There are plenty of smartwatches on the market but not all of them offer the features required to suit hikers and adventurers. But the Suunto Traverse sports watch certainly does.
The device has GPS onboard and is designed for the user who likes to go off the beaten path.
You can plan your route with topographic maps and stay on course with the built-in GPS.
The Suunto Traverse is 5cm wide, has a thickness of 1.65cm and weighs 80g. It’s about the same size as a divers watch and, of course, is waterproof to a depth of 100m.
The top of the watch is made from stainless steel and base is made from strong composite plastic.
There are five buttons – two on the left, three on the right – and these are used to access the features and navigate the menus.
It doesn’t have a touchscreen, which we think would have made the device a lot easier to use.
But that’s not to say the Suunto Traverse is difficult to use – you just need to master the buttons – and you’ll be zipping around in no time.
Like other other smartwatches and sportswatches, it has a rechargeable battery but the Suunto Traverse battery will run for up to three days on a full charge.
The watch is also smart and has Bluetooth on board so you can pair it with your smartphone and receive notifications like messages and emails.
On the GPS side, the Traverse also supports GLOSNASS (the Russian network of satellites) so you have more accurate tracking and it can also pinpoint your position faster as well.
So you can forget the handheld GPS, everything you need is right there on your wrist with the Suunto Traverse.
We gave the Suunto Traverse a test drive on a coastal walk and our GPS position was updated every second and our compass bearing was viewable in real time.
So whether you’re a hiker, adventurer or a runner – the device can provide distance, altitude and pace data.
On top of that that you’ll get sunrise/sunset times, weather trend and storm alarms, a compass, daily activity tracking of steps and calories and a vibration alarm.
When planning a route, users can connect the companion Movescount website.
From here you can find a route or plan your own, plan your training and compete with against other likeminded users in online and offline events.
The site also creates a handy way to follow your progress and keep track of your achievements.
The companion Movescount app is also a pretty handy way to track your completed journey complete with average speed, highest speed and changes in altitude.
And when you’re done it can also create a map flyover movie of your hike or run that you can share on social media.
And, of course, the Suunto Traverse also tells the time.
The Suunto Traverse is available now with a silicone strap and is priced at $549.