The new – Polar Verity Sense, heart monitor. The old – Suunto Ambit Peak 3, multisport watch. I have this watch for ages now. Even when I wasn’t running it was on my wrist. Like it so much cause battery lasts for days. Few years back, running Connemara 100, and still battery level was there on 40% and that was over 18 hours. So, haven’t changed this watch. Disadvantage of this is: there is no webapp to access your runs (Suunto discontinued Movescount), mobile app is not easy and you can’t get all needed details. Yes, you can sync this with Strava but need premium to get all stats… So, maybe time for new watch? Neh, not now. But most annoying thing about this watch, one which I had to address from the beginning was lack of build in heart rate monitor…
I never liked chest straps. Even one Suunto one which was more comfortable than other ones I have tested. What was wrong was the feeling of heaving a chest strap and fact that, even being more accurate, it needed sweat to transmit heart rate. And that means either, didn’t work on the beginning or you had to wet your chest under strap. And all can agree that is not too pleasant during winter, cold runs. Anyways… over 6 years ago when in Canada I have noticed heart monitor which was an armband. Completely different technology to chest strap. Lads build in to measure all details from underneath your skin. That was, back then, revolutionary. Now, this is build to every running watch. So, my first one was Scosche Rhythm+ – Heart is not a servant. And I would probably would still using it if that wouldn’t be for charging pins placement. Pins are on the same side of device as measuring leds. And that means sweat is causing pins to get dirty and heart monitor to harder to charge. Almost every time I need to clear pins to charge it. What else wrong after all those years? Charging light is not coming up. So, you don’t know if it’s charging or not. Instead other colour led is lit. And that could actually cause device to discharge after auto switching off charging. Cause battery is not too great, for nowadays standards. As new it should keep 5 hours. So, no ultras. New device from Scosche – Rhythm 24, is not getting great reviews. Not working great with Android. Could brick your device when upgrading device. As well users mentioning issue with device strap grip breaking during usage. So, said no to this…
And went for company which I never considered for running gear, not great reviews before – POLAR… Polar Verity Sense to be precise. I have spent just less than 2 months with it. And mostly inside but as it is working great. Pins are on the other side than device leds. Charging via computer with small dongle (will not work with high power wall charges, you can break device) and has a holder if you want to go for a swim (you are attaching this to swimming goggles). And now we are coming to details. Up to 30 hours on one charge, up to 150 meters of broadcast distance and internal memory. Internal memory will allow you to exercise without phone. You can sync workout later, ideally for swimming or similar where you can’t have phone with you. There are 3 sets of device – heart rate, to be used with other devices like watches, treadmills, swimming and memory. I’m using, at the moment, only heart set for weights training with Strava, treadmill runs and Suunto watch on outside. That was about features. Now about how does it feel when on arm. It is said that you can use it on forearm and on the upper arm. I prefer forearm. Strap is more delicate that one in Scorsche, And I like it. Not sure how long the rubber will last for. Will see that. With Scosche there was no problem with rubber itself. Problem was with two ends being Velcro straps and those get ‘dirty’ quickly. During 6 years had to buy one additional strap. With Polar there is one small end with Velcro and looks like it could last for long. When charging you just taking out device from strap and charging just device without whole strap like in Scosche. It has bluetooth and ANT+ connection. Similar to my old device. But with treadmill and watch working only on bluetooth you are getting little bit delay than chest straps. Advantage with new one is that have two channels for bluetooth opened. So, you can connect Polar to two devices at the same time. With ANT+ you can have plenty connections at the same time (don’t even know exactly how many). So far so good…
I will write probably more after couple of months of usage. Will find something which is wrong with it š