Polar or Garmin

St.Brigids

Looking for peoples feelings on what is better a Polar or Garmin?

cyclocross!

Garmin 235. Nothing better.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Ok here's my very quick review of my Polar M400.

Pro's ~ Its never lost GPS coverage, even running under summertime tree coverage where most of the people I know with Garmin have lost [GPS].

Con's ~ Constant software issues regardless whether its connecting to my laptop via the USB post or my phone via Bluetooth.

The chest strap, can't remember the model number, runs down batteries really quick. like something like every 2 months.

The wrist strap is a royal pain in the arse. I've mine two years now and wear it day and night and still the strap hasn't softened. Its a pain in the Swiss to take on and off.

If I had the money I'd change to Garmin.

**I had a Suunto before this one, don't even consider one if you can get a Polar or Garmin.

dna_leri

Xzavier Worried Catapult wrote: »

Ok here's my very quick review of my Polar M400.

Pro's ~ Its never lost GPS coverage, even running under summertime tree coverage where most of the people I know with Garmin have lost [GPS].

Con's ~ Constant software issues regardless whether its connecting to my laptop via the USB post or my phone via Bluetooth.

The chest strap, can't remember the model number, runs down batteries really quick. like something like every 2 months.

The wrist strap is a royal pain in the arse. I've mine two years now and wear it day and night and still the strap hasn't softened. Its a pain in the Swiss to take on and off.

If I had the money I'd change to Garmin.

**I had a Suunto before this one, don't even consider one if you can get a Polar or Garmin.

Polar M430 is good upgrade on the M400. Improved connectivity and wrist strap. HRM chest strap battery not a problem for me, as long as I remember to disconnect at end of run.
Polar Flow software is very good. Overall good value for Polar.

PS. I have not received a gratuity for making this post but I would accept one.

pconn062

dna_leri wrote: »

Polar M430 is good upgrade on the M400. Improved connectivity and wrist strap. HRM chest strap battery not a problem for me, as long as I remember to disconnect at end of run.
Polar Flow software is very good. Overall good value for Polar.

PS. I have not received a gratuity for making this post but I would accept one.

I've had both garmin and Polar watches over the years. I had a Garmin 225 with build in wrist based HR and it was a piece of junk. I now have a Polar M430 like dna, and while I like the watch, the wrist based HR is absolutely terrible. Spends most of it's time latching onto cadence and is uber sensitive as to where it will work on your wrist. I have purchased a H10 strap to try with it instead but haven't had a chance to use it yet so can't comment. In general I prefer Polar watches to garmin, they are less buggy for me and simpler to use.

EDIT: 5,000th post!

dna_leri

pconn062 wrote: »

I've had both garmin and Polar watches over the years. I had a Garmin 225 with build in wrist based HR and it was a piece of junk. I now have a Polar M430 like dna, and while I like the watch, the wrist based HR is absolutely terrible. Spends most of it's time latching onto cadence and is uber sensitive as to where it will work on your wrist. I have purchased a H10 strap to try with it instead but haven't had a chance to use it yet so can't comment. In general I prefer Polar watches to garmin, they are less buggy for me and simpler to use.

EDIT: 5,000th post!

I have had no problem with the wrist HRM. I did a comparison with the old strap when I got the M430 and saw no difference. Since then I have had no dodgy readings. I know lots of people have HR problems on both Garmin & Polar wrist HRMs. I just pull the strap a notch tighter before I start running and make sure it's not on the wrist bone. Maybe I just have veins/arteries nearer the surface.

arybvtcw0eolkf

dna_leri wrote: »

Polar M430 is good upgrade on the M400. Improved connectivity and wrist strap. HRM chest strap battery not a problem for me, as long as I remember to disconnect at end of run.
Polar Flow software is very good. Overall good value for Polar.

PS. I have not received a gratuity for making this post but I would accept one.

I never knew it was supposed to be switched off

dna_leri

Xzavier Worried Catapult wrote: »

I never knew it was supposed to be switched off

When you disconnect the HRM pod from the strap, it deactivates the Bluetooth function.

arybvtcw0eolkf

dna_leri wrote: »

When you disconnect the HRM pod from the strap, it deactivates the Bluetooth function.

I never knew that, thanks :cool:

St.Brigids

Anyone who has used both notice a difference in GPS accuracy?