In certain circles, outdoor watches are true identification marks, status symbols and even statements. But they are clearly also useful on the mountain. No alpinist will deny that an altimeter is essential on serious tours. And an electronic compass is more than enough for most people. But Suunto's latest creation, the Ambit, can do much more: it is not only equipped with a GPS navigation function, but is also a fully-fledged training computer. We've been testing it for you this season.
Clobby watches on thick leather straps that sound like they've died out are really not my thing. Not watches in general, actually. I like to say that I live semi-chrono-autonomously. Which is unfortunately not true, time and its rapid progression are held against us too much at every turn. But on ski and mountain tours, I almost always have a watch on my wrist. Or on my shoulder strap. An outdoor watch, exactly. Reliable altitude information is worth a lot to me.
In everyday life
However, that has changed since I got the Ambit. More and more often, I have the timepiece on my wrist for all kinds of activities. Of course, the black cuff is not a small watch, but the metal case is very robust - albeit a little scratch-sensitive - and water-resistant to 100m. And in terms of size, it is within the normal average range for outdoor watches. Which is surprising when you consider what the watch can do and that a fully-fledged GPS receiver is also located on the side of the case. However, this is surprisingly cleverly integrated into the strap and hardly disturbs the wearing comfort. Sure, it's a big watch, and with a plastic strap, but thanks to the fit and large perforated strap, it's comfortable to wear and doesn't get in the way in everyday life or during sport.
And it's surprisingly often involved in the latter. Thanks to the heart rate strap supplied, I suddenly started paying attention to my heart rate again when training. Whether on the bike (a bike pod for speedometer or pedal frequency functions and a steering wheel mount are available as accessories) or when jogging, the Ambit has become a really useful companion. And the heart rate belt is also surprisingly useful on ski tours. I actually only took it with me to test it out and it was clear to me from the outset that nobody needs this nonsense on the mountain, but I realized that I can manage my energy much better on the ascent if I pay attention to my heart rate from time to time and don't exceed a certain threshold. In this respect, the watch is very didactic.
As a gadget
Because not only is your heart rate displayed, it is also recorded. At least if you activate the activity log. Together with altitude, temperature and GPS track and other activity-dependent features. Such as current and average ascent speed. Or percentage oxygen content. Or calorie consumption, or whatever. So you can see very well when and where you left how much energy and where you were doing well or where you've overdone it. And if you are not satisfied with the preset modes, you can quickly program your own. Or even completely new functions. Mathematical operations can be used to convert all of the watch's raw data into completely arbitrary parameters and create personalized apps. Do you want the watch to display the current incline? No problem, just integrate the app and it will do it.
All this information and functionality is controlled via Movescount, an online platform to which the watch data is uploaded using a USB cable clip (as an old-school computer user, I would have preferred a locally stored version and can do little with the community functions, but I guess you have to go with the flow). The clock can be programmed and customized there. Not only the desired displays, but also your own physical data, so that the training computer also provides meaningful information, through to all of the watch's menu items, can be adjusted here simply by clicking the mouse. You can also analyze and archive your tours here. The recorded GPS tracks (which are improved and refined by acceleration sensors) are displayed here directly as a map overlay, as well as the curves of the altitude diagram or the body data.
On the mountain
You can also create GPS tracks for navigation, compile routes and transfer them to the watch. Equipped in this way, the watch can be used for off-road navigation without any problems. It guides you very clearly from waypoint to waypoint on a previously generated route. The display allows intuitive direction finding and provides information on the current distance to the next waypoint. This works surprisingly well and simply. A map-like view of the route is also possible.
The "Find Back" function can also be very useful in an emergency. If you record your activity in the logbook, you can simply select this function and the watch will take you back to the starting point. The onset of bad weather thus loses some of its horror. Waypoints can also be entered en route, albeit somewhat awkwardly, but without any problems. Whether in the evening at the hut or in an emergency during the tour. It also makes sense to select the coordinate reference system. Traveling with Swiss maps? No problem: Simply set your watch to it and enter the coordinates exactly as read from the map. This way, you can easily find your way back to the hut or parking lot.
