29.11.2018

SummaryThis is an excellent watch / HRM / activity monitor for serious multi-sport such as Triathlon or a focused single sport, but it looks good enough to wear socially or in business. It provides as much detail as you and your coach are likely to need and, it emphasises recovery including quality sleep. Bizarrely the fixed heart rate uses 220 minus age and, there’s a beginner level running programme. The user manual download and sport profiles aren’t mentioned in the quick start sheet. At this price the user manual could be included with the package on a USB memory stick. I’ve used Polar HRMs since the early grey rectangle; my RS400 was great whatever exercise I did but was replaced by my M200.I had thought that the Vantage V is an expensive frippery, but I’ve quickly changed my mind: it’s a great device. If you’re considering the Vantage M instead, the lower specification compared to the Vantage V means:• 30 hours battery capacity instead of 40 hours;• no touch / swipe screen;• smaller operating buttons;• no orthostatic test on the screen menu;• ordinary screen glass instead of Gorilla 3 glass;• no Recovery Pro;• no Running Power.ConstructionThe watch is in a metal surround with clear information that can be swiped to show different faces and information. It’s mounted on a wristband that is comfortable enough for me to wear continuously for 24 hours to track heart rate and sleep. Assisted GPS is used that downloads a file each week to enable the GPS satellites to be found very quickly. Heart rate monitoring without a chest strap uses nine optical and skin sensors, but it will pair with an H10 chest strap. The M200 optical monitoring would function in steady state up to 120bpm, but above that I had to use the H10SetupPolar Vantage requires Polar FlowSync 3 for setup and firmware update; it’s backward compatible with other Polar devices. It’s also an improvement on the previous Flow app and flagged some of my sessions with a Polar M200 as overreaching, and then a period of detraining. FlowSync3 accommodates my Vantage V, Vantage M, M200, and H10 chest strap and data from all of them is aggregated. Set up is easy but you will need your metrics, and training background from occasional to Pro covering six incremental steps. Then there are three activity goals covering a lot of sitting to physically demanding. To update the Vantage you will need to use a computer or phone connection. This is also a good time to install and edit the Sport Profiles. A Polar cycle sensor can also be paired with the Vantage; my bike was nicked so that I won’t be trying that. For swimming, the pool length needs to be pre-set.In useThe route to test the GPS included a zig zag path down the side of a steep valley in a wood and it tracked it on the downloaded map without an error. Following the route on the online map, with altitude, pace, and heart rate synced is really useful. Pausing the GPS during training and restarting at another position produces a straight line between the two points on the online map, but does not included the distance whilst travelled whilist it is paused (I tested it by travelling on a bus). It was able to track me and log the speed whilst on the bus, so measuring running and cycling speed isn't a problem. Heart rate monitoring using the optical and skin sensors generally works well, but on a Concept 2 rowing machine it needs a chest strap such as a H10. Using the Vantage V with a H10 chest strap and a Concept 2 PM3, the heart rate readings on the Vantage V and PM3 by opening Polar Beat > Heart rate sensor > H10 and placing all three switches on. The specification states the HRM range as 15 to 240 bpm so it should pick up bradycardia - during sleep it records my heart rate at 40 bpm - and atrial fibrillation / atrial flutter (during intensive exercise). I've measured my peak heart rate at 201 bpm. Orthostatic testing is carried over from previous Polar models, but it fails for me after 20 seconds with the Vantage V and H10 combination, so recovery monitoring isn't available. Quality of sleep measurement is useful. Heart rate zones are either fixed (220 minus age) or free (they can be altered), but who in the target consumers would use 220 minus age, and why isn’t the Karvonen formula or a modified version used? Speed zones can also be set.The good:* comfortable enough to wear for extended periods to measure recovery and sleep;* the GPS loads quickly and tracks in city and country including ascent and descent;* plotting the downloaded route against heart rate / ascent / pace is very good;* sport profiles;* good (customised) display during exercise and the latest update has inproved the brifgtness of the display.Not so good:* heart rate measurement on a rowing machine needs a H10 or similar chest strap;* the jury is out on the Orthostatic testing.Overall a really good HRM and activity monitor, but you need to be a serious competitor to spend this amount of money.

