Polar Grit X Professional GPS Watch In-Depth Overview

Polar has introduced a handful of recent watches at present, however the principle headliner is the brand new Polar Grit X Professional. It technically is available in two flavors – the bottom Grit X Professional which incorporates not solely a brand new look, however a pile of recent software program options. After which the Grit X Professional Titan, which incorporates all those self same new options and new look – but in addition a decrease weight and leather-based strap.

Inside the new software program options, Polar has added new dashboards that enchantment to the outside realm, together with a daylight dashboard, in addition to an altimeter & compass dashboard. They’ve additionally added a brand new route profile web page, in addition to TrackBack function. Past that, the corporate has pulled in nearly the entire options of the Polar Vantage V2 that it launched final fall, plus new options added from the Polar Ignite 2 this previous spring – together with coronary heart price sharing/broadcasting.

Observe that Polar despatched over a Polar Grit X Professional Titan media loaner, which I’ve been utilizing for a bit to place by way of its paces. As soon as this assessment is completed, I’ll get it boxed again up and despatched again to them. After which I’ll probably exit and purchase my very own for future use/comparisons. In case you discovered this assessment helpful, you should utilize the hyperlinks on the backside, or contemplate changing into a DCR Supporter which makes the location ad-free, whereas additionally having access to a principally weekly video sequence behind the scenes of the DCR Cave. And naturally, it makes you superior.

With that, let’s get into it.

What’s New:

The Polar Grit X Professional & Grit X Professional Titan add a lot of new options in comparison with the unique Grit X. Most of those options are ones that Polar has launched on different watches over the previous 12 months, primarily from the Vantage V2 final fall. Nonetheless, others have been launched this previous spring on the Polar Ignite 2 (comparable to Coronary heart Charge broadcasting). Nonetheless, there are some brand-new options not but seen on different Polar gadgets. Nearly all of those new ones get added to the Vantage V2 on October twentieth in a firmware replace. In the meantime, the unique Polar Grit X will get most of those options on the finish of the 12 months (see the top of this part for the total record).

Right here’s what’s new within the Grit X Professional in comparison with the unique Grit X:

• Provides new dawn/sundown/daylight/and so forth dashboard
• Provides new altimeter/compass/GPS coordinates dashboard
• Provides new route choice profile web page (with map, elevation profile, hydration/vitamin reminders in a single spot)
• Provides new in-workout route elevation profile web page
• Provides additional ‘again to begin’ routing choices together with reverse route, beeline, and conventional monitor again
• Provides HR broadcasting (HR sharing)
• Provides Energy ZonePointer
• Provides Orthostatic Check
• Provides Leg Restoration Check
• Provides Biking Check
• Provides Operating Check
• Provides Dashboard View Customization
• Provides Music Controls
• Provides Restoration Professional (Coaching Load Professional was already there beforehand)
• Provides new backlight settings
• Provides Zoom in/out on route path (breadcrumb)
• Provides compass etching round bezel
• Added capacity to make use of Galileo & QZSS satellite tv for pc programs
• Modified to new Sapphire glass for higher sturdiness
• Polar Grit X Professional Titan solely: New 12% lighter case than Grit X Professional, new titanium case
• Polar Grit X Professional Titan solely: Added leather-based strap (additionally consists of secondary FKM rubber strap)
• Polar confirmed the optical HR sensor, GPS, and show all stay the identical because the Grit X.
• Worth for the Grit X Professional rises to $499 (from $429)
• Worth for the Grit X Professional Titan is $599
• Battery life stays similar to the unique Grit X at 100hrs of GPS, or 7 days standby.

Common Polar watchers will observe that the majority of those have been round new Polar watches over the previous 12 months. The solely new options from this record are:

• • Provides new dawn/sundown/daylight/and so forth dashboard
  • Provides new altimeter/compass/GPS coordinates dashboard
  • Provides new Route choice profile web page (with map, elevation profile,
    hydration/vitamin reminders in a single spot)
  • Provides new in-workout route elevation profile web page
  • Provides additional ‘again to begin’ routing choices together with reverse route, beeline, and conventional monitor again
  • Provides capacity to load route mid-workout
  • Provides capacity to alter brightness setting

Polar makes use of the time period ‘Dashboard’ the place different firms may use widget. Both means, it’s principally a view from the principle watch web page that doesn’t require beginning a sport. Right here is the brand new dawn/sundown/daylight dashboard. First the principle web page, after which the small print part:

After which right here’s the brand new altimeter/compass dashboard, in addition to particulars part which features a historic view in addition to quick-access capacity to calibrate each compass and altimeter. Moreover, it’ll present your actual GPS coordinates shortly:

Then there’s the brand new route choice web page. This seems if you select a route breadcrumb, it’ll now provide you with a map and elevation profile, from Komoot routes. Moreover, there’s a helpful choice proper there so as to add hydration/vitamin reminders (whereas prior to now you had to take action individually).

After which throughout a route/exercise you’ve obtained a brand new elevation profile web page, displaying the total route and profile and your place on it:

In Routing, there’s further mid-route choices on how one can deal with going again to the beginning. You’ve now obtained three choices in whole: You may reverse the route (as deliberate), you may monitor again (ignoring the deliberate route and following what you really did), or you may go through ‘beeline’. Observe that these are sorta cut up between totally different menu sections – however nonetheless all there. Plus, now you can add/change a route solely mid-workout/exercise.

With that, we’ll cowl the rest of the newish options all through the remainder of the assessment.

And at last, for lack of wherever additionally to stay it, right here’s a fast abstract from Polar, on their unique Grit X replace plans, slated for the top of this 12 months (2021):

• Including Music controls
• Including Operating efficiency take a look at
• Including Risk to alter route throughout the coaching session
• Including HR Sharing/Broadcasting mode
• Including Weekly-summary watch face view
• Including Energy primarily based coaching targets
• Including ZonePointer for energy and velocity zones
• Including Final lap particulars to coaching views
• Including Capability to show off your watch
• Including Capability to carry out a manufacturing facility reset on the watch
• Including “Your identify” watch face view
• Including Capability to manually skip a part throughout phased session
• Including See the gap coated and time elapsed when pausing a session
• Including Silence a telephone name from the watch
• Including Totally customizable fast settings menu which conveniently provides you entry to flight mode, don’t disturb, alarm, and the countdown timer by swiping down from the highest of the show in time view.

