Polar RS800cx Multi Features

• Heart rate monitor (obviously)
• Soft-touch WearLink heart rate belt
• G3 GPS device and armband
• Advanced tracking (map, fitness, weather, altitude)
• Altimeter and barometer measurements
• Thermometer
• Complex training management
• OwnIndex fitness test
• MSRP: $439.95-$519.95 (depending on package)

Polar RS800cx Multi (HR & GPS) Review

The RS800cx is a training watch for serious athletes. While watching the Winter Olympics earlier this year, I couldn’t help but notice that nearly every cross country skier or biathlete was sporting this watch with its huge face giving them detailed performance data on-the-fly. Comparing my training to their training would be akin to trying to compare a Chevrolet to a Lamborghini. In other words, we’re in different worlds. That said, can an everyday athlete take advantage of all that the RS800cx has to offer? I think so… lets dig in.

One of the most impressive features of the RS800cx is its overall comfort. This is achieved via a lightweight design that’s built ergonomically so as not to cause a fuss during activity. I’ve worn this watch backcountry skiing, running, trail running, road biking and mountain biking and it has never once felt bulky or awkward. It’s lightweight design simply disappears.

For over 8 months, I wore this watch every day as my regular timepiece and the subdued styling fits in just fine for casual wear. Well, casual wear for a known athlete. Some people would feel odd, but I had no issues wearing it day-in/out. The only downside of using it for regular wear is that the standard “home” screen features a huge dot-matrix area that takes up nearly half of the screen with a POLAR logo. There’s no way to change that other than creating a custom image of your own, but no workout data can populate that section of the screen while in time mode (kind of lame and the biggest negative aspect of this watch).

The initial workout does require acquiring all devices that you wish to use. For my tests, I used the WearLink heart rate band and the G3 GPS unit. Finding the devices is a fairly simple process — all you have to do is enable GPS in the workout settings, turn on the GPS and wait 15-20 seconds for it to acquire the signal. Once acquired, each device is represented by a small icon on the screen so you know it’s working.

The RS800cx can track many important metrics of your workout. For me, one of the primary reasons to have this watch is its ability to compare both speed/distance data with altitude changes. For all my typical activities, altitude ascent/descent plays a HUGE role in the overall workout and is sometimes critical to awareness during races.

While I have now used this watch hundreds of times for my training, the value of it was most apparent during the RAGNAR Wasatch Back race where I depended on it to help me maintain a proper pace for the long-haul. Personally, I like knowing my distance for training but for race day, I’m going to pace myself using my heart rate, so distances weren’t as important. I ran with the GPS for my first leg, then without it for the final two, which again confirmed my personal preference not to need GPS during the actual race.

With all the data captured via this device, even a screen as large as the one on this device can’t display everything all at once. You have several screens that can be scrolled through by the simple click of a button. While in workout mode, there were a few data points I felt were missing and the most obvious one was the total descent. You can view the total ascent, but not the total descent on-the-fly. It’s available post-workout, but not during the activity — I guess sacrifices have to be made somewhere and that appears to be one of them.

After the workout, you can view gobs of data and then download that data to your PC using Polar ProTrainer 5 (included) for further analysis. This brings up another major flaw… no Mac support. While Polar has introduced Mac support to use PolarPersonalTrainer.com, it’s not yet compatible with this device (a complete bummer). I was able to find an old PC and download my workout data via the IR device, but it takes forever and the connection has been problematic. I’ve been just fine with the summaries provided by the watch, but if you are a serious athlete, you’ll want to get familiar with Polar’s training software for analysis and workout creation/management.

The beauty of this device for serious athletes is the ability to create set workouts and then send them to the device. This is an obvious feature for Olympic athletes or serious training. While I train hard for races and events, my training is a bit more free-form and not all that regimented. I’m OK with that and the watch continues to track my progress in spite of not being militant about my workouts.

