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Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965

When it comes to advanced fitness and running watches, Suunto and Garmin are two of the biggest names in the industry. Their latest models, the Suunto Race and Garmin Forerunner 965, are both packed with cutting-edge features aimed at athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers alike. But which one is the better choice for you? In this comparison, we’ll break down the features, pros, and cons of both the Suunto Race and the Garmin Forerunner 965, helping you make an informed decision.

If you’re considering upgrading your sports watch, this post will guide you through everything you need to know about the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965.

Design and Build Quality

When looking at fitness and running watches, the design and build quality are crucial factors, as they determine how comfortable the watch feels during use, as well as its durability.

Suunto Race Design

The Suunto Race has a rugged yet stylish design, made with outdoor enthusiasts in mind. The watch comes with a stainless steel bezel and durable materials that can withstand extreme conditions. It’s designed to be water-resistant up to 100 meters, making it a great choice for swimmers and triathletes. The display is bright and visible in both direct sunlight and low-light conditions.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Design

The Garmin Forerunner 965, on the other hand, boasts a more lightweight design. It’s built with a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, making it less bulky but still very durable. The watch also comes with a high-resolution AMOLED display, which provides sharp, vibrant visuals. This makes it particularly appealing for users who want a sleek, modern-looking fitness watch that also performs under tough conditions.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – Its lightweight and AMOLED display offer an edge in design for those who prioritize comfort and modern aesthetics.

You can check out the Suunto Race here and Garmin Forerunner 965 here.

Fitness and Health Tracking Features

Fitness tracking is one of the main reasons why people invest in high-end watches like the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965. Let’s dive into the health monitoring features each device offers.

Suunto Race Fitness Tracking

Suunto Race offers a full suite of fitness and health tracking features. It includes heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and GPS-based activity tracking. Suunto is known for its focus on outdoor sports, so the watch is packed with modes for running, cycling, hiking, swimming, and multisport activities. The heart rate accuracy is impressive, making it ideal for athletes who rely on precise data for training. Additionally, it provides VO2 max estimates and stress level measurements.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Fitness Tracking

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is packed with Garmin’s top-tier fitness tracking technology. It includes 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep analysis, and advanced running metrics like cadence and stride length. What makes the Garmin Forerunner 965 stand out is its integration with Garmin Coach, which provides personalized workout plans. The Forerunner 965 also offers oxygen saturation tracking (Pulse Ox) and body battery energy monitoring, making it a more holistic fitness watch.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – With its additional advanced metrics and coaching features, Garmin edges out in fitness tracking capabilities.

GPS and Navigation

For athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, having accurate GPS and navigation features is essential. This section of the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965 comparison focuses on these crucial features.

Suunto Race GPS Performance

Suunto has always been known for its superior GPS accuracy, especially in outdoor environments. The Suunto Race offers multi-GNSS support (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo), ensuring a strong and reliable signal in challenging terrains. It also includes route planning and turn-by-turn navigation, making it ideal for hikers, trail runners, and cyclists who need guidance in remote areas.

Garmin Forerunner 965 GPS Performance

Garmin Forerunner 965 also offers multi-GNSS support, including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. However, Garmin adds its proprietary SatIQ technology, which automatically adjusts GPS settings to optimize battery life without compromising accuracy. Garmin’s mapping capabilities are also superior, with full-color, preloaded topographic maps and turn-by-turn navigation available.

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Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – Garmin’s superior mapping features and SatIQ technology make it a better choice for users who need advanced GPS performance.

Battery Life

Battery life is a critical feature when choosing between Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965, especially for long-distance athletes and adventurers.

Suunto Race Battery Life

Suunto Race offers solid battery performance. In GPS mode, the watch can last up to 30 hours, which is impressive for long runs or hikes. In regular smartwatch mode, the battery can last up to 14 days. Suunto also offers various battery-saving modes, allowing users to extend the battery life during less intensive activities.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Battery Life

The Garmin Forerunner 965, while slightly less in GPS mode, provides up to 20 hours of use. In smartwatch mode, however, it can last up to 23 days, depending on usage. Garmin’s advanced battery optimization settings, combined with SatIQ, make it a great choice for users who want long-lasting performance without constantly recharging.

Winner: Suunto Race – While both watches offer excellent battery life, Suunto’s longer GPS mode duration makes it more suitable for long adventures.

