Product Description

Stopwatch. Interval Timers. Coded Heart Rate Transmission: Digital. Average Heart Rate in Real Time. Heart Rate Limit Alarm. Number of Adjustable Target Zones: 1. Accurate Calories in Real Time. Training Effect in Real Time. Speed and Distance Functions with Optional PODs (Not Included). Cycling Cadence with Optional Cadence POD (Not Included). ANT Digitally Coded Transmission. Altimeter Functions. PC Software Included. Beat-to-Beat Recording (R-R) Cpacity. Memory Capacity: 30 Logs. Workout Summary: Manually Resettable. Total Calories. Number of Laps: 199. Average and Peak Heart Rate. Time in Zones. Training Effect. Heart Rate and Speed Profiles on PC: Continuous. Altitude Profile on PC. Detailed Analysis of Seven Body Parameters on PC. Time, Date, Day, Dual Time. Number of Daily Alarms: 3. User Replaceable Batteries (Watch and Belt). Backlight. Button Lock. Replaceable Accessory Straps (Not Included). Compatible with Suunto Team Systems.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4826 in Watches
• Size: SS015162000/Red-Arrow
• Color: Red Arrow
• Brand: Suunto
• Model: SS015162000
• Dimensions: 2.00 pounds
• Band material: Resin
• Case material: Resin
• Clasp type: Buckle
• Dial color: Red
• Dial window material: Mineral
• Movement type: Quartz

Features

• ANT comfort heart rate monitor belt features soft fabric for comfort and traction strips for a snug fit. The belt also provides interference free HR monitoring
• Training Effect to monitor your aerobic conditioning level
• 30 logs of memory. Save all of your logs, or just selected ones
• Includes a USB cable and software to transfer workout data to your PC
• Measures real time calories burned

Customer Reviews

An HRM with many capabilities, and just a few minor setbacks
I've had this HRM since Summer of 2008 and it's been a great fitness tool. I purchased two of the accesories for the watch, the suunto food pod (later edition) and the suunto bike pod. Both pods have worked flawlessly in sync with the T6c and I highly recommend them if you jog or mountain bike. The T6c has its pros and cons, i'll jump right in and explain them:

Pros:
- able to browse through 6 settings during your workout(For example, I use duration, Current Heart Rate, Calories burned in one screen and Distance, Speed, Avg Speed in the 2nd screen (using either one of the pods)). You can also browse to the Time interchangeably with the two aforementioned screens.
- amazing graphical software (Firstbeat ATHLETE) is available for purchase and compatible with the T6c. Also a con, which i'll explain.
- comfortable fitting heart rate strap makes it hardly noticeable during exercises
- Workouts can easily be uploaded to PC with included USB cable link.

Cons
- The backlight is useless. If you browse through the suunto forums, you'll find the backlight gives many people trouble. For my watch, it doesn't work PERIOD. If you workout at night and need to view the watch at night frequently, you may want to reconsider this watch if that is one of your purchasing factors.
- The software that comes with the watch Suunto Training Manager is subpar in my opinion. You can view line graphs and all of your uploaded stats, which is nice, but the layout and interface of the program is sloppy and unorganized. Firstbeat ATHLETE however, is beautiful compared to STRM. It has beautiful graphs and many combinations of results you want to see. The downside is that this program costs 80 dollars! There's a free trial that you should try out and see for yourself how much better it is. Hopefully Suunto will do some updates on their standard software!
- There are times where the HRM strap will have trouble transmitting to the watch. For example, i'll get a flatline during workouts where it won't output my current heart rate. I did find a solution that works well. Use electrode gel before you put it on your chest, this helps with the readings (much better than spit or water).
- Cost. The pods are $50-$100 = $150. The Firstbeat ATHLETE program is $80. The watch is about $300. That's $530 i've spent! Ugh.. Still, it's been worth it!

In all, as a prior owner of the Polar F6, i'm blown away by this heart rate monitor. I have yet to try the GPS pod, but i'm a little nervous as many have had trouble with signals. Since I have the food and bike pod, however, I won't really need it. I love the open endedness of the watch, and how you can customize what you results you want to see. It's definitely a breakthrough in heart rate monitors. Now if they can just fix that stupid backlight it'll be nearly perfect!

One of the two best HRMs on the market
As I stated in the title I consider the Suunto T6c one of the two best HRMs in the market. The other great HRM is Polar RS800cx. And you may have hard time choosing one over the other. That is why I ended up using both in my training and racing.

Here are few things you will love on the T6c:

1. Solid build that can withstand pretty good amount of abuse during training and racing
2. The HR strap is extremely comfortable
3. Watch display can be customized to let you display what you need most during the training or races. There are two displays with three lines each that you can configure. Two top lines are fixed and on the third line you can cycle between various workout values you pre-define. Very flexible for any workout or race
4. It is very easy to 'program' simple guided workouts in the watch even in the last minute before you start training
5. Availability of EPOC/TE on the watch during the workout. Note that the EPOC/TE requires you to setup your parameters correctly in the watch to get benefit out of it - parameters like VO2max, HR max, activity level. If you are having hard time determining these values I suggest you to take advantage of Suunto Sports discussion forums (Google them). People there will be happy to help you.
6. The watch is capable of automatic switch between various pods - from bike pod to run pod. This is especially important for triathlete or multisport athlete. Not so much for cyclist or runner.

Things you may not like as much:
1. The Suunto software that comes with the watch while sufficient to analyze the workouts is not as flexible as software from other HRM manufacturers.
2. The back light flickers when you switch it on during the exercise mode. Not a big deal and you can get used to it, but it may throw you off at first.
3. The guided workouts have only following timers - warm-up, interval 1/2 and countdown. These do not work well for more complex workouts like ladder intervals. So you will need to remember how to do the workout or keep notes with you. Again not really a deal breaker.
4. The HR reading will not work in water - but you can work around this with the Suunto Memory Belt and later merge the memory belt log with watch log. Which may be important if you keep track of you lap times.

If you look for software coach function (same that is built into the Suunto T4/T4c) you will need to purchase FirstBeat Athlete software for about 80 USD. It is a good investment ad the software provides additional views and analysis capabilities not available in Suunto software.

If you want to see comparison of the T6c and RS800cx you can view it here. It is way too long to post it here.

[Well amazon does not allow the URLs in reviews - so I suggest that you Google this: "Polar RS800cx or Suunto T6c that is the question"]

I like to use the T6c for running training and triathlon racing. I use the watch with Suunto Foot Pod and Suunto Road Bike Pod.

Fine product, worst customer service
If you don't have any questions or problems, this is a great system. But if you want more detailed information or have any problems, the arrogant attitude of the service department, coupled with their "don't give a flip, it's already a sale" attitude is, let me say, "interesting." If the device requires service, expect to be without your training program and training coach (if you bought the $80 Firstbeat software, which I recommend.)And these are the primary reasons you spent the big bucks for this device in the first place, right? The main problem I am having is that the watch displays a very low training effect and EPOCH while training. This makes me vastly over train, well beyond the training coach recommendation. And it is too late to adjust by the time the flaw, which is intermittent, is apparent. At this point, I am considering a Garmin Edge 705 with the Powertap hub. Bigger bucks, I know, but more features. And with luck their service department isn't anything like Suunto's. You can bet I will research that aspect intensely!