Full Written Review of the Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch.

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Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $499.95

Amazon Price: $375.00

The Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor is an elite level watch that can match the intensity of people who undergo elite level training. It is a complete training solution that encompasses planning, monitoring and even analyzing the training that you are doing.

The Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor watch is capable of tracking maximum heart rate (fitness test-based and age-based), maximum/average of total exercise and of each lap (up to 99 laps), three target zones, and even gives auditory signals when you reach your targets.

All these data can then be tracked and analyzed in your computer. The Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor comes with the Polar’s ProTrainer 5 software, which is an advanced training analyzer for your computers. Simply transfer the data from your watch to your computer through the Polar WearLink W.I.N.D. transmitter and you are ready to go.

Aside from these features, the Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor is also highly adaptable. It can be used in conjunction with a variety of training accessories and even shoes, to ensure that it can be utilized no matter the type of training that you are doing.

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User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Polar RS800
This product is excellent i have been used Polar for more than 10 years, i have the GPS and the foot sensor, as i practice mountain bike, i had some doubts because i have read in Amazon the products is not very good, but i took the risk and no regret, the only issue is the Polar software is excellent but do not have manual, only the help files and this is the only reason they do not have 5 stars.

5 Stars It works for me
I have had my RS800SD for almost a year now, and I love it. Measuring cadence has helped my running more than anything else I have done. This is the main reason that I chose it over GPS units. I took ten minutes off of my half marathon time using it for training.

I have had GPS units in the past, but found that they were not as accurate as the footpod in terms of distance (when calibrated) or altitude. I was within a hundredth of a mile of my treadmill readout on a recent 5K.

Heart rate is accurate as well. I found battery life to be adequate for my purposes. I changed them recently just because it seemed about time to do so, but had about 50 hours of running in on the batteries before doing so.

I love the unit and it has been a great training help.

2 Stars The triumph of form over function
I’ve been a Polar HR monitor owner since the mid 90′s starting with 710i, then 625x, followed by the 725x, and now the RS800SD. I consider myself a serious competitive runner and have been so for over 30 years. Polar introduced me to heart rate monitoring as key component to performance improvement with the book “Training, Lactate, Pulse rate” by Janssen, which is no longer offered by them and may not be published anymore. I have had my VO2, HR curve, and lactate threshold measured in a lab several times over the past few years. I have used this product now for almost a full year and my review will focus on what does all this functionality do to help me improve my running vs some of the other reviews here which seem enamored with purported functionality without connecting the dots for useful training feedback.

The bottom line: This is their flagship product, top of the line and top dollar but Polar seems to have chosen marketing (a shiny sexy small form factor watch with apparently lots of new functions) over solid engineering, useful software functionality, and product reliability. If you already own a 625x or 725x model there is little reason to upgrade as this is an “unfinished product”

The good:

1. Small form factor for watch and footpod

2. Improvement in ergonomics — buttons and watch face are easier to use

3. More memory — you can record longer than earlier models at the 1 second rate

4. Running stride length has been added.

The bad:

1. The footpod and HR strap via blue tooth does not seem any more accurate than previous non-blue tooth models and maybe less so regarding footpod functions. HR measurement seems as accurate as earlier models.

2. Software (Polar Pro Trainer 5) has new functions which are questionable at best and misleading at worst — namely the running “index” function which on a scale of 30 to 76 purports to give you the sum of all calculations with a number which roughly correlates with expected future performance (running times) on various races such as a 5K through a marathon.

3. Customer Service. I was told at first that the inability to record temperature on the watch was a bug in the software. Later was told that the watch could not record temperature (correct). Also was given an excuse as to why temperature was no longer recorded by the watch (users body temperature — hah! — it worked well enough on earlier models). And regarding the index calculation, I was never given the algorithm which could at least help me understand what type of math it was doing (it is a mystery to me and the algorithm seems biased to reward you with a higher index score for a lower heart rate and slow time vs a slightly higher heart rate and faster time). Instead I was given a platitude;

“It is worth to remember that in addition to good Running Index, maximal running performance demands good preparation, optimal running conditions, speed endurance and guts. Training quantity and quality have an affect as well as natural talent. The RunningIndex gives a value measured in current circumstances.”

