I have owned the t6c for about 2 months now. I previously had the t2c and wanted the added functionality of the t6c. I also purchased the GPS pod. Overall I like the unit. I am an advanced squash player and find the Training Effect (TE) function (based on the EPOC measurements) very valuable. Previously I believed the more you trained the fitter you got. According to Suunto there is an optimal training level, train under it and you do not improve, train over it and you risk overtraining which does more harm than good. The t6c shows you your real time Training Effect so you can set your TE goal and perform your workout to achieve it.
As others have noted, the software that comes with the unit is so-so. It calculates a bunch of variables but really doesn't tell you what to do with all that information. The Firstbeat Athlete software () which must be purchased separately has all the functions that the Suunto software does, but it also has a Coach mode which tells you based on your previous training sessions when and at what level your future training should be. For example it will say on Monday train at TE 2.5, Tuesday rest, Wednesday train at TE 4.0. Very useful information. Unfortunately my Firstbeat software stopped working and I have no idea why.
Some cons: The GPS strap against bare skin is quite scratchy and uncomfortable. The variable display in Display 1,2 mode does not show Max HR, a major oversight. The memory on the watch fills up quickly, so if you forget to upload previous sessions you may have to delete some logs to record new workouts.
Product Description:The Suunto T6C black wristop computer is more like a fully equipped sports laboratory. The watch will provide a comprehensive personalized physiological analysis on your PC. The screen/menu is digital, customizable and easy to use. The strap is made from soft textile. Displays Real time Training Effect and EPOC. Displays Speed, distance and cycling cadence with optional PODs. Real-time heart rate monitor. Calorie monitor. Aside from these features, the T6C acts as a watch with dual time, date, alarm, stopwatch with lap times, interval and countdown timers An altimeter that will accurately measure altitude difference. Water resistant at 30 meters (100 feet). Sunnto T6C Black Digital Watch T6CBK
Amazon.com Product Description:Reaching your goals can be tough. It takes the right tools, knowledge, and guidance to improve with each training session. Enter the Suunto t6c heart rate monitor and fitness trainer watch, a professional-grade training tool for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing your workouts. The t6c is equipped with a bundle of valuable features, but none is more valuable than its correspondence with the included Suunto Training Manager PC software, which provides a detailed analysis of seven physiological parameters with an accuracy previously available only in sports laboratories. This analysis breaks down nearly every aspect of your training, so you can make adjustments and train more efficiently in the future.
The t6c also tracks your real-time Training Effect, a quick and accurate measurement of how hard your body is working at any given moment. By knowing your Training Effect, you'll enjoy a more intimate understanding of your body's workout "sweet spot," an essential tidbit if you want to achieve your targets without setting yourself back by under- or over-training. The Training Effect works intuitively: The watch first notes the info from your personal fitness profile, and then analyzes your physiological progress and translates the data into a simple one-to-five scale. For example, if you want to improve your aerobic fitness at a moderate tempo, you should exercise until your TE meter reads between 3.0 and 3.9, two to four times per week. To improve your aerobic condition more rapidly--but without the risk of over-training--you should push yourself harder once or twice per week, so your TE meter reads 4.0 to 4.9, with a few recovery sessions in the TE 1.0 to 2.0 range. The Training Effect is relative to each individual. While a novice runner might achieve a TE of 4.0 on a four-mile jog, a professional runner might have to complete an uphill marathon to get the same reading. In other words, both runners will have to exercise hard to achieve a TE of 4.0.
The t6c includes a couple of additional features that put it above and beyond traditional heart rate monitor watches. For example, the t6c gives you a readout of your excess post-exercise oxygen consumption level (EPOC), letting you measure and adjust your training loads to ensure that your body is safely getting the most from each workout. And users will love the built-in altimeter, which lets you monitor your climbing or hill performance to know how your body will react when training at various altitudes.
Finally, the Suunto t6c offers interference-free digital ANT transmission, making it easy to pair your heart rate monitor with the included Suunto comfort belt. You can also use this secure connection to monitor your speed, distance, or cadence by pairing your Suunto t6c with an optional Suunto training pod. Training pods are small units that attach to such items as a running shoe or a bike to calculate your speed, distance, and even pedal revolutions per minute while you exercise. Pods are ideal for athletes who aren't satisfied with half-hearted training efforts, but really want to monitor their training routines down to the last detail.
Specifications:
- Color: Black
- Measures vertical speed: Yes
- Real-time vertical cumulative value: Yes
- Temperature compensation: Yes
- Total ascent/descent: Yes
- Resolution: 1 meter
- Recording intervals: 2 seconds, 10 seconds
- Altimeter/barometer lock: Yes
- Altitude range: -1,600 to 29,500 feet
- Countdown timer: Yes
- Stopwatch: Yes
- Max number of split times in memory: 99
- Timers (interval and warm-up): Yes
- Average heart rate: Real time
- Training effect: Real time
- Calories: Real time
- ANT digital coded signal: Yes
- Memory capacity: 25 logs/100,000 beats
- PC analysis: Yes, with 7 body parameters
- EPOC: Yes
- HR limits and HR zones: Yes
- Suunto heart rate belt: Compatible, sold separately
- Suunto comfort belt: Included
- Suunto memory belt: Compatible, sold separately
- Water resistance: 330 feet
- Selectable metric/imperial units: Yes
- Menu-based user interface: Yes
- Dot-matrix display: Yes
- Backlight type: Electro-luminescent display
- Backlight option for night use: Yes
- User-replaceable strap: Yes
- Software: Suunto Training Manager (included)
- Low battery warning: Yes
- User-replaceable battery: Yes
- Suunto Coach personal training program: No
- Customizable display: Yes
- Button lock: Yes
- Compatible with pods: Yes
- Watch: 12/24 hour
- Calendar clock: Yes
- Dual time: Yes
- Daily alarms: 3
Manufacturer's Warranty
Two-year warranty
About Suunto
Suunto was founded in 1936 by outdoors man and a keen orienteering enthusiast, Tuomas Vohlonen, who had long been bothered by a problem: the inaccuracy of traditional dry compasses and their lack of steady needle operation. Being an engineer with an inventive turn of mind, he discovered and patented the production method for a much steadier needle, better readings, and a new level of accuracy. By 1950 the company was exporting compasses to over 50 countries around the world, including Canada and the United States. In 1952, Helsinki was hosting the Olympic Games, and the torches carried to light the Olympic flame were Suunto products. The next step was improving the stability and accuracy of marine compasses. The first marine compass, the Suunto K-12, was launched onto the market in 1953. In 1957, Suunto started manufacturing hypsometers, which measure the height of trees.
In the 1960s, the compass range grew further and Suunto introduced its first diving compass--initiated by the divers themselves. A British sports diver attached a Suunto compass to his wrist and found that the device also worked underwater. Thanks to his feedback and initiatives, the new business category was found. Suunto's exports and business grew steadily and Suunto then focused on combining its strength in precision mechanics with new skills in electronics. Accuracy, reliability, and ruggedness have been Suunto's key values from the very beginning of the company history.
Today, Suunto is a leading designer and manufacturer of sports instruments for training, diving, mountaineering, hiking, skiing, sailing, and golf. True to its roots, Suunto is today the world's biggest compass manufacturer. Prized for their design, accuracy and dependability, Suunto sports instruments combine the aesthetics and functionality of watches with sport-specific computers that help athletes at all levels analyze and improve performance. Headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, Suunto employs more than 500 people worldwide and distributes its products to nearly 60 countries. The company is a subsidiary of Helsinki-based Amer Sports Corporation with the sister brands Wilson, Salomon, Atomic, Precor, and Mavic.
