Running Watch Reviews » Interval Training

Heart Rate Polar RS400 Monitor

Running Watch Reviews — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:39:47 +0000

Forget about trying to force yourself to get into an unsuitable fitness program! The Polar RS400 Heart Rate Monitor Watch take cares of that by finding that perfect training intensity for your body.

The RS400 features its Polar OwnOptimizer capability. The Polar OwnOptimizer allows this heart rate monitor watch to m determine whether you are under training or over training based on your heart rate, pace, and calories burned and. It measures and analyzes your training results and provides you with visual and aural clues for you to know how effective the runner’s training program is.

With all these data available to you through the Polar RS400, finding ways to ensure successful running training becomes much easier for anyone.

Product Features

Material:
Band Type:
Altimeter: No
Barometer: No
Compass: No
Stopwatch: Yes
Chronograph: Yes
Thermometer: No
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
PC Compatible: Yes
Waterproof: Yes, up to 50m
Backlight / Electroluminescent: Yes
Alarms: Yes, with snooze
Size: Medium
Recommended Use: Running, aerobic activities
Weight:
Warranty: 2 Years

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Just the kind of HRM I was looking for
I have been using RS 400 for over a month and completely satisfied with its performance. While I was already excited about its features, when I was researching for a good running computer within my price range, I was a little concerned about some of the negative reviews regarding its infra-red connectivity. The first time I tried downloading data, I did have trouble, but I realized, I was holding it in my hand and my hand was not steady, so I then took the watch off, and placed it on the table close to the USB infrared reader and it has been able to always get the data quickly after that. Other than that, the recording features where you can record your data at 1s, 5s, 60s etc. are great as I’d like to do a lot of interval training and would want to see my heart rate change almost close to real time. The Polar Personal Trainer software that comes free with it is also a big bonus as I can personalize my target zones based on VO2 max values and find out the distribution of my workout in various VO2 max percentages. I also like the fact that it calculates my calorie expenditure by taking VO2 max into account, as well as heart rate, gender, age and weight, unlike the other monitors that just use gender, weight excluding VO2 max, thereby giving my more accurate representation of the calories I am burning. When I compare it to the calories burned shown by my treadmill, bike or elliptical trainer, they show a lot higher number of calories burned almost 20-30% difference. Therefore, I think it is a much more reliable tool even if you just want to lose weight. I would definitely recommend this product to any serious runner or even a casual person, who wants more accurate estimate of their calorie expenditure during a workout.

2 Stars Good heart rate monitor, battery life issue, tough to change the battery
As a hear rate monitor this unit is really good and I like the software that comes with it (this is my third model of Polar monitors). But this is a replacement RS400 because the first one ran through batteries very quickly (to be fair I loved this watch when I first got it and I gave the first unit 5 stars in my review, albeit that was only after about a month of usage). The first battery lasted about four months, the second one four weeks. I don’t suspect this is normal behavior though, it could just be a defect in the unit…or, as I have read on some of the Polar message boards, the watch is designed such that the side buttons are very easily pushed in when setting the watch down on its side such that it could be getting turned on inadvertently and running the battery down. My guess is that it is the latter rather than being a defect. Now I make sure not to put the watch down on its side to prevent this from happening. The watch is also designed so that, theoretically, you can change the battery yourself but the back is made of such soft plastic that it is almost impossible to open it without destroying the battery cover. This is very annoying. My last Polar was great because it had a metal back with small screws that were easy to pop out, change the battery, and pop back in. My guess is you have to have a special jewelers tool to get this back off without damaging the plastic. The conclusion I have come to is that I think this design is just a poor design. They need to go back to the screw on metal backs (e.g. 625Xi) and redesign the buttons to prevent the watch being accidentally turned on and draining the battery. I would recommend you look at a different Polar model as there are other designs that appear to be better and less likely to suffer from these issues.

4 Stars A Good midrange heart monitor.
i’ve upgraded from one of Polar’s eco models to the RS400. So far after three months or so it has worked great. large enough numbers to see ok and backlighting as well. i’m pleased so far. i recommend this product.

5 Stars Great for Triathelon Training
Rock solid – to upload data to your computer via infrared follow these steps 1. make sure your computer recognized your ira port then

2. click on connect from the watch

3. then go to polar desktop software and transfer

follow those step and it rocks.

