Suunto
SPARTAN ULTRA
$899–1,099The Spartan Ultra is the Finnish
watchmaker’s significant upgrade of its
premium extreme-environment sports
watch. In addition to the litany of features
that Suunto’s previous flagship product, the
Ambit 3, sported, the Spartan Ultra also features
a touch screen. Also, we really liked the breadcrumb
mapping feature, where gps tracks your activity in sport
modes and has a display map that shows where you have been. That’s super
handy for out and back runs in new places or finding your way back through a
complicated trail.
The watch wirelessly syncs to Suunto’s decent Movescount app via your
smartphone and can display activity and stats on the mobile app. It’s also easy
to sync with Strava and other third-party apps. The Spartan Ultra can also
receive push notifications if you have your phone with you, which is great for
when your phone is in your pocket or pack and you want to know if it’s worth
replying to a message or continuing to run.
Best of all, the Spartan Ultra has dozens of sport modes to choose from,
and you can even create your own activity. It’s a big watch, the Spartan Ultra
also looks sleek enough that it can be worn pretty much all the time.Apple
WATCH NIKE+
$489–529Nike and Apple rekindle their long-running
relationship with a running-specific version
of the new Watch.
Like its non-running-obsessed sibling,
the Watch Nike+ features gps, meaning
you won’t have to carry your phone around
with you on the run to accurately track your
distance, pace and location. It’s also water-
proof up to 50 m, so you can take it on a swim
or on a run in a downpour.
This model requires fewer taps to get a run started
and also comes with the new and improved Nike+ Run
Club app cooked in. The app allows you to track your own training, and also
keep tabs on your running buddies.
The Nike+ model is made of lighter material so it doesn’t feel bulky during
a run. The strap is perforated and made from a silicone material that’s quite
comfortable and sweat resistant. This is also Apple’s brightest ever screen, so
it should be visible even on the sunniest day.
The Watch Nike + comes in small and large watch face sizing, and in four
different design looks. It retails for $489 (for the 38 mm watch face model)
and $529 (42 m), which is a fair price point considering the cost of other fully
featured gps watches is now north of $500.–CRwith his multi-coloured hair, diy clothing and
shoes he personalizes with felt markers. It’s
clear Garcia’s vision for an elevated runner’s
esthetic goes beyond this shirt design (check
his ‘My Style’ profile in the March/April 2016
issue). “I have a pretty clear and contemporary
vision of where running can grow esthetically
in the future,” he says. This shirt was his way
of inviting all runners to embrace their own
personal style. “I want runners to feel smarter
and more empowered by a fresh design by a
contemporary artist,” he says. “I designed it
with the intention of something I would want
to wear, while keeping a wide open mind that
anyone can wear it.”
Garcia has received the greatest form of
positive feedback about the design of the shirt.
“In the first 2 4 hours after the shirt’s online
unveiling,” he says, “I had a bunch of friends
texting me saying they signed up just to earn
the shirt .”
For more insight into his stwm shirt design
and custom editions, follow Garcia @MANGO_
PEELER on Instagram and Twitter.Colin Smith is a freelance writer living and running in
Toronto. He also profiled Mango Peeler for our ‘My
Style’ section. Read it online: runningmagazine.ca/
my-style-jeff-garciaWHAT'S
NEW
runningmagazine.ca Canadian Running 19Inge Johnson/Canada Running series
gear