Garmin Fenix 6 vs Suunto 9 Baro vs Coros Vertix: the differences, which one to choose?The best 2019-2020 outsport cardio-GPS smart watches compared.
We have compared in this article 3 of the best outdoor GPS smart health watches today. They seem to us the most complete currently on the market. These are all Premium or high-end watches. Released in 2024 (Suunto 9) and 2019 (Fenix 6 and Coros Vertix), they are therefore relatively recent and should still be very successful in 2024.
Full of sensors and rich in functionality, they represent to this day the top GPS watches for outdoor but also triathlon. They are aimed at a demanding public looking for advanced functions, regular athletes, competitors and professionals. They are of course also suitable for the amateur looking to progress or to have fun.
It is difficult to say which is better since it depends above all on the objective, the sport practiced and the expectations of the user without forgetting the budget of course. Some will seek above all the precision and reliability of the measurements, others a great autonomy, others a plethora of tools to help the sportsman, others of the ancillary functions used during sport and in everyday life (music, payment, cartography), still others a chic watch that can be worn in town as well as for sport! There are also watches that are less complete but better suited and perhaps also less expensive than those in this comparison. We have chosen here to highlight real multisport watches (with change of activity without stopping the watch to be used for triathlon for example) but with an outdoor orientation.
Garmin Fenix 6
Improved model of the famous Fenix 5 Plus, the Fenix 6 is a watch with extraordinary features available in 9 versions including one with solar charging. It is currently the most complete cardio GPS watch on the market, but this luxury comes at a price! It offers record autonomy and intelligent battery management. In addition to numerous sports assistance functions (performance analysis, physiological measurements, health monitoring, coaching, etc.), it also includes color mapping (roads, cycle paths, paths, ski slopes) and an mp3 player. It has advanced smart health connected functions (live monitoring of other athletes, possibility of being tracked online, etc.), full GPS navigation, a contactless payment solution Garmin Pay, assessment of blood oxygen level . It has more than 41,000 golf courses. The Fenix 6 exists in 3 case sizes (for fine to large wrists) and 3 versions (standard, Pro and Solar).
Suunto 9 Baro
This high-end watch with sapphire crystal and integrated barometric altimeter (hence the “baro”) emphasizes autonomy and precision. Thanks to the FusedTrack ™ system, it offers up to 120 hours of autonomy and high accuracy of GPS measurements thanks to the use of accelerometer data to extrapolate the GPS track and thus save battery. It also has an intelligent battery management system to be able to extend the use of the watch according to the route and habits of the user. There is a model without barometer, the Suunto 9.
Coros Vertix
Recent in the field of sports watches, Coros now offers sports watches that compete with market leaders and represent an alternative to Garmin, Suunto and Polar. The Coros Vertix is a premium multisport watch designed for outdoor, mountain, mountaineering but also triathlon.
Endowed with quality materials (titanium bezel and case back, sapphire crystal covered with a layer of synthetic diamond), it is at the same time chic, light and resistant to extreme conditions (-30 / + 70 ° C and 150 m diving). A touch screen and a wheel button make it simple to use even with thick gloves.
It is ideal for high altitude sports such as mountaineering. In particular, it offers an unprecedented function evaluating acclimatization to altitude and giving recommendations concerning climbs. It predicts the weather and warns of thunderstorms. It also has advanced tools for athletes (guided training, physiological measurements, endurance assessment, race time prediction, etc.).
Its autonomy is unequaled to this day (150 h in GPS mode and 45 days in watch mode). Please note, it requires a Smartphone (no PC / web app).
The price: similar but with different options!
The price is a crucial criterion in the choice of a cardio watch. The 3 compared models are offered at the same starting price ($ 599). You can climb much higher by choosing additional options: sapphire crystal, titanium bezel or bracelet, etc. The Fenix 6 stands out with a price that can quickly rise, especially for the Pro model with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal ($100 more than the model with ordinary glass) or the Solar model, with solar charging. Unlike other watches, the Coros Vertix offers, at no additional cost, a sapphire crystal and a titanium bezel and case back, light and quality materials.
