Healthy Heart Rate: Suunto T6 Watch Review

I have raced bikes and triathlons for over 20 years, and used heart rate monitors since the early 1990's when they were 'brand new' to sports.After buying and using at least 6 different systems, most of them Polar-made, I have come to the conclusion that there are two paths worth taking in HRMs- you can keep it simple and buy a low-cost, quality device that gives your average and training time, or you should go high-end and buy a device that you can download to your PC and thoroughly analyze the data.The gear in the middle provides little added value in my opinion.

I have been sponsored by other companies in the past but never by SUUNTO, so this review is completely based on personal experience.

I have used this HRM system for over a year and it is hands-down one of the best training aids I have ever spent money on.It is expensive, but see my comments above.And the software you get coupled with SUUNTO's Olympic-level research into the science of EPOC and physiology make this an invaluable training tool.Why?Because the hardest thing to know when you have an HRM is how hard to train, and what impact the time you spend training at a given intensity level has on your fitness.It's like having a tachometer on an engine but no speedometer or fuel gauge--you don't know how fast to go or how far to go to get the most out of a tank of gas.EPOC makes a big difference and you'll be surprised at the improvements in your training efficiency.Wasted miles are the bane of a working athlete's existence and this tool helps reduce them.

I've used the T6 with a running pod for nearly two years, and it's at least as accurate as my Garmin Etrex GPS unit.I do take the time to check the calibration every now and then, and even during a race if it's off, it's never off by much and it's consistent so I can mentally compensate for any differences.I've used the shoe pod to pace marathons on roads and ultra-marathons in the woods.I was first aware of the technology in 1999 when a team I was part of was given a similar system to test in the Himalayas during an adventure race- it was OK then, but now it works.We used my T6 and shoe pod during an adventure race in the Great Smokies in 2006 as a navigation aid (not by itself) by measuring distances at night in a major snowstorm.It was probably not perfect but it definitely helped keep us from getting lost.Handheld GPS wouldn't work in that kind of environment of heavy cover and falling snow.
The bike pod for my T6 hasn't been as good a story, but there are new versions out now that appear to have addressed the issues- the biggest one lies in the distance between the pod and the watch- the transmission range was not long enough to make it work well, you had to mount the watch on the bike as opposed to keeping it on your wrist.I believe that the new pods have improved this but I haven't tested them myself.
The other complaint I'd offer is that you have to send the T6 to SUUNTO for software updates.I had a watch go bad early on, and the replacement had an older software revision in it that I have yet to update because of the mail-in requirement--but I'll do it sometime soon as my training schedule permits.The good news is that updates are free, and you don't really need them unless you want the new features they offer which are usually pretty minor changes.To be fair, last time I checked, Polar requires you to send them an HRM for new batteries, with the SUUNTO gear you can change them all yourself, including the HR strap.The HRM will NOT work in a pool though, and my Polar HRMs are spotty in the water but sometimes work.
I've used my T6 to train for an Ironman triathlon, multiple ultra-distance road and MTB events, a couple of ultra-distance runs, and other events noted above--with the exception of my newly-acquired power training gear for my bike, my T6 is absolutely the most effective piece of training gear I have ever owned, and I wish I'd had this ten years ago when I was really competitive.It's an amazing piece of gear and I'm a better athlete because of its use- you have to spend some time learning about EPOC and exercise science but the T6 more than pays it back.

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Product Description:
The Suunto T6 Watch's combination of heart rate monitor and altimeter features makes it a top pick of climbers, skiers, personal trainers, and serious endurance athletes. Health Magazine even gave it their Excellence in Fitness Award. This incredibly advanced watch tracks your real-time and average heart rate, altitude, ascent and descent rate, and interval timing. Plug the T6 Watch into your computer with the included USB cable, and the included software helps you analyze your workout or ski day. Don't let all the features scare you. The cell phone style display makes the T6 easy to use and understand. Suunto made the T6 watch for serious athletes who want accurate data for both training and event day.

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