Smartwatch Features

Both the Suunto Race and Garmin Forerunner 965 come with smart capabilities, allowing them to function not only as fitness devices but also as everyday smartwatches.

Suunto Race Smartwatch Features

Suunto Race offers essential smartwatch features such as notifications for calls, texts, and apps. It integrates with both Android and iOS devices. However, it lacks more advanced features such as music storage or contactless payments, which limits its appeal as an all-in-one device for daily wear.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Smartwatch Features

The Garmin Forerunner 965 excels in this area. It includes features like onboard music storage, Spotify integration, and Garmin Pay for contactless payments. You can customize the watch face and download third-party apps from Garmin’s Connect IQ store. These additional features make the Forerunner 965 more versatile for users looking to replace their standard smartwatch with a fitness-focused device.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – Garmin’s more advanced smartwatch capabilities make it the better option for users who want a multi-functional device.

User Interface and Ease of Use

A smooth and intuitive interface is important when choosing a fitness watch. Let’s see how the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965 perform in this category.

Suunto Race Interface

Suunto Race comes with a simple, easy-to-use interface. The menus are straightforward, and the controls are intuitive, even for first-time users. Suunto’s mobile app is also well-designed, providing clear data visualizations and syncing seamlessly with the watch.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Interface

The Garmin Forerunner 965 offers a more complex interface with plenty of customization options. While it may take some time to learn all the features, the watch’s touchscreen makes navigation easier. Garmin’s Connect app is robust, allowing users to dive deep into their health metrics and workout data. The watch can feel overwhelming for beginners, but for more experienced users, its features are worth the effort.

Winner: Tie – Suunto wins for simplicity, while Garmin offers more features for users who want customization and in-depth analysis.

Price and Value for Money

Lastly, we come to the all-important factor: price. Is the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965 worth the investment, and which one offers better value for money?

Suunto Race Price

Suunto Race is priced in the mid-to-high range for fitness watches, making it a solid investment for those who need a rugged, high-performance outdoor watch. It’s a great choice for athletes who prioritize battery life and GPS performance.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Price

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is priced slightly higher than the Suunto Race, but it comes with a wider range of features, particularly in terms of fitness tracking, smartwatch capabilities, and customizability. For serious athletes or users who want an all-in-one smartwatch and fitness device, the higher price is justified.

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Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – Though more expensive, its additional features make it a better value for users who need advanced tracking and smart features.

Thank you! I’m glad you liked the comparison. Let’s expand on a few more key areas to make the post even more comprehensive and informative.

Durability and Water Resistance

For athletes, adventurers, and fitness enthusiasts, durability is a key factor when choosing between the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965.

Suunto Race Durability

The Suunto Race is built to last. With a rugged stainless steel bezel and reinforced materials, it is designed to endure harsh outdoor conditions. Its water resistance of up to 100 meters makes it ideal for water sports enthusiasts. Whether you’re diving into the ocean or sweating through an intense workout, the Suunto Race is designed to perform reliably.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Durability

While the Garmin Forerunner 965 has a less rugged appearance, it still offers impressive durability. The watch is built with a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel and a chemically strengthened glass display. It also offers 50 meters of water resistance, making it a solid choice for swimming and other water-based activities, though it doesn’t match the depth capability of the Suunto Race.

Winner: Suunto Race – Its higher water resistance rating makes it the more durable option for extreme sports and conditions.

Custom Workouts and Training Plans

One of the most valuable features of a high-end fitness watch is the ability to customize workouts and follow personalized training plans. Here’s how the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965 compare in this area.

Suunto Race Training Plans

Suunto Race offers a wide range of preloaded workout modes, including running, cycling, swimming, and multisport options. Users can manually create custom workout routines or select from Suunto’s extensive list of training plans. However, the customization is somewhat limited compared to Garmin’s more advanced options. While Suunto’s training plans are solid, they don’t offer the depth of personalization that some athletes may require.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Training Plans

Garmin takes a step further with its training plans, especially with Garmin Coach. This feature allows users to set specific goals, such as training for a 5K or marathon, and receive adaptive training plans based on their performance. Garmin also offers a wide range of preloaded activities, but what stands out is the advanced metrics and analytics that come with these plans, providing users with detailed insights into their performance.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – The inclusion of Garmin Coach and the level of workout customization give it an advantage for serious athletes.