Design, structure and robustness
The 3 watches offer a neat design. Each of the models has its charm with a stainless steel or titanium bezel and a look suitable for both the city and the sport. The type of bracelet (interchangeable or not, with or without tools) and the choice of available materials (silicone, leather, titanium, steel, etc.) are criteria to take into account when choosing your cardio-GPS. Finally, the sapphire crystal (resistant to scratches) is a plus for the protection of your watch in risky sports. It sometimes adds a little weight (about 10 g) and can also increase the price (count at least 100 € more at Garmin). At Coros, it’s free!
Fenix 6
The advantage of the Fenix 6 is that it is offered in 3 case sizes (42, 47 and 51 mm). People with fine wrists will therefore finally be able to benefit from a discreet watch offering the same functionalities! (see also our comparison of the best cardio watches for women). The strap is interchangeable without tools and its width varies depending on the size of the watch case (thin straps for fine wrists, etc.). In addition, the brand offers chic bracelets in leather, steel and titanium and braided nylon in addition to the silicone bracelet intended for sport. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is available as an option on the Pro version. The standard version and Pro Solar still benefit from an ultra-resistant Corning Gorilla 3 glass. It effectively protects the screen from scratches, an interesting point for sports where friction is frequent (climbing, canyoning, etc.). Also note that the Fenix 6 is available in 3 versions (read here the differences between the 3 models). The standard, more economical version is available in only 2 case sizes (6S and 6) without mp3 player, without mapping and without Wi-Fi. The Pro version offers the same functions, 3 case sizes but, in addition, a mp3 player, mapping, Wi-Fi and, optionally, sapphire crystal. The Pro Solar version, available in 6X version (large format) offers a Coring Gorilla glass and a solar recharge to extend the autonomy.
Suunto 9 Baro
Suunto offers a robust model with a single case size (51 mm), the size of the largest model of the Fenix 6 but several bracelet sizes to adapt to all body types. The watch’s glass is made of sapphire, the hardest material that exists after diamonds! The bracelet is interchangeable without tools but only exists in silicone version.
Coros Vertix
Coros seems to have been very inspired by Garmin for the design of its watch (same format, small screws on the bezel, similar displays, etc.) including for the interchangeable strap without tools and functioning like that of the Fenix 6 (push button ). On the Coros Pace and the Coros Apex released in 2024, Coros had adopted the old system (small lever to push with the nail found on the Forerunner 245). The watch is also equipped with a sapphire crystal covered with a layer of synthetic diamond, therefore ultra-resistant. The crown is made of titanium as well as the case back for an ultralight watch.
The screen: touch screen except at Garmin
The touch screen is becoming the standard for a large number of high-end watches, except at Garmin where it is only offered today on smart health connected watches (Vivoactive 4, Venu). It must be said that its use is not always practical during sports or when wearing gloves. But that can be really useful for the manipulation of the cartography, as on the Fenix 6. Too bad that Garmin does not offer it.
At Coros, the interface is extremely practical. The touch screen, which can be disengaged, can be activated for certain functions such as GPS navigation. A digital crown (like the Apple Watch) allows you to scroll through the menus, zoom in, etc. All this makes the interface very user-friendly and the watch can be used even with thick gloves.
In addition, the size and definition of the screen varies greatly from one watch to another. Suunto offers a large screen (1.4 “) and high definition (320 x 300 px) for optimal reading comfort during sport or if you have a little weak vision. In return, the watch is quite large , or even very wide on a small wrist. Garmin favored a variable design, with 3 sizes of cases and screen (1.2 “to 1.4”) and a definition ranging from 240 x 240 px to 280 x 280 px depending on the model. Coros, for its part, offers a small screen (1.2 “), of modest definition (240 x 240 px) for an intermediate case size (47 mm like the Fenix 6)
Weight and thickness
Weight and thickness are important criteria depending on the sport. A light and thin watch is less felt on the wrist than a bulky and heavy watch. For the outdoors, we can afford a little higher weight, provided however not to feel discomfort. For performance, it will be better to use the lightest model possible (ideally less than 80 g).
