Suunto Blog

Are you riding an e-bike with your Suunto? Now you can connect your watch with SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS bicycles. Learn how to do it! Cycling is one of the key sports within the Suunto community, with enthusiasts leveraging Suunto's advanced GPS watches to monitor and optimize their performance and explore new terrain. Suunto’s compatibility with SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS equipped e-bikes is a new addition to meet the diverse needs of cyclists. So, whether you are hitting the trails or commuting on a bike path on your e-bike, read on! SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS SuuntoPlus sports app, a feature developed in collaboration with SHIMANO, shows you the assistant mode (Eco, Boost, Trail), power assistance level, e-bike battery status, speed and heart rate directly on your Suunto watch in real-time during your ride. The sports app also stores that data for after-ride analysis: You can, for example, see the assistant percentage along with the other data you tracked with your Suunto watch in Suunto app.   How to use SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS SuuntoPlus sport app Sync the SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS SuuntoPlus sports app to your watch from Suunto app’s SuuntoPlus Store. Select the SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS SuuntoPlus sports app in the exercise settings before starting your workout. During activity, scroll with the middle button to view the SuuntoPlus screen. SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS SuuntoPlus sports app stores data for after analysis in Suunto app. Next time you start your ride with the same sport mode, your SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS SuuntoPlus sports app is selected as default and connects with your SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS bicycle. SuuntoPlus sports app is compatible with the SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS equipped with SHIMANO Wireless Units. SHIMANO Wireless Units can be equipped with following SHIMANO E-BIKE SYSTEMS Drive Unit Models: EP801, EP6 EP800 / E6100/E6180/E5000/E5080 E7000 E8000 / E8080 (Only E6000 cannot be equipped for SHIMANO Wireless Units)

We've conquered all the territories above 0m and under. In this article, we set out to show you and explain what happens in your body as you descend into the big blue world.  Diving is an excellent activity with the potential for one-of-a-kind experiences you can only get in an aquatic environment. Our land-loving bodies, however, can react negatively to diving if we are not careful. We are drilling down the essential know-how of diving so you can enjoy it to the fullest.  Pressure changes; your body needs to adapt.Diving is made easy to understand and more accessible: dive algorithms Pressure changes; your body needs to adapt.  There are constant fluctuations in the surrounding pressure while we hike or dive into the ocean. Pressure changes 1bar/14.7 PSI for every 10 meters and it increases much faster underwater because water is denser than air. The pressure we face underwater, also called ambient pressure, is caused by the water's weight.  The deeper we dive, the greater the ambient pressure will become. Ten meters down is already twice the pressure at the surface. Discomfort in the ears when taking off in an airplane is also felt just diving down to the bottom of a pool that is three meters deep. When a diver descends, the surrounding water pressure grows. The pressure change underwater will affect spaces that contain air, such as your ears, sinuses, BCD, and mask. But the most significant impact is on your circulatory and respiratory systems and the latter need to be taken seriously because they can lead to major health risks. What happens after you immerse into water or hike up a mountain?  Our bodies are full of dissolved gases from the air we breathe. Our bodies actively use oxygen for us to function. Other gases, the so-called inert gases like nitrogen, are not used by our bodies but are stored in blood and tissues. While diving, the pressure increases, and our body is exposed to a higher absorption rate of nitrogen stored in our tissues. The amount of inert gas dissolved in our bodies depends on the ambient pressure. Why is it that e don't feel this effect? Because our body is mainly made up of liquids, we are not exposed to pressure. Nevertheless, we feel it in our ears and sinuses because of the air trapped in them.  When we ascend from a dive, the ambient pressure is reduced and the dissolved nitrogen needs to come out (off-gas). We have no problems as long as nitrogen comes out slowly and in a controlled manner without significant pressure differences. If thepressure is released too fast; the nitrogen will come out too fast and cause DCS, also known as decompression sickness, or "the bends."  The amount of gases dissolved in our bodies depends on the ambient pressure around us. That means that every gas has a specific partial pressure, and the combined pressures of the gases in our bodies stay in equilibrium with our environment. Your body is fully saturated with gases at the elevation where you can be found for an extended time. Here are two scenarios that will explain the changes in your body:   If you hike up a mountain, air pressure drops, making your body hold less gas. Your tissues are at this point supersaturated relative to the new ambient pressure. Our bodies release gas through diffusion and breathing to get back to equilibrium, also known as off-gassing. When you go down to sea level and then underwater, you increase your bodies' pressure, allowing more gas to be carried by blood and tissues. Again, to equalize the pressures, your body takes on more dissolved gas from the air you breathe. This is called on-gassing. Does the same thing happen when you ascend from a dive?  