4 Stars EXERCISE WATCH
THE NUMBERS ARE NOT AS BIG AS I SUPPOSED. I STILL HAVE TO USE GLASSES TO READ THEM WILL EXCERSISING, WAS NOT THE CASE WITH A NIKE TRIAX C8 THAT I USED IN THE PAST. ALL OTHER IS EXCENENT

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Nike Womens Imara Run Watch R0075 001

Running Watch Reviews — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:21:02 +0000

Nike Women's R0075-001 Imara Run Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $79.00

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

The Nike Womens Imara Run Watch provides women with a running watch that has a feminine flair.

The Nike Women’s Imara Run Watch has a stylish design that is catered to women. It has a black case and pre-curved polyurethane strap have a sleek, narrow profile with a durable, highly polished silver stainless steel bezel and an oversized stainless steel buckle.

Of course, the Nike Imara is not just about design. It is capable of tracking training times with the 43-lap chronograph, has two countdown timers help you time alternate between hard and easy for interval training or run/walk events and also provides two time zones, date display, and one alarm.

The combination of fully functional running features, and the elegant and stylish feminine design og the Nike Womens Imara Run Watch is a perfect fit, for female runners everywhere!

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User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Easy to read!
This is the easiest to read watch that I have ever owned! The time and date are very large and bold, great for those of us with less than perfect eyesight

The time was a little off, it gained about 5 minutes in 6 month’s time. Also, the band is plastic, so no surprise when it broke after 18 months, the problem is that there is no way to replace the band.

I really liked the style, and with the easy to read face, I am considering purchasing another one in spite of the short comings.

2 Stars Good watch, TERRIBLE strap.
I had this watch for about four months before both the top and bottom straps started separating from the face. I could still wear it, so I did, until another problem arose: the strap got a big crack in it and eventually broke. All because of normal wear; I’m not that abusive. I thought perhaps it was just that one watch until I sent it in to nike, which returned me a brand new watch for $12, on which the straps began separating from the face AGAIN. One day the strap finally separated completely from the face, so I can’t wear it anymore. Now I can tell the problem is that the rod connecting the strap to the face is held in on the ends by cheap plastic that breaks easily, allowing the rod to bend and eventually snap. I loved this watch (both of them actually), but I’m moving on to a watch with a strap that wraps around the face.

2 Stars running late
This watch runs late and the alarm is very quiet you can’t hear it.

Nice design.

4 Stars Nike Women’s Imara Run Watch
The watch was delivered in a very timely manner, but there was no invoice or paperwork when delivered.

4 Stars NIke Imara HRM – Love It!!
I run, bike & swim in my Nike Imara HRM & love it! It’s accurate & easy to use. The CD that came with it was educational & helpful. I’ve had no issues with it picking up other monitors (some other reviewers said it did) even when we’re close together.

I wish it did 2 things: 1 – provided max hr during workout (real bummer!). 2 – downloaded to my computer (I’m a data geek). But, for the price $79.00, I’m not complaining!

Now, if I could only find a sports bra as wonderful!

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Timex Unisex Ironman 30 Lap Resin Strap Watch T5K018

Running Watch Reviews — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:02:21 +0000

Timex Unisex T5K018 Ironman 30-Lap Resin Strap Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $49.95

Amazon Price: $32.00

The creators of the Timex Ironman 30 Lap Resin Strap Watch understands that intense training means intense activity. That’s why they have made it as fully functional as possible while having the capability to withstand all the difficulties of extreme training.

The sturdy construction of the Timex Ironman makes it perfect for a all kinds of trainers, from the weekend runners to the competitive triathletes. It is even made to resist water from 330 feet. The watch is constructed from a lightweight plastic case, a stationary blue plastic bezel, and a strong, gray resin wristband with an adjustable buckle clasp for a personalized fit. The display is also shielded by a mineral window.

This tough build is made to shield the internal components from the wear and tear of running, cycling, swimming or any kind of training.

The durable exterior shields a fully functional watch. Powered by digital quartz movement, the Timex Ironman 30 Lap Resin Strap Watch is able to provide a whole host of features that make it ideal for training. It boasts of 30-lap memory, easy to use chronograph training log, on-the-fly lap recall, and interval training options that can all be accessed through the four buttons around the bezel.

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User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Timex Unisex Ironman #T5K018
I bought this watch to help me train for my first half-marathon. Has all the standard features we’re used to with digital watches, time, date, chrono w/split times, etc. You can also program occasions like birthdays, meetings, and anniversaries so you don’t forget to stop and buy flowers during your run. The feature I use the most on this watch is the countdown timer. BEWARE!! I’m about 5’10″ and 160lbs and have small wrists which prompted me to go for the unisex model; however, the watch case is more a ladies or teen size. I only wear it for running so it doesn’t bother me too much, but my buddies would have a good time of it if I wore this out to the bar.

