I’ve been testing the Polar Pacer Professional GPS sports activities watch. Polar state: “That is an ultra-light, new-generation sports activities watch with built-in barometer that equips athletes with superior instruments to enhance operating economic system, coaching classes and sports activities efficiency.” Learn on to search out out my ideas.

Options of the Polar Pacer Professional GPS watch

There are quite a few options so I’m itemizing among the ones that I feel are most vital.

• Dimensions: 45mm x 45mm x 11.5mm
• Weight: With out strap 23g; with strap 41g
• Show sort: MIP – Reminiscence in Pixel (low energy consumption, excessive distinction and display screen brightness)
• Show measurement: 30.48mm (1.2in)
• Show decision: 240 × 240
• Storage: 32 MB
• Case materials: Plastic
• Display materials: Gorilla Glass
• Bezel materials: Aerospace aluminium
• GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Water resistance: 50m
• Barometer
• Compass
• Accelerometer
• 5 color selections
• Detachable watch strap

Battery:

• Battery life coaching mode, as much as: 35 hours
• Battery life watch mode, as much as 144 hours
• Battery life with energy save coaching mode, as much as 100 hours.

• Value: £231 to £289 relying on color
• See: Polar, in addition to Amazon (I obtain a small fee for gross sales by way of Amazon)

My ideas: Polar Pacer Professional GPS watch

Polar has taken many options from their increased spec GPS watches and designed them into the Polar Pacer Professional, however at a less expensive worth. The watch is extra targeted on operating. (Be aware, there’s a Polar pacer model and that has fewer options.)

There are different another modes, corresponding to biking, energy coaching, HIIT, strolling and triathlon, that are just about all I would like. Generally I exploit a kayaking mode or a ski mode however some watches have so many modes it appears a bit excessive. For instance, a really area of interest mode of “mermaiding” on the Suunto 9 Peak Professional.

I perceive that manufacturers need to compete on options however I’d reasonably they targeted on making a GPS watch that’s nice for considered one of two sports activities and stored the value down. That is what Polar seems to be aiming to attain with the Polar Pacer and the Polar Pacer Professional.

There are some variations if you evaluate the upper spec – and dearer –– Polar watches. The Polar Pacer Professional doesn’t have a touchscreen and it has a barely smaller watch face measurement. The Polar Pacer Professional can also be made from plastic, reasonably than a light-weight metallic. I don’t suppose these are main points.

There are some positives of the cheaper Polar Pacer Professional, corresponding to a pleasant and shiny show, even when when it’s mild and sunny outside. You’ll be able to select from a variety of various watch faces (these are discovered within the setting part of the watch).

One space that it’s best to be aware is battery life. There must be some sacrifices for the value of this watch and that is the place Polar has most definitely made some financial savings. The battery does final for final days however not weeks as with different increased spec sports activities watches, such because the Garmin Enduro.

In regular watch mode, whereas doing a little out of doors actions, the the Polar Pacer Professional ought to last as long as about six days. I acquired about 4 to 5 days nevertheless it does rely on what I did every day.

In coaching mode, making extra use of the GPS for monitoring and so forth, Polar reckon it’s about 35 hours of battery. There are some energy saving coaching modes you should utilize to make the battery final a bit longer.

Examine this to pricier watches corresponding to Garmin Enduro, Suunto 9 Peak Professional and Coros Apex 2 Professional and also you’ll see there’s a extra restricted battery life. Saying that, many individuals need a watch that they’ll use for a giant time out, or a few days, and they’re completely happy to recharge with a powerbank or again at house.

It’s a little bit of a worth versus battery life factor with sports activities watches as of late I feel.

A terrific characteristic is the barometric altimeter, which precisely tracks elevation. This is a wonderful characteristic for a decrease priced watch. As well as, there’s a hill splitter mode that collects information in real-time so you’ll be able to see your tempo on ascents and descents. That is good for holding observe of hill reps and intervals as you do them. (Be aware, the extra fundamental Polar Pacer doesn’t have the barometer.)

The guts fee monitor is on the wrist. That is hardly ever as correct as a chest coronary heart fee monitor however they’re turning into increasingly more correct. If the watch doesn’t match neatly to the wrist otherwise you get bumps and jiggles when doing train, you may discover the watch loses pulse monitoring, however, total, when monitoring like for like for me, I discovered it nearly as good as different dearer watches.

The watch has a mode to trace strolling Vo2 Max, in addition to operating Vo2 max. To do that you’ll want to go into the “checks” space of the watch. I’m by no means that satisfied concerning the accuracy of Vo2 max information nevertheless it’s helpful to match week to week for private information.

Navigation on the Polar Pacer Professional is by breadcrumb monitoring reasonably than with a full-on map. You probably have uploaded routes, corresponding to from Komoot GPX information, you’re going to get turn-by-turn prompts and for those who go off observe the watch will let you know the course to go in to re-find your route. (Be aware, this watch won’t present you the main points of monitoring again to your route.)

I discovered GPS monitoring and accuracy to be nice. It in contrast nicely with different dearer sports activities watches that I personal/ have examined and in addition with pals’ GPS watches who had been out with me.

One factor that irritated me a bit, nevertheless, was that the cease button for actions is completely different from the beginning button. For those who press the beginning button after beginning an exercise, it pauses the exercise. To finish the exercise it’s important to press one other button. That is completely different from my different sports activities watches and it left me flummoxed till I checked the on-line handbook. I suppose you’re going to get used to the buttons if it’s your foremost watch however this appears a little bit of an oddity to me.

There are bluetooth tethering choices for gadgets corresponding to cadence pods, chest coronary heart fee monitor strap and so forth. Be aware, these usually are not Ant+ appropriate.

Like many trendy sports activities watches there are some additional helpful options together with climate forecasts, music controls and one-way message notifications, corresponding to texts (you’ll be able to view them however not reply).

Polar gives loads of coaching information. The Polar Movement app has some extra restricted information information, whereas the desktop model has much more information and stats to evaluate.

You too can utilise a FitSpark characteristic for health coaching data. That is primarily based in your health degree, exercise historical past and restoration information. That is truly fairly good and there are prompts in order for you them. The prompts give ideas for workout routines and coaching you are able to do to enhance your health.

There’s a Nightly Recharge restoration measurement, in addition to a sleep monitoring mode, which may each be very helpful. Many sports activities watches provide way of life information, corresponding to steps walked, sleep patterns and so forth and Polar has loads of information so that you can have a look at. The Nightly Recharge exhibits you ways nicely your physique has coped with the general stress of current actions and divulges information corresponding to HRV, REM and respiration charges.

One other characteristic is named FuelWise, which lets you set your “fuelling” necessities to remind you to maintain consuming/hydrating by actions.

There are additionally in-watch timers, a “serene” mode with respiration workout routines and Strava stay segments.

The watch syncs with an app that gives all the standard information you’ll count on. You’ll be able to see at a look day by day, weekly and month-to-month information for stats corresponding to steps, distance, energetic time, energy used and “helpful” sleep.

Conclusion: General, for the cash, it is a nice sports activities watch and particularly for runners. It additionally appears to be like good.