Polar Vantage M

This is my review after a month of use. I will probably update it once I’ve had the watch longer, but so far it’s brilliant. I’ve previously used a Fitbit Blaze to monitor my heart rate while running but wanted more out of the watch. This does everything I need. GPS is one of the main features I wanted along with manual lap marking for intervals. I regularly go out running now without all the paraphernalia (phone, headphones, armband) I can just start the watch and go. As some others may have mentioned, my only niggle is that sometimes the GPS does take a long time to initiate. The watch is easy to navigate and setup. There’s no touch screen but not a feature that the watch really needs. It’s easy to get around with the side buttons. On the right side the middle button does all the confirmations and the buttons above and below navigate the info screens and menus. I’ve had no issues with accuracy. In fact I’d say it’s even improved as my Parkrun measurements are much closer to the actual race distance. The polar flow app and webpage are also easy to work around. The webpage obviously displaying more info and the ability to set specific run/ activity goals by calendar. The performance feedback is also easier to understand than Strava’s fitness feedback in my opinion. This is a stunning watch.

As a GPS HRM, it works really well, is very accurate against benchmarks & pre-determined maps, for cycling, running and OW Swimming. The only issue I've has with it to date is it isn't that accurate in a pool, missing a number of turns. It's able to recognise different strokes, but not always the turn a the end of a length. This provides flawed pool swim metrics. So for example, you swim an 800 in 12:00, it records a 725 in 12:00, very different pace... Is worse when doing back / breast strokes. Other than that, it's ace, and for 90% of what I do it's perfect, and I can live without putting pool workouts on Strava. There may be a future software upgrade that cures it, who knows. Think it's still better than any alternative under £500

Used for almost a month, the running programme has got me back into that, alongside weights. Lost 6% body fat during momth. The hr zones i auto calibrated and do seem about right, e.g i can run for relevant times in the different zones. Seen gains on fit test and running score over that time. No way of checking accuracy though as I don't have the chest strap. The online stuff is great too, with detailed feedback and editable sections, really useful for me as I can add weight, reps and sets onto the strength sessions. Only criticism I'd have is that the running programme sessions, that match up with fitspark sessions, do not have the same graphics on watch and instead you have to be near something to watch the video provided workout instead. I'd say you'd need to be able to use the online stuff alongside the watch to make the most of this one though.

The watch is really nice and it is not heavy. The presentation is ok. It comes on a box with the charger and a little manual.I was used to have a RC3 GPS.Pros > Got a lot of sports and you can change the way you see the time. The GPS works very quickly and you can monitor your heart rate every time. Also has a sleep meassurement.Cons > The heart rate is not accurate. Really bad one. I was running at 4:00 per KM and my heart rate was 118 which is really very low. Also, you can not change the view of the sports. On RC3 GPS you could select what you want to see.Anyway is a nice watch, but no accurate on the heart rate.

I nearly bought an Apple watch 3 but stayed with Polar after owning pervious watches that I loved even if they looked a bit utilitarian. They have arguably changed my life, health and fitness wise. The new Vantage M really blows me away. PROs The sleep tracking is so detailed it reads if you are stressed and suggests improvements, can sense if perhaps you are falling ill, the exercises are fantastic and helped with a night time stiff back, the screen when you are doing exercise (see outside of box) is amazing I use it mostly for cycling, the battery life is off the scale even if you use GPS its easy a week and seems to fast charge in no time. It looks great - still with a slightly big bezel and the watch display is a bit boring. It takes a of time to work out that each watch display has an option behind it and the sheer depth on information on the app and exercises but in a week or so you are up to speed. The only negative I have is that the heart rate accuracy when doing exercise can under estimate your heart rate unless you have it located exactly where it should be and tight-ish (slightly too tight for my liking) so to save a visit to Polar site a good index finger above wrist bone and tight enough that pushing both sides of strap does not lift the watch enough to see the hear rate lights. IN a nutshell take some time with this watch and follow its recommendations its excellent.After some months of use a little update. Turn on the night time do not disturb otherwise screen will light up and wake you up when watch near your face sleeping. Second point has irritated me more. I notice when road cycling and short sprinting (circa 30 sec) up a hill absolutely full gas that sends me into the red watch shows me green until I'm over the hill and recovering. If I do this several times in a ride it underestimates effort and all the clever analysis tells me to to do more! I asked Polar and they said all optical have their flaws and buy a £80 heart rate strap like I had with my old polar F5 donkeys years ago. Thats not why I spent £200 on a smart watch with cutting edge sensors and not £25 on a cheap smart watch. The fix is that the sampling needs a "dynamic" mode that would reduce the exceptional battery life but provide a more accurate HR monitor. FINAL Bought for £53 strap and now all hr super precise. It does underestimate time in red without the strap. Should be sold as a pair.

