Instinct versus Suunto Traverse Alpha

Just a quick summary after some time with the Instinct vs two years with the Suunto Traverse Alpha.

* Instincts UI is less intuitive but more responsive and way more versatile. Traverse cycles through different screens (i.e. timer, stopwatch, moon-phase with dots indicating where in the loop you are) while Instinct needs you to remember which button to press to get to a certain function
* the configuration of the Traverse sports datascreens is more comfortable but needs a browser and internet connection
* background light of the Traverse is more flexible (white and red versus only white) and the flashlight is brighter and more intuitive to access (long press of light button). I also like the "long-press-preview" of the Traverse (i.e. you long press the light-button and the Traverse displays "Turn on flashlight" while filling up a ring clockwise. If you leave the button early, it cancels the flashlight, same goes for other functions you invoke with longer button-press)
* display of the Instinct is better and requires less light, it has an contrast like e-paper
* Instinct is lighter and quite comfortable to wear 24h, I usually took off the Traverse at night
* More sports-modes on the Instinct (is there a limit?). I managed with the 5 available sports-modes on the Traverse but it was always a bit tricky
* Import of GPX files requires BaseCamp (or a browser) on the Instinct (+cable for sync), just a browser for the Traverse (and internet for sync)
* Navigating a track has more options on the Instinct but on the Traverse it "just works" (i.e. the Traverse just automatically zooms and I hardly missed more options), generally the Instinct is quicker and more responsive while the Traverse had sometimes lags
* Not quite sure about navigation on the Instinct but on the Traverse one could choose between navigating a (previously loaded) track, to a waypoint or a past log-entry (the latter seems to be missing on the Instinct)
* the Instinct can connect to ant-sensors, most importantly (for me) the tempe sensor to allow accurate temperature readings on tour
* the charging connector on the Traverse looks more impervious to dirt/... while the Instincts cable is smaller (I'd rather not try to charge the Instinct while hiking, wrong angle on the cable as well)

Hope that helps peoples decision making ;-)

Top Replies

NemoSandman over 6 years ago +1

While in navigation just press "SET" and you are back to the current watchface.
From there you can go to the ABC, widgets and timing shortcuts...
Back to the watchface press "GPS" and you are back…

All Replies

0 tmk2 over 6 years ago

Thanks for the detailed comparison. It's not easy to get some insights on the real differences between garmin and suunto, as usually experienced garmin users have little experience with suunto, and the opposite. And I was always wondering how my workflow would change if I switched to suunto.

Now one comment:

Import of GPX files requires BaseCamp (or a browser) on the Instinct (+cable for sync), just a browser for the Traverse (and internet for sync)

I admit I do not have the Instinct, but I believe you do not need basecamp for that. You can import a GPX file into Garmin Connect using your favourite web browser, and then do a wireless sync using the mobile app.

0 dav.dc over 6 years ago

An other option without using Garmin Connect: with your Instinct connected as mass storage (using the cable) you can copy your .gpx file to GARMIN\NewFiles folder

0 Tichy over 6 years ago

I admit I do not have the Instinct, but I believe you do not need basecamp for that. You can import a GPX file into Garmin Connect using your favourite web browser, and then do a wireless sync using the mobile app.

Thanks, that was what I was trying to say with "or a browser". Somewhat vague wording, though. But is it just me or was the import-option just recently introduced to Garmin Connect?

0 tmk2 over 6 years ago

As far as I can remember it's been introduced (in a properly working fashion) a couple of months ago, less than a year ago, I think.

0 Tichy over 6 years ago

An other option without using Garmin Connect: with your Instinct connected as mass storage (using the cable) you can copy your .gpx file to GARMIN\NewFiles folder

I saw that it showed up as mass storage on my mac, glad to hear it works that way as well. Have you by any chance GPX files with points? It would really be nice if that works as well (along with importing tracks) because I sometimes have "only" a linux-pc at hand...

Greetings

0 Tichy over 6 years ago

Thanks for the detailed comparison. It's not easy to get some insights on the real differences between garmin and suunto, as usually experienced garmin users have little experience with suunto, and the opposite. And I was always wondering how my workflow would change if I switched to suunto.

I still think the Suunto is more user-friendly (speaking of the Traverse). I see some logic in Garmins UI as well but feel the ergonomics on Suunto is better. I.e. if you are in navigation mode, that's just another "Display" (Suunto-speech, somewhat a Widget in Garmin) in your already existing displays. With one alternate button to switch between different views for that display (i.e. zoom, altitude ahead, ...). On the Instinct I struggle a bit how to get back to the clock and from there back to the navigation screen. But I'm getting there ;-)

Dealbreaker for me was the snappier reactions of the Instinct and the tempe-connection. And I still mourn somewhat the red backlight ;-)

Greetings, Tichy

0 NemoSandman over 6 years ago

While in navigation just press "SET" and you are back to the current watchface.
From there you can go to the ABC, widgets and timing shortcuts...
Back to the watchface press "GPS" and you are back to the activity/navigation mode.

What is complicated ?

0 Tichy over 6 years ago

While in navigation just press "SET" and you are back to the current watchface.
From there you can go to the ABC, widgets and timing shortcuts...
Back to the watchface press "GPS" and you are back to the activity/navigation mode.

What is complicated ?

It is not complicated, it's just not very consistent. I'll figured it out, no worries :-) I'll grant Garmin that it is way quicker, especially if you configured lots of Displays on the Suunto it takes a while to "go back one".

Greetings, Tichy