Customer Reviews

Suunto T4 Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch (Black)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My background: running since 1985, 8 yrs of XC, 9 marathons. I've been using HRM's for training for years and have tried Nike, Polar, Freestyle and Timex HRM's. I was intrigued by the buzz this watch was getting in some of the running and outdoors magazines, so I picked up the T4. Here are my thoughts:

1. The band looks cool, but that cool white stripe is grey and dingy two months later. It also constantly slips and requires readjustment. Nylon bands also get wet and stay wet until you take them off...a pain if you wear your watch all the time like me.

2. The crystal is not recessed/does not have a rubber buffer around it...as is typical on most running watches. This means the crystal is unprotected and the face is more scratched after two months than many of my older watches.

3. The "coach" function is neat, but it's not that much of a revelation really...probably some simple algorythm that comes up with a training progress rate based on how long you're working out at what heart rate. Good for a beginner, but nothing a serious athlete can't figure out on his/her own based on the principles of HRM training.

4. The HRM itself has been inconsistent...on my last several runs the HR reading has been way below where it should be (ie 90 when it should be at 130...) then, out of the blue, it pops up to a more reasonable reading. Then it freezes without explanation. Not something you want to deal with during an interval workout or hard run where your pace/HR matters.

5. After years of mostly Nike and Timex, it just isn't intuitive or easy to use. The menus are hard to navigate on the fly. This is my fault though, I guess I need to try harder.

6. The split display when the chrono is on is cool...you can choose between a variety of displays: calories burned, HR, time since last split, average heart rate, etc. My only beef with this is that if you stop during a split, and then restart, it shows you your time since you restarted, it doesn't keep tracking your split time. Kind of inconvenient when in the middle of an interval.

Anyway, for what it's worth, those are my thoughts. Nike remains probably the best for running features, although I've had reliability problems with Nike (short battery life and cheap bands), Timex is probably the most reliable for the bucks. I just don't think this one was worth the price tag. On race day I'll probably break out an older, more reliable HRM.

This monitor DOES indeed do what the manual says it will do. That is, it monitors heart rate and provides "training effect" information. However, I note 3 problems w/ it that cause me to recommend my previous brand - Polar- over the Suunto. First, because the monitor is not the least bit intuitive in its operation, the manual needs to be much more detailed. I'm pretty saavy w/ monitors and can program most w/o even consulting the manual. I can't even operate this one w/o continual reference to the manual. I end up delaying my training by 5 minutes or more just to get the monitor ready to go. Second, the monitor loses the heart rate signal more than any other monitor I've ever owned. I've replaced the batteries and still, it cuts in and out both inside and outside. Since the monitor is supposed to track your training via heart rate and time in various training zones, this interruption is frustrating and undercuts the whole point of this monitor. Lastly, the monitor is capable of interfacing with various add-ons such as a "foot pod" and a "bike pod." That's fine if one wants to purchase and utilize those add-ons. But, the menu on the monitor should permit you to delete those fields for which you have NOT added the extra apparatus so that when you scroll through you don't have to click past 3 blank fields for which you have no use. A minor point, I know, but it contributes to an already cluttered menu arrangement.

I got this watch approximately one week ago. The coach function, which is probably the reason you are looking at it, is fairly nice, although I've only used it about 3 times. It seems to be a fairly good read of your current capacity, although for me it was too easy to exceed what it asked for (as I am in fairly bad shape, and even low intensity exercise shot my heart rate way up... of course this is not the watches fault). I expect that with time, it will help me improve in a better fashion than if i did not have this tool, will post an update in a few weeks/months.

The watch interface is fairly simple, although it does have all the basic functions necessary. Its got the normal time, dual time, alarm clock, day, date display (it only shows the time and one other thing at a time),and the alarm clock has a snooze function, which I had never seen on a wristwatch. It does not have all the extra functions that Suunto's normally do(altimeter, compass, barometer), but this is not expected, as this is geared towards fitness.

