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 M2
Suunto M2 heart rate monitor reviewed and tested by Tristan Haskins aka CardioCritic (formerly HeartRateMonitor UK). The M2 heart rate monitor watch features real-time heart rate monitoring (chest strap included) and calories burned. It is equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals.
A very popular entry level heart rate monitor with calories burnt.
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 M2 is still a good heart rate monitor watch, however, there are many better alternatives …. (comment Jan 2021)
Video Review
The Suunto M2 heart rate monitor is perfect for those who want to keep fit, burn fat and ensure that they are exericing “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 M2 heart rate monitor is equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals.
It comes with the Suunto Dual chest transmitter so the analogue transmission is compatible with most gym equipment and the digital transmission eliminates any interference.
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.
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 The Suunto M2 heart rate monitor Box?
- Suunto M2
- Dual chest transmitter belt
- Quick Start Guide
Top Alternatives
Next Model UP
The next model up is the Suunto M5. The M5 is a considerably more functional heart rate monitor with Suunto’s clever TRAINING LOAD indication giving you an easy to understand measure of training intensity.
Next Model DOWN
The model below this is the M1. The Suunto M1 has essential heart rate monitoring with calories burnt just like the M2, however, it comes with an UNCODED HRM belt. This is fine as long as you do not exercise in large groups surrounded by other HRM users.