The Fenix 6 (6 and 6X models) and the Suunto 9 are among the “heavyweights” with 83 and 93 g for the Garmin 6 / 6X (82 g for the Solar model with titanium bezel and case back) and 81 g for the Suunto 9 Baro (72 g for the version without barometer). To find lighter, choose a more expensive titanium model or opt for the small Fenix 6 (6S version) which weighs only 58 g. At Coros, thanks to standard titanium, the weight drops to 76 g.
Autonomy: Vertix in the lead after Suunto 9 and Fenix 6X
Record autonomy for the Coros Vertix and reliability of Ultra mode measurements for the Suunto
Autonomy is an important criterion, even eliminatory, in the choice of a cardio-GPS watch. It must be as large as possible if you practice “ultra” type races, the duration of use can greatly exceed 40 hours. For shorter trips, it remains an essential criterion. Manufacturers are well aware of this and attach great importance to it. Huge progress has been made thanks to the use of a new chip offered by Sony, significantly more economical than the SiRF chip from the company Mediatek which formerly fitted most GPS watches.
To stand out from the crowd, each manufacturer offers solutions to extend the autonomy time without significantly altering the accuracy of the measurements. Thus, the “energy saving” (ultra) modes are proposed with an intelligent management allowing to extrapolate the GPS track or to minimize the times in this mode.
Garmin offers an autonomy of 25 h (model 6S) to 60 h (model 6X) in GPS mode and 50 h to 120 h in Ultra mode. With the Solar model, you can still gain between 6 and 50% more autonomy, provided you expose the watch in direct sunlight during the activity (at least 3 hours in a smart health connected watch). The American company also offers new battery modes (Shipping and Battery saving) to last several weeks or even months during very large trips. Like Suunto, it also offers an intelligent battery management mode with display of the consumption of the sensors and the possibility of deactivating them individually. You can also define custom profiles to decide which sensors to activate for a given sport profile).
Suunto, for its part, offers a revolutionary solution (FusedTrack ™ function): an energy saving mode which does not alter the accuracy of the measurements too much. Thanks to the combination of data from the GPS, the accelerometer, the gyroscope and the compass, Suunto “guesses” the missing measurements from the GPS to finally obtain an accurate trace. This allows you to go from 25 hours of autonomy to 40 or 120 hours! Suunto 9 also offers intelligent battery management based on previous trips and user choices. It is thus possible to request an “extension” of autonomy to make an unexpected detour without running out of juice!
Coros was inspired by Suunto and Garmin to offer an Ultra mode capable of extrapolating the missing data from the GPS thanks to the watch’s sensors (compass, gyroscope, accelerometer) and an intelligent algorithm exploiting the data from previous outputs (modeling of the stride of the sportsman). The results are quite satisfactory.
Charging without stopping the watch
Another positive point, the 3 watches in our comparison can be recharged during the activity, without stopping the watch. It will however be necessary to remove it from the wrist for a pause because all 3 are recharged via a connector located under the watch with a cable plugging perpendicular to the case.
| Model | Fenix 6 | Suunto 9 Baro | Coros Vertix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watch mode | 9 to 21 days | 14 d | 45 d |
| GPS mode | 25 to 60 h | 25 hrs | 60 h |
| UltraTrac mode | 50 to 120 h | 120 h | 150 h |
| Rechargeable during the activity |
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The sensors
Outdoor watches are the best equipped in terms of sensors: GPS, heart rate monitoring, ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, compass), thermometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, or even pulse oximeter (saturometer). Certain sensors may be superfluous depending on the sport practiced.
| Model | Fenix 6 | Suunto 9 Baro | Coros Vertix |
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| Barometer |
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| Barometric altimeter |
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| Manual altimeter calibration |
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| Altitude combining GPS and barometer |
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| GPS systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS (Beidu, Galileo to come) |
| Wrist cardio |
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| Wrist running underwater |
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| Power | With external sensor | With external sensor | With external sensor |
| Compass |
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| Pulse oximeter |
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| Thermometer |
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| Weather functions |
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| Thunderstorm alerts |
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| Compatibility of external sensors | ANT +, Bluetooth | Bluetooth | ANT + |
The barometer: thunderstorm alerts on the 3 watches
The 3 models are equipped with a barometer. It allows you to measure atmospheric pressure, deduce altitude, measure elevation and detect changes in weather. Each model offers storm alerts triggered in the event of a sudden change in pressure, a plus for hikers and mountaineers. The Coros Vertix also offers pressure graphs for the last 6 hours.