As for heart rate belt reception, I have not had a dropped signal in any use. When I first got it and tried it, the signal kept dropping, but after reading the instructions, and placing a small amount of water on the electrodes,this problem disappeared.

The watch has a slightly steep learning curve, as there's 3 different training measures that it uses (activity class, program level, and training effect), but again, after reading the instructions, it became clear what these mean and how they work (TE is the main workout measurement, the others are set up at the beginning, and you don't have to modify them or monitor them on a day to day basis). Again, I have had it for a week, and have been using it effectively, so the learning curve is manageable.

As other people have mentioned, the materials the watch is made out of are not necessarily the best, specially considering the acrylic vs crystal face, and the band, as I would have preferred an elastomer one(easy to fix with 19 USD). Nonetheless, it does not look bad.

In conclusion, its a nice enough watch with some very nice fitness functions, and at a very good price. I definitely recommend it.

AN UPDATE A FEW MONTHS LATER:

My only complaint is the band. I like the way it looks, but I have to adjust it about once or twice a day. Will definitely get the elastomer strap.

Coach function has helped!

This is a great training tool. The post exercise information is very, data by log, week and month and the coach is a very nice training tool. I just believe that suunto could invest in a better strap and general device materials. Making long history short this is a better option to T6 and even better than S625x if you are looking for a daily training tool.

I rate this item with four (4) stars because it is fully functional and user friendly. However, the watch comes with a very cheap cloth band that doesn't stay tight (because the band is not secured to the watch with a seem or weld) and the face is not scratch-resistant or recessed. (on the second day wearing the watch I got a big scratch across the face). Overall, this watch is worth the buy with an additional strap (the rubber one) and a scratch-resistant face.

the band is unbelievably cheap for a watch of this price and quality.

The coach feature keeps me motivated. It provides a flexible plan that has allowed me to gradually increase my fitness level. For the money, I couldn't be happier - The ability to keep me focused on cardiovacular improvment earns a five star rating twice over. Suunto goofed with the cheap nylon wrist band, but the band can be replaced with the rubber version found on the T3.

The T4 has enough flexibility to be used on its own with the coach feature, but also easily integrates with my workout routine. The logging of workouts is detailed, including time spent in each zone, peak heart rate, and calories burned. With the coach feature, it offers to move you up or down in activity levels based on the frequency and intensity of your workouts.
The pod accessories were a selling point for me, allowing me to use the T4 as a replacement for my cycle computer. The PC pod allows realtime use with the heart belt or the downloading of workouts from the watch.
I find the display very readable without my glasses and protected it with an InvisibleShield just to be safe.
The only downside is that the heartbelt does not pair with gym equipment, which seem to all use Polar technology. I knew that before purchase, and decided it was a small concession to get all the other features.

Like many posts, the most disappointing thing about the Suunto T4 is the poor protection on the face of the watch. It is easily scuffed up and truth be told looks kind of cheap. It doesn't look like a high performance tool and is just not a nice looking device to wear as a watch during the day. The band is flimsy and awkward as well. Make no mistake, that if you use this for any consistent type of training/running that you will have to replace the watchband with something sturdier and more sweat resistant. However, if you are strictly in it for the features, this watch has it all. The Coach feature is the highlight, where it calculates how effective your workout is and plans out how hard you should go the next few days. It helps plan the intensity and makes sure you get enough rest and don't overtrain. The watch isn't very intuitive as there are lots of functions and the buttons you have to push to get to the right screen are confusing and sometimes maddening. However, with any device there is a learning curve. The manual isn't as straightforward as one would like but between that and experimenting, and some patience the payoff is great as this is a pretty sophisticated training tool once you get acclimated to it. I've had it for two weeks and everyday find something cool about the watch. If you can get over the aesthetics, it is worth buying.

The functions are great. The design needs some work. The buttons get inadvertently pushed all the time, and the cloth strap is awful.