Suunto Race Vs. Vertical: A Runner’s Tale of Two Watches

I’ve spent countless miles on trails and roads, my wrist adorned with various sports watches, each promising to be my ultimate training partner. When Suunto released the Race and Vertical in 2023, I was intrigued.

Both are premium multisport watches, but they cater to slightly different souls—one for performance-driven athletes like me, the other for adventurers craving the wild.

In this article, I’ll unpack their differences, weigh their pros and cons, and help you decide which fits your lifestyle, and to answer your real-world questions.

A Brief Comparison Table

My Journey With Suunto

As a runner who occasionally trades pavement for mountain trails, I need a watch that keeps up with my pace and passions. Suunto has long been a trusted name in the sports watch world, and the Race and Vertical represent their latest push to compete with giants like Garmin and Coros.

The Race, with its vivid AMOLED display, feels like a sleek, modern companion for runners and triathletes. The Vertical, with its rugged build and insane battery life, seems tailored for those who wander off the beaten path.

Let’s break down what makes each tick.

Design And Build Comparison of Suunto Race And Vertical

When I first strapped on the Suunto Race, its lightweight feel—69g for the titanium version—surprised me.

It’s slightly smaller and lighter than the Vertical (74g titanium, 86g stainless steel), which makes a difference during long runs.

Both watches share a 49mm case diameter, but the Race feels more refined, with a digital crown flanked by two buttons.

This setup makes navigation intuitive, almost like scrolling through a smartphone.

The Vertical, with its three-button layout, feels more traditional but less fluid for quick menu hops.

The Race’s sapphire crystal and optional titanium bezel scream premium, but the Vertical matches it with the same materials. Both are built to military-grade MIL-STD-810H standards, so I never worried about them surviving a tumble on rocky trails.

The Vertical’s Titanium Solar variant, however, adds a unique edge with a solar ring around the bezel. It’s not a game-changer unless you’re in bright sunlight for hours, but it’s a nod to adventurers who might be days from a charger.

Display: AMOLED Vs. MIP, A Visual Showdown

The first thing I noticed about the Race was its 1.43-inch AMOLED display. With a 466x466px resolution and 1000 nits brightness, it’s a stunner. Colors pop, blacks are deep, and it’s easy to read during night runs or in direct sunlight.

The screen dims when idle to save battery but lights up with a wrist flick, which worked flawlessly during my tests.

However, when biking, I found the dimmed screen harder to read without raising my arm fully—a minor annoyance.

The Vertical’s 1.4-inch MIP (Memory-in-Pixel) display, with a 280x280px resolution, is less vibrant but designed for efficiency.

It’s always-on, which I appreciated when glancing at stats mid-hike without needing to wake the screen.

In bright sunlight, the MIP holds its own, but side-by-side with the Race, it looks dated, almost like comparing a flip phone to a modern touchscreen. For urban runners or gym-goers, the Race’s AMOLED is a clear winner.

For backcountry explorers, the Vertical’s MIP prioritizes readability and battery conservation.

Battery Life: The Long Haul

Battery life is where I really started to see these watches diverge. The Race boasts up to 26 days in smartwatch mode with heart rate tracking off, or 12 days with it on. In GPS mode, it delivers 40 hours in Performance mode, which is solid for most runners.

I tested it on a 50K trail race, and it had juice to spare, though heavy GPS use with the AMOLED on full blast can drain it faster.

The Vertical, especially the Titanium Solar variant, is a beast. It claims up to 60 days in smartwatch mode with solar charging (30 days without) and 60 hours in GPS Performance mode.

During a multi-day hike in the Rockies, I pushed the Vertical to its limits, using GPS and heart rate tracking. It lasted 58 hours before I plugged it in, and the solar boost added a few extra hours in sunny conditions.

If you’re planning extended adventures, the Vertical’s battery life is unmatched.

Navigation And Mapping: Finding My Way

Both watches offer offline maps, a feature I’ve come to rely on for trail running and hiking.

The Race’s 16GB (or 32GB for titanium) and the Vertical’s 32GB storage let you download detailed maps via the Suunto app.

These maps include trails, contour lines, and points of interest (POIs), which I found invaluable when navigating unfamiliar routes.

The Race’s digital crown makes zooming and panning smoother than the Vertical’s button-only approach, which felt clunky in comparison.

However, neither watch offers routable maps like high-end Garmin models. They provide breadcrumb navigation, showing your path overlaid on the map, but they won’t reroute you if you miss a turn.

During a 60KM hike, the Race’s AMOLED made map details pop, but I had to fiddle with the crown to zoom in precisely. The Vertical’s MIP display was less crisp but easier to read without wrist gestures.

For urban runners, the Race’s navigation is plenty; for off-grid explorers, the Vertical’s simplicity and battery life make it a safer bet.

Fitness Tracking: Precision For Every Stride

As a data nerd, I love dissecting my performance metrics. Both the Race and Vertical track steps, calories, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), VO2 max, and sleep.