5 Stars practical watch
This watch is great for running and easy to use. It’s perfect for a woman’s wrist, as it has a thin band and is grayish purple in color.

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Timex Ironman 50 Lap Sleek Watch Full Size

Running Watch Reviews — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:57:56 +0000

Timex Men's T5K157 Ironman 50-Lap Fullsize Resin Strap Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $64.95

Amazon Price: $38.57

Working out would involve intense physical activity. The creators of the Timex Ironman 50 Lap Sleek Watch have fully understood this concept, making the Timex Ironman watch fully functional yet fully capable to withstand all the hardships of extreme training.

The sturdy construction of the Timex Ironman makes it perfect for a all kinds of trainers, from the weekend runners to the competitive triathletes. It is even made to resist water from 100M feet. It is made to shield the internal components from the wear and tear of running, cycling, swimming or any kind of training.

However, the Timex Ironman 50 Lap Sleek Watch watch is not simply about durability!

The tough exterior shields a fully functional watch. Powered by digital quartz movement, the Timex Ironman 50 Lap Sleek Watch is able to provide a whole host of features that make it ideal for training. It boasts of with 50-lap memory, easy to use chronograph training log, on-the-fly lap recall, and interval training options.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Functional and comfortable
Bought for my husband for working around the house and he loves it. Band does not make him perspire and fits snugly.

5 Stars Some Features, Useless
This watch is great, nice big very clear display, stopwatch, 3 time zones, night mode feature, daily-weekday-weekend alarms, occasions…

How can I be reminded of an occasion is I have to actively check the occasion mode to see if theres an occasion.

Night mode makes it so no matter which button you press the light turns on, is this for when your reseting your watch during a blackout at night? is it really so hard to press the button that turns the light on?

5 Stars Great watch
Ive owned quite a few of the Ironmans from Timex and I have to say that this is one of the best.

The band is very comfortable and the base curve of the watch and band secures fits perfectly. Even easier to use than previous generations as well.

1 Star Defective Watch
After three weeks of normal use, I noticed moisture build up under the face. Being that I was leaving on a two week vacation, I hoped for the best. A runner can’t be without their watch.

While on vacation the moisture eventually shorted the watch. I invested in a new battery and had the watch cleaned.

Upon returning home, the problem has come back. Of course I am past the return window, and am getting no satisfaction from Amazon or Timex.

I am a life time runner and have owned 6 Timex running watches over the years (never a problem).

I will not be doing business with Timex anytime soon.

5 Stars just like they said it would…
i always read all the amazon.com reviews, good and bad, when i’m researching a purchase. the reviews on this watch made it clear the thing would do exactly what i needed it to do and no more, no less. i don’t NEED a GPS or a pedometer, i only need a chronometer and standard watch, to time splits and overall, up to 30 splits i think, so it’s great for marathon training. it’s [pretty] easy to navigate the screens while running, and certainly easy enough to read, even for an old metal head like me.

if you don’t need the fancy bells and whistles, go for this one. [i know you don't need them, or you wouldn't be looking in this price range, now would you?]

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Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Running Watch Reviews — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:55:21 +0000

Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $389.95

Amazon Price: $299.00

The Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch ensures that you would be able training with the proper difficulty and intensity that is perfect for your body. With precise tools to measure performance and workout intensity; all kinds of athletes, from runners, tri-athletes and their coaches are ensured of accurate data.

The Polar S625X combined with the S1 foot pod has a whole host of features for you to gauge your training. You would be able to measure your total speed and distance, heart rate, your calorie count and of course the time of your runs during training. It can also recognize altitude and ascent of the geography for route profiling.

Other than these features, the Polar S625X also provide a variety of additional functions that can help people train better.The Polar S625X has training tools such as the OwnCal and Ownindex.

The Owncal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. The OwnIndex feature will determine your fitness level, track your improvements, and provide motivation.

The Polar S625X also has the bundled Polar Precision Performance (PPP) 4.0 software to allow you to better assess your training data. Through this you can connect the Polar S625X to a computer and study just how good your runs are.

