At a Glance: Quick Ratings
Heart Rate Functions
Fitness / Sport Features
Ease of Use
Battery Life
Where To Get It
A Deep Dive Into The Suunto Ambit 3 Sport
The Suunto Ambit3 Sport GPS performance watch for triathlon / multisport has been reviewed by Tristan Haskins aka CardioCritic
Update > In October 2021 Suunto released their new Suunto Spartan Sport GPS multisport watch. If you want the latest and greatest offering from Suunto, then please check the review of the Spartan Sport here.
Please note. I still hold this Ambit3 Sport in very high esteem and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good GPS runners watch with Bluetooth connection to iOs & Android smartphone.
Apart from the full colour touchscreen of the Spartan Sport there are several features that this Ambit 3 Run has that appear to be missing from the Spartan eg. no Suunto APPS support, running cadence and track back … however, there are loads of new features like improved rest and recovery analysis, recovery time view on watch post training, 80 plus pre-installed sports modes and personal bests ….
Video Review
Quick Summary : If you don’t need the barometric weather functionality of the Ambit3 Peak, but you still want MultiSport support, then please consider this Ambit3 Sport. Available in several colours including blue, coral, black, white and sapphire you are certain to get a watch that looks as good as it performs.
The Ambit3 range of Suunto’s first Bluetooth only wrist computers and they no longer support the previous ANT+ sensors. With a Bluetooth connection to your Smartphone you can download your sessions to Movescount and even set your Ambit3’s display settings. Acting in a similar way to a Smartwatch the Ambit3 will send push notifications when you phone receives phones calls, texts and emails.
MultiSport GPS with Training Load & Recovery Feedback
The human desire to get faster is universal amongst most athletes, at all levels. Whether you are doing the local ParkRun, pushing yourself to your limits on the trail, finding your limits on your bike or punishing yourself in the water, the Ambit3 Sport could be your invaluable training partner.
A multisport GPS tool that could help you become the best you can be. Just as importantly as tracking live running, swimming and biking performance is analysing the quality of your sleep and active recovery time.
Swimming Feedback
The Suunto Ambit3 Sport is generally sold (but please check) with the Suunto Smart belt. Just like the Garmin HRM-swim belt, the Smart belt stores the heart rate data from the swim LOCALLY.
At the end of the swim, when the signal between watch and HR belt is re-established, the swimming heart rate data is broadcast to the wrist unit. With the Ambit3 Sport and SMART belt you get full swim-metrics plus heart rate feedback. At the time of writing this (Sept 2021) it is only this, the Fenix3, the Polar V800 and the Garmin 902XT TriBundle that have the ability to give heart rate & swim-metrics from the same wrist unit.
Note > this product was replaced by the Suunto Spartan Sport (Oct 2021)
Smartphone Connectivity
Suunto are no different to everyone else in that they have an App for iOs and Android phones. The Suunto Movescount App lets you plan your workouts and evens provides voice guidance during your training (should you want them). The Movescount app even lets you can adjust the watch’s settings on the go, then relive and share your experience (depending on available network coverage).
Note – we have ticked YES for this watch with regard to “Virtual Partner”. Although not included in the STANDARD features the user has the ability to install the relevant APP in to the Ambit3. For Virtual Partner download the Ghost Runner APP from Movescount. It’s not exactly the same but it basically allows you to run a chosen distance in a target time, racing against a “ghost runner” to pace you throughout.
Key Features
MULTISPORT
- 15h battery with 5 sec-GPS accuracy (1 min-accuracy: 100h)
- Speed, pace, distance and GPS altitude
- Route navigation and track back
- Compass
- Heart rate in swimming**
- Bike power support (Bluetooth Smart)
- Multiple sports in one log
- Interval workout planner*
- Interval workouts with voice guidance*
- Activity based recovery time
- Quick recovery and sleep quality tests (Firstbeat)**
- Movescount training programs on the watch
- Extended feature set through Suunto Apps
- Languages: EN, CS, DA, DE, ES, FI, FR, IT, JA, KO, NL, NO, PL, PT, RU, SV, ZH
For availability information, check www.suunto.com/software-updates
CONNECTIVITY
- Upload and share your moves instantly*
- Customize your watch on the go*
- Time and GPS satellite data up to date on the go*
- Use your phone as second watch display* (Add an extended battery pack for your smartphone to support even longer adventures.)
- Integration with Strava and TrainingPeaks
ENRICH, RELIVE AND SHARE
- Take photos during your Move showing your current speed, distance, and more*
- Create a Suunto Movie of your Move with 3D map, key metrics and images*
- Share your experience instantly to your social media networks*
*with the Suunto Movescount App
**with Suunto Smart Sensor
Note! The Ambit3 watches are Bluetooth Smart compatible, not compatible with ANT+™ (e.g. Suunto ANT PODs, Suunto Dual or Suunto ANT belt)
Full Technical Specification
Top Alternative
The model up from this one is the Suunto Ambit3 Peak with additional navigation support, weather alerts and barometric pressure sensor for more accurate altitude feedback.
Closest Competitor
The product from other brands with the closest functionality to this Ambit3 Sport would be the Polar V800 and the Garmin Forerunner 920XT. Both offer true multisport functionality with multiple disciplines being recorded in one exercise file. Each has it’s own pros and cons over the others and we would, in all honesty, be happy to use any for the duration of a triathlon and the training leading up to it.
Polar V800 as an alternative from Polar as their GPS sports watch for triathlon / multisport athletes
Forerunner 920XT as an alternative from Garmin as their top of the range MultiSport GPS watch.
>>Interested in outdoor adventure watches? Check out our review here!