The altimeter: barometric for the 3 models, mixed at Suunto
Essential for measurements of altitude and elevation in particular, it can be barometric (altitude deducted from atmospheric pressure measured by an internal barometer) or operate from GPS measurements. For good accuracy, the ideal is that it is barometric and that the calibration can be done manually to counter changes in atmospheric pressure during the outing. This is the case of the 3 models compared.
Suunto, for its part, goes further by combining data from the GPS and the barometric altimeter for increased accuracy and reliability of altitude and height difference readings (FusedAlti ™ algorithm).
GPS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and Beidu
A few years ago, GPS watches operated with a single satellite network, GPS (American system). Today, other systems are available such as GLONASS (Russian), QZSS or Michibiki (Japanese), Galileo (European) or Beidu (Chinese). Having more satellites does not necessarily improve signal acquisition time and accuracy, but the combination of more than one network improves reception reliability, particularly in sheltered areas. The manufacturers generally offer, in the options, the choice between GPS alone or GPS in combination with another system (GLONASS, etc.). The combination of 2 satellite networks, however, consumes more battery.
Optical cardio: it now works underwater!
Most cardio watches today have a wrist-based heart rate monitoring. This allows you to monitoring activity 24 hours a day without having to wear a chest belt in addition to simplifying sports outings. The novelty on these recent outdoor models is that it works underwater. Polar had been the first to offer such a system. The leader has since been overtaken by its competitors Garmin and Coros.
However, the reliability of the measurements remains poor and we would prefer to wear a belt or an armband if we want to record usable data.
Developed power
The 3 watches can be coupled to an external power sensor (Stryd sensor, Foodpod, belt HRM-Run or HRM-Tri, etc.). Coros offers it for cycling but not yet for running. This function is not available for outdoor (not very interesting here). Note that Polar, on the Polar Vantage V, assesses power without an external sensor. It deduces it from the kinetic energy and potential energy evaluated from the watch’s sensors (accelerometer, GPS, altimeter).
The other sensors
ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, compass) are essential for hiking and exploring. These sensors are present on the 3 watches.
Garmin and Coros also offer a pulse oximeter. This sensor, integrated into the optical heart rate monitoring, measures the blood oxygenation rate, a parameter to monitoring for sport at high altitude (mountaineering for example) and for diving (read our explanations below).
Each model includes a thermometer and offers weather functions (thunderstorm alerts, sunrise and sunset times at Garmin and Suunto, weather forecast based on atmospheric pressure at Coros).
The external sensors
Today, 2 standards are used to connect a GPS watch to an external sensor: ANT + (a low energy consumption wireless protocol developed by a subsidiary of Garmin) and Bluetooth. ANT + is used less and less. Its interest in being compatible with most of the current sensors available on the market. Suunto only offers Bluetooth, which limits the choice of sensors. Garmin offers both protocols. Coros only offers the ANT + protocol today, but will soon add Bluetooth.
Compared features
| Model | Fenix 6 | Suunto 9 Baro | Coros Vertix |
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| GPS navigation |
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| Nb of sports | 22+ | 80+ | 12 |
| Triathlon |
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| Golf | 41,000 routes | ||
| Integrated route generator | Pro version | ||
| Training schedule |
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Split |
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| Training tracking |
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| Physiological measurements |
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| – VO2max |
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| – Race Time Predictor |
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| – Training effect |
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| – Lactic threshold |
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| – Recovery time |
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| – Training load |
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| – Training status |
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| – Stress level |
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| – Endurance level |
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| Race dynamics (ex: cadence, stride length …) | 7 | 2 | To come up |
| Acclimatization to altitude |
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| Altitude profile |
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| Virtual partner |
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| Strava Live segments |
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| smart health connected functions |
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| Activity monitoring |
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| Mp3 player | Pro version | ||
| Contactless payment |
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| Cartography | Pro version | ||
| Pulse oximeter |
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Functions dedicated to outdoor
Functions dedicated to outdoor use relate to GPS navigation (route tracking, return to departure, distance remaining, estimation of remaining time, etc.), orientation, weather functions, assessment of acclimatization at altitude, the slope profiles (climbed or coming), the altitude, elevation, vertical speed readings. Here is a summary and comparison of the different functions offered by these 3 watches. We describe the main functions below.