Good RS800cx

• Measures every imaginable performance metric
• Locking barometer option to normalize ascent/descent should weather change mid-activity
• Analyzes your workout to an amazing level of detail
• Watch wears well and is comfortable enough for daily use
• Soft heart rate strap is comfortable to wear
• Can measure performance via Polar software — including GPS map overlays (too bad it’s PC only)
• Hard-core athletes will rejoice in all the data
• GPS can be worn with the armband or in a pocket (rear cycling jersey pockets are great)
• Some folks complained about the watch face scratching easily, but I’ve beat this thing up for months and don’t have any noticeable scratches

Bad RS800cx

• All software is PC-only
• Large RS800cx logo on home screen can’t be changed to anything useful and takes up a ton of screen real estate
• Wearing multiple units (watch, heart rate strap, GPS) can get old over time
• Start/stop button is easily pushed when wearing around (button lock feature comes in handy)
• Altimeter/barometer reading is only viewable during activity mode
• Descent rate not visible during workouts — only ascent
• The band is a bit stiff near the watch body and can break if stuffed into a tight space (like carry-on luggage… yup, happened to me)

Bottom Line: Polar RS800cx Multi

With this kind of watch, there’s bound to be a huge list of good and bad aspects. While the RS800cx delivers on hard-core performance training, it does miss the mark on PC-only compatibility and the other gripes are really minor inconveniences (being realistic). If you are nuts about tracking details and eat up your workout data for breakfast, you will love this watch. If not, you’ll still love it, but may feel like you’re using an elephant gun when a .22 is all that’s required.

Buy Now: Search for the Polar RS800cx Watch

I’m never satisfied with a run-of-the-mill watch that just tells the time and date, It takes much more than that to get me jazzed about a watch. I’m talking about watches that can nearly guess your next move, can track your entire ski day or, in this case, one that can help you make smarter workout decisions. The Polar FT60 has been my training partner for a couple of months now and I’m amazed how far heart rate monitors have come… this one is definitely one of the most useful workout tools I’ve used.

About the Polar FT60 Training Watch

With a sea full of heart rate watches, the original and market-leader can’t sit still while innovation happens around them. Suunto and Polar are  neck-and-neck in the training watch market–each with their versions of training watches. Both happen to be Finnish companies and both have a long history of producing some of the most advanced watches on the market.

The FT 60 raises the bar on training watches by simplifying measurements that were previously left only for Ph. D’s. Detailed workout analysis is now available on your wrist. And with the ability to personalize your workouts and track your performance based on your characteristics and fitness level, the FT60 can truly be your personal fitness coach.

Watch the Polar FT60 overview video on YouTube.

Features of the Polar FT 60 G1:

• WearLink heart rate transmitter
• Automatic age-based target zones
• 30m water resistant
• G1 GPS armband
• Compatible with optional S1 Footpod
• Target zones
• Historical workout summaries (100 files)
• Polar OwnCal tracks calories burned (Workout, Total, Weekly, Fat %)
• Polar Fitness Test with OwnIndex measures VO2 Max
• Polar STAR Training Program
• Alarm
• Dual Time
• Compatible with PolarPersonalTrainer.com
• Colors: Pink or Black (Women’s), Black/Silver/White or Black/Silver/Red (Men’s)
• MSRP: $239.95 (Watch and HR) / $139.95 for G1 GPS

Polar FT60 Training Watch Review

Out of the box, I noticed two things: 1) This watch is very stylish and clean looking, and 2) It had an intuitive setup wizard that guided me through the initial setup process for goof-proof setup. The initial setup wizard is refreshing in a world of uber-complicated training watches.This process takes you through your key stats (ladies… don’t lie about your age and weight), workout goals, fitness level and basic setup.

Like anything, the most important step is always the setup and preparation. With the FT60, you get everything configured right off the bat so you can get on with your workouts in a jiffy.

The large dot-matrix display is awesome and can display a ton of data and graphs. Unlike many designs, the entire screen uses the same display style. Some try and mix-and-match dot-matrix with LED-style and it just looks awkward. All controls are super-simple to understand and buttons are clearly marked during each function. I’ve never once referenced the manual to use all the functions–that’s how clear and logical everything is on this watch.

After some quick tightness adjustments on the WearLink heart rate transmitter, I was ready to head out. The WearLink transmitter design is a 360-degree soft band for unparalleled comfort and transmission quality. Wearing this heart rate band becomes second-nature and works well under a hydration pack.