Third-Party App Integration

In today’s connected world, the ability to sync with other apps and devices is crucial for enhancing the overall user experience. This section explores the third-party app integration capabilities of the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965.

Suunto Race App Integration

Suunto Race integrates well with the Suunto app, which is available on both Android and iOS. It also supports third-party apps like Strava, TrainingPeaks, and Komoot. However, the range of supported apps is somewhat limited compared to Garmin’s ecosystem. While Suunto’s integration is reliable, it lacks the breadth of customization options that Garmin users enjoy.

Garmin Forerunner 965 App Integration

Garmin has one of the most comprehensive ecosystems for third-party app integration. Through the Garmin Connect app, users can sync their watch with apps like MyFitnessPal, Strava, Spotify, and many others. Garmin’s Connect IQ Store allows users to download additional apps, widgets, and watch faces, giving users even more flexibility in how they use their device.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – Garmin’s extensive app store and broader third-party integration make it a more versatile device for tech-savvy users.

Advanced Health Metrics

Modern fitness watches do more than just track steps and calories; they provide advanced health metrics that can help users monitor their overall well-being. Let’s take a look at how the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965 perform in this category.

Suunto Race Health Metrics

Suunto Race covers the basics like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress analysis. It also provides a VO2 max estimate, which is crucial for athletes who want to track their cardiovascular fitness. However, the Suunto Race lacks more advanced health metrics like body battery monitoring and respiratory rate tracking, which could be useful for users interested in deeper health insights.

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Garmin Forerunner 965 Health Metrics

Garmin Forerunner 965 offers some of the most advanced health metrics available in the market. In addition to heart rate and sleep tracking, it includes Pulse Ox monitoring, respiration tracking, body battery energy monitoring, and hydration tracking. These features allow users to monitor their overall health and make informed decisions about their training and recovery.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – With its advanced health metrics, Garmin provides a more complete picture of overall health and wellness.

User Community and Social Features

One often overlooked aspect of choosing a fitness watch is the community and social features that come with the device. This is where a strong, active user base can enhance motivation and engagement.

Suunto Race Social Features

Suunto has a smaller but loyal user base. While it offers basic social features like activity sharing with friends and challenges through its app, the community isn’t as robust as Garmin’s. Suunto’s focus has always been on performance rather than community engagement, so users looking for a strong social component may find it lacking.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Social Features

Garmin’s social features are far more developed. Through the Garmin Connect app, users can join challenges, share activities with friends, and participate in virtual races. The Garmin community is vast, and the social features help users stay motivated by connecting with others. Garmin also integrates well with third-party social fitness platforms like Strava and MyFitnessPal.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – Garmin’s larger and more active user community provides greater opportunities for social interaction and motivation.

Stress and Recovery Monitoring

Monitoring stress levels and recovery is important for athletes to avoid burnout and overtraining. Let’s see how the Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965 fare in this category.

Suunto Race Stress Monitoring

Suunto Race includes basic stress monitoring through its heart rate variability (HRV) sensor, which gives users a general idea of their stress levels. It also provides recovery insights based on sleep and heart rate data, but it doesn’t go as in-depth as Garmin’s recovery tools.

Garmin Forerunner 965 Stress and Recovery

Garmin excels in stress and recovery monitoring. The Forerunner 965 offers advanced stress tracking through HRV, as well as a “Body Battery” feature that measures your energy levels throughout the day. It also provides detailed recovery times after workouts, helping users optimize their training schedules. These insights are crucial for athletes who want to ensure they’re not overtraining.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 – The advanced stress and recovery metrics make it a better choice for users who need comprehensive insights into their well-being.

Conclusion: Which One is Right for You?

Both the Suunto Race and Garmin Forerunner 965 are excellent fitness watches that cater to different types of users. The Suunto Race stands out for its rugged build, excellent GPS accuracy, and longer battery life, making it a great choice for outdoor adventurers and athletes who need a reliable watch for extreme conditions. On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 965 offers more advanced health and fitness tracking, better smartwatch features, and a more robust user community, making it ideal for athletes looking for a more versatile, everyday fitness device.

If you’re an outdoor athlete or adventurer who prioritizes durability, battery life, and GPS performance, the Suunto Race may be the best option for you.
If you’re looking for advanced health metrics, smartwatch functionality, and a larger community for motivation, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is likely the better choice.

Have you tried either of these models? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your experiences in the comments below and help others make an informed decision.