Fenix 6 vs Suunto 9 vs Coros Vertix: the functions dedicated to outdoor
| Model | Fenix 6 | Suunto 9 Baro | Coros Vertix |
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| Barometric altimeter |
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| Barometer calibration (manual / auto) |
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| Elevation |
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| Vertical speed |
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| Slope profile |
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| Evaluates acclimatization at altitude |
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| Compass |
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| GPS navigation |
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| Thermometer |
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| Weather functions |
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| Thunderstorm alert |
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Navigation: the ultimate with the Fenix 6
GPS navigation (route tracking, route planning, return to departure, navigation to waypoints, etc.) is an essential function for hiking, exploration, trekking but also for organizing a bike or running outing on unknown paths.Analysis of the altimetric profile allows runners and cyclists to better manage their effort on a mountainous route.
At this level, the Fenix 6 stands out clearly with a complete navigation tool, the color mapping of the country or continent of purchase (city maps, roads, cycle paths, paths, hiking maps with contour lines according to the options , ski slopes in more than 2000 stations in the world), the possibility of letting the watch propose a route in loop, on road or cycle tracks, from a given distance or even to propose a course recorded by others Garmin community users (Trenline function), the possibility of obtaining the route profile (ClimbPro function). It also allows you to find a hotel, a refuge, an inn around you. A new voice guidance function allows you to navigate without looking at your watch. The Fenix 6 is really excellent for that.
In addition to these functions, Garmin has generalized the LiveTrack function on its watches, which allows it to be followed on the Internet. The Fenix 6 also offers the GroupTrack function to follow other athletes wearing a Garmin watch that has this function.
The Suunto 9 also offers advanced navigation functions (route tracking, navigation to waypoints, waypoint records, small thumb track, return to departure by the same path or as the crow flies, estimated time of day). arrival, altimeter profiles, ascent speed, etc.). Suunto is indeed a leader in the outdoors.
The Coros Vertix incorporates some navigation functions (following a route, returning to the starting point), but these remain limited for the moment. Itinerary programming is not possible from the application. You have to go through a third-party application (Strava for example) to load a route into the watch.
The oximeter and the assessment of acclimatization
At Garmin, the oximeter is used to assess acclimatization at altitude and to adjust the VO2max values. It can be activated for sleep analysis but Garmin does not process the results (the values are simply displayed in the interface). The interest of sensor is especially for mountaineers in high altitude ascents. It is indeed necessary that the level of blood oxygen does not fall too low under penalty of risk for health.
Coros goes further by offering a 24-hour measurement of the blood oxygen level above 2500 meters. The watch displays a gauge (score and colors) which explicitly indicates whether it is prudent or not to continue the ascent, whether to take a break or whether it is better to descend again.
Weather functions
The 3 watches carry a thermometer and offer weather functions, including storm alerts (the barometer detects changes in atmospheric pressure), weather forecasts (Garmin requires connection to a Smartphone. Coros makes a forecast based on evolution of atmospheric pressure). Garmin and Suunto displays the sunrise and sunset times.
Sport profiles and sports functions
Suunto offers more than 80 profiles, the Fenix 6 fifteen (but dozens downloadable on Garmin Connect) and the Vertix only 12.
At Suunto, each profile is similar with generic data (distance, GPS track, calories expended, etc.). Sometimes it’s just the name of the sport that changes!
At Garmin, each profile is studied to provide relevant data for each sport: running dynamics for running, number of strokes and cadence for rowing, number of descents for skiing, etc. Also note that it is well suited to the practice of golf with more than 41,000 on-board courses and specific functions for this sport. In the end, the Garmin offer is the best.
