Suunto Race S Review: A Sports Watch for Women's Fitness and Health

When choosing a sports watch, most people tend to look at the weight first. The Suunto Race S feels more compact than expected, and its light build (around 50g) makes it comfortable to wear without adding extra burden during runs or workouts. It continues the sturdy and reliable Finnish design of the Suunto Race series, while offering more vibrant and stylish colour options compared to the Race.

The 45mm case of the Race S is a size that's relatively easy to handle among sports watches. It may look slightly large on paper, but it doesn't feel overwhelming on the wrist. Under bright sunlight, the AMOLED display remains clear and easy to read with a quick raise of the wrist, without noticeable glare. If you prefer a bigger screen, you can also consider the Suunto Race from the same series.

Battery That Matches Your Day

If your routine includes running, gym sessions, yoga, or light weekend outdoor activities, the Race S offers battery performance that feels reassuring. In Performance mode, it provides around 30 hours of continuous GPS tracking, enough for a full day of training or multiple long runs.

When battery demands are lower, switching to Tour mode (up to about 120 hours) is a good option. This mode suits light outdoor activities, travel, or situations when you simply don't want to charge frequently.

In everyday use, such as attending classes or commuting, working out in the evening, or wearing it overnight to track sleep and HRV"the watch can usually last several days without needing a charge. And when you do need to recharge, the Race S powers up quickly, reaching full battery in under an hour.

For Every Kind of Workout

The Race S supports over 95 sports modes, covering everything from trail running and cycling to swimming, yoga, and HIIT. In actual use, the workout screens are straightforward and clear: heart rate, speed, calorie burn, and other key metrics are easy to read at a glance. Beyond workouts, the Race S also tracks steps, calories, all-day heart rate, and sleep quality, giving you a simple overview of your daily health.

Another practical feature is how the Race S combines HRV, sleep, and your recent training rhythm to offer light training suggestions through the AI Coach. The Suunto App also includes menstrual cycle tracking, allowing you to record your cycle, view trends.

Maps & Navigation

The navigation features on the Suunto Race S are also very reliable. After downloading routes or maps through the Suunto App and syncing them to the watch, the Race S can continue guiding you even when your phone has no signal. Although maps aren't preloaded"which is a small inconvenience"they work well once downloaded. The offline maps include contour lines and route details, and you can zoom in and out directly on the watch. Routes display clearly on the AMOLED screen.

In light outdoor scenarios, such as weekend hikes, race routes, or exploring new running paths, the Race S provides dependable navigation that helps you stay oriented and feel more confident trying new routes.

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Overall, the Race S is not only useful during workouts, it also supports your daily rhythm by helping you maintain consistency and stay aware of your routine. Its weight, design, and size make it easy to wear all day, fitting both everyday life and training. Features like navigation, HRV, menstrual tracking, and sleep monitoring make the experience feel more complete.