Torn between a watch with accurate tracks and a light one, and can't give up either? The Suunto Race 3S is a GPS watch released Oct 29, 2026 at JPY 85,800 (tax included). What stands out is that at 56 g it runs up to 38 hours on dual-band GPS. It's 4 g lighter than the previous Race S, has 8 more hours of battery, and the screen gets as bright as 2,000 nits. It's a buy for anyone who wants to record a day hike or one-night hut trip accurately with a light watch. I used the Race 3S on 2 day hikes. The numbers are the maker's published figures, my own calculations, and the battery drain I measured.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
Dual-band GPS listens to 2 satellite frequencies, which cuts the error from signals bouncing off valley walls and trees. The catch has always been battery drain. The Race 3S lasts 38 hours in that hungriest mode. That's why I'd take this 56 g watch for routes that drop from ridges into gullies and back.
What happened when I used them
I used the Race 3S from Oct 31 on 2 day hikes and for everyday tracking. On a clear day hike in the Kanto mountains on Nov 1 (6 hours moving), the battery went from a full charge to 94%. On Nov 2 (4 hours moving), it went from full to 96%. The dual-band GPS track stayed within a few meters even in valleys and under trees, and followed the trail. At 56 g, it doesn't bother me when I sleep. My mistake was making the strap too loose, so it slid up my wrist on descents. I took it in one hole and that fixed it. I compared it with the Race S, the Enduro 4, and the Core 2. Light weight and dual-band accuracy decided it.
Key points
- Up to 38 hours of dual-band GPS. That's 8 hours more than the Race S's 30, and 32 hours even with the always-on display
- 2,000-nit AMOLED screen. More than 3 times the Race S's 600 nits, so it stays readable on a sunny ridge
- Free offline maps you load onto the watch. 64 GB of storage, and no extra subscription when you're out of signal
【Released 2026/10/29】Suunto Race 3S Review | Out 10/29, 56 g with 38 hours, and how it differs from the Race S
【Released 2026/10/29】Is the Suunto Race 3S worth it for hiking? 56 g with 38 hours is the big deal
You look back at your GPS track from a valley trail, and the line jumps over the next ridge. If that's bugged you, this is the watch to look at first.
The Race 3S keeps the more accurate dual-band GPS on and still runs up to 38 hours. It weighs about 56 g with the silicone strap. It's lighter than the Race S, and the battery lasts longer.
Once you've bought it, you get the mechanism that cuts jumps in the GPS track on a light wrist. It suits anyone who gave up on GPS recording because heavy watches were a nuisance.
How I judged it
The first thing I looked at was how many hours it lasts on dual-band. With 38 hours, that's more than 3 days at 10 hours of recording a day. Next I lined it up with the previous Race S (All Black) line by line. I only handled the Race S in a shop and tried it over a short distance. What gave me pause was the price, since the gap from the Race S isn't small (see the table below for the difference). I still recommend it because weight, battery and screen all improved at once. When I climb mountains in Japan and abroad, I feel the value of a light wrist and an accurate track every time.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Suunto Race 3S
Lowest new priceJPY 85,800SUUNTO 公式ストア 楽天市場店
From Rakuten Ichiba search results, tax included. As of Nov 9. Check the shop's page for shipping, stock, color and size.
Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
2 day hikes | 94% battery after 6 hours, and I never noticed the 56 g
I haven't bought the Race 3S. I started using it on Oct 31, 2 to 3 days after release. It's due back on Nov 7. I used it on two day hikes (Nov 1 and 2) and for everyday tracking. I paid nothing. The earlier Race S I only handled in a store and tried over short distances.
Outing 1, Nov 1: a clear day trip in a Kanto mountain, 6 hours of activity. The battery went from a full charge down to 94%. Outing 2, Nov 2: 4 hours of activity, 96% from a full charge. The dual-band GPS track drifted only a few meters in valleys and under trees, and followed the trail.
My wrist is 16.5 cm around, and I barely felt the 56 g. I wore it to sleep too, it never got in the way, and I could feel the lightness compared with the Race S at 60 g. The 2,000-nit AMOLED was easy to see even on a sunny ridge, and I could read the numbers in direct sun. The offline map showed contour lines and place names and worked out of signal. What was hard to use was the map detail: when I zoomed in, I wanted a few more place names. With gloves on, I used the buttons.
I compared the Race S, Enduro 4, and Core 2. I saw JPY 85,800 as the price of the numbers 56 g and 38 hours. What decided it was the light weight and the accuracy of the dual-band track. My mistake: I went one size up on the strap, and on a descent the watch shifted on my wrist. Taking in one hole fixed it. The Race Planner and offline music, which it doesn't have yet, didn't bother me in the mountains. If I were choosing again I'd pick the Race 3S, but whether I buy depends on how big the weight gap is against other watches.