Phew. So principally, the unique Grit X isn’t getting the biking and working take a look at, leg restoration take a look at, orthostatic take a look at, and the brand new reverse route options. Nor the elevation profile elements pre/mid-route, or the Restoration Professional items from the V2. And at last, not the daylight or compass dashboards.

Okay, let’s get into the assessment.

The Fundamentals:

To start, the Polar Grit X Professional consists of each a contact display in addition to devoted buttons. With a watch designed for extra rugged outside use, I recognize not being pressured into utilizing the touchscreen – and actually, not often did so. For mid-interval exercises or anything involving wetness, utilizing the buttons was environment friendly and fast. Every of the buttons had each good really feel, in addition to the very slight haptic vibration from contained in the watch when pressed (as a affirmation you probably did certainly press the button).

The button grip materials stays the identical from the unique Grit X, nevertheless the buttons are actually silver. This makes them simpler to visually spot, whereas the unique Grit X had the buttons the identical because the case colour on the black version.

In any occasion, as famous you may swipe with the touchscreen. It’s superb, however nothing to write down dwelling about. As with the unique Grit X and Vantage V2, operations nonetheless appear a bit laggy in some circumstances. For instance, in my exercise yesterday, it took three seconds every time I pressed the lap button till the precise lap banner affirmation got here up. That’s a heck of a very long time in an interval exercise to not make sure whether or not or not the interval ‘took’.

By way of bands, the Grit X sequence makes use of 22mm bands. With the Grit X Professional Titan, you’ll get each a leather-based band, in addition to a rubber band. So I’d run with the rubber one, after which use the leather-based one for every day put on. Or typically I’d simply depart the rubber one on, as a result of I used to be too lazy to change it. The watch makes use of a easy quick-release mounting system, so it solely takes about 2-5 seconds per aspect to swap. Right here’s a bit of gallery of the straps:

Flipping the watch over you’ve obtained Polar’s optical sensor, formally often called the Precision Prime sensor. This association is similar to that of the Grit X and Vantage V2, and is seen as an evolution of the unique Vantage V Precision Prime sensor association. With the unique Vantage V there have been 9 LED’s (5 inexperienced, 4 purple, + 1 unused yellow). However the Vantage V2/Grit X/Grit X Professional there’s now 10 LED’s used (5 purple, 4 orange/yellow, 1 inexperienced). Usually talking, the totally different colour LED’s deal with totally different pores and skin colours higher. However extra on accuracy afterward.

Again on the show of the watch, it’s the identical as the unique Grit X. The principle distinction although outdoors of sport mode is that you just’ve obtained new dashboard pages, and you’ll customise which dashboard pages are enabled. That’s carried out by urgent the decrease left button, after which going into ‘Watch face views’. Right here there’s a listing of which of them you’ve enabled/disabled:

The watch face views have numerous info on the principle web page, with extra detailed info if you faucet into it. For instance, right here’s the exercise one, each the principle view, after which the deeper view. Every of the principle views for all dashboard pages is supposed to function as the principle watch face, so you continue to get the time/date/and so forth…

All of this info is then accessible from Polar Circulation on their smartphone apps, in addition to on-line through the Polar Circulation web site.

For instance, right here’s the center price one, displaying my coronary heart price particulars for the day – together with exercises:

You may see this inside the Coronary heart Charge dashboard view on the watch too:

Similar goes for sleep:

After which sleep particulars up on Polar Circulation. Normally I discovered it did a fairly good job of choosing up my actual sleep instances, in addition to sleep disturbances. I don’t have any methodology of validating sleep phases although, so I can’t communicate to that specific part. Albeit, a few of the textual content on this part, specifically the purple textual content may be powerful to learn.

I outlined the brand new dashboards within the ‘What’s New’ part (the daylight one and baro/compass one), so I received’t rehash these right here. Past that, there’s additionally a couple of extra together with the weekly coaching abstract, Coaching Load Professional, Final Exercise, and Climate.

On the backside of every one there can be a purple dot for any smartphone notifications. As with most smartwatches, these notifications are pretty fundamental. It merely exhibits the message content material, and you’ll clear the message, which additionally clears it out of your telephone. However you may’t reply to it (comparable to for textual content messages).

You may toggle whether or not or not you wish to obtain notifications, in addition to a slew of different options inside the settings menu. The settings menu additionally controls altering the restoration mode from Nightly Recharge to Restoration Professional, (extra on that within the sports activities part). You too can pair sensors in right here, plus disable options just like the 24×7 coronary heart price monitoring (should you’re making an attempt to eke out each final little bit of battery life).

Lastly, there’s the newish music management function.

This lets you management music in your telephone. You’ll entry this by swiping up from the underside of the display. You’ll must have a music app open in your telephone for this to work. The Polar Grit X Professional sequence *NOT* have any music storage on it. So it’s *ONLY* controlling music already in your telephone.

I recognize that it does pull the proper music service icon. So for instance, you may see I’m taking part in Spotify, and it exhibits that icon. Versus if I crack open YouTube it’ll present that. Technically talking it’s not straight music management, however actually ‘media management’, so it’ll play/skip/and so forth any media service that’s taking part in in your telephone (or not less than the iPhone).

I can skip/rewind/pause/play on the principle display, in addition to faucet the amount icon to extend quantity:

There’s no different choices past that, comparable to choosing songs or such. It’s simply iterating by way of what you’ve – fairly much like what buttons on a pair of headphones would do.