I have waited for nearly five months of use before writing this review, mainly because I wanted to give the watch a fair try. I had read some very negative reviews about it and to be honest was taking a leap of faith when I bought it. However, I should never have worried. This is my fourth Polar device and by far the best!! If you are looking for a no nonsense accurate device to record your training sessions, and look good as your day to day watch, then this is the device for you. I train 4-5 times each week, with a varied range of activities from circuit training, running, swimming, cycling, both indoors and outside. I have found the Vantage has recorded all activities accurately and reliably. I do wear the H10 HRM most of the time, but even without I find the Vantage keeps an accurate record of my HR. It is a sturdy watch with a decent strap - believe me I put these areas to test every day!! Coupled with the continuing development of the supporting App, I have found this to be a brilliant device and would recommend to any day to day sportsman.

It's a great watch especially if you plan to use it mainly outdoors. The permanently 'on' screen is optimised for outdoor use, and is so dim indoors even with the backlight, that unless you have hawk-like vision it is a struggle to read. That was a deal-breaker for me and a real shame given the watch is good in so many other ways - it had to go back. In short, if you train outdoors it's fine, but indoors (and not in a super brightly lit space) it is a big question mark.

Bought as an upgrade to my M430 as I was getting frustrated with the limited battery life and touch screen bugs - turns out unit was faulty and I did receive a refund but I decided to keep the Vantage M.Battery life - I only charge it once a week, which is perfect for me, as I run 5 says a week and feel like I am constantly plugged into some charger or other.GPS - takes a little while to connect but no more than a minute, never showed an incorrect recording or map so far.HR - wrist based heart rates are sometimes a little dodge but so far it seems to have served me well. I have manually inputted my HR zones as they were too long for peak performance and they work for me much better now.Ease of us - menus are easy to navigate. I know there was a bit of feedback that the buttons are slippy, but I've never had an issue whilst running. I actually find it easier to use than my previous touch screen which disliked cold or sweaty hands!Polar flow/cardio load - I'm an absolute data junkie and the app/desktop site is amazing for getting all my stats through on. Cardio load is really handy for monitoring your current strain.For me it does everything I nee it to, at a cheaper price than the equivalent Garmin.

He usado hasta ahora el Forerunner 35 y este es bastante superior. Ya es mi tercer reloj de esta marca en todos los años que llevo haciendo deporte). Creo que polar fué si no la primera marca, de las primeras, en tener pulsómetros, y además del reloj, está muy completo el software que tiene en la web, el Polar Flow, mucho más completo que otros. Por ejemplo, he planificado un entrenamiento para maratón, y automáticamente me ha creado el plan de entrenamiento, no sólo corriendo, sino con ejercicios de fuerza y cardio. Si entras en la web, o en con la app del móvil, te muestra un vídeo con los ejercicios que debes hacer en tiempo real. Aunque esté en inglés lo veo muy interesante.En cuanto a la frecuencia cardiaca, aunque hay que ponerse bien el reloj para que la detecte, creo que lo hace muy bien con el montón de sensores que tiene. La duración de la batería con gps y frecuencia cardiaca es una pasada, no he visto ningún reloj de este precio que dure ni la mitad. Da para un ultra trail.Lo que algunos consideran una desventaja, como que no tenga música o no se vieran los mensajes del móvil (ahora sí, con el nuevo software), o que la pantalla no sea táctil... para mí no es en absoluto una desventaja. Yo lo quiero para entrenar o en las carreras que suelo hacer, todo lo otro no me hace falta, de hecho no tengo activado los mensajes del móvil, porque me parece un incordio que esté todo el rato avisando de los wasaps que entran.Comparando con el Garmin, sí que le echo de menos un par de cosas, que se podrían mejorar, como el aviso con vibración cuando te pasas de un rango de ppm predefinido, o el control de la evolución del peso en la app.La batería se carga muy rápido, con un un conector magnético muy eficiente, muchísimo mejor que el que tenía p.e. el M400. El reloj es bonito, ligero y fácil de utilizar. la pantalla a color, se ve muy bien a pleno sol, le he puesto un protector mate y aún parece que mejora algo. Puedes predefinir muy fácil la información de las pantallas en cada deporte (Hasta cuatro indicadores!), incluso desde la app, indicando en pantalla para cada cifra el parámetro que es (esto no lo tenía el Garmin, que muestra los datos, pero no te dice qué datos son, y si no te acuerdas de lo que es cada cosa, te puedes liar ). Se conecta muy rápido con la app para sincronizar.En definitiva, me parece un muy buen reloj, en la línea de los que ya he disfrutado antes de Polar.

