the Race line but not the Run line. But it's not a slam dunk on its own; you'd have to carefully consider whether you might get everything you want from the Run or even the Coros Pace 4, now that the Pace 4 has maps. And, of course, it undercuts Garmin on pretty much everything; it's no Forerunner 970, but it has that watch's key features (running metrics and maps) without costing $749.
Suunto Run 2 FAQ
Which is better, the Suunto Run or the Suunto Run 2?
Both are great watches. The Suunto Run is a lot cheaper, usually under $200 and frequently on sale. It's my favorite budget running watch. The Race 2 adds maps, a brighter screen, and a more accurate heart rate sensor. It's the better watch, but you'll also pay more for it. (Beginners and minimalists should probably stick with the Run.)
How does the Suunto Run 2 compare to the Suunto Race 2?
The Suunto Race 2 has sapphire glass and the SuuntoPlus app store, plus it's larger at 49 millimeters. If those aren't must-haves for you, the Run 2 may be the better pick. Both watches have maps and are great for planning and analyzing your training.