30.12.2018

The Polar Vantage V is a high end fitness device that can be used stand-alone but works best when paired with a phone (Android and iOS are both supported) or a computer (Windows and MacOS both supported). The watch has a good quality plastic strap, solid feeling metal body and hard glass touch screen. Three buttons on the right side, and two on the left (one is the light), complete the controls. It is super lightweight and very comfortable to wear for extended periods.In the box is the watch itself and a magnetic charging cable which ends in a USB A plug. A dedicated cable can't be avoided as this watch can be worn whilst swimming. That said, you won't need it that often as the watch can do six days between charges with minimal exercise.The more you exercise, however, the less that will last due to the fitness tracking components built in: GPS, barometer, pulse rate monitor.I installed the iOS software and very quickly had the watch paired and the firmware updated. This happened over BlueTooth - it is nice to see that you aren't forced to use the USB cable for anything bar charging. I've since received a second software update and for what is a fairly complex and new product it has worked extremely well.To track a workout is simple - navigate to the start workout menu, choose your activity (and there are many of these) and start. You'll see real-time stats on the watch and the face is clear and presents relevant information clearly. When you are done simply hold the bottom left button in and you'll get a three second countdown after which the recording ends. You can explicitly sync the watch at a time of your choosing but I also found that from time to time my activity was synchronised without me having to do anything at all.One of my favourite functions is sleep tracking. I don't wear this watch all the time - usually just when I'm exercising - but try to remember to wear it at night because in the morning it can accurately tell me when I got to sleep, when I woke up and how restless I have been. It's been a revelation and no mistake.I'm still finding my way around this impressive product but I can say with some certainty that the more seriously you take your exercise, the more you will get out of it.I have only one negative observation about this watch: the step count is not accurate if you wear it 24x7. I'm pretty sure this is because it can't spot what is wrist movement alone as opposed to motion due to actual steps. I've tested it enough to know that when compared to my iPhone and my old Android phone it is accurate enough during exercise (all three devices are usually within 5-10% of each other's step count). All I'm saying is that if you wear this 24x7 you can't currently use it to count steps. I've observed that it is pretty good if worn only for exercise.How would I improve it? Physically the case appears to be exceptionally hard wearing and scratch resistant. The software in the watch is, so far, pretty good. When it comes to the phone app it is a different matter, however. Polar appears to be keen on monetising your exercise data - you have to agree to all sorts of privacy invading things when setting up the iPhone app and I'm sure that the Android app is no different. Data processing offshore. Use of data collected for research by Polar plus other third party activities. The watch doesn't appear to be supported by Strava at the moment but I'm hoping this is just down to its newness and certainly not something to blame Polar for unless they decide to actively prevent this.I'm not sure how much I'll be using what is undoubtably a great product in the longer term but this is exclusively for me a data privacy issue - I want to minimise which companies are able to collect this kind of data, and I certainly want to be able to choose for myself if, and how, that data is used for anything other than my own fitness tracking.