Anticipo che questa recensione parte dal prezzo di acquisto dell'orologio ... 159 euro, durante un offerta, nel mio caso... e che polarizza l'intera esperienza che faccio dell'orologio....Ma andiamo x ordine....Durata della batteria fantastico!!!... lo carico una volta la settimana col seguente setup:- 1 allenamento al giorno di 30/45 minuti (Corsa)- Cardio acceso tutta la notte- modalita aereo attivoNegli allenamenti l'ho trovato perfetto... le varie schermate mi riportano tutte le informazioni di cui ho bisogno inoltre la lettura della frequenza cardiaca l'ho trovata buona... non sara' una fascia cardio ma secondo me fa il suo dovere.La luminosita e' un po "LA nota" negativa dell'orologio.... ci se deve abituare... ma all'inizio sembra sempre buio...Non e' touch... ma a questo prezzo.... ho il cardio e GPS.... il touch non mi interessa....Detto questo x il resto io quest'orologio l'ho trovato perfetto x gli allenamendo... inoltre la piattaforma Web penso sia una delle piu' complete sul mercato e il tutto ad un prezzo decisamente interessate.A questo prezzo e' un offerta da NON perdere.Piu' che soddisfatto dell'acquisto===========================Update al 13/12/2021:- ho fatto una doppia sessione di bici col cardio sia dallo Polar Vantage M sia da PolarV650 con fascia cardio. IL risultato e' multo buono.... su una sessione di 2h la frequenza rilevata dal Polar Vantage M era inlinea con la fascia cardio (al piu' 1-2 battiti di scostamento) solo in pochi momenti la frequenza rilevata era totalmente errata (estremamente sotto stimata) ma da avevo maglia, guanti e giubottino quindi la posizione dell'orologio non era quella perfetta.... In generale quindi la rilevazione della frequenza nel mio caso la reputo veramente buona. Se non si e' maniaci della misura all'ultimo battito la frequenza ottica dal polso e' piu' che buona.- ho provato l'allenamento FitSpark ed e' stato veramente divertente. Ogni giorno il Polar Vantage M ti propone un traning quotidiano sulla base degli allenamenti pregressi. Per l'allenamento del giorno ci sono varie opzioni (differenti sessioni x differenti durate) e ogni sessione e' un circuito di diversi esercizi... Ogni esercizio e' descritto con un immagine animata e una completa descrizione scritta. L'ho provato con un circuito di screatching ed e' stato come avere un personal trainer che mi guidava passo passo.... Veramente ben batto.===========================Update al 18/01/2022:- Perfetto anch sulla bici. Si connette ai sensori Polar di velocita e cadenza potendo monitorare tutte la sessione di bicicletta- Perfettamente sincronizzato anche con la fascia cardio Polar H7Sempre piu' soddisfatto :-)

Nu een tijdje de Polar Vantage M in bezit nadat ik de Polar Grit X Pro heb geprobeerd. De Grit X Pro had veel meer functies dan ik nodig heb en ik was niet helemaal tevereden over de navigatie functie. De Polar Vantage M doet nagenoeg hetzelfde maar dan zonder alles wat ik toch niet bleek te gebruiken. De prijs van de Vantage is dan ook net wat vriendelijker.Tot nu to elke mogelijke sport kunnen toevoegen en de rapportage in de app werkt snel, simpel en overzichtelijk. Synchroniseren met de app is ook supersimpel. Ik heb om te proberen een nieuwe horlogebandje gekocht, en ook het verwisselen van het bandje is heel makkelijk. Daarmee kan je de styling van je watch blijven aanpassen. Tot dusver heel tevreden. Prettig om te zien wat ik verbruik en wat voor effect het heeft op mijn lijf energie.

Works as advertised and I'm pleasantly surprised with its functionality and battery life.The operations take a bit of getting used to, without a touchscreen or a rotating bezel, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes easy and intuitive.Very happy with the purchase.

J'ai déjà fait 2 run avec, 1 en fractionné et 1 sur route.Elle est très simple à paramétrer et à utiliser, que se soit lors de la pratique sportive ou lors du quotidien.Légère et fine, elle passe inaperçue au poignet.Le suivi des activités, du sommeil et des objectifs quotidien se retrouvent sur le logiciel et application de la marque. Je le trouve très bien fait et la lecture en est clair et agréable à parcourir.Avec le nombre de sport disponible (on peut les mettre dans l'ordre que l'on souhaite pour retrouver ceux que l'on pratique le plus dans les premiers du menu) je n'ai pas fini de la découvrir.Amateur ou plus expérimenté, elle peut convenir à de nombreux sportifs.