The route recording works very well. However, if you want to achieve usable resolutions on the descent, the watch must be set to a fast recording interval of 1 second (otherwise 10s or 60s with GPS). And that in turn eats up the battery. This is because the watch runs on a rechargeable battery, which is charged via the data USB cable. In everyday use, the watch easily lasts a month, and in normal use with several activities per week, I have never had to consciously charge the watch. This usually happened in passing when transferring data, after which the watch was often left on the computer. However, if, for example, you go ski touring with a heart rate monitor and maximum time resolution, then 2-3 days of touring is the maximum that the battery can take. This is certainly not a problem for most people, but it severely restricts its use for serious undertakings.
The display is easy to read in all situations and can be inverted at the touch of a button. Either a casual look with light text on a dark background, or improved readability in normal mode. The contrast can also be finely adjusted. And if the light gets dim, there is an adjustable backlight in various modes.
The altimeter function reliably supports ski tourers with orientation in the mountains and surprised me with its very small deviations from reality. I was used to more room for interpretation. The graphical representation as an altitude or barometric curve over the course of the last 12 or 27 hours is also very useful. The electronic compass is also very suitable for everyday use, because as a 3D compass it is very little susceptible to inclinations of the watch. A factor that really makes a difference on the wrist. Nevertheless, it is of course no substitute for a fully-fledged bearing compass when serious navigation is required.
Furthermore, the barometer function is of course very helpful on the mountain if you are staying at altitude in a hut or bivouac. Together with the thermometer, you can get useful weather information. The temperature measurement on the wrist is naturally so strongly influenced by body heat that it is useless, but even when taken off at lunchtime, the display reacts so slowly that it is impossible to get a real temperature measurement during a normal snack. This is a bit tedious and so if you want to keep an eye on the temperature, you have to strap the watch somewhere outside on your backpack or something similar.
But it is all the more accurate as a timepiece. Thanks to GPS time, it is almost impossible to go wrong - a not-to-be-underestimated right-wing poser factor with which you can collect a good portion of head shaking and antipathy!
A stopwatch function can also be switched on. Very useful here and there, even in everyday life. What I personally miss, however, is that it doesn't have a timer function. If I'm already walking around with a timepiece on my wrist, I want it to tell me when the washing is done, the egg is soft or the pregnancy test is ready. The watch can do everything but this little thing. An almost human weakness.
All in all, I can justifiably say that I have neither used the watch's full range of functions this season, nor am I sure I have understood them. The customization via Movescount simply offers too many additional functions. Of course, this is anything but a disadvantage, as everyone is likely to have the watch they need. To get there, however, it is advisable to study the instruction manual, which is not included, and not just the very simple quick start guide.
Conclusion
In the end, the Ambit is a real all-rounder with so many functions that hardly anyone really needs them all. And all for the price of an average student's ride, commonly known as a rust bucket. But its multifunctionality makes it amazingly useful on the mountain. There is little it can't do. As an outdoor watch anyway, but the navigation function in particular can be worth its weight in gold in an emergency. And if you also need a training computer, the Ambit really does combine everything. And more. And to be honest: Who buys such gadgets because they really need them?
Advantages and disadvantages
+Outdoor watch with barometric altimeter, 3D compass and temperature sensor
+ Fully-fledged training computer
+ GPS navigation by route or individual waypoints
+ Heart rate monitor
+ Logbook with heart rate curves, altitude and GPS track
+ countless display modes
+ flexibly programmable and customizable
+ display can be inverted at the touch of a button
- battery life limited depending on use
- price
Details
Product name: Suunto Ambit Black (HR)
Price (RRP): 479,99 € / 599,- CHF (without heart rate strap 429,99 € / 499,- CHF)
Versions: Black and Silver (each with or without heart rate strap)
Weight: 77g
Comprehensive GPS with waypoint and route navigation
Unique 3D compass
Precise barometric altitude measurement
Barometer
Temperature measurement
Global and local GPSgrid
Precise speed measurement thanks to acceleration sensors and GPS
Precise vertical speed with barometric altitude measurement
Advanced heart rate with peak training effect and recovery time
Online sports diary
Particularly robust housing
Waterproof up to 100m
Updateable