I especially like the “guts” comment — really happy about that as I don’t know how I’ve gotten by over the past 30 years beating people without “guts”

The ugly:

1. Incomprehensible design decision to modify the altimeter sensor holes from recessed (previous polar models) to flush on the bottom of the watch resulting in erroneous readings as soon as you start to sweat (yes you read that right — sweat) and thus rendering the altimeter function of the watch largely useless unless the watch is worn in such a way (flopping on wrist or strapped to clothing) to preclude the sensor holes from clogging with sweat from your wrist.

2. Software. Looks real nice until you try to modify data. Say you got erroneous distance reading on your last run and you want to easily fix it. You won’t be able to. No simple function to correct the total distance of a run and have that correction evenly applied to entire run. This undermines the whole point of exercise comparison within the software. If you go out on two identical runs but the distance recorded by the watch varies by a few tenths of a mile there will be no easy way to correct the data.

3. Temperature. Previous models recorded temperature as a data point whenever you took a lap marker or finished the run. This model does neither requiring you to manually enter the temperature into the software.

4. The running index calculation does not take into consideration temperature (AMAZING! since the book noted at the beginning of this review showed clearly that there is a positive correlation between high temperatures and higher heart rates — you work harder to cool youself). The lack of temperature calculation (an identical run can have HR vary by 10 BPM based upon temperature) seriously undermines the usefulness of the running index function.

5. No way to tell software about different running conditions for a given distance and have that taken into consideration on the index calculation. Five miles run on a track are treated the same as five miles run on sandy roads or trails. So when you go into the comparison graphs which purportedly allow you to see at a glance trends in your running, you cannot account for different conditions on runs. Neither different temperatures or different running surfaces are considered on calculations. This seriously undermines the usefulness of comparing weeks worth of training runs in order to come up with a performance trajectory and let you know are you ready for that next race.

Until this product I rarely even considered any other HR monitoring tool. Polar may not have made “pretty” watches, but they worked. They made tools for athletes interested in maximizing their performance. The marketing department has apparently taken over the company from the engineers. The company may have “jumped the shark” with this watch and software. I hope I’m wrong and Polar surprises with its next watch. It needs to actually delivers useful functions for serious athletes and not take away functions offered from previous models (temperature and an altimeter which works reliably). And if they are going to go to the trouble of providing a number which tells all — the index number — then they better explain how that number is calculated and provide the user with the ability to modify the formula (temperature and surface conditions to start with) in order to meet variable conditions if their engineers and exercise physiologist have not already thought of everything.

And keep the marketing department out of product design until functions are firmly set and don’t represent a two steps forward, two steps back design as we see with this model.

1 Star Polar, freight and importation taxes
What bothered me the most was the fact that Amazon didn’t inform that I must pay further taxes when I would withdraw the product at the Post Office.

4 Stars Nice option for runners
I already owned most of suunto and polar heart monitors. The RS800SD is the one of my favorites. It has nice options of screens and it is very light. It seems not so robust as the 625x or 725x (I owned both). As some colleagues wrotes seems to me also that the S3 pod is not so accurated as the S1 but is lighter. I also own the RS400, if you are not looking for the running index, it comes with the S1 and coded transmitter that is easier find find spare parts (also once is a little bit darker than RS800 I prefer the looking). The main issue with Polar is the Irda interface. I already bought one Irda connector (universal non polar) that is working very well with the S725X but it is not with RS800 or RS400. Now I ordered the original Polar connector but once I use the windons Vista I am expecting problems (based on users reviews). Polar should pick an easier system suc as wired connection or bluetooth. Last point, the RS products are not designed for multi sport (biking for example)

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Related posts:

1. Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch
2. Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor
3. Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch Black

Polar RS800CX Multi Sport Heart Rate Monitor Watch with G3 GPS Sensor W.I.N.D.

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $499.95

Amazon Price: $366.42

Sometimes a single kind of training is not enough for your body to reach its ultimate fitness level. That’s why there are many people who undertake cross training exercise to be able to give their body the burn it needs. For this kind of training, the Polar RS800CX Multi Sport Heart Rate Monitor Watch with G3 GPS Sensor W I N D is a perfect companion.

The Polar RS800 CX heart rate monitor watch with G3 GPS Sensor allows people to accurately gather data about their speed and distance as well as monitor and analyze their body’s response to various kinds of training.

