Skip to main content

Off-Trail Navigation With the Suunto Ambit3

Suunto Ambit3
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It seems that every time we throw on our hiking boots or take a quick spin on our favorite mountain biking trail, there is a new gadget or app to bring along. Strava and Map My Run are great tools for around town or at the gym, but when you’re heading out for some serious trail time – or maybe even abandoning trails altogether – you’re going to need something a little more rugged than your smartphone’s GPS system and a fitness app. That’s where the new Suunto Ambit3 sportwatch comes in.

We’ve all probably experimented a little with GPS tracking longer runs and workouts, but what if you could plan them out before you even step out the door? We were first drawn to the all new Ambit3 after taking a sneak peak at Suunto’s powerhouse fitness tracker and app system built into their Movescount platform. By integrating data tracking of crucial training metrics – speed, heartrate, GPS info, altitude, and weather statistics among others – across your computer, smartphone, and Ambit watch, Movescount allows you not only to analyze previous workouts, but build new ones and upload them to your watch in preparation for a long weekend of exploring.

After a little tinkering with some of the apps and settings, we loaded a set of GPS waypoints into our Ambit3 and headed for the treeline. Using the specific sport modes (in our opinion the best feature of the watch), we were able to recall a GPS run route we’d previously programmed and hit a new set of trails far from home without worry of getting lost. When it was time to head back to the car, a simple “track back” function took us straight to our trailhead without any fuss, although it couldn’t help us remember what pocket of our running pack we had stashed the car keys in while trying to avoid a downpour. When we finally made it home, a quick download of our watch data allowed us to compare and analyze the run against previous workouts, and tragically, to see that we weren’t quite as fast as some of our four-legged running buddies.

If you’re looking for more gym and urban friendly fitness tracking, the Ambit3 has dozens of sport modes and hundreds of apps t0 customize your experience. We found it’s swimming trackers particularly helpful after forgetting our lap count at the pool over and over. It will also connect via bluetooth to your smartphone for notifications, so you won’t have to worry about missing that important call while hitting it hard at your crossfit class. Regardless of you sport or activity, the new Ambit3 is the perfect addition to your training and trekking gear this fall.

Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Big Green Egg brings back a fan-favorite item for a limited time
However spend your evenings outdoors, the Big Green Egg Chiminea is there to help keep things warm
The Big Green Egg Chiminea.

Love good times by the fire on a chilly night? Want to enjoy a few drinks in a toasty spot after a long day at work? Of course, we all do. But throwing some logs in a pit in the ground doesn't quite do it. If you want a cozy evening, Big Green Egg brings the wow with the release of a special Chiminea to celebrate 50 years in business, and it will take your gathering around the fire to a whole new level.
The Big Green Egg update

Big Green Egg has been the go-to for outdoor grillers and smokers looking for an outdoor cooker for decades. But if you want to hang out in the fresh air without cooking, the Chiminea is what you need. Freestanding fireplaces aren't new, and Big Green Egg isn't trying to reinvent them. The vintage version from 1999 is the starting point, with upgrades worthy of a 50th anniversary.
What's cracking with this egg
If it's not broken, don't fix it, right? But even the littlest changes will make something feel fresh. For those who aren't the best at starting a fire and keeping it going, the Chiminea comes with Lava Rocks to keep the flames roaring more evenly and for longer. Made from NASA-grade ceramic, the quality isn't something to worry about, either. And, yes, it's still in that gorgeous, signature deep green color. 

Read more
Juiced Bikes JetCurrent Pro: Fast e-bike brand takes performance to new level
Is the JetCurrent Pro a moped disguised as an e-bike?
A Dessert Tan Juiced Bikes JetCurrent Pro e-bike parked on a dirt road with low vegetation hills in the background.

Juiced Bikes recently introduced the JetCurrent Pro, a folding e-bike that pushes the category's traditional standards to near moped level. The JetCurrent Pro isn't the most powerful or fastest e-bike you can buy. It doesn't look terribly different from other folding e-bikes, either. However, with the JetCurrent Pro's powertrain and its inclusive list of standard equipment, it's a short leap of imagination to wonder if Juiced Bikes' founder, Tora Harris, is considering a street-legal form of EV transportation that goes beyond the usual e-bike limitations.
Why the Juiced Bikes JetCurrent Pro matters

Harris, a former Olympic high jump athlete and Princeton University-educated engineer founded Juiced Bikes in 2009. Juiced Bikes is one of the earliest U.S. e-bike companies. Rad Power Bikes, another U.S. e-bike pioneer, eschewed e-bikes that exceeded the Class 2 20 mph limit until recently. In contrast, Juiced has consistently stressed high performance, with e-bikes that exceed the Class 3 28-mph limit in off-road mode.

Read more
The best golf GPS devices for tracking your game in 2024
The Izzo Swami 6000 golf GPS device attached to a man's belt.

We've all had the dream where we're running towards something, only for it to get further and further away as we run. The same thing can happen easily in golf. People just aren't that great at eyeballing distances. A good golf GPS device can help. Much like in Mario Golf or any other golf video game, you have the chance to see a true to life "mini map" of your position and surroundings, plus can get an accurate to-hole distance check.

And that's just the beginning. The best golf GPS devices will also give you the ability to know where every trap and bend on the course is. That includes that sneaky sand pit on the other side of that innocent hill over yonder. Some are even able to keep track of your score, tell you the slope of the land and more. Try one of the following best golf GPS devices to get a big leg up on your game in 2024.
The best golf GPS devices in 2024

Read more