The G1 GPS pod is comfortable to wear and is easy to use. A single button turns it on and if the watch is configured for GPS mode, the signal is picked-up in about 15 seconds. Like any GPS device, you’re always limited by the quality of the view of the sky. While trail running through mixed trees, I found it to lock onto the satellites very well, but while on a mountain bike in mixed trees, it tended to lose the signal much more often. Comfort of the G1 is excellent and can be easily adjusted on-the-fly. You can choose to wear it on your arm or waistbelt. Tossing it in your pack may or may not work–it all depends on the distance from your wrist.

Working out is where the FT60 shines. Training mode is easy to start and you’ll immediately have access to your heart rate, elapsed time, calories burned and speed and distance at the touch of a button. I wish it had an auto-scroll function to scan through all of the above, but as it stands, you’ll have to tap the button to switch views. While trail running or mountain biking, this was sometimes difficult since the buttons weren’t as tactile as I’d like.

At the end of your workout, the stored memory will give you a one-line summary of your performance.  Did you overtrain? Did you improve performance? Did you improve fitness? Did you not work hard enough? The one-line workout summary will tell you–that alone is awesome! The rest of the summary data is to be expected with min/max heart rate, time in each heart rate zone, min/max speed, distance, calories burned (total and fat%) and elapsed time. Workouts are automatically grouped by week for a weekly summary.

The STAR training program offers the additional ability to have a guided workout routine with alarms (audible and on-screen) to keep you on track. It’s like having your own personal trainer on your wrist that can cater the workout to your height, weight, age and fitness level.

I used the FT60 for indoor workouts, trail running, hiking, road cycling and mountain biking and was able to track my performance effectively and easily. I loved seeing the calories burned and was often-times surprised at how much I did burn during my workouts. In the past, every heart rate watch I’ve used has quickly lost its luster, but the FT60 continues to deliver–so much so that I haven’t exercised without it.

Good FT60

• Stylish and comfortable enough for daily wear
• Separate GPS device reduces bulk
• Lightweight
• Very intuitive design
• Initial setup wizard is great
• Ability to connect HRM, GPS or Footpod
• Smart training programs analyze your workouts
• Simple review of previous workouts and performance
• Comfortable HRM
• Tracks VO2 max over time

Bad FT60

• Buttons can be hard to press while running or biking
• No auto-scan feature to see rotating activity data (you have to push a button to view different data points mid-activity)
• No lap tracking
• G1 GPS tends to lose signal in the trees
• Can be cumbersome to wear multiple devices, but you don’t wear the GPS on every workout

The Bottom Line on the Polar FT60

With catered workout measurement and on-the-fly training, the Polar FT60 has been an awesome workout partner that has truly helped me maximize my workouts. If you are looking for a heart rate monitor and training watch that actually delivers, the FT60 is hard to beat. Ditch “Hans the Trainer” and switch to the Polar FT60 to measure your workout performance.

Buy Now: Search GEAR.com for Polar FT60

Polar’s AXN watch line is aimed at casual to hard-core outdoor enthusiasts. The AXN line consists of three models, each with more features as the number increases: The AXN300, AXN500 and AXN700. More importantly, these watches offer excellent functions specifically for mountain bikers, climbers and skiers.

Polar AXN300 Details

The entry-level Polar AXN300 model is anything but entry-level when it comes to features. The $229 MSRP of the AXN300 puts it inline with similar models from Suunto, but in a smaller package with more features than the popular Suunto Vector.

The AXN300 is packed with many features not found on other watches in this price-point. One of the best features of the AXN300 is something that’s very simple for Polar–the heart rate functionality. Because the AXN300 includes heart rate functionality, it eliminates the need to have multiple watches to track your outdoor activity. With one watch, you can track your fitness level, get an understanding of your training improvement, and understand your surroundings (altitude, barometric pressure, temperature) with the utmost precision.

