Garmin Instinct 3 vs Suunto Vertical 2: I tested fitness tracking across 6 categories — here’s the winner

Close-up of the rugged Suunto Vertical 2 smartwatch.

I tested two of the toughest-built, outdoor adventure smartwatches on the market today, the Garmin Instinct 3 and the Suunto Vertical 2, to determine which is the more competent and reliable activity tracker.

To do this, I wore the Suunto on my left wrist and the Garmin on my right wrist to track a one-hour walk around Seattle, Washington, through a mix of urban areas and heavily wooded ones.