And only for the sake of semi-related readability, there’s no NFC funds on the Polar Grit X Professional. I don’t imagine there’s any {hardware} in there, and as with the Polar Vantage V2, it’d be extremely troublesome for them to implement contactless funds with out having a companion of some type doing the leg work (which might take years), and I’m not conscious of any mainstream/widespread companions that aren’t already tied up in exclusivity agreements with different wearable firms. That is sadly a case the place the monetary trade has made it difficult for any new or smaller firms to play on this area, as a result of means cost processors work. In any case, should you’re taking a look at this watch, you’re probably doing so extra for the game options than the power to faucet for funds at Dunkin Donuts (as superb as that’s).

By way of battery life, Polar has a declare of as much as 100hrs within the longest GPS modes, however for most individuals you’ll be utilizing the usual GPS mode which is 40 hours. Polar additionally claims 7 days of standby battery life. In my case I used to be utilizing GLONASS GPS at about an hour or so per day and the battery burn per exercise appeared regular with what I’d anticipate (in different phrases, nothing loopy). Similar goes for normal put on.

So with that, let’s speak sports activities.

Sports activities Options:

I suppose if I used to be into saving time, I’d simply copy and paste my Polar Vantage V2 assessment into this sports activities part and name it carried out. As by and huge, it’s nearly similar. Basically, Polar has taken the upper-end sports activities and restoration options of the Vantage V2 and stuffed it into the Grit X Professional. Nonetheless, that wouldn’t cowl every thing, because the Grit X Professional now provides a handful of recent options round routing and navigation. So whereas I briefly contact on these on this part, most of these are as an alternative within the subsequent part devoted to routing newness.

To begin a sport/exercise on the Grit X Professional, you’ll faucet the decrease left button, which opens up the sports activities menu. You may retailer as much as 20 sports activities right here, every with its personal set of customizations – like information fields or computerized lap preferences.

Polar has some 100 totally different sport profiles you may select from. Most of those focus extra on calorie burn specifics than capturing actual actions. So for instance, virtually talking there’s no technical variations between the Street Operating and Path Operating profiles. However it means that you can higher categorize your exercises, and maybe have totally different preferences for every.

Right here’s a have a look at the totally different information web page fields choices. You too can change issues like GPS recording charges and the altimeter. This may be helpful if it’s essential preserve battery for actually lengthy actions (as in, greater than 30-40 hours). In any other case, I’d strongly advocate you keep on with the 1-second recording price as some other recording price will considerably scale back the accuracy of the GPS tracks.

All of this could then be synced with the watch through both Bluetooth Sensible or USB to your pc. So all through the day it’ll sync through Bluetooth, whereas should you have been to plug it in to cost, and that cable occurred to be plugged into your pc – then it’ll sync that means.

With that every one settled, again on the watch you’ll see your coronary heart price and GPS standing displayed on a given sport profile. In case you’ve chosen an indoor profile (like spinning), then it received’t make the most of GPS. Equally, should you’ve obtained any sensors it’ll robotically hook up with ones you’ve paired up beforehand – comparable to a coronary heart price strap.

The Grit X Professional helps the identical sensor sorts as the unique Grit X, and the Vantage sequence. These are:

– Bluetooth Sensible Coronary heart Charge Straps
– Bluetooth Sensible Biking Energy Meters
– Bluetooth Sensible Biking Cadence & Pace Sensors
– Bluetooth Sensible Operating Footpods
– Bluetooth Sensible Operating Energy Meters (it additionally features a built-in one)

From a biking energy meter standpoint, it’s extra iffy sadly. I wasn’t in a position to pair to a Peloton DFC Bluetooth Sensible energy broadcaster (each different watch I’ve used had no issues right here), nor was I in a position to pair correctly to a PowerTap P1 or P2 energy meters (it solely noticed the left pedal, after which did not pair with both). On trainers, I used to be in a position to pair to a Wahoo KICKR 2020/V5 correctly.  There’s no assist for ANT+ within the Polar wearables. Although you may pair a number of sorts of sensors to the watch simply through the sensors menu. So you may successfully save a number of bikes’ sensor configurations, or a number of coronary heart price straps, and so forth…

In the meantime, the higher proper settings icon on the game profile means that you can choose routes, add timers, and cargo favorited (structured) exercises. It’s additionally the place you may toggle the settings to get upwards of 100 hours of GPS battery life.

With that, we will go forward and cargo up the route and/or begin our exercise (we’ll speak about routing within the subsequent part). You’ll now see your information pages and information fields as you’ve configured them for that sport profile. If utilizing GPS outside you’ll get velocity/tempo and distance, in addition to any altimeter-related particulars like elevation/ascent/descent. Basically all the standard bits you’d anticipate from any GPS watch over the past decade or so. Right here’s a couple of appears at these information pages.

By way of visibility, the Polar Grit X Professional is ‘superb’. Not extremely clear, however not unhealthy both. Simply sorta the center of the street. I’ve now run by way of a fugly onerous rain/hail storm, run at evening, and mid-day, all with none points in visibility for my eyes. Although, my eyesight is fairly good. For rest-of-day utilization, the display is always-on, so it doesn’t shut off to save lots of battery life like some fancier show watches do. In the end, Polar is saving display brightness/brilliance for battery life. The concept being you don’t must cost this watch daily, however can go every week or so earlier than a cost. That *IS* a core cause individuals purchase these over watches with fancier shows.

Again into our exercise, with the Grit X Professional you’ll get working energy natively from the wrist, simply as with the unique Vantage V sequence (and the unique Grit X). It makes use of the accelerometer within the watch in your wrist to make these calculations. That has its professionals and cons as I’ve outlined beforehand. In order that’ll present up robotically as a knowledge area, in addition to later in your exercise information information (proven as wattage under –496w in considered one of my tempo exercise intervals):

In case you’re working/using in a location with hills concerned, you may make the most of the Hill Splitter function. This function tracks every rep of a hill, with none pre-planning required. So it’ll robotically detect if you ascend or descend a hill, after which monitor the gap and time of that climb/descent. It’ll additionally rely the reps of ascent/descent, which then is summarized on each the watch and app afterwards.

