How do I Compare Polar Watches?

If you run, bike, cross country ski or enjoy any other endurance sport you probably have encountered Polar watches and heart rate monitors. These products are designed with athletes in mind and have a variety of styles, amenities and features. Knowing which function and feature you need is crucial when comparison shopping for Polar watches. Designs include watches for outdoor sports, cardio-vascular sports and endurance.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look at the watch name, designated by an alpha-numeric combination. Polar's F series consist of watches and heart rate monitors (HRMs) for entry level athletes, those on budgets, or those who don't want huge amount of features. Polar's FT4 displays heart rate, time and date and calories burned based on your weight and height.

    • 2

      Look at the alpha-numeric combination to see if the number is a double or single digit number. While Polar's F series is for entry level users, Polar's F-series also includes the FT80 and FT60 that have features including programmable fitness routines, fitness testing, date and time, HRM, downloadable results to a PC that provides graphic feedback on your fitness progress with charts and graphs.

    • 3

      Check to see if there is an RS starting the alpha-numeric name of the Polar watch. The RS series is for serious endurance athletes already taking part in regimented training programs. This series includes functions such as date and time, stopwatch, HRM, programmable training routines, HRM alarm and downloadable information based on your training results, and come with PolarTrainer software (PC and Mac versions are available).

    • 4

      Check for a CS starting the alpha-numeric name. This series is designed for bicyclists and have features that include a speedometer with a attachment that goes onto the bike wheel, date and time, HRM, kilometer-to-miles conversion and stopwatch.