Suunto Ambit

[andy_s]

Garmin really had the market cornered in respect to GPS watches, and G-Shock & Suunto were probably the first places to look for the ABC function watches, so it was interesting to see the new Suunto Ambit released a few weeks ago which is a Suunto integrated GPS watch not much bigger than their Core/Vector line.

I was looking for a replacement for my old Vector ABC and had pretty much settled on the Garmin 910xt to give me GPS when I spotted the Ambit.

OK, it's hugeish, but it's an instrument panel really, not a watch for everyday use - well, not in my case, and would be used pretty much as intended - I do a lot of x-country, hill stuff, mountain marathons and try to do a multi-day ultra every year so a 'do all' instrument is just the ticket, plus this has up to 50hrs GPS use (at 60sec sampling) which was the limiting factor for many GPS watches as a long 5-6 day event takes you up into the 45hrs range.

Anyway, thinking of getting one later in the year and just thought I'd mention it in case others are looking for similar. Amongst other things -

- up to 50hrs fast acquire GPS
- switches between pos and neg display
- bright back light & adj. contrast
- flexible display config.
- 3D compass
- 100m w/r

but
- time lost on 0% power
- no GPS alt, just baro
- I don't use Ant(+) HRM or loggers so check compatibility.
- the Garmin FR910XT is better at swim data for the triathletes

Some of these niggles may be addressed with s/w updates, with extra features in the pipeline.

Quite a few reviews out there, DCRainmaker is always fastidious/anal though.

Core / Ambit


GW7900 / Ambit

(both theotherphil/WuS)



(spopes/WuS)


(Suunto)

[Mr Happy]

I like the updated font on that, as a Core owner myself I'd be tempted by the upgrade.

Hopefully they'll do GPS altitude though, that would clinch it for me.