As you begin going up a climb, when you hit across the 8-10m of elevation acquire marker, it’ll set off an ascent, and the display adjustments to the under display which exhibits how far you’ve run/ridden/hiked up that climb, in addition to the length. And naturally, you see which quantity hill that is (e.g. 1st ascent). Observe that Hill Splitter does NOT reference any saved course/route information. It’s purely off the cuff type hill counting. That has its professionals and cons. It’s nice for impromptu weeknight coaching periods the place you simply decide a hill and begin doing repeats with out creating/loading a course. Inversely, it’s not terribly helpful within the Alps or one thing the place you’ve obtained huge climbs and wish to understand how a lot ascent is left – it received’t inform you that. Nor does it leverage any of the brand new elevation profile bits.

In case you’re in search of much more depth on Hill Splitter, take a look at my full, dive into all the professionals and cons and nuances of Hill Splitter right here in my unique Polar Grit X assessment with a whole part devoted to it.

Now, when you’re carried out with a exercise/exercise, you’ll get a slate of metrics on the watch itself, right here’s a fast gallery of these:

After which it’ll sync to Polar Circulation through telephone/USB, the place you may view the identical exercise there as nicely. It can be configured to robotically be synced to numerous Polar Circulation companions, like Strava or TrainingPeaks, relying on the way you’ve obtained your account arrange.

Now one of many core causes to purchase a higher-end watch like that is to steadiness coaching load with restoration, and Polar has a slate of options aimed toward that.  The unique Grit X already had Polar’s Coaching Load Professional and FitSpark options, however they’re pretty vital, so I’ll dive into them right here as nicely – even when briefly.

Polar’s FitSpark is actually a digital coach that has no overarching health/seasonal purpose in thoughts, besides to provide you a customized exercise of the day…daily. However the largest and most vital takeaway is that it appears at your nightly recharge scores and underlying sleep information to find out whether or not or not you have to be doing something in any respect. Polar will have a look at that sleep information and provide you with a go/no-go sort steering, after which relying on what your better coaching information appears like, can even provide you with particular exercises to do.

Bear in mind, this isn’t tied to a plan. Which means, you’re not tied to some 10KM race plan. That is principally saying ‘Yo, I do know a scary quantity about you, right here’s 4 choices for exercises at present. Choose one.’ Oh, proper, sure, it provides you choices. Quite a few choices. Choose your poison:

After which, for every of these choices, it’ll provide the particular steps and steering within the watch itself. There are cardio-focused working exercises with totally different intensities. After which there are core sort exercises too, and for these, it’ll provide the particular strikes to do, together with animations and textual content for each:

However let’s say you select the cardio exercise, go run an hour or so, after which end up. At that time, the watch provides you new options. Particularly ones round lively restoration comparable to stretching and associated core exercises that’ll assist and assist that preliminary exercise.

Once more, be mindful the purpose of this perform isn’t to be an endurance path working coach. It’ll suck at that. As a substitute, the purpose is definitely extra relevant to this point: To maintain you match and push you barely with principally diverse exercises throughout disciplines (comparable to flexibility and power).

Now that’s totally different than Polar’s Coaching Load Professional, which is designed to be extra on the endurance athlete aspect. This dashboard will present your Cardio Load Standing, which exhibits you whether or not you’ve obtained an excessive amount of or too little load. You may see this from the watch face, after which dive into it to get extra particulars:

Pressure is a metric displaying the common every day load from the previous 7 days. Whereas Tolerance exhibits your common every day load from the previous 28 days. So principally you may have a look at these two values and see the ratio as a part of the quantity above it, such that it retains issues in verify. Go too excessive, and also you’re susceptible to harm. Too low, and also you’re not going to make features. Within the center, and life is grand.

You too can view this on the Polar Circulation app:

Now, relating to Restoration Monitoring, you’ve obtained a binary selection between utilizing ‘Nightly Recharge’, which is usually targeted on sleep monitoring, or utilizing Restoration Professional. You need to choose one. By default, it’s Nightly Recharge, however you may change it within the settings:

Nonetheless, choosing Restoration Professional implies that you’ll want to interrupt out that chest strap not less than three mornings per week and do the Orthostatic take a look at. The chest strap is required for extra correct HRV associated information that’s used for making the restoration determinations. Considerably handily, you may even specify precisely which mornings it’ll immediate you to do that.

In my case, I simply used the Nightly Recharge perform – although that too would require not less than three days of exercise earlier than it begins supplying you with outcomes. So simply hold that in thoughts.

Subsequent within the ‘are you prepared’ part are the extra assessments. And one of many new options of the Polar Grit X Professional is the addition of way more testing choices. Polar launched this new suite of assessments again on the Vantage V2, and we’ve seen the Grit X Professional undertake all these. Basically this lets you do a Biking FTP take a look at, a Operating VO2Max take a look at, a Leg Restoration Check, and an Orthostatic Check. Beforehand you may solely do a generic ‘Health Check’ (which you’ll nonetheless do). All these assessments are accessed through the decrease left menu:

Now I beforehand did all these assessments as a part of my Vantage V2 assessment, so I’ll refer you to that deep-dive part there the place I iterate by way of how all of them work (and endure by way of them). However in the end, it’ll re-iterate the identical factor I mentioned (besides, swapping out 2021 for 2020). In 2021, most platforms can do that kind of testing robotically primarily based in your present exercises. Positive, should you want a one-off take a look at – then go forth. However assuming you’re placing within the mileage, then most coaching platforms can comparatively simply take your present biking/working information and decide your VO2Max and FTP. The truth is, Polar’s personal platform estimates VO2Max after your exercises anyway. This tries to be barely extra correct.

Now the leg restoration take a look at is certainly one thing that’s standalone and extra beneficial, as there’s not a lot on the market that’s going to find out that purely from coaching information. As leg restoration is much extra closely tied to correct hydration/vitamin restoration, than straight heart-rate pushed restoration. And additional, the leg soar take a look at information is definitely fed into Polar’s FitSpark function, which then can use it to find out which exercises it’ll give to you subsequent.

