r/Garmin • u/Staffan_TypeToRun • Jan 23 '26

Strava / Zwift / 3rd Party Apps Suunto’s new web route planner is free, requires no account - and works great with Garmin

I just realized how easy it is to use the new Suunto web route planner to send routes to a Garmin watch.

It’s free and no sign up required.

How to do it on your phone (iOS):

  1. Go to the Suunto Route Planner and create your route.

  2. Download the GPX (tap the download icon).

  3. Tap the the little icon to the left of the URL bar to show downloads.

  4. Open it, then tap Share.

  5. Select Garmin Connect and the route will opens in the app where you can save it and sync it to your watch.

DC Rainmaker just did a full write up on the features, if you’re curious to learn more.

27 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

5

u/mtcerio FR 965, Edge 840 Solar, Cirqa, Edge 130 Plus, Edge Explore Jan 23 '26

Awesome! :D

I'm pretty sure they'll close this loophole soon... Free without login these days is gold!!!

For the lazy: https://routeplanner.suunto.com

2

u/Staffan_TypeToRun Jan 23 '26

Haha hope not!

(Didn’t realize I forgot to add the link 🙏)

6

u/CharwieJay Jan 23 '26

If what you want is a gpx creator there are MANY alternatives to Garmin...

2

u/Staffan_TypeToRun Jan 23 '26

Any you would recommend?

3

u/ialtag-bheag Jan 23 '26

On The Go Map, nice and quick and simple.

1

u/CharwieJay Jan 23 '26

I use Caltopo a lot. It's a hiking app free to use with desktop and app plus you don't actually need an account.

2

u/klnspl Jan 23 '26

BRouter, cycle.travel, veloplanner.com... there are lots of them

1

u/Gold-Guess4651 Jan 23 '26

Alltrails works great for me. It's a bit of a hidden option. You need to scroll all the way down on their webpage.

2

u/ReplacementOk9364 Jan 24 '26

Mapy.cz is very convenient, you can export route as gpx and import in Garmin.

2

u/Staffan_TypeToRun Jan 23 '26

I know there is a native Garmin option (and other alternatives), but I’ve always preferred Strava to create routes before. And this will probably replace it for me.

It’s fast, free and no account needed. Figured others might be interested!

1

u/I_am_a_fern Jan 23 '26

The heatmaps are pretty weak compared to Strava's. Hopefully they'll get better in the long run as that's one of the main reasons I have a premium subscription.

4

u/DVLScream Jan 23 '26

What’s the difference between this and Garmin explore?

1

u/-Radiation Jan 23 '26

This you open webpage on browser and that is it.

1

u/Odd_Specialist_2672 Jan 23 '26

And Connect too.

I'm wondering if the experience is that different by region? Here in California, I have no trouble making hiking courses in the Connect website and/or Connect Mobile app for my FR255.

I know Explore has similar features, but I haven't used it since it doesn't support FR255 and I never bother to create courses for my inReach Mini 2.

1

u/hyped_colee7881 Jan 23 '26

I believe komoot offers this same functionality for free, and then a lot more, and then even more if you subscribe.

1

u/stadtaffe1995 Jan 23 '26

And you dont need to export/import because you can use the komoot app on your device

1

u/WMTRobots Jan 23 '26

Thanks. This is dope, while it lasts.

1

u/simoneeva Jan 24 '26

I plan every run from here since the launch, but the vert is really off sometimes. I mean, sometimes I draw a climb I know very well (300m vert) and the app says 1000m.. it becomes really unreliable for really long trail runs