The altimeter is accurate to one foot increments (can switch between english and metric settings) and the Action Log Files allow you to view your activity and performance after a day skiing, mountain biking or hiking. The Action Logs track the following: duration, average heart rate, maximum heart rate, time in, above and below heart rate zone, calories burned, slope count (number of ski runs), total ascent, average and max ascent/descent rate and maximum/minimum altitude during the action.

Polar’s first foray into the outdoor-specific watch category appears to be well-planned and completely in tune with the needs of outdoor enthusiasts.

The Review of the Polar AXN300 Watch

I’m a pretty tech-savvy guy and out of the box, the AXN300 didn’t seem difficult to me–especially compared to the initial learning curve needed for other altimeter watches. The AXN300′s interface is very straightforward and intuitive. Honestly, I was expecting the face of the watch to be just a tad smaller–more along the lines of the Suunto X6hr–but, it’s still considerably smaller than the hockey puck-sized Suunto Vector.

The initial configuration of the AXN300 was a cinch. I input my personal data (height, weight and activity level), then configured the watch display units, time and date. Setting the altitude was also very easy. Thanks to Google Earth, I’m able to pinpoint the altitude of my house and calibrate the altitude on a daily basis.

Polar’s fitness test, OwnIndex™, allows you to do a sitting fitness test which takes a couple of minutes. This test is based on your resting heart rate and uses your height, age and weight as the basis for your fitness level. Once the fitness test is over, it spits out your VO2 max, or your maximum oxygen uptake. This effectively measures your body’s own ability to carry and utilize oxygen. Lance Armstrong’s VO2 max is at least 85 ml/kg/min, while mine is currently a measly 49 ml/kg/min… Thanks to Polar, my hopes of the Tour de France are now shattered. The bottom line is that I’ve got room for improvement and the AXN300 is a great tool to help me track and maintain a high level of fitness.

A great feature of the altimeter is that it measures in one-foot increments. Most other altimeters measure in three-foot or greater increments, so that’s a great feature for this particular watch. Both the barometer and altimeter screens include small graphs to show your progress. What’s great about the graph in the altimeter mode is that you can change the scale from 1 feet to 10 feet to 100 feet for a clearer view of ascent/descent profiles.

One note on the thermometer. I have yet to find a thermometer that is unaffected by body temperature. That’s just the nature of wrist thermometers. Please understand that you must take the watch off your wrist for several minutes to achieve an accurate temperature reading. This applies to EVERY watch with a thermometer on it–not just the Polar AXN300.

I’m really impressed with this watch overall. I’ve tested several Suunto, Timex and HighGear altimeter watches over the years, and I’d have to say that the Polar is near the top of the list with the Suunto X6hr and Suunto t6 in overall usability. It does offer some features that Suunto does not, like the OwnIndex™ fitness test feature, but it also lacks some great features that those Suunto models offer. In the end, you’ll have to decide which features are most important and what price you’re willing to pay.

I found the smallish buttons surprisingly easy to use–even with gloves on. And, the log files feature is awesome! When you start the timer for an “Action”, a detailed summary of your data during that activity is stored for later retrieval. Data such as total ascent, average rate of ascent, maximum heart rate and maximum altitude are all stored for later viewing. Heck, you can even view your data during an activity. This function works great for skiing and even includes a run counter to finally know how tram laps you really made at Snowbird.

For all the good things about the AXN300, it does have some relatively minor hiccups. The first one I see is the inability to display anything other than time and date on the main screen. Every other altimeter watch I’ve used has the ability to pull relevant data such as altitude, heart rate, speed, etc. onto the main time screen, or select what you want displayed on the other screens. You can see the data, you just have to scroll through the menus. It does seem useless that you can pull in a POLAR logo onto the main screen in place of the current date, but nothing else. I’m also not too keen on the convex shape of the glass face because it greatly reduces the viewable angle of the watch. Also, for some people, the AXN300 may be a bit large, but I found it completely acceptable and inline with similar watches.