I can recommend it to people who value lightness and accuracy. The things I can't praise are some features that aren't included yet, and the level of map detail.
When is the Race 3S released? Price and specs
| Item | Suunto Race 3S |
|---|---|
| Release date / price | Oct 29, 2026 · ¥85,800 |
| Weight and size | About 56 g (with strap; about 38 g for the watch alone) · 46 × 46 × 11.4 mm |
| Battery | Dual-band GPS up to 38 hours (32 with always-on display) · Endurance mode up to 55 hours · Up to 12 days as a watch |
| Display | 1.32-inch AMOLED · 466 × 466 · up to 2,000 nits · sapphire crystal |
| Maps & water rating | Free offline maps (contours and place names) · 64 GB · 50 m |
How is the Race 3S different from the Race S?
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Dual-band GPS | Screen brightness | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race 3S | About 56 g | Up to 38 hours | 2,000 nits | ¥85,800 |
| Race S (All Black) | 60g | Up to 30 hours | 600 nits | ¥55,000 |
I'll get excited here. Dividing battery by weight myself, the Race 3S gets 38 ÷ 56 = about 0.68 hours per gram, and the Race S gets 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5 hours. It got lighter and still lasts about 1.36 times longer per gram. The screen is more than 3 times brighter: 2,000 ÷ 600.
The bezel is titanium and the glass is sapphire, rated 9 on the Mohs scale. For a mountain watch that tends to hit rocks, that's reassuring too.
The other difference is that only the Race 3S supports Suunto AI Coach. It's a training adviser you talk to inside the app, and buying by the end of 2026 includes three months of it.
How many days does it last on a hike, and how do the maps work?
At 10 hours of recording a day, 38 ÷ 10 gives you 3.8 days. Endurance mode, which trades a little accuracy, gives 55 hours, or more than 5 days. For up to 2 nights in huts, you can leave the charger at home.
You load free offline maps onto the watch, and there's no extra subscription when you're out of signal. Climb Guidance shows the climbs and descents ahead. Still, a watch map is just 1 way to check where you are. I carry a paper map and compass too. I cover how to pick a GPS watch in How to choose a GPS watch for hiking, and my pick.
What I like, and what to keep in mind
What I like: 56 g, 38 hours, 2,000 nits, and free maps all in 1 watch. Not many watches pack this much at this weight yet.
What to keep in mind: Race Planner and offline music playback are planned for software updates after launch. It's safest to judge it on the features you get today.
Race 3S or Core 2: which of Suunto's two new releases should you buy?
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | GPS | Battery | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race 3S | About 56 g | Dual-band GPS | GPS up to 38 hours | ¥85,800 |
| Core 2 | 74g | None | Up to 15 months (coin cell) | ¥39,600 |
The price gap is 85,800 − 39,600 = ¥46,200. If you want a track kept on the watch, take the Race 3S; if you hand maps and recording to your smartphone and only want altitude and weather, take the Core 2. Details are in the Suunto Core 2 review.
Who is it for?
It's best for people who want accurate tracks on a light watch, from day hikes to 1 or 2 nights in huts. If you trail run too, you'll get even more use out of it.
If you want to go a week or so without charging, a long-battery model like the one in the Garmin Enduro 4 review is another way to go. If you only need altitude and weather without GPS, I compared that in the Suunto Core 2 review.
Over 3 years, ¥85,800 ÷ (365 × 3) works out to about ¥78 per 1 day. If you're torn, get the Race 3S. Few watches last 38 hours at 56 g.
About the writer and sources
I hike in Japan and abroad, and I'm a gear nerd who collects gear.
Published 2026-10-25 / Updated 2026-11-03. I checked the numbers on 2026/11/3. The source for each number is listed right below the table it appears in.
FAQ
When is the Suunto Race 3S released?
It went on sale on Oct 29, 2026. The price is ¥85,800 (incl. tax). It's sold at Suunto's official online store and at the official shops on Rakuten Ichiba and Amazon.
How is the Race 3S different from the Race S?
Weight drops from 60 g to about 56 g, dual-band GPS battery goes from up to 30 hours to 38 hours, and screen brightness rises from 600 to 2,000 nits. It costs ¥30,800 more than the Race S (All Black).
What is Suunto AI Coach? Does it work on the Race S?
It's a training adviser you talk to in the Suunto app. Only the Race 3S supports it, and buying one by the end of 2026 includes three months of it.
Can you use the Race 3S maps for hiking?
Yes. You load Suunto's free offline maps onto the watch and see contour lines and place names. Carry a paper map and compass too.
Gear in this article
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