The Coros Vertix, on the other hand, is the most limited. You cannot create a profile. The multisport profile is limited to a few sports, those of triathlon. There is no mountain biking, skiing, rowing, weight training, let alone yoga. But Coros promises to add a Ski profile soon.
In addition to the profiles, the Fenix 6 provides functions for training: training programming taking into account previous outings, split, race against an opponent or against yourself, estimate of the race time, mountain assistance for cycling and uphill for running (ClimbPro and PacePro functions), audio coaching, alert programming, goal setting, etc. This watch is very complete. These functions, combined with physiological measurements, offer powerful tools for demanding athletes.
Coros offers interesting sports functions, such as guided training (personalized program to achieve a defined objective of aerobic or anaerobic training effect) or the evaluation of race time.
At Suunto, sports functions are much more limited. The focus is on autonomy, reliability and outdoor functions.
Physiological measurements and running dynamics
Increasingly present on sports watches, physiological measures help athletes to manage their training and optimize their performance. From the measurement of the heart rate and its variability and other parameters (power, cadence, etc.), the watch can estimate the physical condition of the sportsman, his VO2max, his physiological age, his stress level, the level of training, the effect of training on the body (effects of training, training status and load, etc.). At Garmin and Coros we can even predict a race time depending on the distance to be covered, the level of training and the physical condition of the athlete. Recently, Suunto 9 assesses the level of stress, recovery and VO2max. Coros also offers an assessment of the overall endurance level and the energy remaining to spend on the current training (stamina).
In addition to physiological measurements, Garmin, and soon Coros, offer running dynamics, advanced functions for runners: running power, stride length, cadence, contact time on the ground, vertical oscillation, balance of the ground contact time, vertical ratio and more.
Connected functions: unusual for the Fenix 6
Coros and Suunto offer the bare minimum: notifications from Smartphones (SMS, emails, incoming calls) and those from conventional applications (WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, FB, WeChat, FB Messenger). Coros also has an assistance function in the Smartphone application, but nothing on the watch.
Fenix 6, on the other hand, allows you to reject incoming calls from a Smartphone or send predefined SMS. It offers LiveTrack and GroupTrack functions, the possibility of listening to music locally or in streaming with Spotify or Deezer or Amazon Music, the possibility of paying for purchases (Garmin Pay function), the control of compatible devices (3D camera VIRB, etc.). Pro models can also connect via Wifi for downloading data and music and updating firmware.
Activity monitoring
The 3 watches more or less offer similar functions (distance traveled, number of steps, calories burned, quality of sleep, stress). The Fenix 6 and the Coros Vertix also count the number of climbed stages and the intensive minutes
| Model | Fenix 6 | Suunto 9 Baro | Coros Vertix |
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| Distance |
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| Number of steps |
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| Calories |
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| Gravis floors |
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| Detailed sleep analysis |
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| Stress |
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| Minutes intensives |
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Additional functions
These functions can make the difference in choosing a cardio watch, although some may seem a little gimmicky and add price to the watch.
Color mapping: only the Fenix 6 Pro offers this function. The maps of Europe (for a purchase in Europe) are embedded in the gigantic memory of the watch and include the cycle tracks (Garmin Cycle maps) and the ski tracks of more than 2000 stations in the world.
A music player: present on the Fenix 6 Pro, it allows you to listen to your favorite music without a Smartphone thanks to Bluetooth headphones
A payment system: only Fenix 6 offers this function. It allows you to pay for your purchases without having to use your smartphone or a bank card.
Our opinion on these 3 multisport cardio-GPS smart watches: which is better?
Even if the Garmin Fenix 6 stands out, we can not say that there is a better watch than the other because it all depends on the objective and the tools we need. These 3 high-end outdoor watches each have different advantages.
The Fenix 6 is the most complete and will appeal to demanding athletes, competitors, fans of numbers. It shines with the richness of its functions and tools, advanced connected functions for everyday use and a wide choice of models and bracelets. The resolutely sporty Suunto 9 is more sober and exists only in a rather bulky model (small wrists to refrain). It offers exceptional autonomy and a management mode that will delight fans of long-term races. The Coros Vertix offers a model which still needs to gain in maturity but which constitutes a serious alternative to the watches of the leaders. Its altitude mode is perfect for mountaineers and its record autonomy is in itself a criterion of choice!
