Suunto t3d Review – Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Training Watch

Perhaps a taste for fitness has been acquired.  Like a fine wine and a nice aged cheese, a special little place in the heart has been developed for running that mile.  Sit ups have replaced cigarettes.  Push ups have replaced TV.  And everything is feeling warm and cozy.

Yes, that taste has been acquired.  It’s time to take that lust for calorie burning to the next level though.  New tools are needed.  Gizmos and Gadgets can help fine tune that run.  A better understanding of your health can be had.  With that being said, I wanted to look at a specific gizmo.  The Suunto t3d Heart Rate Monitor.

How Does Suunto t3d Watch Work?

Buy at a discount

Suunto combined the power of a heart rate monitor and fitness tracker into the small, covert package of a watch.  With a semi fashionable design, this watch can track the distance I’ve gone and how hard my heart was pumping. 

The Suunto watch can also pair with separate fitness pods, such as the bike or foot pod, to further track my progress.  A lot of powerful data can be obtained from these separate devices when combined. 

Data and use from the watch can be uploaded to the company’s website, or side loaded to my computer, says Zeeger, an Amazon reviewer.  From here, "my progress and data is charted and plotted for review".  I am able to see where I worked the hardest, how long I lasted, and how well I did. 

What Are Others Saying?

While other users like Suunto products, this particular product, the t3d Heart Rate Monitor, was not as well received as other products.  Consumers and enthusiasts like Corey, cite cheap materials and clumsy interfaces for the issues.  Different nuances of the design were sometimes frustrating trying to program.  Also, in harsh environments, the watch was easily marred or broken. 

Many people did suggest that the watch was rather accurate.  No one had any complaints about the data received.  It did help users better plot there data.

Will it Help Me Get Fit / Lose Weight?

The heart rate monitor in itself won’t make me lose weight.  Instead, it’s design is to better optimize the work out session and calorie burning.  By monitoring my movements and heart rate I can better understand where I receive the most resistance and where I burned the most calories.  With this data I can design a better workout routine for myself to drop pounds quicker and tone up much better.

Pros And Cons

Pros

• Information is accurate
• Equipment is very versatile
• Easy to use
• Adjustable

Cons

• Equipment is easily scratched
• Watch is pricey
• PODs are an extra expensive
• Cheap looking

Problems And Complaints

The biggest problem I have with this watch is how easy the face is to scratch.  Very little is needed to actually scratch the face plate.  I would expect a watch that is geared towards the fitness crowd to be a little more rugged.

The LCD screen can also be tough to see as Ross Marks does mention.  Outside, the reverse coloring is great.  Inside though, it’s very dim and difficult to view.  The viewing angles are also limited.

My last complaint is the expense of the extra pods.  This equipment can already become pricey.  Having to keep paying more did not excite me.

Other Useful Info

Why is it so important to monitor my heart rate?  The idea is simple.  The faster my heart is pumping, the more calories I am burning.  The more calories I am burning, the more weight I am losing.

But that’s not all.  The more my heart is beating, the more I am working my body.  Moving my body works my lungs and pumps more oxygen into my blood and gets it flowing.  All this stuff combined helps to lower cholesterol, reduce multiple health risks, and increases stamina.

There are actually different levels and zones to keep heart rates at while exercising.  Certain zones are better for different things.  Keeping my heart rate between 150 and 180 bpm ensures that I am burning the maximum amount of calories without overworking my body. 

So why is a heart rate monitor so important then?  By having a device like the Suunto t3d I can monitor which exercises provide the best workout for me.  Everyone responds differently to movements.  By knowing which path I ran, which exercise I did, and how many reps I had to do, I can better understand how I need to design a workout to keep my heart rate up, active, and constant.

How Does Suunto t3d Heart Rate Monitor And Training Watch Rate Overall?

The Suunto t3d is expensive.  The market has numerous heart rate monitors with all sorts of features.  A lot of them are able to connect to different pods and tracking devices.  With that being said, I have a hard time recommending this device because of how easy it is to break. 

The world of fitness is usually rough.  I need rugged equipment.  The data is efficient, easy to read, and accurate which is a big plus though.

How to Pair the Suunto t3d with a Dual Comfort Belt

Where Can I Purchase This Product?

Amazon.com currently has the Suunto t3d Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Watch on sale.  Prime members can also enjoy free 2 day shipping.  Buy this product with an 11% discount. Other users have posted their views on this product. Read more reviews here.