6.6.2020

This is a running ?‍♂️ watch first and foremost. It's not a smart watch pretending to track running, nor a running watch that tries to do everything. It's a running watch for people who run and want to improve their running.I've owned this watch for more than a year now and am still extremely happy. It's the best running device I've owned (and I've had various other Garmin and Polar devices). This is how i've used it:1) I've set up the watch with all my data and heart rate zones (HR zones are vital for using this watch to its best abilities)2) I've set up a succession of running programs over the year using the Polar Flow website, that syncs with my watch (via the mobile or a physical cable).This guides me throughout each exercise and gives me a score for each week. Get a good enough score after 4 weeks and the adaptive plan "rewards" you with a modified plan for the following 4 weeks3) I check my recovery status every few days with the orthostatic test to ensure I don't overtrain (you need the H10 chest strap for this - well worth it). This is surprisingly accurate. A few times i've ignored the result and gone for a run anyway only to have a rubbish run!4) I use the FitSpark recommendations to do regular core, strength and mobility exercises throughout the week (I target 6 in total per week). This has been a personal revelation with the added exercises really helping my running4) With the OH1 arm heart rate monitor I have been, for the first time ever, accurately monitoring my heart rate whilst playing squash ?5) I regularly check the Polar Flow report data to look at my progression and accumulation of miles. Also after every run i check the Running Index measure which is a good measure of how the run went. You get good satisfaction from seeing the number grow over timeWhat do I particularly like?o Lightweight and REALLY comfortable - I'm fussy about things around my wrist, but haven't struggled with this at all (unlike other devices, including the Garmin FR620 & Polar M600)o Battery life is not a problem - i'm doing a lot of exercises every week and only need to charge once per weeko Polar Flow and how it links with the device - it feels like you have your own personal trainer and it provides you with a full complement of exerciseso Health stats, particularly the orthostatic test, are very insightful and accurateo GPS is accurate, certainly over the past 6 months after the firmware updates, and catches a signal really quicklyo Route following and track back have been a god send for me when running away from home, as i have a habit of getting lost...Niggle:o Wrist based HR is accurate, but unreliable. I've had a few runs where my HR has maxed out within the first couple of minutes and only calms down to a proper reading about 5 minutes later. This is a bit frustrating when following the running program which is HR reliant (and keeping to zones). I've solved this personally by running with the OH1 HRM. Alternatively, I'd advise using the H10 chest strap or any other vversion you can pair to the device.Not sure:o Not yet figured out how to blend wrist based power into my training, but power is definitely a personal development area for my runningo Polar Flow app is a bit of a let down, struggling to keep up with the data on the website. I solve this by using the website portal the majority of the time, which is easy enough to access from the mobileo Haven't used the Serene breathing exercises enough. Think this would be a great thing to explore more, though

28.12.2018

I do a combination of cycling, running and rowing. Never really bothered with a smart device that could measure distance travelled, calories burnt etc. I’ve heard of Polar from my sister-in-law so what she normally uses is an indication that a product should meet high standards in terms of performance.When I opened the box, first impressions aren’t that promising. I was expecting a weighty watch – the Polar is light that I’m worried that a few hard knocks could put it out of action. However, there appears to be a metal surround around the screen along with Gorilla glass so that should hopefully offer some protection. There are five buttons adorning the Polar along with sensors on the rear of the watch which are designed to measure your heart rate.A supplied charging cable is included along with a quick start guide (forget it and download the whole manual).The Polar’s touch screen is pretty vibrant, clear and responsive to the touch. I have to admit I wasn’t prepared for the sheer number of sport profiles and functions that are available for the Polar so I strongly recommend downloading the full manual from Polar’s own web site. The Polar can work I conjunction with the Flow software, Polar Flow app. Connectivity is achieved via the supplied USB charging cable or Bluetooth. I did find that Bluetooth was a bit unreliable at times. When you have configured the Polar, it’s time to try it out.GPS and duration calculations for cycling, the Polar was pretty spot-on. I was surprised that the Polar had managed to detect geographical changes such as ascent and descent as well. Factoring in my age, height and weight, it made a pretty good stab. I did find that the heart monitoring function was erratic but it soon levelled off. As for rowing and running, it measured distance and speed with no problems but my heart rate looked unbelievable again (reaching over 200) but it soon levelled off. Maybe the H10 accessory could be a better option? This leads to me to a concern about its ability to be a heart monitor. Readings can be misleading and cause unnecessary panic.There’s one function that it similar to cheaper smart fitness devices and that it is its ability to measure the duration and quality of your sleep – it was quite an eye-opener.Battery life – I managed to get 36 hours out of it before it needed charging.The positives of the Polar are its customisation capabilities, a very good and response touch screen and its weight. Battery life is good for a watch of this complexity and power. The Flow application and Polar app are easy to use and review your goals and level fitness without any problems.The negatives – you do need the H10 heart sensor if you’re serious about measuring your BPMs and I’m surprised it isn’t included as standard with the Polar especially when the watch itself is £400+.So, is this the smart sports watch for me? No. Don’t misunderstand me - it does nearly everything but the Polar is aimed at the serious athlete thus its price. I couldn’t justify paying this amount of money for a sports watch but then I’m a bit of a hypocrite who wouldn’t bat an eyelid buying a normal watch costing the same price.

