I've tested dozens of rugged smartwatches - this one's battery is on a different level

pros and cons

Pros

• Up to 15 months of battery life.
• Features an altimeter, barometer, and compass.
• Has weather trends and storm alerts.
• Accurate step counting.
• Reasonable price.

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There are lots of new smartwatches available right now, with two days of battery life often earning high praise. In contrast to those limits, the Suunto Core 2 ups the ante with some of the longest battery life of any sports watch on the market. I've been wearing this model over the past month and come to appreciate both the marathon battery and key metrics that support my summer outdoor adventures.

Also: I tested the best sports watches in 2026: Here are the latest and greatest watches, no matter your budget

There are some trade-offs, though. Since there is no heart rate sensor on the back or GPS for accurate outdoor tracking, I also wore a Casio G-Shock GBD-H2000 to compare how these two devices stacked up given their rugged good looks, monochrome displays, long battery life, and limited smartwatch connectivity.

Step-counting accuracy

One of the daily life metrics tracked by the Suunto Core 2 is step counting. I wore the Core 2, G-Shock, and a Garmin Fenix 8 Pro while manually counting steps during several outdoor walks of more than 10,000 steps. The Garmin matched the manual count the closest, just 90 steps over 10,000 steps taken, with the Suunto Core 2 in second place, with about 200 steps over the actual count, and the G-Shock showing more than 350 steps over the actual total.

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Out of the box, the step-counting option isn't enabled, so use the physical buttons -- there are five on the watch -- to move to the settings and enable step counting. Press the lower-right button to see the step count on the main watch display. Your daily step count can also be synced to the Suunto smartphone app, and the results will appear on your Suunto dashboard.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Key outdoor metrics

The Suunto 2 Core is built for those who like to explore the great outdoors with altimeter, barometer, compass, storm alarm, and dive options. Under the main display field at the center of the watch, you will find alti, baro, comp, and dive options. Pressing the center-right button will move you through each of these options that will then appear on the monochrome display.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

There are some options available in each of these modes that show data on the top and bottom portions of the display. Options include temperature, time, altitude, and barometric pressure. This approach means that even in different modes, you can see some info from other areas. At the far right of the display is a tool mode that provides access to a timer, stopwatch, alarm, and settings. You can choose a backlight color (green or red) for the 1.3-inch display, set the tones, and initiate a manual sync to the Suunto smartphone application.

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If the barometric pressure drops fast, the watch will sound the storm alarm to alert you to the rapidly changing weather conditions. Dive mode is perfect for my needs, supporting basic snorkeling as the watch tracks dives up to 30 feet deep. The display shows your underwater duration, water temperature, and current time, which is perfect for a vacation dive in Hawaii or the Caribbean.

Rugged and long-lasting

The watch is powered by a CR3032 button cell and is rated to last for up to 15 months. Given I've been using the device for less than a month, I can't judge the battery life, but it is clearly refreshing to wear a watch without having to think about charging it.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The Suunto Core 2 has a Corning Gorilla Glass display inset from the bezel, protecting the device from an inadvertent bump. The bezel is built up with five proud buttons, making it easy to navigate. The watch has a water-resistant rating of 10 ATM and is MIL-STD-810H certified, so you can wear it in any weather condition without worry, which is what you need on a watch you are taking camping, hiking, fishing, or hunting.

Also: The best smartwatches of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

Given its long battery life and rugged features, you might think this watch is limited to standard features, but the device has Bluetooth and syncs with the Suunto smartphone application. Your step count and time sync with the app via a manual initiation. The smartphone application is also used to push firmware updates to the watch. I've already seen a fairly significant update that improved watch performance.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

With my daughter and her husband living in Australia, it's also great to use the dual-time zone option to check their local time. I often plan my run around sunset, so having quick access to sunset and sunrise is also a bonus metric for me on a watch.

ZDNET's buying advice

Thanks to the rising popularity of the smart bands from Amazfit, Whoop, Garmin, Fitbit, and Polar, you can now wear a band on one wrist and a more standard watch on the other and forget about charging your watch every day or two. This is a reliable, durable watch designed for heading out into the mountains for an adventure. Along with key metrics, it features a compass to help you navigate and alerts so you can stay informed about weather conditions. All in all, the Suunto Core 2 is a compelling watch for just $179.