Other features include:

Displays your heart rate as beats per minute and percentage of maximum heart rate, average heart rate, and exercise duration
S1 foot pod shoe-mounted sensor that continually relays computed velocity and distance information to monitor
Runners’ data including total speed and distance, speed displayed in pace or kmph/mph
Wirelessly sends exercise data to PC via infrared connection
Allows you to set 5 exercise sets for interval training with HR target zones and recovery calculation
Records a complete file and five summary files of the exercises
Predicts your maximal oxygen uptake
Reduces possible interference from other heart rate monitors
Target heart rate zones with audible and visual alarm
UpLink feature enables download of exercise set from Polar web site
Large easy-to-read display with backlighting and split screen
24-hour clock with day/week indicator and stopwatch
1.5-year average battery life
Water resistant to 30 meters

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars SX625 some great aspects, some not so great aspects
I have been using this watch for about 2 years, mostly for training and for during trail ultramarathons. I have mixed feeling about this product. I had the opportunity to trade it in for another unit and decided to keep it. Part of the reason I kept it was that it took me some effort to figure out how to download the data using the IR device. I did not want to restart the process with the microphone/speaker system. The manual is poor. Let me comment separately on each component/feature.

Wrist unit: It is big and ugly, but you can see that from the photos. However, it sits comfortably on my wrist. For a while, I used a cheap Sigma HRM that slid down my wrist and chafed my skin. I have used my Polar in several 100 mile runs with good comfort. The display is great. It provides heart rate plus two configurable fields. These two fields can read time of day, total stopwatch time, lap time, elevation, total elevation gain, etc and are easily changed. The elevation features work quite well. The controls are easy to use but difficult to learn how to configure.

Chest strap: This is the most comfortable chest strap I have used. It does not slide or rub. If I wet it before putting it on, it always works right away. My old Sigma had problems with slipping and starting. The battery is easy to replace

Foot pod: The foot pod distance readings vary by about +/- 10% on the same route on different days. It seems to vary most with running speed. It goes through batteries rather quickly and has problems when the battery voltage drops just a little bit. It would not work with my rechargable batteries. I don’t use it. If accurate distance is important, I suggest looking at GPS units.

IR download device: I bought a cheap IR interface on ebay for about $7 including shipping. It works well.

Software: The software is clunky and difficult to use. The documentation is not helpful. It took me a rather long time to figure out how to download the data from the wrist unit. (Note that I am a highly trained engineer and natural nerd.) The software tries to upgrade everytime I run it. If the computer is not connected to the internet, the software throws errors. If I am connected to the internet, the upgrades always fail. Thus, I make sure to disconnect before starting the software. The graphs on the software are usable, but poor. If I really want to look at the data closely, I export it to another program.

I have not used the limits features or testing options

2 Stars Overpriced & User Hostile
This watch is very complicated to program and the user manual provides the absolute minimum of guidance. In other words, you are on your own as far as programming this watch for your individual exercise needs. You will have to waste a lot of time on every aspect of this watch from setup to regular usage. Even downloading data to the computer is a hit or miss challenge which works as often as it doesn’t. Also, this watch is very inconvenient for everyday usage b/c it has too many parts. It’s much more convenient to have a gps watch which eliminates the foot pod and leaves only the heart rate device as the one xtra thing u have to remember to put on. Additionally, it’s insanely overpriced for such an old and obsolete model. In fact, it costs more now than when I bought it years ago. Yes, years ago, that’s how long this model has been out. Lastly, I wish I could have my $ back!!!!

4 Stars Functional With A Few Significant Flaws
The Polar S625x Heart Rate Monitor Watch is a sophisticated piece of equipment that the manufacturer refers to as a “running/cycling computer”, and rightly so. It is a heart rate monitor, distance pedometer, altimeter, thermometer (max/min temp for a session), and chronograph. It calculates and displays running speed (min/mile or mile/hour) on-the-fly. It can be programmed to alert you with audible beeps if you fall below the target zone for heart rate or speed at selected intervals. I won’t get into the capabilities of this watch since the user manual is available for download at the Polar site. But I will mention a couple of drawbacks:

Complicated Programming

———————–

Like many reviewers have pointed out, programming this watch is complicated. Although the user manual has a Road Map that shows how the hierarchical menus are laid out, it is hard to decipher what each cryptic menu title stands for, much less understand the functions it encompasses. Be prepared to spend hours studying the manual, which provides minimal information and instructions. Some features take a little figuring out by playing around with the watch.

Bad Software (Polar Pro Trainer)

——————————–

This is a big one. The software is slow and clunky. The calendar display refreshes and flickers with just about every mouse click – a real annoyance!