If we come up from a dive too quickly (therefore, dropping ambient pressure), the natural off-gassing mechanisms are overloaded. The dissolved gas in our bodies comes out of the solution too fast, forming bubbles that can cause decompression sickness or DCS. There are different stages and forms of DCS, and symptoms can range from minor joint pain and skin irritation to severe nerve damage and death. For a diver with DCS, the symptoms may already start while still underwater, or it may take several hours after surfacing. In some cases, the symptoms may not show for several days. Nevertheless, most cases are treatable with, for example, recompression chamber treatment (hyperbaric oxygen treatment). Diving is made easy to understand and more accessible.  Over the decades, dive algorithms were incorporated into dive computers to calculate how long we can stay underwater with a limited risk of getting DCS. A dive computer knows your dive history and calculates the safety limits in real-time by considering the following metrics: depth, time, gas mix, and personal factors (if applicable).  What is a dive algorithm? A dive algorithm is a theoretical mathematical formula and does not measure your body's actual physical state while diving. Everybody is different and no dive computer (to this day) can measure the amount of inert gas in every body tissue. Every dive computer has a level of conservatism built in to minimize the risk of DCS and by changing your personal settings, you can add or remove safety margins to your dive algorithm. What does a dive algorithm do?  Algorithms are designed to give you a safe estimate of how long you can stay at different depths without developing the risk of DCS by considering time/depth/dissolved gas. Some algorithms provide longer dive times at the cost of a higher likelihood of DCS, while others limit the dive time to add a safety margin to your dive.They are used in dive computers based on how inert gases are absorbed and dissolved into and from the diver’s tissues. There are two decompression models most commonly used: the gas model, or the Haldane model, and then the bubble model, known as VPM and RGBM.  The first one is based on J.S Haldane's work and according to his theory, the body is grouped into theoretical tissue compartments, absorbing and releasing inert gas at different rates. This theory is based on avoiding bubble formation by controlling the absorption and release in different theoretical tissue compartments. One commonly used algorithm following the principles of the gas model is the Bühlmann ZHL- 16C. The second commonly used decompression model is based on the assumption that bubble formation will always be present and the key is to control the size of the formed bubbles. Suunto Fused™ RGBM 2 has been developed with Dr. Bruce Wienke to combine the benefits of the VPM model with Dr. Wienke’s latest full RGBM work.  What should you do?  The important takeaway of this introduction is that every diver and dive are different, so are the underlying assumptions for this incredible sport. In the end, you as a diver will decide what your safety margins are and what theoretical model you want to use for your dives, and those choices will be based on your training, your experience, and eventually, your preferences. Take your time to discover the underworld safely and you will not be disappointed. 

Suunto World Vertical Week, the thrilling celebration of the uphill challenge, united outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe in a collective pursuit of elevation gain on March 18–24. All human-powered activities by the participants were counted and every hill was turned into an opportunity to conquer new heights.  We have now analyzed the data to see which country and activity type climbed the most!   The usual suspects were on top of the country rankings In the country rankings, the usual suspects – countries in the mountainous regions of Europe – were once again on top. This time Italy dethroned Austria for the number one spot with over 400 meters of ascent per activity on average. Switzerland also broke its way to the top three. The only non-European nation in the top 10 was South Africa in ninth place. Greece made it to the top 10 for the first time.   Average ascent meters by country   When looking at the total ascent, meaning adding up the ascent in all the activities in a nation for the Vertical Week, France took the top spot from Spain and Italy climbed past Austria on the third spot. Top 10 for total ascent meters France Spain Italy Austria Germany Switzerland USA Poland United Kingdom Czech Republic   Skiers – and the Japanese trail runners – were above the rest In the activity type rankings, there weren’t any major changes: ski touring activities had the biggest average ascent, followed by mountaineering and trail running. The average ascent for all the ski touring activities came close to the magical 1000-meter mark but was still a bit below the summit. Maybe next time!   