Suunto has built a reputation for compact, no-frills watches that pack in just enough smart functionality to be genuinely useful on the trail, setting them apart from mainstream smartwatches made by Apple and Samsung. The company’s latest release, the Suunto Core 2, is an ABC watch — meaning it combines an altimeter, barometer, and compass — designed to simplify backcountry navigation while also alerting wearers to approaching storms.
A Modern Take on a Classic Design
The original Suunto Core debuted back in 2007, and this new version updates that formula with a handful of meaningful upgrades. The rugged silhouette remains familiar, but Suunto says the Core 2 sits more comfortably on the wrist. Its LED dot-matrix display is now 40% brighter, a boost that applies to both the green and red backlight settings.
Durability has also improved significantly. The Core 2 carries a 10 ATM water-resistance rating, or roughly 100 meters, a substantial jump from the original model’s 3-meter limit. It also meets MIL-STD-810H military-grade standards for toughness and offers battery life of up to 15 months, thanks to a user-replaceable coin cell battery.
Built for Trail Use, Not GPS Navigation
Unlike GPS-equipped smartwatches from Garmin, the Core 2 intentionally skips full mapping and route navigation. It functions as a reliable digital compass, automatically adjusting for the gap between true north and magnetic north, but it won’t guide you turn-by-turn to a destination.
Even so, Suunto has packed in some useful extras. Alongside a step counter, compass, and altimeter, the barometer can detect shifts in air pressure and warn users when a storm may be on the way. The watch lacks the deeper connectivity found in Wear OS devices Suunto has tested previously, but it does support Bluetooth, allowing the company to roll out software updates over time.
Priced for Hikers, Not Runners
The Suunto Core 2 is better suited to hikers than competitive runners, but at $179, it lands as a reasonably affordable step up from a basic digital watch — one that Suunto can continue improving through future updates.