The usefulness of the software is limited to giving you a graphical plot of speed, altitude, and distance vs. time. The interpretation of the data is left entirely to you. Fair enough.

But the software doesn’t let you superimpose the graphs from multiple sessions, so you won’t be able to analyze how well you’ve performed in one session with respect to another and see how you’ve progressed or regressed.

It would be nice if they had included some analysis tools that help you gauge your performance and offer suggestions for improvement. The software is therefore little more than an exercise journal.

The software does have one redeeming feature: it lets you export your exercise data to a tab delimited data text file that you can simply drag and drop it into excel to see the tabulated data, which contains a column for time (increments of 5 or more seconds depending how frequent you’ve set the watch to take data points), distance, and altitude. From the data you can calculate the derived quantities such as speed and cumulative distance traveled at each instance in time. I export my data for some of my sessions so I can plot and superimpose several sessions on a graph to see how I’ve progressed.

Looks

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The watch looks absolutely hideous! This is a minor point if all you’re concerned about is functionality.

Overpriced

———-

It’s way overpriced for such an antiquated albeit still-very-functional model. Again, a minor point if you’re looking for functionality and price is not a concern.

Alternative Technologies

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I considered getting an exercise watch with GPS but decided against it because 1) The GPS receiver takes time to lock on to satellites. 2) I use my exercise watch on my treadmill, so the GPS feature won’t work in monitoring distance. On the other hand, GPS-based watches give you a VERY accurate measurement of distance.

Now, I’m having second thoughts, having read some very positive reviews on a Garmin model, which is much easier on your pocketbook. It’s something you might want to look into too.

Conclusion

———-

In my judgment, the Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch is the best value of all the high-end models that Polar makes. It even has a couple of features that models that cost more than twice as much do not have. For example, it has an altimeter, which I find very handy on hikes, and which Polar has decided to omit from some of the high end models. Visit the Polar site to see a side by side comparison of all its models.

Bottom line: unless you can get past the non-intuitive user interface and bad aesthetics of the Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch, AND you have more sophisticated software that can help you better analyze your performance (isn’t that the whole point of getting an exercise watch?), you will do well to look at other alternatives.

4 Stars great device but overwhelming at times
Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch

This is a short but simple review . The device is amazing I have had it for almost two years and still have not figured it out fully and even so I know it has helped me .

I am not a super athlete but some that is coming back from having a stent put in and I had a real fear about going back to workout . the Polar hash helped me track my fitness level and in doing so I have been able to create my own workouts based on HR so that I can live a full and healthy life.

FOr those elite athletes that need all the bells ad whistles this is great but I can speak for the mature population that needs to stay healthy fit and also get to work this is a lifesaver .

I wish there were some better youtube videos to watch for this product but I finally got to know what I need to know and how to get it from the Polar .

This is an impartial motivator and guide for your training and that is what you want from something like this .

A definite buy . Just do not try to get all of the features down at one sitting .

1 Star Do not try to use with Vista
This is an incredible piece of equipment, when you have Xp or an earlier version of windows. Polar states it is compatible with Vista, but I assure you you will have serious compatiblility issues if you try, up to and including lock ups and data loss. I have used this device with XP and the transfer of data is super easy. The only drawback to the user interface is the initial frustration of learning how to select between cycling and running modes and then learning how to toggle between options while exercising. I have owned much stronger HRM’s, but this one, although sluggish, works pretty well.

In the end. If you have Vista, you will pay a high price for a device and add ons for your device, spend hours trying to figure out why it just does not really work and then you will be stuck with a $500+ system that you can only use as data storage, without the benefit of data transfer or the nice software to track your progress.

Until Polar decides to step up and deal with the Vista issue, I would warn anyone against a Polar product.

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Polar RS400sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch with Free IRDA USB 2 0 Interface

Running Watch Reviews — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:00:16 +0000

Polar RS400sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch with Free IRDA USB 2 0 Interface

Forget about trying to force yourself to get into an unsuitable fitness program! The Polar RS400sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch take cares of that by finding that perfect training level for your body.

The RS400sd features its Polar OwnOptimizer capability. The Polar OwnOptimizer allows this heart rate monitor watch to m determine whether you are under training or over training based on your heart rate, pace, and calories burned and. It measures and analyzes your training results and provides you with visual and aural clues for you to know how effective the runner’s training program is.