Lastly, rounding dwelling there’s the newish HR sharing (re-broadcasting) function. I first tried this out on the Polar Ignite 2 this previous spring, and Polar dedicated to bringing it to the Polar Grit X and Vantage V2 by the top of the 12 months (which it’s doing). And naturally, the Grit X Professional will get it out of the gate. This function means that you can broadcast your coronary heart price over Bluetooth Sensible to different apps/gadgets, like Zwift or a motorbike pc.

To pair this up you’ll select a sport mode after which choose the higher left button to see HR Sharing:

From there it’ll go right into a broadcast mode the place it’ll present up on different gadgets as accessible/pairable. So now on the opposite system, you’ll choose the Polar Grit X Professional.

Then hopefully, it’ll ‘lock’ the pairing. Simply as again this previous spring, I discovered this a bit finicky. Most different gadgets don’t do a ‘pairing’, however simply broadcast (as a result of because the historical past of the world has proven, pairing may be finicky). Nonetheless, as soon as I did the open/shut dance a couple of instances, it’d stick.

And from there on, it’ll broadcast (share) my HR. In my case, I broadcast it in Zwift.

I believed it was mildly fascinating that the primary 3 minutes really confirmed barely totally different values, after which it locked on similar for the remainder of this. I’ve no logical rationalization for this – I by no means touched the settings after pairing, and actually it is a *BRAND NEW* iPad on its first day of life that’s by no means been paired with some other sensor, so that is actually the one sensor it is aware of its quick existence. Beneath is a chart displaying the interior Polar Grit X Professional recorded worth, versus what Zwift confirmed/recorded for my experience. It seems Zwift lagged barely throughout the two essential parts of the experience the place I considerably shifted coronary heart price. I don’t know if it is a Zwift challenge, or a Polar challenge.

In fact, my Zwift session final evening highlighted Polar’s true drawback right here for cyclists: Lack of ANT+ assist. Or, in the event that they wish to blame-shift, lack of just about some other coach firm supporting twin Bluetooth Sensible connections. However principally, that is Polar’s fault.

In my case, I used to be using on the Tacx NEO 2 good coach at dwelling. That coach helps a single Bluetooth Sensible connection (solely the Wahoo KICKR 2018/2020/CORE assist twin connections). As such, that single Bluetooth Sensible connection was already being utilized by my iPad for working Zwift. However worry not – I’ve obtained one other energy meter on that bike! I’ve obtained a pair of PowerTap P2 pedals.

So I attempted that subsequent. Besides that didn’t work. As a result of Polar doesn’t assist that for causes that don’t actually make a lot sense. It’s a fairly customary challenge implementation of the Bluetooth Sensible energy meter profile. Thus, I used to be out of energy meters it might pair to, and couldn’t get my energy information into my exercise. And that is hardly a brand new drawback, there’s quite a few energy meters I’ve that Polar received’t hook up with over Bluetooth Sensible for unknown causes.

Don’t get me incorrect – I’m tremendous completely happy that Polar added the HR sharing function, however given Polar’s {hardware} undoubtedly helps ANT+ beneath the covers (as a result of chipsets they’re utilizing), they really want to assist it on these high-end watches. I completely get it that ANT+ has a restricted future, however that doesn’t change the fact of at present’s panorama of {hardware} within the good coach realm. There are dozens of models of good trainers and good bikes, and solely a few them (actually) assist dual-Bluetooth channels. Simply my two cents.

With that, let’s speak routing.

New Routing Options:

With the Grit X Professional, Polar has tweaked the way in which routing works on the Polar Grit X Professional in addition to Vantage V2 sequence. Whereas I might most likely have rolled this into the sports activities part, issues have been getting a bit unwieldy in length there. So as an alternative, I’ve spun it out into this extra devoted part.

To begin on routes, these sync in from Polar Circulation (as with earlier than). That is the place you may both create routes immediately on Polar Circulation, or pull them in from Komoot. Sadly, Strava Routes aren’t supported presently (nor some other platform). Inside your account you’ll must toggle which routes you need synced to your watch.

It’s on this area you could sync Strava Stay Segments as nicely. Observe you could retailer as much as 100 ‘issues’ on the Polar Grit X Professional, that means a mixture of as much as 100 Routes, Segments, or Structured Exercises.

As famous earlier, you’ll entry the routes and exercises from inside the sports activities menu, after which the higher left button to entry the settings icon. And that is the place you’ll discover the primary of the brand new options, the power to see the route map and elevation profile. First although, you’ll select to open a route like regular:

Then from there, it’ll take a couple of additional seconds to open the route up, however will present a bit of breadcrumb path together with the dimensions alongside the underside (the gap of the route is proven up above):

In case you swipe/scroll down, you’ll then see the elevation profile displayed:

Sadly it received’t present you any stats about that elevation profile by way of whole estimated ascent or descent – which look like kinda vital options on such a web page. Nonetheless, it’s a great begin.

On the backside of that web page they’ve consolidated the power so as to add hydration/vitamin alerts. Beforehand you needed to dip into the menus once more so as to add these. Now it’s all a part of the route workflow.

With that, we’ll get began on a exercise by urgent begin. Now, within the exercise you’ve obtained a brand new elevation profile information web page. The numbers on the backside in inexperienced are the full ascent and descent remaining/anticipated on the route, whereas the numbers in white are your present ascent/descent.