The Bottom Line on the Polar AXN300 Watch

Polar’s initial foray into the outdoor watch market is clearly a winner in overall functionality and price. Out of the box, the AXN300 is user-friendly and extremely versatile. I found the watch to be comfortable enough to wear all day and not cumbersome during outdoor activity. Polar is the most trusted name in heart rate monitors and there is no doubt in my mind that this watch will accurately track my performance and help me increase my level of fitness in the outdoors. With only a few minor gripes, the AXN300 is truly an excellent value in the market as compared to similar models from other manufacturers. At a typical market price of $199, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a comparable watch without spending hundreds more.

BUY NOW: Search for Polar Watches

Suunto X3hr Details

The new Suunto X3hr watch offers an entry-level outdoor training watch for those interested in tracking their heart rate and altitude as it relates to training. This new watch is small and lightweight compared to many other watches in this category. Built as a training watch for endurance sports such as hiking, mountain biking and running, the X3hr is also great for backcountry skiing.

With the ability to store up to 10 workout sessions, the X3hr gives you an overview of each workout with duration, laps, heart rate (max, min and average), total ascent/descent and max/min altitude.

The X3 was built for light weight and wearability. The watch band is built with thin, comfortable rubber and the watch itself is lightweight, yet durable. As one of the only Suunto models to be built outside of Finland, the X3hr offers a lot of features for a small price.

Suunto X3hr Performance

Being very familiar with all things Suunto, the X3hr is built with ease of use in mind. The large buttons are easy to push with or without gloves and the menus are straightforward. If you are familiar with recent Suunto models like the t6 or X6, the menu system on the X3hr isn’t too much different. The major difference is that there are only four buttons instead of five–it’s missing the execute button and instead uses short and long presses of the “set” button to execute options.

Wearability of the watch is great. The rubber strap is thin and lightweight–a welcomed feature in the world of overbuilt, rugged outdoor watches. As with all Suunto watches, the battery is easily replaced by the user in both the watch and heart rate belt. This is a great feature as many heart rate belts don’t allow you to change the battery.

The three line display of the Suunto X3hr allows you to view just the right data during each of the three modes: time, training and memory. Time mode shows the time and date, then you can select whether or not you want to display the day of week, heart rate or temperature and barometric pressure. Training mode shows the heart rate in the middle and the elapsed time on top. From there, you can view the current lap (up to 10), altitude and heart rate min/max (in numbers or on a scale). And, in the memory mode, you can view the data on the last 10 workouts or laps. This data includes min/max heart rate, average heart rate, duration, altitude ascent/descent and min/max altitude.

As far as measurements go, the X3hr provides a great set of measurement tools to analyze your outdoor workouts. With or without the heart rate strap, the watch still provides great workout or trip data on duration and altitude. For the money, the X3hr does offer a lot of features, but not everything about the X3hr is rosy–there are some issues I’ve noticed with the watch. Every complaint I have with the X3hr has to do with the heart rate monitor’s reception. The only time I could get a consistent reading is if I was running outdoors and nobody else had a heart rate monitor. When my wife and I went out for a run, she had the Suunto and I was wearing a Polar AXN300. We had to stay well apart, otherwise she would always pick up the signal from the Polar unit I was wearing.

I also had some trouble keeping the heart rate connected while working out at the gym. Apparently, the watch’s receiver has trouble around electronics because I had to hold the watch just right on the stationary bike, or else it dropped the signal. Another weird issue is that on occasion, the watch will think it’s receiving a heart rate signal while I’m driving my car. I guess my car is trying to send the watch its current heart rate or something. Hmmm… maybe my car is trying to tell me something?

Random heart rate monitoring issues aside, the X3hr does offer a lot of great features at a very low price point. I particularly liked the overall wearability of the watch and don’t even notice it’s on my wrist. Try that with most altimeter watches these days.

The Bottom Line on the Suunto X3hr Watch

This budget-minded outdoor watch from Suunto has a great feature-set for the price. I was impressed with the wearability of the watch and many of the features. The automatic 10 session/lap memory is very useful for later analysis. I did have some reception issues with the heart rate sensor, but I think I’ve got them figured out. I’d recommend this watch to anyone looking for a great entry-level altimeter watch with heart rate monitor.

