Healthy Heart Rate: t6

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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Suunto t6c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch

I've had this HRM since Summer of 2008 and it's been a great fitness tool.I purchased two of the accesories for the watch, the suunto food pod (later edition) and the suunto bike pod.Both pods have worked flawlessly in sync with the T6c and I highly recommend them if you jog or mountain bike.The T6c has its pros and cons, i'll jump right in and explain them:

Pros:
- able to browse through 6 settings during your workout(For example, I use duration, Current Heart Rate, Calories burned in one screen and Distance, Speed, Avg Speed in the 2nd screen (using either one of the pods)).You can also browse to the Time interchangeably with the two aforementioned screens.
- amazing graphical software (Firstbeat ATHLETE) is available for purchase and compatible with the T6c. Also a con, which i'll explain.
- comfortable fitting heart rate strap makes it hardly noticeable during exercises
- Workouts can easily be uploaded to PC with included USB cable link.

Cons
- The backlight is useless.If you browse through the suunto forums, you'll find the backlight gives many people trouble.For my watch, it doesn't work PERIOD.If you workout at night and need to view the watch at night frequently, you may want to reconsider this watch if that is one of your purchasing factors.
- The software that comes with the watch Suunto Training Manager is subpar in my opinion.You can view line graphs and all of your uploaded stats, which is nice, but the layout and interface of the program is sloppy and unorganized.Firstbeat ATHLETE however, is beautiful compared to STRM.It has beautiful graphs and many combinations of results you want to see.The downside is that this program costs 80 dollars!There's a free trial that you should try out and see for yourself how much better it is.Hopefully Suunto will do some updates on their standard software!
- There are times where the HRM strap will have trouble transmitting to the watch.For example, i'll get a flatline during workouts where it won't output my current heart rate.I did find a solution that works well.Use electrode gel before you put it on your chest, this helps with the readings (much better than spit or water).
- Cost.The pods are $50-$100 = $150.The Firstbeat ATHLETE program is $80.The watch is about $300.That's $530 i've spent! Ugh.. Still, it's been worth it!

In all, as a prior owner of the Polar F6, i'm blown away by this heart rate monitor.I have yet to try the GPS pod, but i'm a little nervous as many have had trouble with signals.Since I have the food and bike pod, however, I won't really need it.I love the open endedness of the watch, and how you can customize what you results you want to see. It's definitely a breakthrough in heart rate monitors.Now if they can just fix that stupid backlight it'll be nearly perfect!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Suunto t6c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch (Black)

Product Description:
Reaching your goals can be tough. It takes the right tools, knowledge, and guidance to improve with each training session. Enter the Suunto t6c heart rate monitor and fitness trainer watch, a professional-grade training tool for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing your workouts. The t6c is equipped with a bundle of valuable features, but none is more valuable than its correspondence with the included Suunto Training Manager PC software, which provides a detailed analysis of seven physiological parameters with an accuracy previously available only in sports laboratories. This analysis breaks down nearly every aspect of your training, so you can make adjustments and train more efficiently in the future.
The t6c also tracks your real-time Training Effect, a quick and accurate measurement of how hard your body is working at any given moment. By knowing your Training Effect, you'll enjoy a more intimate understanding of your body's workout "sweet spot," an essential tidbit if you want to achieve your targets without setting yourself back by under- or over-training. The Training Effect works intuitively: The watch first notes the info from your personal fitness profile, and then analyzes your physiological progress and translates the data into a simple one-to-five scale. For example, if you want to improve your aerobic fitness at a moderate tempo, you should exercise until your TE meter reads between 3.0 and 3.9, two to four times per week. To improve your aerobic condition more rapidly--but without the risk of over-training--you should push yourself harder once or twice per week, so your TE meter reads 4.0 to 4.9, with a few recovery sessions in the TE 1.0 to 2.0 range. The Training Effect is relative to each individual. While a novice runner might achieve a TE of 4.0 on a four-mile jog, a professional runner might have to complete an uphill marathon to get the same reading. In other words, both runners will have to exercise hard to achieve a TE of 4.0.
The t6c includes a couple of additional features that put it above and beyond traditional heart rate monitor watches. For example, the t6c gives you a readout of your excess post-exercise oxygen consumption level (EPOC), letting you measure and adjust your training loads to ensure that your body is safely getting the most from each workout. And users will love the built-in altimeter, which lets you monitor your climbing or hill performance to know how your body will react when training at various altitudes.
Finally, the Suunto t6c offers interference-free digital ANT transmission, making it easy to pair your heart rate monitor with the included Suunto comfort belt. You can also use this secure connection to monitor your speed, distance, or cadence by pairing your Suunto t6c with an optional Suunto training pod. Training pods are small units that attach to such items as a running shoe or a bike to calculate your speed, distance, and even pedal revolutions per minute while you exercise. Pods are ideal for athletes who aren't satisfied with half-hearted training efforts, but really want to monitor their training routines down to the last detail.
Specifications:

Manufacturer's Warranty
Two-year warranty
About Suunto
Suunto was founded in 1936 by outdoors man and a keen orienteering enthusiast, Tuomas Vohlonen, who had long been bothered by a problem: the inaccuracy of traditional dry compasses and their lack of steady needle operation. Being an engineer with an inventive turn of mind, he discovered and patented the production method for a much steadier needle, better readings, and a new level of accuracy. By 1950 the company was exporting compasses to over 50 countries around the world, including Canada and the United States. In 1952, Helsinki was hosting the Olympic Games, and the torches carried to light the Olympic flame were Suunto products. The next step was improving the stability and accuracy of marine compasses. The first marine compass, the Suunto K-12, was launched onto the market in 1953. In 1957, Suunto started manufacturing hypsometers, which measure the height of trees.
In the 1960s, the compass range grew further and Suunto introduced its first diving compass--initiated by the divers themselves. A British sports diver attached a Suunto compass to his wrist and found that the device also worked underwater. Thanks to his feedback and initiatives, the new business category was found. Suunto's exports and business grew steadily and Suunto then focused on combining its strength in precision mechanics with new skills in electronics. Accuracy, reliability, and ruggedness have been Suunto's key values from the very beginning of the company history.
Today, Suunto is a leading designer and manufacturer of sports instruments for training, diving, mountaineering, hiking, skiing, sailing, and golf. True to its roots, Suunto is today the world's biggest compass manufacturer. Prized for their design, accuracy and dependability, Suunto sports instruments combine the aesthetics and functionality of watches with sport-specific computers that help athletes at all levels analyze and improve performance. Headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, Suunto employs more than 500 people worldwide and distributes its products to nearly 60 countries. The company is a subsidiary of Helsinki-based Amer Sports Corporation with the sister brands Wilson, Salomon, Atomic, Precor, and Mavic.

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