From that information web page you may calibrate the altitude (helpful should you come alongside a sign-post on a mountainside with the identified elevation). As famous above, this web page received’t present you actual climbs inside the route like different platforms, however simply provides you the general route profile. In concept it’ll present you your place alongside the route, and parts accomplished, like so:

Nonetheless, in apply I’ve discovered it iffy if it really does that. On some routes it didn’t, and others did (comparable to after I reversed route). Hopefully that’s only a minor rendering bug that they’ll type out. You may see under how on this route, it didn’t in any respect, regardless of being midway by way of this route and on-course:

In any case, the novelty doesn’t finish right here. In case you change to the breadcrumb path web page, you’ll discover you’ve now obtained a brand new choice to reverse the route, permitting you to trace again in the direction of the beginning. So begin from the breadcrumb path as earlier than (there are not any underlying maps right here, only a dot of trails and notifications for when to show)

Now you see one choice above, however technically talking, there are actually three ‘get me again’ sort choices, they’re:

1. Reverse Route (center proper button): It will reverse the deliberate route (no matter what you really did)
2. Again to begin – Beeline (pause, then higher left button): Because the bee (or crow) flies, straight again to begin
3. Again to begin – Observe again (pause, then higher left button): It will observe your precise hiked/and so forth route again, together with any errors you made

Right here you may see the opposite two choices up within the paused menu:

As well as, Polar has launched one final choice right here, which is to truly change out the route solely mid-workout. Beforehand you couldn’t do that. To do that you’ll pause, after which faucet the higher left button, after which select a distinct route. This lets you begin that route from the start or a mid-point.

Prior to now I’ve routinely made backup/secondary routes for longer hikes and adjusted the route mid-hike.  The truth is simply final month I did this climbing a ridgeline in Chamonix. I had our deliberate longer route on the ridgeline, however then the climate turned and it wasn’t probably going to be secure to be on that ridgeline so long as we wanted to be to finish that deliberate route. However anticipating this (or, simply us being drained), I had created some shorter variants that took us down decrease into the timber earlier. That’s the place altering a route mid-activity is helpful.

In that specific case on that day, the secondary choices I had created nonetheless weren’t aggressive sufficient (we wanted to descend *THEN*, not one other 30-45 minutes later which is what I deliberate for my backup routes), however the idea continues to be legitimate/helpful.

In any occasion, I feel all these adjustments that Polar has made are an excellent instance of simply how difficult it’s to make a watch on this area. These are all examples of options which are “necessities” for some people, however “don’t care in any respect” for others. And the one approach to improve market share in an area like that is checking off some of these options. I’m glad to see Polar is recognizing that and executing on it.

(And once more, these new options will all come to the Polar Vantage V2 in a firmware replace, presently slated for October twentieth.)

GPS & HR Accuracy:

There’s probably no matter that stirs as a lot dialogue and fervour as GPS accuracy.  A watch might disintegrate and provide you with dire electrical shocks whereas doing so, but when it exhibits you on the incorrect aspect of the street?  Oh hell no, deliver on the fury of the web!

GPS accuracy may be checked out in a lot of other ways, however I choose to take a look at it utilizing a lot of gadgets in real-world situations throughout an enormous variety of actions.  I exploit 2-6 different gadgets directly, making an attempt to get a transparent image of how a given set of gadgets handles circumstances on a sure day.  Situations embody every thing from tree/constructing cowl to climate.

Over time, I’ve continued to tweak my GPS testing methodology.  For instance, I don’t place two models subsequent to one another on my wrists, as that may influence sign. However typically I’ll merely carry different models by the straps, or connect them to the shoulder straps of my hydration backpack.  Carrying a number of watches on the identical wrist is well-known to influence optical HR accuracy.

In the meantime, for HR accuracy testing I’m usually sporting a chest strap (often the Garmin HRM-PRO, Wahoo TICKR, or Polar H10) in addition to one other optical HR sensor watch on the bicep (these days the Whoop band and/or Polar Verity Sense). Observe that the numbers you see within the higher proper nook are *not* the averages, however somewhat simply the precise level my mouse is sitting over.  Observe all this information is analyzed utilizing the DCR Analyzer, particulars right here.

To start, we’ll begin with an interval/tempo run I did this previous weekend. This had an preliminary warm-up, adopted by a small pile of 800’s with 90-seconds restoration. Then from there I did a sustained 10-minute tempo part at 5KM race tempo. Right here’s the info set, so let’s have a look at the center price first:

You may see the Polar Grit X Professional’s optical HR sensor in inexperienced there, and the way throughout the warm-up it struggled a bit. Whereas the general pattern was in the suitable course, there have been two instances it clearly misplaced the plot pretty considerably. As soon as I obtained into the 4×800’s, it was principally good, save between interval #1 and #2, the place it appeared to overlook the restoration. Lastly, throughout the sustained tempo portion of this exercise, it was completely superb.

Wanting on the GPS tracks for this exercise, at a excessive stage, it and the opposite watches all appeared to do superb, together with by way of sections that had each tall buildings, massive freeway overpasses, and a few tree sections.

Nonetheless, there have been a couple of events the place the Polar Grit X Professional GPS monitor was a bit offset in principally minor methods, comparable to this portion right here:

None of those sections have been main fails, extra minor GPS offsets for shorter durations of time.

Right here’s one other working exercise, this one with shorter intervals of upper depth. It’s additionally solely carried out within the woods, partially on trails. Extra on the GPS bits in a second.

You’ll discover that throughout the warm-up the GRIT X Professional is completely superb right here, and for many of the intervals it holds on accurately. Retaining in thoughts these 45-60 second lengthy intervals are tough for any HR sensor, however particularly optical HR sensors. Nonetheless, after the primary quick one, it largely retains monitor, save the center one the place it solely missed it:

On the GPS aspect of issues, as famous, this was principally within the forest. And on the entire, like with the primary run above, it was largely the identical as the opposite models, together with a COROS Vertix 2 and a Garmin FR745.

Nonetheless, as with earlier than, there have been sporadic circumstances the place the GRIT X Professional simply meandered a bit off by itself. Prefer it wanted some transient alone time:

None of those have been drastic in fact, however actually notable as a sample:

After which one ultimate run right here, an rising tempo run on comparatively simple terrain/circumstances. First up, the center price aspect.

