Suunto T6 vs. Polar S625X

Need help and advice to decide between the two. Is the Suunto package (HRM and software) really that good and helpfull? Is the big difference in price between the T6 and the S625X justified?
Does the S625X software enable you to easily analize the data and improve?
I'm a 44 years old beginner wanting to run' enjoy and get better.

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

[CGC]

I'm 38 and just starting to run myself. I also like to hike and seem to be leaning towards the T6. Really wish there was some information comparing the two watches. Best of luck.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

[lobi]

I tested both and I prefer the t6 much more over the polar s625x.

Why?

1. You can wear the t6 as a "normal" watch - looks a lot better than the Polar watch for every day use. Also build quality is better, just hink of the t6´s mineral glass compared to the plastic of the S625x.

2. Suunto´s footpod is a lot smaller than Polar´s, the Bikepod can be mountet a lot easier (and changed from one bike to another without any tool) than Polar´s bike accesoires.

2. EPOC is a fun thing to use (good for showing tendencies and trends in your training, maybe not as accurate overall as advertised - still (very) educated guessing) and much more usable than the OWNindex-Story from POLAR.

3. Altimeter better than in Polar watches, barometer plus barometer trend as an extra feature.

4. Suunto´s ANT technology works a lot better than POLAR´s own-code transmission of signals - only drawback: ANT is totally blocked by water - so not really useful for swimmers or triathlets.

DRAWBACKS:

1. Polar´s software is much more sophisticated with a lot more report and graph functions (although Suunto´s STRAM is designed cooler)

2. The s625x is cheaper, especially the PODs from Suunto are overpriced (bikepod 99 Euros!!!)

BTW- for beginners both watches are way to sophisticated - I do love such gadgets, but sometimes I tend to think "why not just listen to your body than building up a personal area network wih your gadgets and jogging in the electro-smog i generated myself.

hope that helped

greetings

lobi

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

	Suunto Training Effect watches - Click for more info More than a heart rate monitor, Suunto's exclusive Training Effect feature tells you whether you're training too little, too hard or staying within the zones for optimal improvement.

	Suunto Pods - Click for more info PODs from Suunto help you bring your workout of choice to a whole new level. Suunto offers PODs geared toward running, walking, all-around biking and road cycling - there's even a GPS POD - all of which enhance the functionality of selected Suunto watches and improve your workout. In fact, in addition to these PODs, Suunto also offers a number of Performance Packs, each of which includes a Suunto POD and Suunto watch together.

[RunningTheEdge]

I currently owned a S625x and can barely hear the alarm beep. Does the Suunto T6 have a louder alarm?

Is the display lettering as large as the S625x?
Thanks

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

[lobi]

the display is better readable with the t6 (mineral glass and brighter display, dot-matrix display in all three rows), the alarm is´nt loud either.

greetings

lobi

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

[petro]

Originally Posted by lobi

I tested both and I prefer the t6 much more over the polar s625x.
<snip>
4. Suunto´s ANT technology works a lot better than POLAR´s own-code transmission of signals - only drawback: ANT is totally blocked by water - so not really useful for swimmers or triathlets.

Neither Polar nor Timex work with a spit in the water (at least in a heavily chlorinated swimming pool, this has nothing to do with coding technology).

Originally Posted by lobi

BTW- for beginners both watches are way to sophisticated - I do love such gadgets, but sometimes I tend to think "why not just listen to your body than building up a personal area network wih your gadgets and jogging in the electro-smog i generated myself.

Some of us spent years learning to not listen to our bodies, and now we're trying to repair that damage. We're not always sure what we're hearing.

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

[ewab]

I've been using Polar for over a year now and even though I love the software I am getting more and more frustrated. The connection between the transmitter and the monitor is very poor. Wet skin, gentle washing of the strap, avoiding other interferences do not seem to make much difference. The result is that in the middle of the exercise I often get bogus results (either way too high, or flat for a number of minutes or sometimes there is no reading at all). So finally I gave up and ordered Suunto t6. It works like a charm but the software is very primitive, no comparison to Polar's. One cannot highlight heart zones on the graph, one cannot show %HR vs HR on the axis, there are no reports on how much time one spent exercising in any given zone and so on. And the manual... I won't go into that. I ended up figuring out how to set the watch by clicking back and forth. If I relied on the manual only I would have missed a lot of features.
Polar's display is much richer, more information is accessible during exercise. The interval settings are more sophisticated also (on Suunto one cannot set intervals based on HR).
So in general Polar seems to be to be a much better thought of product if it only worked well...
Right now I am still not decided what to do. I use T31 transmitter and I've been hearing that T61 is much more reliable. I can still return the Suunto.
Anyone has any experience with T61 transmitters?
EB

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

	Suunto Bands - Click for more info The range of Suunto Core Acessory Straps include the six straps as found on the various Suunto Core wristop computer models as well as three additional straps. All straps are compatible with every Core model, allowing you to custom-tailor your Core to your tastes and needs.

[tgspinner]

I recently sold my Polar S610 and have a T6. I used them both for about a year. The Polar has better customer support and have a very stable system. The T6 I believe is a superior product with its encoding, EPOC, etc. I have made greater gains with my T6 than my S610. I have had more quality problems with it and its customer phone support is poor. Unless you get tech on the phone it virtually impossible to get the problem resolve. There is a language barrier with support US. The tech always says, "send it in" and you are out for about 2-3 weeks. Once, bad strap, then 3 times, "software upgrades", etc. I should be able to flash that myself, in this day in age.

I love it, but hate its quality control problems. If they can get their act together, they would be #1 in my book.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

	Suunto Bands - Click for more info The range of Suunto Core Acessory Straps include the six straps as found on the various Suunto Core wristop computer models as well as three additional straps. All straps are compatible with every Core model, allowing you to custom-tailor your Core to your tastes and needs.

[hydroboy]

Hi all,
I'm a proud owner of the T6. In the past 6 years i've been useing 810i/725X. The only problem that i have with the T6 is that unlike the 810i/725X i can't create new workouts E1...E5. Or more important training phase. It has a warm-up & HR limits (Recovery by Hr), option but i can't divide it to sections like in the polar.
On the other hand, the EPOC feture is a cute thing though not really accurate. VE, Kcal, ResP is a nice thing to have.

Then again I'm abit frustrated if its better or not....

What say you?!

HydroBoy
Exercise specialist

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

	Suunto Training Effect watches - Click for more info More than a heart rate monitor, Suunto's exclusive Training Effect feature tells you whether you're training too little, too hard or staying within the zones for optimal improvement.

[kaimok]

I don't have personal experience with Polar, but I recommend the following article:

Speed and Distance Monitor Review
The Polar S625X (S725X), Suunto t6, and Timex Trail Runner

available onhttp://www.pccoach.com/newsletters/Nov05/speedistreview.htm

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.