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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Suunto Ambit2 Review}} [[File:ambit2r.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Ambit2.]]
The Suunto Ambit2 offers good functionality, and with the latest firmware, great GPS accuracy. It's been superseded by the [[Suunto Ambit3]], which has better GPS accuracy, but the older Ambit has dropped in price. For a [[Best Running Watch| simple evaluation of a GPS watch]], I look at how well it can answer some basic questions:
* '''How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and the Ambit2 has good GPS accuracy, so this is one thing it does well.
* '''How fast am I running?''' Knowing how fast you're running can be a nice to know, or it can be vital for your training or race performance. Because of the nature of GPS, watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Without the ability to display current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS, the Ambit2 can't answer this question very well. It does better than most watches that rely purely on GPS as it has good accuracy and the Suunto FuseSpeed may help a tiny bit. (That said, I frequently see the Ambit2 out by more than a minute/mile).
* '''Where am I? '''The Ambit3 has some basic navigation functions. There are no maps, but you can download a course, and there's a "back to start" arrow. So the Ambit3 won't tell you where you are, but it can occasionally help you out.
* '''What's my cadence? '''[[Cadence]]''' '''is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of running. If you get your Cadence right, many other things naturally fall into place. The Ambit3 supports [[Cadence]] via a [[Footpod]] or it can estimate Cadence from its internal accelerometer, though I've found the internal accelerometer can be out quite a bit. Sadly it has no alerts for when your Cadence is too low.
For ultramarathon running the high end Ambit2 has the battery life for shorter ultras, but for runners that expect to be moving during the [[Second Dawn]], you'll have to compromise GPS accuracy for the Ambit2 to go the distance. See [[ShoesBest Running Watch#Watches for Ultrarunning| Watches for Ultrarunning]] for more details.
=Which Version?=
The Ambit2 comes in four versions with different functionality. I think the "R" has the best value for money, but depending on your usage you may want to pay for a more expensive version. If you're a cyclist, the "S" might be worthwhile, though I won't comment further as I focus purely on running usage. If you're an ultrarunner, then I think the "Ambit2" version could be well worth it. (The Sapphire is only worthwhile if you're hard on your gear and want the damage resistance.)