15.11.2019

I upgraded to this from the V800 after 4 very happy years. Having had the Vantage V for a few months now there have been a few firmware updates and functionality is slowly getting better.I train (running/cycling) 4-5 times a week and tend to use external sensors for accuracy. I have used heart rate to train in the past but have started to use power as well.GPS;- is not as accurate as the V800 (I use a Stryd so this isn't a big issue for pacing and distance), If you rely just on the watch then you may get issues with overall distance and live pace during an activity.HR;- I also use a H10 heart rate strap (as i did with the V800) so can only comment on the on the wrist HR during daily wear.It seems OK during the day and for sleep but when training there is a 5-10bpm difference between the watch and the strap with the watch being higher.Power;- again I get this info from the Stryd. On the few test runs I did, I need to highlight that the figures given by both devices were so different that once you start using one, you need to stick with it as the results will be all over the place if you swap between them.Battery life;- Continuous HR tracking and phone Bluetooth on with phone notifications. 3-4days with regular training (GPS/Bluetooth sensors connected)- Continuous HR tracking and phone Bluetooth on. 4days with regular training (GPS/Bluetooth sensors connected)- Continuous HR tracking and phone Bluetooth off. 5days with regular training (GPS/Bluetooth sensors connected)(There is currently no setting to have it only connect to the phone over Bluetooth when you hit sync, if the phone's Bluetooth is on it will sync every 40-60minutes which affects battery life).Smart Watch- used this for a week, can get phone notifications and do very simple actions like answer/disconnect calls, change tracks, read texts/emails etc.The watch itself looks great and is very comfortable to wear all day and night, you'll barely notice it on. You can currently get replacement straps in blue, black, orange & white but they are rather expensive £25.40-£35.90.The touch screen is a bit of a gimmick, it does work but it is easier to use the buttons.Conclusion;If Polar continue to update the Vantage like they did with the V800 then I can see the watch becoming a great device. At the moment it is sufficient as a training device but only due to the use of external sensors. I also managed to get the Vantage V for £220 which I think is reasonable for its current capabilities and I'd recommend getting it if the price is around the £300 mark or less.If you're invested in the Polar ecosystem then it is a worthy upgrade from the V800 for the 24/7 HR and sleep tracking. If you're new to fitness trackers or moving from Garmin/Suunto, do your research to see if this is the device for you.

18.12.2018

The Polar Vantage V Multisport Watch is a serious fitness watch for the serious athlete. Not for the average man/woman.It is jam packed with technology which the high price reflects. I got this for my wife but the truth is it is far too advanced for her and her needs. But this is not a fault of the watch. It’s a simple fact that it does far more than she will ever use.The watch build quality is very good. The screen is a fairly large 1.2” colour display covered with gorilla glass which should help protect it from the odd knock. I think it’s a bit on the large side for females but on the other hand it means the display is easier to read.The strap is a fairly comfortable silicone one and has a large buckle that is easy to take on and off.The watch has 5 buttons on its rim.

4.4.2019

first of all, if your looking for a smart watch same as apple watch with lots of watch faces and other tech specs, then this watch is not for you.polar vantage V is a watch dedicated for those who are seeking specific data about how they train and the detailed metrics that come with it to help them improve their physical shape and excel in whatever sports they are doing.before buying the watch iv read lots of reviews about it, negative/ positive, and i was so confused if i should buy it or not, especially that i have the A370 already.Eventually i decided to buy it and im really happy i did because the watch is super when it comes to what polar claims it does.lots of reviews said that the heart rate monitor is not so accurate,

3.1.2019

I am absolutely loving the 40 hour battery life on this watch and that's with my HR & GPS on at the same time. My old Garmin 235 only gave me about 10/11 hours and with the amount of training I do, this has been a godsend already! I have never used Polar before as I thought they looked quite old fashioned but now finding that I am wearing my training watch all of the time, which is also now improving the accuracy of my training load. My coach has always tried to estimate this for me but now we feel as though we have access to the England Athletics sports scientists now too, there is a chance I could be a pro yet!I am still getting to grips with the new power metrics,