Garmin Fenix 6
The Fenix 6 is to date the most complete watch on the market, especially for the outdoor (version 6 Pro). It is the queen of sports watches. It is robust and its interface is user-friendly. It has all the useful sensors. It offers complete functionalities for training, navigation and health monitoring. The autonomy of the 6X model is also excellent and suitable for ultra-trail racing. Elegant, she is doing well in town and at work in addition to sport.
It is the watch that we recommend for professional use, for competitors or for demanding athletes looking for advanced tools and statistics.
The basic version (without mapping and without mp3 player) is sufficient for most sports and for competition. The Pro version, with maps, will interest hikers and adventurers but also athletes who like to run or ride in music. The Solar version may interest ultra-trailers and trekking enthusiasts who are looking for the greatest autonomy. However, it remains expensive and the gain in autonomy is not significant enough to make it more interesting than the 6X Pro model.
It adapts to all wrist sizes, a definite asset for people with thin wrists and those looking for a watch that is discreet enough to be able to be worn on a daily basis. Garmin also offers chic bracelets for the city and work and an easy attachment system (without tools).
Hard to beat !
Read our detailed review and full review of the Garmin Fenix 6.
For exclusively sporting use, we recommend the Garmin Forerunner 945, an outdoor and triathlon watch just as complete (equivalent to the Fenix 6 Pro), lighter and cheaper (but less chic too).
Suunto 9
The Suunto 9, with less developed functions, of course, is a highly sought-after watch for its record autonomy (120 h), the precision of the GPS track in energy saving mode (thanks to FusedTrack ™) and the outdoor functions. Suunto also has a good reputation for outdoor activities. It offers an impressive autonomy that ultra racing fans, mountaineers or hikers who go to the mountains for several days are looking for. Intelligent battery management is also an asset. It allows you to change the mode at any time to extend the autonomy without significantly altering the accuracy of the trace. No more compromises between battery life and data accuracy! Finally, the FusedAlti ™ and FusedSpeed ™ functions are a plus over the competition. The Suunto 9 is also pretty and robust. It is ideal for outdoor, hiking, trail running and of course all long (ultra) running, multi-day outings, trekking. Too bad the functions offered are not further developed and that Suunto does not offer mapping. That said, the manufacturer added new features during a firmware update in late 2019 and hopefully the watch will evolve further.
Coros Vertix
The interest of the Coros Vertix is to offer, at the same price as the other 2 watches, quality materials (titanium, sapphire) and resistance to extreme conditions (temperature, pressure). It offers impeccable GPS quality as well as new functions such as the assessment of acclimatization to altitude and recommendations for climbing without taking any risks. It is very attractive for mountaineering or hiking in the high mountains. Its record autonomy is also an advantage over the competition for very long outings (trek, trail), including in very cold weather (other watches do not hold water as soon as the thermometer drops). Too bad it only interfaces with a Smartphone (no web application) and that its sports profiles are still limited (no ski profile, but it should come, nor mountain bike profile, rowing, bodybuilding, etc. )
The strengths and areas for improvement of each model
| Model | Strong points | Points to improve |
|---|---|---|
| Fenix 6 | Very complete Numerous sports aid functions Physiological measurements Race dynamics Advanced GPS navigation Color mapping (Pro version) Integrated route generator MP3 player (Pro version) Payment system |
No touch screen Screen size and definition perfectible |
| Suunto 9 Baro | Great autonomy Intelligent battery management Quality of measurements (fusedAlti, FusedTrack, FusedSpeed) Advanced GPS navigation Practical gauges |
Few new functions Few physiological measures |
| Coros Vertix | Value for money Altitude mode and practical recommendations Guided training Quality materials Convenient interface even with gloves |
No interface for PC or Mac Limited sport profiles |
Where to buy these models
Garmin Fenix 6, Coros Vertix and Suunto 9 Baro are available on the internet. Discover them at our partners and take advantage of our promo codes.
AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW
