Dedicated runners and athletes of all types are always looking for ways to squeeze out everything they can from their program. And that absolutely applies to the equipment used on a daily basis. Is a new sports watch immediately going to shave seconds off your PR? Unfortunately not, but it can have a lasting impact on your training.

The battle for supremacy in this market is fierce. The likes of Garmin, Fitbit, and Coros are constantly beating each other to the line with new releases that change the game (or at least, change the way you approach the game). But it’s Suunto that has laid a marker down with the launch of the Suunto Race 2 sports watch.

This feature-packed sports watch is staking a claim to be the best running watch of 2025, particularly for those who like to get away from it all and head out into the wilderness. The Suunto Race 2 is a “trail running watch built for runners who demand precision, clarity, and endurance.” And better yet, it’s already on sale at Amazon — get the Suunto Race 2 for $499.

Is the Suunto Race 2 worth the upgrade?

The big question whenever a brand launches a new product is whether or not you should bother upgrading from the older model (or from another brand). Suunto has a really strong reputation for delivering products that actually back up what they claim to offer, but the Suunto Race 2 promises a lot. For those looking at their wrists with a sense of disappointment and longing, the Suunto Race 2 might just provide what you’re seeking.

The Suunto Race 2 features a 1.5-inch screen with an ultra-high resolution of 466×466 pixels. That’s up from the 1.43-inch display on the Suunto Race. Sure, it’s not a huge change. But it’s all about where the real estate is dedicated on your wrist, because Suunto has increased the size of the display while decreasing the size of the case. At just 12.5mm, the case is considerably thinner than the Suunto Race. That helps to keep the weight down. The Suunto Race 2 is 6% thinner and lighter than its predecessor, “weighing just 57g without the strap and 75g with it.” Maybe a new sports could shave seconds off your PR, after all.

But what about features for runners, we hear you yell above the sound of your carbon-plated shoes squelching along the road. The Suunto Race 2 offers up a new processor that provides an all-around friendlier user experience. Users also get up to 55 hours of continuous GPS tracking in full-performance mode using dual-band GNSS, up to 16 days with continuous 24/7 heart rate monitoring, or up to 22 days with heart rate monitoring off. That means you can stop charging your watch at all times of the day. Rejoice, runners.

The Suunto Race 2 also comes equipped with over 115 built-in sports modes, including running and cycling, obviously. But if you’re somehow not seeing exactly what you need, users can create unique sports modes that match their exact training requirements. It’s simply a case of only selecting the metrics you find useful and customizing the data fields accordingly. That way, the personalized setup helps you improve training efficiency by only showing you what matters.

Another nice touch is the fact that users can download offline maps directly to their Suunto Race 2 via the Suunto app, meaning you get full route navigation without a phone or network connection. Safety is clearly in mind here, but it’s also cool to know that you can step foot outside whenever the feeling takes you, without needing to get your life together before every run.

Credit: Suunto

We know that the world of running is out of control right now, and it feels like everyone is desperately chasing PRs, but there is something to be said for gaining gradual fitness while minimizing the risk of injury. The Suunto Race 2 helps here by quantifying each workout using a Training Stress Score, giving users a picture of how much strain each session places on the body. Simultaneously, Suunto Race 2 assesses recovery by combining sleep quality, training stress balance, heart rate variability, and post-workout feedback into a Recovery Score — a useful metric that shows you exactly when you should be resting and when to really go for it. Whether you actually listen to this is up to you.

We haven’t yet had a chance to test this new sports watch, but it looks like decent value at $499 on Amazon.