It even has preset data for people who would want to participate in cross-terrain sports such as running, cycling, skiing, or skating. This makes it easier to shift disciplines on the fly. No more fiddling around with your gadget when you decided to stop biking and start running!

Aside from just showing these data, the Polar RS800 CX can even show the training route on a map after the run.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Hard to use, expensive, frustrating
This is my 5th Polar product in 10 years and it is the worst. I’m replacing a S720i which got into flakey modes that started and stopped lap times constantly, overflowing the memory. For some reason, I decided to stay with Polar over the other brands and figured I’d go high-end with the speed and GPS sensors. First, deciphering the complexities of the RS800 licensing caused me to have to order and reorder units making it about 3-4 weeks turnaround to get what I thought I ordered the first time. The Polar Software, the watch interface and loading sensors is a cryptic mess. I’m not bad with technology, but getting the watch to recognize a bike speed sensor so far is impossible. You will go back and forth syncing your watch to your desktop and clicking hard to press buttons and listening to incessant beeping instead of training. I seriously have spend more time trying to make this thing work than setting up a new computer. This thing is really NOT worth the very high price. You are not getting a higher quality product, you’re just getting more of the same complicated 90′s technology for a lot more money.

3 Stars A top product with serious flaws
As the top model of Polar’s product range, I am somewhat disheartened by what I consider serious downsides:

- the external GPS sensor is very bulky and comparably heavy – bigger and heavier than the whole unit of the Garmin Forerunner 405. It’s also slower to get a fix on satellites than the Garmin.

- the low battery warning gets on far too late, often when you are in the middle of the run – too late to change batteries then.

- even though I follow religiously Polar’s cleaning instructions, the chest belts lose their conductivity after a few months’ time, which is frustrating

- while the Polar software allows you to export the GPS data into Google Earth or as a GPX file into a GPX viewer, there should be an option to save directly into a GPX file. The Google Earth export does not work well on my system and the GPX export mixes up the time of the day

- the Polar ProTrainer 5 training software is still not available for Mac, which I think is unacceptable. It is also incompatible with Windows 7 (64bit) (the syncing doesn’t work), and if history is anything to go by, it will be months if not longer before Polar manages to make a fix available.

For the occasional runner, I think the Forerunner 405 is by far the better option, with much cleverer software (also available for Mac), easier syncing (Win 7 compatible of course), coming in a smaller package at a much better price.

Polar need to get their act together if they want to continue charging these sort of prices for their “top” products.

1 Star Lousy Product
Purchased this new and it functioned well for about 60 days. Used the PPT software as well as the Weblink. Watch stopped transfering data on a Friday, the following day it stopped communicating with the heart sensor. I took it to the jeweler to have the battery replaced and they were unable to open the watch. Polar told me to send it back, so I did. 3 weeks later the watch was returned supposedly repaired under warranty and STILL HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. No fix.. no communication with either the sensor or the computer. Make sure you read the Polar forums before buying ANY Polar product. You’ll have an eye opening experience as to what to expect from your $500 purchase.

3 Stars some things good, some bad
Well, I wanted to upgrade from my old Polar unit that I used for swimming as well as trail running. On the Polar website under “Product Search” I ticked the box that said I wanted a training unit for swimming and the RS800CX, among others, was suggested. I shut my eyes about the cost and ordered a unit. However, when I unpacked it and read the manual I was shocked to discover you can’t read heart rate in the water. Not that it isn’t waterproof, you can wear it to swim, but the signal can’t be transmitted, no heart rate values. So no training in the swimming pool then. Why is it recommended for triathletes? I don’t know. It would have been nice to know up front about the lack of swimming training capability. Anyhow I’ve been using it for hikes and runs and am well pleased with the GPS function. I can see how far my routes go, how many vertical feet, how much effort I’m putting into those hills, and see my routes on Google Earth. Pretty cool. But, the AA battery needed for the GPS runs out fast. Today, the stop button stopped working on the main wrist unit. So now I shall find out how good Polar customer service is. Many good points to this watch but too many not so good points for the price tag.

1 Star RS800CX run
I bought this product and realised that it does not work with a mac and there is currently no other software available to use its training functions. Only good if you are a windows athelete.

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Related posts:

1. Polar RS300X G1 Heart Rate Monitor Watch with G1 GPS Sensor Black
2. Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch
3. Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor