I was asked recently how I keep a tally of my mileage when I thru-hike. There are three options; the least reliable and rarely used is to base it on the time. For example, on level ground I walk around 3.3 mph so if I started at 8.30am and took a break at 10.30am, in theory I should have covered 6.6 miles. Naturally this method is unreliable, it doesn’t take into account the odd stop for navigation, terrain and the like, and isn’t accurate.
Suunto Ambit. Note the handy battery level indicator at the bottom
The second is to use a guidebook. On the Pacific Crest Trail I used Eric the Black’s Pacific Crest Trail Atlas, and on the Appalachian Trail I opted for David ‘AWOL’ Miller’s AT Guide. Both were mapped using GPS logging so they’re pretty accurate. If I started the day at Cottonwood Pass on the PCT, mile 750.4, and hiked to the ranger station at Shephard Pass Trail, mile 775.8, then I knew I’d covered 25.4 miles. The only problem with this method is finishing, or starting the day at a point not marked in the guidebook. Walk past the Shepherd Pass trail junction and again, I would be back to estimating distance covered by the time. Carry on for another 30 minutes and I’d log it up as a further 1.5 miles.
The other method is to log your distance via a GPS unit. I owned a Garmin Etrex on the PCT but only used it during the traverse of the Sierra Nevada because that section is remote and if I got into trouble, I needed to know exactly where I was. I mailed it out after the Sierras and I’ve not used it since.
Pick your activity (there’s shed loads) and off you go
The huge advantage of a GPS is the accuracy. There is no need to calculate distance, or rely on a guidebook and there is a host of other extras available to keep a tab on your progress. Some I can live without, such as top speed, others are indispensable such as obviously, distance covered and average speed.
Suunto have now introduced the Ambit 2 with some improvements so bear in mind this is the Ambit model, not the 2, introduced in 2012.
The features can be a little overwhelming, there’s a host of options even according to your activity; trail running, trekking, mountaineering, running, swimming and cycling. Time elapsed, distance, average speed and top speed. Compass, barometer, altimeter, heart rate monitor (extra on some models). Even down to time, date, alarm (who would have thought?), multiple language options, positive and negative displays, backlight brightness, button lock, low battery indicator and metric and imperial units. There is even a heart rate chest strap monitor. The list goes on and if I tried to cover every feature and aspect of the Ambit, I would be here all day, and so would you.
It does cover a multitude of sports but as I’m a hiker, as you probably are and this is a hiking website, I’ll concentrate on the parts that we’re concerned with.
I don’t use it for navigation although there is a compass and up to 100 waypoints can be pre-set and loaded onto the Ambit via the Movescount website, far easier to set up on a pc screen. The Ambit will notify you when you are 100 metres from a waypoint and once within 20 metres, it will tell you where to turn to continue. I prefer navigating by using one of the many mobile apps available such as RouteBuddy. I will always have my mobile with me anyway and it’s clearer to see maps in detail. I’ve never used waypoints, I prefer to navigate as I go, I like to be a little random and don’t get along with a pre-planned route in case I want to deviate from it.
The GPS can sometimes take a while to kick in but once it’s located, it’s hasn’t lost it for me yet
Being a hiker, the main use I get out of the Ambit is to record my progress. On a thru-hike especially, I need to hit daily targets and also break the day down into smaller, bite size chunks. Even knowing what my average speed is helps because I know, roughly, when I will hit camp and can plan accordingly. I usually cover 10 miles at a time between breaks, then I may take 15 minutes out and it’s good to see exactly when I reach that point. The ability to fine tune my day, see my progress and make adjustments is great. I don’t particularly enjoy the finer points of planning, half the reason I go on a thru-hike is to escape and be out in the wilds. However, when you need to hit Canada before the end of September, a thru-hike has to be planned and units such as these help enormously.
Battery life is OK, not great but not poor. If you just use the features without the GPS enabled (altimeter, barometer, compass and time etc), you’ll get around 30 days which is impressive. The juice user is of course the GPS function. Depending on whether you set the Ambit to ping the satellites every 60 seconds or for a more accurate reading, every one second, you’ll get around 50 hours or 15 respectively. If I go out hiking for say 10 hours a day on the 60 second setting, I can expect about 4 days, five at a push. The bonus of the Ambit is that it is rechargeable via the lithium ion battery. The crocodile clip is attached on one side and can be charged either via your computer, a USB mains plug or a portable battery pack. Portable power packs have taken off in the last few years and I’ll always carry one for my phone so I have it to hand anyway. It’s nice to see manufacturers shunning the eco-unfriendly batteries in favour of USB sockets and slowly the old Duracell’s are dying, even some Petzyl head torches and other equipment can now be recharged this way.
You can charge via a portable power pack
Not 100% sure about the crocodile clip charge / date download cable. I’d prefer a USB
The Ambit logs onto satellite reception reliably and I have not lost a signal once it’s located. It can, sometimes, take a couple of minutes but on occasion it was a few seconds. I usually prime it to locate a few minutes before I am due to set off so it is ready.
I like the button lock. Hold for a few seconds and it disables the start, pause and stop functions but thoughtfully, screen display changes can still be implemented. It can get knocked without noticing, especially when removing a backpack and before you know it, you’ve walked for an hour and not logged anything. Believe me, I’ve done it.
Build quality is excellent. The glass face is scratch resistant and so far has remained that way. An aluminium surround frames the glass and the rest is a robust feeling hard plastic. It feels sturdy and during the past few months that I have used it, there is no visual damage. The 6 side selection buttons are positive and provide a beep to confirm when pressed.
There’s some minor grumbles. I’d prefer a leather strap, with apologies to the vegans out there. I don’t like rubber / plastic as a strap, it gets sweaty and sensitive soul that I am, I usually get a rash. However, if they’d have done it in leather then I guess others will complain that it’s not plastic.
I’m not convinced by the crocodile charging clip. It seems flimsy and I don’t know why Suunto didn’t stick to the reliable USB port and cable which has no moving parts and a much securer connection. I can only assume a USB port may be susceptible to water ingress, especially under water. A USb socket cover would be water resistant but not waterproof.
The face around the glass appears to be a black, anodized aluminium which will scratch and look chipped with time. The way around that is to order one in the natural silver finish.
The anodised surround will scratch up in time. Choose the silver finish to avoid this
Movescount.com is Suunto’s website dedicated to viewing your activity once it has been downloaded. It’s pretty good, all the relevant information is displayed and you even get a nice little map to view your route. You can also personalise the display here and share your activities with the on-line community. Movescount also makes software updates to the Ambit automatically.
The Moveslink site displays everything you need to now about your activity. This was one of my (longer!) days up on the South Downs Way recently
Overall, I love it. I now have a reliable method of recording how far I’ve hiked as well as the host of other features. It can be a little overwhelming with all the functions but chances are, not many of us are mountaineers, runners, swimmers, hikers and cyclists that need to use every single feature on the Ambit, so you will realise pretty quickly what you do need. Once there, they are easy to access via the six selection buttons and it takes little time to get used to the operations. I can re-charge it in the field, have full faith in the durability, and even though it’s worn on the wrist, it weighs little.
Heck, I don’t wear a watch usually and I only use the Ambit when I hike, or occasionally cycle. However, if you wear it down the pub, people see it and think your Ranulph Fiennes or something.
Suunto Ambit
Weight: 79gr / 2.8oz
Availability: Pretty much everywhere, it’s not hard to find.
Price: Shop around. Price varies considerably according to accessories (heart rate belt etc) that you choose. I’ve seen it in the £230 bracket all the way up to £400+. Ouch.
