What’s New

Suunto SPARTAN ULTRA $899–1,099

The Spartan Ultra is the Finnish watchmaker’s significant upgrade of its premium extreme-environment sports watch. In addition to the litany of features that Suunto’s previous flagship product, the Ambit 3, sported, the Spartan Ultra also features a touch screen. Also, we really liked the breadcrumb mapping feature, where gps tracks your activity in sport modes and has a display map that shows where you have been. That’s super handy for out and back runs in new places or finding your way back through a complicated trail. The watch wirelessly syncs to Suunto’s decent Movescount app via your smartphone and can display activity and stats on the mobile app. It’s also easy to sync with Strava and other third-party apps. The Spartan Ultra can also receive push notifications if you have your phone with you, which is great for when your phone is in your pocket or pack and you want to know if it’s worth replying to a message or continuing to run. Best of all, the Spartan Ultra has dozens of sport modes to choose from, and you can even create your own activity. It’s a big watch, the Spartan Ultra also looks sleek enough that it can be worn pretty much all the time.

Apple WATCH NIKE+ $489–529

Nike and Apple rekindle their long-running relationship with a running-specific version of the new Watch.

Like its non-running-obsessed sibling, the Watch Nike+ features gps, meaning you won’t have to carry your phone around with you on the run to accurately track your distance, pace and location. It’s also waterproof up to 50 m, so you can take it on a swim or on a run in a downpour.

This model requires fewer taps to get a run started and also comes with the new and improved Nike+ Run Club app cooked in. The app allows you to track your own training, and also keep tabs on your running buddies.

The Nike+ model is made of lighter material so it doesn’t feel bulky during a run. The strap is perforated and made from a silicone material that’s quite comfortable and sweat resistant. This is also Apple’s brightest ever screen, so it should be visible even on the sunniest day.

The Watch Nike + comes in small and large watch face sizing, and in four different design looks. It retails for $489 (for the 38 mm watch face model) and $529 (42 m), which is a fair price point considering the cost of other fully featured gps watches is now north of $500.– CR