Normally, fairly good right here from the GRIT X Professional. You see some minor variability although, identical to I noticed on the unique Grit X and the Vantage V2, which share the identical HR sensor. By variability, you see across the 22-minute marker and a bit after that the way it simply wobbles barely. It’s not main, however is notable.

Additionally notable is the primary time I’ve ever seen the Apple Watch SE fully lose the plot from the start – that’s a loopy stable fail there.

On the flip aspect, taking a look at GPS, no actual points right here. All of the models agreed fairly fortunately, together with once more a lot of massive freeway underpasses and some tall buildings.

You may see in each these sections of bigger tunnels/underpasses, we had no issues by way of any wonky GPS or something. Good and clear.

Subsequent, taking issues indoors we’ve obtained a Zwift exercise from the opposite evening. That is in contrast towards the Polar H10 chest strap, a Whoop 3.0 band, and an Apple Watch SE. On this case, the optical studying of the Grit X Professional was spot-on with everybody else I belief. Although, as famous earlier, there was a really slight discrepancy in what was transmitted from the Grit X Professional to Zwift utilizing the HR sharing function (solely firstly and finish).

However once more, by way of accuracy of the recorded information on the watch, it was spot on.

After which we’ve obtained one other indoor exercise, this time on the Peloton Bike, and it too was fairly shut. Nonetheless, once more we see these little HR wobbles of the yellow line which point out a bit extra variability than I’d have appreciated – particularly given how ‘simple’ indoor bike coach exercises needs to be for optical sensors (as there’s no street vibrations to take care of).

Lastly, observe that my journey these previous few weeks didn’t embody any mountain spots – so from an elevation testing perspective, it’s not one thing I might do with intensive rigor. As a substitute, welcome to the flats of Amsterdam. Nonetheless I’d observe that on this easy bake-off between the COROS Vertix 2, the Garmin FR745, and the Polar Grit X Professional, they have been comparatively comparable by way of developments, however have been offset from actuality. On this case, I let every watch work out my present elevation utilizing its personal inner strategies (which is just about utilizing GPS first, as you’d usually do until you knew the precise beginning elevation).

My precise elevation for this route matched the FR745 one, which is principally hovering between 0m and barely under sea stage (once more, Amsterdam). The Grit X was offset about 25m excessive, and the COROS Vertix 2 offset about 70m excessive.

Total, I’d say GPS and HR accuracy are principally good – however with some minor caveats. For the GPS aspect, it sometimes drifts off, although does often appropriate itself inside a couple of hundred meters. Whereas on the HR aspect, in some intervals it’ll lose the plot, but in addition often corrects itself. Not like another watches I’ve reviewed just lately, it doesn’t lose it perpetually. It all the time finds its means again to goodness in comparatively quick order.

The opposite vital factor is that should you don’t discover the minor coronary heart price variances acceptable, you may simply pair a chest strap to it to extend the accuracy.

(Observe: The entire charts in these accuracy sections have been created utilizing the DCR Analyzer software.  It means that you can examine energy meters/trainers, coronary heart price, cadence, velocity/tempo, GPS tracks, and many extra. You should utilize it as nicely to your personal gadget comparisons, extra particulars right here.)

Product Comparability:

I’ve added the Polar Grit X Professional into the product comparability database, permitting you to match it towards different merchandise that I’ve reviewed prior to now.  For the needs of under I’ve in contrast it towards the COROS Vertix 2, Garmin Fenix 6, and Suunto 9 Peak  –  that are those most individuals can be evaluating it towards from a sports activities/health standpoint. One might argue maybe the COROS APEX Professional as an alternative of Vertix 2, however I believe most individuals will examine it to the Vertix 2. As all the time, if you wish to examine it towards different merchandise, you may all the time make your personal charts within the product database.

And once more – don’t neglect you can also make your personal product comparability charts evaluating any merchandise utilizing the product comparability database.

Abstract:

The Grit X Professional is a modest improve from the unique Grit X, virtually seemingly aimed toward permitting Polar to supply a nicer and extra adventurous trying watch with all of the options of the Vantage V2, however that doesn’t carry the plastic Vantage V2 appears. This transition shouldn’t be shocking, in spite of everything, we’ve seen it play out at each different sports activities watch producer together with COROS and Garmin, and to a lesser diploma Suunto and even Wahoo. Suunto already had most of these appears, so it was extra about happening a weight loss program there. In that respect, I feel Polar succeeded. Whereas the unique Grit X took the crown as my favourite trying Polar wearable, the Grit X Professional Titan simply edges it out. It not solely appears extra premium, however now matches that feature-wise too.

The problem in fact, as is all the time the case on this worth vary (upwards of $599), is our opponents. At this worth level, you’re battling not simply COROS and their Vertix 2, however you’re battling Garmin’s Fenix 6 base pricing at $549. That is successfully the very same scenario that performed out 45 days in the past for COROS and their Vertix 2 pricing. Which then will get into the argument of whether or not or not premium supplies make up for a scarcity of comparative options. That’s a tricky argument to make, and in the end comes all the way down to the person.

I’ve gotta imagine Polar might be aiming extra right here for his or her present Polar clients, which needed not simply the extra premium appears of the Grit X sequence, however merely needed all of the superior coaching and restoration options of the Vantage V2. So in that sense, Polar pulled that off. Not does a Polar buyer must resolve whether or not or not they need attractiveness, or good options. It’s now in a single watch with every thing. Which frankly, is the way in which it needs to be. It’s a very nice trying watch that, as I did final week, slot in completely superb in a go well with in a high-end restaurant. But a couple of hours earlier was throwing down intervals on trails.

Like many watches, the small iterative updates between variations may make some impatient – however on this case, I feel the Grit X Professional could be extra about making an attempt to fill in probably the most essential aggressive gaps within the climbing/routing/endurance sports activities realms, whereas additionally eradicating the dilemma customers beforehand had with Polar between choosing a pleasant watch or a extra feature-rich watch. Now these are one and the identical.

With that, thanks for studying!

Discovered This Submit Helpful? Assist The Web site!

