Suunto M1 Review – Affordable Fitness And Easy To Use

m1 review

At a Glance: Quick Ratings

Heart Rate Functions

65%

Fitness / Sport Features

55%

Ease of Use


99%

Battery Life


99%

Where To Get It

A Deep Dive Into The Suunto M1

Thank you for visiting our review of the Suunto M1, reviewed and tested by Tristan Haskins. The M1 heart rate monitor provides easy and comfortable monitoring of real-time heart rate and calories burned.  Equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals. The M1 provides accurate calories burnt while training based on exercising heart rate.

NOTE > heart rate monitors have really moved on since 2021 with regard to lithium ion batteries, Bluetooth connected smartphone apps, wrist based heart rate and built-in GPS etc.

If you want a self contained heart rate monitor watch that does NOT connect to your smartphone and runs on a regular CR2032 coin-cell battery … the Suunto M1 is still a good heart rate monitor / fitness watch, however, there are many better alternatives …. (comment Jan 2021)

  • Who Is It For?

  • Video Review

The Suunto M1 heart rate monitor is perfect for those who want to keep fit, burn fat and ensure that they are exercising “just” hard enough for “just” the right amount of time.  

With easy and comfortable monitoring of real-time heart rate and calories burned, the Suunto M1 heart rate monitor is equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals.

The M1 monitors your heart rate while you exercise to ensure you stay within the most effective heart rate training zone.  If you’re going to burn those calories, make sure every move is a smart one.

It comes with an analogue chest transmitter so is compatible with most gym equipment but if used in a busy gym, may be prone to interference if exercising within 1.5m of other heart rate monitor users. We have used the Suunto M1 and for use in quiet gyms, or running / cycling / exercising on your own, it is perfect.

Should you buy one now?

No … sorry Suunto, but I would have to recommend the Polar M200 or Garmin Forerunner 35 with wrist based heart rate and built-in GPS for runners and other exercisers looking to track heart rate plus speed & distance.

However, If you want to keep things simple and just want your time of day watch to double up as a heart rate monitor then the M1 could be for you. 

For general fitness, health and lifestyle monitoring I would suggest either the Fitbit Charge 2, Garmin Vivosmart HR or Polar A360. All of these fitness watches are supported by brilliant smartphone apps and websites. They all give accurate calories burnt feedback

Garmin Forerunner 35 user friendly, competent GPS running watch with wrist based HR

Polar M200 a more basic GPS running watch with wrist based HR & activity tracker

Polar A360 a stylish activity tracker with colour display, wrist based HR and sports profiles

Garmin Vivosmart HR activity tracker with wrist based HR and floors climbed

Fitbit Charge 2 activity tracker with wrist based HR and floors climbed

Main features

  • Real time heart rate monitoring
  • Automatically switches between 3 x heart rate zones to help reach personal targets
  • (Note – 3 x target zones are AUTO set – user cannot define their own zones)
  • Calories burnt – based on exercising heart rate
  • Time of day
  • Date
  • Daily alarm
  • Both units with SELF CHANGE batteries

What’s In box?

  • Suunto M1 HRM watch
  • Analogue heart rate chest transmitter
  • Quick Start Guide

 

Top Alternatives

Next Model UP

The next model up is the Suunto M2 with CODED heart rate belt.

Andrew Wyatt

Andrew Wyatt

Andrew Wyatt has been a tech geek for as long as he can remember. Whether it's laptops, cameras, or projects, he's obsessed with it all. When he's not researching the latest tech products, he likes to go on long hikes with his dogs.

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