Average ascent meters by activity type   While the skiers had the biggest days on average, when looking at individual activities with over 1000 meters of ascent, trail runners were in the lead. In 2023 the order was the other way round. In the individual performances, four people really stood out: They all had tracked over 20.000 meters of human-powered ascent during the Vertical Week. Impressive! And while looking at the big picture, many people seemed to push it more than last year: For a top 10% placing, you needed to climb 2275 meters during this year’s Vertical Week. That’s almost 373 meters more than in 2023. The same change is visible in the top of the top: To make it to the top 3% of the Vertical Week participants, you needed to climb 4062 meters, 472 meters more than in 2023. The country rankings winner Italy is very strong also in different activity type rankings. They earned a podium spot in six out of ten different categories! Ski touring Slovakia 1160m Switzerland 1062m Poland 1051m(Average for all countries 953 m) Whoop whoop, we have a new winner in the ski touring category! The Slovakian skiers ascended more than any other nation in any of the categories. It’s also clear that the 1000-meter mark is a clear goal for skiers, and the entire top 3 broke that limit. Trail running Japan 1076m Italy 674m Greece 600m(Average for all countries 457 m) This is amazing: The Japanese trail runners were the only ones breaking the 1000-meter mark in any other category than ski touring. They kept their well-deserved top spot in trail running for another year. Congratulations! Mountaineering Italy 865m Finland 838m France 799m(Average for all countries 633 m) Italy continued their dominancy, but the second place was a surprise: How did such a flat country as Finland make its way to second place? Mountain biking South Africa 645m Italy 547m Slovenia 540m(Average for all countries 393 m) The South Africans were active on the bike, climbed more than any other nation and ensured that also the African continent was presented in the rankings. Gravel cycling United Kingdom 656m United States 440m Italy 421m(Average for all countries 298 m) Gravel cycling was a new addition on the list this time. And, not surprisingly, the ascent meters for gravel cycling fell somewhere between mountain biking and cycling. The UK took the top spot in the activity ranking clearly. Cycling Spain 435m Italy 335m Slovenia 286m(Average for all countries 210 m) Everyone knows that cycling in Spain in the spring is great. And they seem to know it themselves, too! Trekking Japan 850m Switzerland 575m Austria 541m(Average for all countries 351 m) The Japanese took the top spot in two categories, trekking and trail running. Two category wins was only matched by Italy (number one in mountaineering and hiking). Hiking Italy 438m Slovakia 386m Slovenia 351m(Average for all countries 240 m) Yet another category with a strong Italian performance. Forza! Nordic skiing Switzerland 363m Austria 324m Norway 305m(Average for all countries 216 m) While the top three countries in the cross country skiing category were expected, what was surprising was the change in the podium lineup from the previous year: None of these three were on the podium last year. Running Czech Republic 152m Switzerland 138m South Africa 130m(Average for all countries 95 m) Running, the most popular Suunto activity in general, is not focused on the vert. Despite the smaller numbers, there still is a winner: Czech Republic took the number one spot!

We are happy to announce our cooperation with the Boky Západných Tatier organized in Slovakia on March 14-16, of which Suunto is the main partner! Celebrate this great partnership with us and take advantage of an exclusive 20% promo code on select Suunto products by entering the following in your shopping cart: SUUNTOxBOKAMI. More details below. Learn more about the BOKAMI event: Bokami Západných Tatier is a three-day team race held under the auspices of the Slovak Mountaineering Association JAMES. The race follows a long tradition of ski mountaineering races in the Western Tatras that dates back to the early 1990s. It is the only multi-day and at the same time the most demanding ski race in Central Europe, which has gained a reputation in the wider European context. "BOKAMI" in numbers: 3 days - 3 stages - 3 valleys = 60 km / about 6600 m of elevation gain.                                                                                       Promotion details:This promotion is active from 14 - 28.03.2024 on Suunto Vertical and Suunto Race products. The promo code is active for the first 1000 users. One user can buy a maximum of 3 products. The promo code can be combined with other discount already displayed at apac.suunto.com. Not cumulative with any other promo code. The promotion cannot be applied to refurbished products and customized products.

Suunto Vertical Week is back again. For our 10th anniversary we are collaborating with BASEFIVE in Innsbruck and do whatever we can to collect as many altitude meters within the week as possible. The task is easy: From 18th – 24th of March track your activity with your Suunto Watch and synch the activity to your Suunto app. Suunto app BASEFIVE And to make sure, that the motivation is not an issue, SUUNTO is teaming up with BASEFIVE and is creating full week activations! PROGRAM: From 18.03. to 24.03. BASEFIVE is bringing the Suunto Vertical Week to Innsbruck.The whole week is filled with community activities, events and challenges at BASEFIVE, Innsbruck and Axamer Lizum. You can also borrow and test Suunto watches throughout the week at BASEFIVE, meet like-minded people and train together. Monday, 18.03. 6 pm On Monday, March 18 at 18:00, a community trail run will start, followed by waffles and drinks. The meeting point is BASEFIVE (Innsbruck city center). Sign up Wednesday, 20.03. 6 pm On Wednesday, 20.03 at 18:00, there will be a ski touring evening in the Axamer Lizum. The start is at the valley station of the Hoadlbahn, followed by a stop at the Dohlennest for drinks and delicious food. Sign up Friday, 22.03. 