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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Suunto Ambit2 R Review}}
[[File:ambit2r.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The Ambit2 R, available in black or white.]]
The {{Suunto Ambit2 R}} is one of my highly recommended running watches. The "R" in the name is for "Runner" and is the moniker for the cheapest of the Ambit2 range. It lacks some of the features of the more expensive Ambit2 watches, but the price is far more attractive. The Ambit2 R offers great functionality and reasonable GPS accuracy, and it's only significant flaw is the inability to display pace from a [[Footpod]].
=Ambit2 R Pros=
* The watch is highly configurable, and configuration is via a web site rather than fiddling with the watch. The Ambit2 can display up to 8 different pages of data, including various graphs.
* You can download or create 'Apps' for the Ambit2, which allow for some degree of extensibility. These are not really applications, but small scripts so the functionality is rather limited. It's nothing like the functionality that Garmin has in their Connect IQ. I have developed two apps that calculate [[Relative Running Economy]] for the Suunto Ambit. One calculates a [http://www.movescount.com/apps/app10034021-Average_Relative_Running_Economy moving average] and the other a [http://www.movescount.com/apps/app10034023-Smoothed_Relative_Running_Economy smoothed current value].
* Data has to be uploaded to the Suunto website movescount.com but it can then be exported in many different formats including TCX and FIT.
* While the standard battery life is not great at 8 hours, you can configure the Ambit2 so it only checks GPS data periodically, which compromises [[GPS Accuracy]] but improves battery life. I found that after 20 hours of use with 1 minute GPS checks I had a claimed 61% of battery life left, giving a projected life of about 50 hours. For more details, see [[GPS_Accuracy#GPS_Accuracy_and_Sampling_Rate| GPS Accuracy and Sampling Rate]].
* The Suunto web site (movescount.com) has remarkably good analysis and data from the Ambit2.
* The "R" version of the Ambit2 is available in black or white, with the white version intended for women. I tried the white version as I have smaller wrists and I found the materials used for the strap are remarkably soft and comfortable.
* The Ambit2 can display a map of a route, or give you a map for going back to the start, though there is not a simple display of your current route.
* If you're prepared to pay more, you can get other versions of the Ambit2 that provide extra functions.
** There's also a Sapphire version that uses "sapphire glass" which is far tougher, but given the extra cost it's only worth considering if you're really tough on your watches.
* The Ambit2 does not have a vibration alert, which is something I miss far more than I'd have expected. The vibration is useful for alerts, as you may not hear the beeping in noisy environments or when wearing headphones. The vibration in other watches is also useful as a confirmation you've actually pressed the lap button.
* Like any complex device, the Ambit2 can occasionally need a reboot. Sadly, while you can shut down the Ambit2 from the menu, the only way of waking it up again is to plug it into a USB power source. This should be a very rare issue, but if it happens to you on or just before a race, you're screwed. (To shut down, press the "Back/Lap" and "Start/Stop" buttons pressed to enter the service menu.)
=Suunto Ambit3=
Suunto has announced the Ambit3, but that's only worth considering if you are intending to buy the more expensive Ambit2 or Ambit2 S. The Ambit2 still offers far better value for money. The main changes for the Ambit3 are some activity monitoring functionality, smartphone uploads, and a swap from Ant+ to Bluetooth sensors. Currently the Bluetooth sensors are not as widely available as Ant+, and there are reports of compatibility problems with the Ambit3 and a number of sensors.
=What's Missing=
While I don't consider these missing features as 'cons', it's worth understanding the features that are missing compared with other watches.
* '''Altimeter. '''GPS is far less accurate vertically than horizontally, so a barometric altimeter can provide a much better idea of your ascent and descent. It can also be useful for navigation if you're ascending or descending a mountain. In some races I've been far more interested in how much ascent is left rather than the distance to the top. (The more expensive versions of the Ambit2 add in an Altimeter.)
* '''Running Dynamics'''. Some of the newer Garmin watches can show and record Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT).
* '''Alerts'''. Some watches will alert you when a metric is out of range. The alert for [[Cadence]] is really useful and one of my favorite features.
* '''WiFi/Bluetooth Uploads'''. While the automatic upload of workouts via WiFi or Bluetooth to a Smartphone is nice, the upload will typically only go to the manufacturer's web site.
{{BuyAmazon|AZID=B00IW0O5WO|AZN=Suunto Ambit2 R}}
=Comparison Table=
{{:Best Running Watch-table}}