BUY NOW: Search for Suunto Watches on GEAR.com

Enter the new Suunto X6HR wristop computer. This watch has more features than any other sports watch ever conceived. With all the standard features found on all Suunto watches like altimeter, barometer and thermometer, this watch adds so much more. The best part about the watch is that it’s much more compact than the Vector and its siblings and the face is mineral glass to protect it from scratches.

An entirely new interface was conceived to allow X6HR users the ability to scroll through and use functions with the ease of a typical cell phone. All the menus are mapped and show you exactly where you are within each sub-menu. It’s obvious that there’s some serious technology packed into this thing.

With the X6HR, you get all the typical logbook functionality found on other Suuntos (but more feature-packed), combined with a heart rate monitor newly developed by Suunto.

Suunto X6HR Review

The X6HR is noticeably less bulky than the Vector, but I quickly realized that the rubber strap would take some time getting used to. I had the Velcro strap on my Vector, which I much prefer to rubber watch bands. That’s a personal preference and has nothing to do with the performance of the watch.

At first, deciphering the layout and functions is daunting (typical of Suunto wristop computers), but much less difficult to understand than the Vector ever was. Scrolling through functions, saving settings and starting/ending logbooks is an absolute breeze. And with the ability to scroll through the data on the watch and on your PC with included software, you’ll know the in’s and out’s of how your workout went.

The heart rate monitor works great — even without conductive slime. I just wet the strap and place on my chest… boom… it starts working perfectly. Setting your heart rate limits and monitoring your heart rate during a workout is an absolute breeze. I even noticed that my monitoring band was compatible with Polar-equipped machines at the gym, though the watch couldn’t accurately track my heart rate on the treadmill.

The new logbook features are substantially more involved than before, yet much easier to use. There are basically four different ways to maintain a log: HR/Altitude Chronograph, Altitude Chronograph, HR/Hiking Log and Hiking Log. Depending on the type of activity, duration and whether you want to track your heart rate or not, you can choose to start a simple chronograph or use the hiking log feature — each one stores different information.

The HR Chronograph Log feature is great for sessions shorter than a day. To begin a session, simply start the chronograph and everything is then recorded in 2, 10 or 60 second increments. Your altitude, rate of ascent/descent, total ascent/descent and heart rate are all stored for future use on the watch or can be downloaded to your PC. If you do not want to use the heart rate monitor, simply start the chronograph and all information will be stored without the heart rate.

The Chronograph Log feature stores detailed altitude information to view your altitude profile on your PC, but the Hiking log feature (intended for multi-day logs) does not store a detailed altitude profile for later retrieval.

The Hiking Log feature is meant for long excursions and tracking your heart rate over a long period of time. Only total ascent and descent is stored along with all the other heart rate and time data. During a Hiking log, you can set up to 10 “waypoints” to get a rough profile of your altitude. If you were hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from White Pass to Mt. Adams, you might choose specific “waypoints” where you might want to mark a high or low point along the way.

Basically, the Chronograph Log feature is perfect for most day-to-day activities including trail running, skiing, day hikes and mountain biking. If you’re on a multi-day adventure or a mountaineering trip, the Hiking Log is the ticket.

The included Suunto Activity Manager software is a great way to track your individual workout progress and activity. It hooks up to a serial port (no USB cable) and downloads the data to your computer quickly and easily. It’s pretty sweet keeping track of different types of workouts and comparing each day’s performance.

The Bottom Line on the Suunto X6HR

Man, oh man… this watch sure has a lot of features — some of which I haven’t used just yet. I didn’t even mention the inclinometer, improved digital compass with self-calibration, barometer, thermometer, dual time and more. Yeesh… this watch is packed with super-cool features for the tech geek in all of us.

Overall, the user interface is much improved over previous Suunto watches. The design is more compact and functional than ever before. I absolutely love having one watch that can do everything from tracking my heart rate to telling me the current temperature. As a pure tech geek, this watch leaves nothing wanting.

Granted the price is a bit steep (retail is $449, but can be found for $399 below), but you’re getting a quality timepiece that will be the best workout tracking companion you’ll ever own. The Suunto X6HR is a definite improvement on previous models and has every imaginable feature any cross sports athlete could ever want.

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