6 pm On Friday, March 22nd, we will kick off the weekend with a Community Night from 16:00 with delicious pizzas from Moesingers Mad Pizza and refreshing drinks. At 18:00 you can find out about the current conditions and avalanche situation in the mountains at the Conditions Report. This will be followed by the Suunto Adventure Night with a talk about Suunto and sports watches. Saturday, 23.03. starting from 9 am The main event of the Suunto Vertical Week in Innsbruck is Saturday, March 23rd, where you can try to beat the time of Skimo 24h world record holder Jakob Hermann at the Beat the Pro Challenge on the ascent to the Hoadl in the Axamer Lizum, test Suunto watches, enjoy music and use the Blackroll Recovery Area at the Hoadlhaus. Afterwards, we will end the Vertical Week at the afterparty at 17:00 in the Dohlennest with chilled beats from DJ Dativ Lindkeks and the award ceremony, where you can win the new Suunto Vertical Solar. Sign up BASEFIVE is the place to be in Innsbruck, Völs and Sölden when it comes to creating the basis for a healthy, active and fulfilling life. With a focus on group training, personal training, physiotherapy, nutritional coaching and community events, the BASEFIVE team helps you to achieve a stronger body awareness, more energy for everyday life and the right basis for all the adventures that await you outdoors and in the mountains. The BASEFIVE concept is based on the five pillars of Movement, Nutrition, Community, Mindset and Sports. These pillars combine physical exercise, healthy nutrition, mental strength, sporting diversity and a sense of community. BASEFIVE focuses on members' personal goals and progress - whether it's more fitness in everyday life, better performance in sport or a comeback after an injury. Two weeks free Basefive online training As part of Suunto Vertical Week, BASEFIVE is giving all Suunto app users the opportunity to take part in its online fitness courses for two weeks free of charge. Simply register via the link in the BASEFIVE APP and you can take part in online courses such as (P)rehab, the Performance Quickie or Zoom Power. Register WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUUNTO VERTICAL WEEK The Vertical Week collects all the altitude meters you are doing within the week of 18. – 24.03.2024. It is totally anonymous – the only information we collect is altitude meters and country. Track your activities with your Suunto watch! If you don’t have a Suunto watch yet, download the Suunto App and enjoy the full experience there. We launched a new Suunto Plus App for the Vertical Week. Head to the Suunto App, open the Suunto Plus Store and connect the Vertical Week App to your watch. This app will sum up all our vertical meters you are doing within this week. This makes it awesome to share your effort within this week with your friends. How you collect your vertical meters is up to you. You can practice every sport. Hiking, Skiing, etc. Learn more    

Some people choose the path with the least resistance. We choose to celebrate the uphills. Join us for the 10th annual Suunto World Vertical Week on March 18–24! Welcome to Suunto World Vertical Week – a thrilling celebration of the uphill challenge! From March 18 to March 24, outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe will unite in a collective pursuit of elevation gain, turning every hill into an opportunity to conquer new heights. The beauty of Suunto Vertical Week lies in its accessibility, taking place everywhere, and embracing all human-powered activities. Whether you're a trail runner, skier, hiker, mountaineer, cyclist, or any other adventurer, the Vertical Week invites you to climb as much as you can. The ultimate goal? To determine which nation and activity type emerges victorious, boasting the most elevation gain. Joining the Vertical Week is simple – just open the Suunto app and click 'join' in the Vertical Week message. All your human-powered activities during the week count. Join now and elevate your adventure! Follow your progress in real-time The Vertical Week sport app shows the current activity ascent (top), total ascent (bottom) and your total compared to Vertical Week participants in 2023.   You can follow your total ascent for the Vertical Week with the new SuuntoPlus Vertical Week sport app: The Vertical Week sport app will count every meter you climb and show your cumulative ascent for both the current activity and the entire week. You can also see how high you would be ranked in the previous Vertical Week challenge. Are you already in the top 30% or perhaps even the top 5% of participants? Go to the SuuntoPlus Store in Suunto app and sync the Vertical Week sport app to your watch. Before starting your first activity of the Vertical Week, select the sport app in the activity settings. Learn more about SuuntoPlus sport apps.    Join our community events in Innsbruck and Girona If you are spending your Vertical Week in or around Innsbruck, Austria, or Girona, Spain, you should check out our community events: In Innsbruck we will be running with BASEFIVE on March 18 and skiing on March 20 and 23. In Girona we will go on a community run together with the Overland crew on Saturday, March 23.  Learn more about Suunto x OVERLAND Vertical Week events in Girona and join!   Data from previous years Check out which sports and nations have captured the podium places during the past years. Will this year bring changes to the top places? Now is your chance to affect on this year's results by collecting as many vertical meters as possible.  2023 - 2022 - Summer 2021 - Winter 2021 - 2020 - 2019 - 2018 - 2017 - 2016   Read more How to use the terrain maps in your Suunto Vertical 10 Suunto features for vertical gain Suunto World Vertical Week 2023 Big Data