They support over 95 sports modes, from running to bouldering, and connect to external sensors like heart rate straps and bike computers via Bluetooth and ANT+. I paired my Race with a chest strap for a marathon, and the data was spot-on, matching my previous Garmin readings.

The Race’s optical heart rate sensor is newer and slightly more accurate, especially during high-intensity intervals. The Vertical struggled a bit with rapid heart rate changes, though tightening the strap helped.

Both watches offer training load insights and recovery metrics, but the Suunto app’s “Training Coach AI” felt basic compared to Garmin’s ecosystem. If you’re a casual athlete, you won’t notice much difference. For serious competitors, the Race’s sharper HR tracking gives it a slight edge.

User Interface: Smooth Or Stumbling?

Navigating the Race’s interface felt like a breath of fresh air.

The digital crown and touchscreen make scrolling through menus a breeze, though I noticed occasional micro-lags when switching between widgets.

Suunto’s July 2024 update improved UI speed, but it’s not as snappy as a Garmin Fenix.

The Vertical’s button-only navigation is straightforward but slower, especially when digging into sub-menus.

I found myself missing the crown during a rainy trail run when buttons were harder to press with gloves.

The Suunto app complements both watches well, offering heatmaps, 3D route visualizations, and training plans. It’s intuitive, similar to Garmin Connect, but lacks the depth of third-party integrations.

For example, I could sync data to Strava easily, but pairing multiple sensors simultaneously was limited. If you’re used to Wear OS or watchOS, expect a slight adjustment, but it’s not steep.

Pros And Cons of Suunto Race And Vertical

Suunto Race Pros

• Vibrant AMOLED Display: The 1.43-inch screen is crisp, colorful, and easy to read in most conditions.
• Intuitive Navigation: The digital crown simplifies menu and map interactions.
• Lightweight Design: At 69g (titanium), it’s comfortable for all-day wear.
• Competitive Price: Starting at $349, it’s a steal for the features.
• Accurate Tracking: Improved heart rate sensor and dual-band GPS deliver reliable data.

Suunto Race Cons

• Battery Life: 40 hours in GPS mode is solid but pales compared to the Vertical.
• Dimmed Screen Issues: Hard to read when biking without wrist gestures.
• Limited Sensor Support: Only one external sensor at a time, no naming options.
• No Solar Charging: Lacks the Vertical’s eco-friendly boost.

Suunto Vertical Pros

• Epic Battery Life: Up to 60 days (solar) or 60 hours in GPS mode.
• Rugged Build: MIL-STD-810H and snorkeling mode for extreme adventures.
• Solar Charging: Extends battery life in sunny conditions.
• Always-On Display: MIP screen is readable without wrist flicks.
• Offline Maps: 32GB storage for detailed navigation.

Suunto Vertical Cons

• Dated Display: MIP lacks the vibrancy of AMOLED.
• Clunky Navigation: Button-only interface feels slow.
• Higher Price: Starts at $599, a premium for adventurers.
• Slightly Heavier: 74g-86g feels bulkier on long runs.

My Experience With Suunto Race And Vertical

To truly understand these watches, I took them through their paces.

On a 50K trail race, the Race’s AMOLED display made checking splits a joy, but I had to raise my wrist to wake it, which was tricky while dodging roots.

The Vertical, mounted on my bike handlebars during a 100-mile ride, was easier to glance at, though its buttons were less responsive in the rain.

During a week-long backpacking trip, the Vertical’s battery life shone, lasting nearly 60 hours with GPS, while the Race would’ve needed a mid-trip charge.

The Race felt like an extension of my running shoes—sleek, fast, and focused. The Vertical was my trusty guide in the wilderness, never letting me down when I was miles from civilization. Your choice depends on whether you’re chasing PRs or summits.

Price And Value: What’s Worth Your Money?

At $349-$549, the Race is a bargain for its AMOLED display and feature set. It competes with the Garmin Forerunner 265 ($449) but offers better battery life and offline maps. The Vertical, priced at $599-$799, targets a niche market of adventurers willing to pay for longevity and durability.

The Titanium Solar version justifies its cost for multi-day treks, but for most users, the Race delivers more bang for your buck.

Who Should Choose Which?

If you’re a runner, triathlete, or gym-goer, the Race is your match. Its vibrant screen, lightweight build, and intuitive controls make it ideal for performance-driven sports.

If you’re an adventurer tackling multi-day hikes or ultra-endurance races, the Vertical’s battery life and ruggedness are unbeatable. I’d pick the Race for my daily runs and the Vertical for a week in the mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion: Your Wrist, Your Choice

You’re standing at a crossroads, deciding between the Suunto Race and Vertical. I’ve run, hiked, and biked with both, and they’re exceptional in their own right. The Race, with its dazzling AMOLED and snappy crown, is your go-to for performance and style.

The Vertical, with its marathon battery and rugged soul, is built for the wild. Think about your adventures—city streets or mountain peaks—and choose the watch that matches your heart.

You can’t go wrong, but the right one will feel like an extension of you.