The Polar RS400sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch also comes with a free IRDA USB 2.0 interface and Polar Protrainer 5 training planning and analyzing software. This makes it easier for any runner to upload his data to the computer, and analyze the results of his workout.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Very Repeatable Results
The RS400 foot pod gives very repeatable results. Initially, with no calibration, the foot pod was 7% accurate for me. It didn’t matter if the distance was 3 miles or 9 miles it maintained a 7% error. I did a manual correction using data from a 7 mile run and the unit is now about 1-2% accurate. I think I can improve it better if I calibrate it using data taken from a 1600m track run. I personally like doing the manual correction because it allows me go back to a previous factor if a new one does not perform better.

My wife happens to have the Garmin Forerunner 405 while I went with the Polar RS400sd so we have been able to compare both systems. They both can measure and record your workouts and come with s/w for your computer. Both s/w packages have a workout diary and allow you to define custom workouts and upload them to your watch. This feature is great for interval training. No more having to remember how many laps you’ve completed or how much your pace should change. I think the Garmin s/w might have a slight edge compared to Polar’s. Overall both systems work very well, each with their +/-. Here are some notable features for each.

Polar RS400 Pros:

-No need to look for GPS satellite signals

-Very Repeatable results

-Calories burned calculation based on hear rate.

-Good battery life

-Display Screens very customizable

-Capable of manual calibration

-comfortable wrist unit

Polar RS400 Cons:

-Do need to calibrate foot pod for best accuracy

-Downloading workout data is temperamental with IR connection

-Auto laping feature based on start of workout not on the start of the last lap. It would be cool to be able to record a lap manually and then continue auto laping based on that point.

-foot pod is a little bulky (but surprisingly unnoticeable while running)

-Have to manually erase workout data after download. Would be nice if this was done automatically.

Garmin 405 Pros:

-GPS receiver in wrist unit

-No need to calibrate

-Actual route can be viewed on a map

-Buttonless screen navigation

-Data download connection to computer is very robust.

Garmin 405 Cons:

-Have to set you watch out for a few minutes to look for GPS satellites

-Watch unit needs to be recharged regularly (GPS is power hungry)

-Watch is a little bulky

-Buttonless screen feature can be temperamental during a workout

3 Stars RS 400 SD
I find this product to be an excellent tool for keeping track of my workouts. The one complaint I have is that there seems to be a glitch with transfering information to my desktop; I find that I often have to close the Polar program and reopen it in order to get the transfer to work. Other than that it’s easy to use and very sturdy. The footpod has been accurate and, although it can be difficult to attach to my shoe, it has held up very well to trail runs, stream crossings and muddy days.

3 Stars Works alright
I’ve tried several Polar heart monitors before, but this is the first one I’ve tried with a soft strap. The strap is more comfortable and seems to be easier to get good contact than the hard straps. Having said that, I still have problems with getting good contact and often need to dump more water on the strap during the first ten minutes of my run. Be sure to really soak the strap before starting… a little dab of water is not enough.

The IrDA device is pretty touchy… borderline obnoxious. It seems more like a beta product than a reliable production product. The watch has to be pressed against the transceiver, help really steady, and typically I have to make two or three attempts before it works. I would not have been very happy to purchase the IrDA device separately, especially considering the gouging price that Polar sells it for, and experience these problems. FWIW: the IrDA port on my Thinkpad interfaces with the watch so it may be possible to get a less expensive IrDA device if you need another. Just seems like some sort of solid protected USB like plug would be far superior.

I don’t use the running pod.

I really like the zone alarms which give you an audible indication if you are dogging it or pushing too hard.

If you don’t really need logging capabilities, you may want to consider a less expensive monitor.

4 Stars RS 400 SD
I was using the Nike Ipod pedometer for a few weeks to track my distance and time. The Nike Ipod after a few weeks was just not accurate enough for my needs. I ended up buying the 400 SD with all its feautres. My first run was for 1 mile and the pedometer was accurate at 1.05 miles. The heart rate showed a steady increase the first minute of my run and then it leveled off as I would expect. After my run I was able to download the information into my laptop with no problems. My laptop has a built in Ir port so it was no problem with the transfer. The software is fairly easy to use and has several reports to show you different graphical curves of your heart rate.

Overall, I really like the product and for my first run it was fairly simple. My only issue with this item is the price. Sure is a lot of money but then it does have a lot of features. You really need to read the directions for this item. There are so many sub pages and functions that it is not intuitive as to how to navigate thru all the different pages on the watch.

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