Hopefully you discovered this assessment helpful. On the finish of the day, I’m an athlete identical to you in search of probably the most element doable on a brand new buy – so my assessment is written from the standpoint of how I used the system. The critiques typically take a variety of hours to place collectively, so it’s a good bit of labor (and labor of affection). As you most likely seen by trying under, I additionally take time to reply all of the questions posted within the feedback – and there’s fairly a little bit of element in there as nicely.

In case you’re searching for the Polar Grit X Professional or some other accent gadgets, please think about using the affiliate hyperlinks under! As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t price you something additional, however your purchases assist assist this web site lots. Much more, should you use Backcountry.com or Aggressive Bike owner with coupon code DCRAINMAKER, first time customers save 15% on relevant merchandise!

And at last, right here’s a helpful record of equipment that work nicely with this unit (and a few that I confirmed within the assessment). Given the unit pairs with nearly any Bluetooth Sensible sport sensors, you should utilize absolutely anything although.

Wahoo RPM Sensor

This twin ANT+/Bluetooth Sensible sensor will transmit cadence not solely to your bike pc/watch, but in addition third occasion apps like Zwift, TrainerRoad, and extra.

Wahoo SPEED Sensor

Pace sensors are primarily helpful for offroad utilization. I do not discover a lot of a necessity for one whereas road-cycling, however for mountain bike trails they may help alleviate velocity/distance points with poor GPS reception in dense timber.

It is a strap I typically use in testing/comparisons. It is twin ANT+/Bluetooth Sensible, but it surely additionally helps the 5kHz analog coronary heart price transmission for older health club gear. Additionally, it has exercise storage/recording in it and helps two Bluetooth connections.

It is a nice strap, particularly if you are going to the health club. It is twin ANT+/Bluetooth Sensible, but it surely additionally helps the 5kHz analog coronary heart price transmission for older health club gear. Observe that it solely accepts a single Bluetooth connection, versus dual-connections for the Polar H10.

I might argue the Polar OH1 Plus is the perfect optical HR sensor on the market. So whereas it may appear odd to get this when your watch additionally has a optical HR sensor, this one is simply higher more often than not. Plus, it additionally has exercise recording storage. Twin ANT+/Bluetooth.

The Polar Verity Sense is the newer variant of the Polar OH1 Plus. And whereas it may appear odd to get this when your watch additionally has a optical HR sensor, this one is simply higher more often than not. Plus, it additionally has exercise recording storage. Twin ANT+/Bluetooth.

And naturally – you may all the time sign-up to be a DCR Supporter! That will get you an ad-free DCR, entry to the DCR Quarantine Nook video sequence filled with behind the scenes tidbits…and it additionally makes you superior. And being superior is what it’s all about!

Thanks for studying! And as all the time, be at liberty to put up feedback or questions within the feedback part under, I’ll be completely happy to try to reply them as shortly as doable. And lastly, should you felt this assessment was helpful – I all the time recognize suggestions within the feedback under. Thanks!

Discovered This Submit Helpful? Assist The Web site!

Hopefully you discovered this assessment helpful. On the finish of the day, I’m an athlete identical to you in search of probably the most element doable on a brand new buy – so my assessment is written from the standpoint of how I used the system. The critiques typically take a variety of hours to place collectively, so it’s a good bit of labor (and labor of affection). As you most likely seen by trying under, I additionally take time to reply all of the questions posted within the feedback – and there’s fairly a little bit of element in there as nicely.

In case you’re searching for the Polar Grit X Professional or some other accent gadgets, please think about using the affiliate hyperlinks under! As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t price you something additional, however your purchases assist assist this web site lots. Much more, should you use Backcountry.com or Aggressive Bike owner with coupon code DCRAINMAKER, first time customers save 15% on relevant merchandise!

And at last, right here’s a helpful record of equipment that work nicely with this unit (and a few that I confirmed within the assessment). Given the unit pairs with nearly any Bluetooth Sensible sport sensors, you should utilize absolutely anything although.

Wahoo RPM Sensor

This twin ANT+/Bluetooth Sensible sensor will transmit cadence not solely to your bike pc/watch, but in addition third occasion apps like Zwift, TrainerRoad, and extra.

Wahoo SPEED Sensor

Pace sensors are primarily helpful for offroad utilization. I do not discover a lot of a necessity for one whereas road-cycling, however for mountain bike trails they may help alleviate velocity/distance points with poor GPS reception in dense timber.

It is a strap I typically use in testing/comparisons. It is twin ANT+/Bluetooth Sensible, but it surely additionally helps the 5kHz analog coronary heart price transmission for older health club gear. Additionally, it has exercise storage/recording in it and helps two Bluetooth connections.

It is a nice strap, particularly if you are going to the health club. It is twin ANT+/Bluetooth Sensible, but it surely additionally helps the 5kHz analog coronary heart price transmission for older health club gear. Observe that it solely accepts a single Bluetooth connection, versus dual-connections for the Polar H10.

I might argue the Polar OH1 Plus is the perfect optical HR sensor on the market. So whereas it may appear odd to get this when your watch additionally has a optical HR sensor, this one is simply higher more often than not. Plus, it additionally has exercise recording storage. Twin ANT+/Bluetooth.

The Polar Verity Sense is the newer variant of the Polar OH1 Plus. And whereas it may appear odd to get this when your watch additionally has a optical HR sensor, this one is simply higher more often than not. Plus, it additionally has exercise recording storage. Twin ANT+/Bluetooth.

And naturally – you may all the time sign-up to be a DCR Supporter! That will get you an ad-free DCR, entry to the DCR Quarantine Nook video sequence filled with behind the scenes tidbits…and it additionally makes you superior. And being superior is what it’s all about!

Thanks for studying! And as all the time, be at liberty to put up feedback or questions within the feedback part under, I’ll be completely happy to try to reply them as shortly as doable. And lastly, should you felt this assessment was helpful – I all the time recognize suggestions within the feedback under. Thanks!