1.7.2020

It isn't a Garmin and thats a good thing, although if you come from Garmin like me it will take a while to get used to.I owned 2 Garmin products prior to this purchase and i had been fairly happy. I just wanted to try and take my fitness to the next level. So i researched and pondered for a while and i kept coming back to the Vantage V or the Grit X. I had seen from previous reviews that early releases of Polar products could be buggy until they nailed their firmware, so Vantage V it was.Good Points, Wow what a battery life !!! Its the Hobnob of the Watch world, it just says use me more !! Buttons !!! I had forgotten how much i had missed buttons. Most accurate on wrist heart rate tracker i have seen.

1.1.2020

I haven't tried the watch with new software update 5.0 yet and my opinions are based to previous software.Cons:* unstable current running pace (same issue Suunto& Garmin) regarding new Sony chip they all using* pool swim metrics issue, watch will count metrics totally wrong* missing basic training information during auto-pause* some have problems with gps tracks as well* no notifications during the training* vibration might be stronger* can't calibrate the milage on treadmill runPros:* Solid outfit also for office using, weight is minimal* Screen is clear for me* Heart rate from wirst is acceptable* Really long battery life* Sleep tracking is exact IMHO* Polar Flow is very comfort,

18.6.2019

*** Delighted With The Vantage V - Paired With the H10 Heart Rate Sensor - Fab Battery Life For Ultramarathons ***August 2019 - Below is my earlier review. Now after updating the watch's software and using it for a while I can say that I *love* it. I've changed my rating from 2 stars to 5 stars. I bought a competing and well known watch and that let me down with its heart rate readings. The Polar Vantage V does heart rate and calories so well, and I've found that the GPS has improved. Battery life is also excellent. A worthy replacement to my old RCX5. I'm delighted with it. 5/5Previous review:The display is far too dark to read and there is no option to keep the light on.

8.2.2020

I was looking for a sports watch with high heart rate accuracy. I used Garmin's vivo smart HR, but my heartbeat, pedometer and stairs were just stingy and hairy on the toy. Garmin has high GPS accuracy, but the rest is subtle. Since Michibiki was introduced in Japan and the GPS accuracy of products that support it has been improved, we chose other performances. Compared to some products, I planned to make Polar's Vantae M, but I learned that it is sold for less than 40,000 yen on this site and purchased it. It costs about 80,000 yen in Japan, so it is half price. I was worried about the language at the time of purchase. Garmin must buy a Japanese model to display Japanese. However,

5.6.2019

Forget having accurate GPS for your first 2 kms - it is highly erratic, tells you you have done 10 metres after doing 50 and then tries to catch up - highly infuriating but after 2 kms seems to get it's act together. Nice user interface once you learn how to use it - I upgraded from the V800 and it makes that interface look very 90s, however I also have a back-up M430 and this much cheaper and older watch is more accurate (when not using a belt) especially with the GPS. Hopefully Polar sorts out the awful GPS with a software fix - don't understand how the M430 can be so much better.Update - April 2020It seems that Polar have applied fixes to the GPS software and it has much improved the whole experience of the watch.

8.7.2019

Changed from Fenix 5 X to this watch, due to the inaccuracy and weight of the Fenix range after having used Garmin products for at least 10 years, I have to say I'm not sorry the watch is great, it's light quick to log on to GPS and in my opinion very accurate in what it records. If like me you don't like wearing a chest strap for heart rate while this is the watch for you, I have tested it against Fenix 5 with a chest strap and find it very accurate in all disciplines, swim, bike and run. A couple of the things I particularly like is on the swim side, in the pool when you start a set you don't need to touch the watch again, It automatically pauses when you stop, it is also able to detect what stroke you are doing,

23.2.2020

... am I using the same product as everyone else? This is a fantastic watch. The case is not plastic as someone suggested, but metal, beautifully finished - after over a year, there is not a chip or scratch on it. I’ve come from a Garmin Fenix 5s because the screen on the Polar is far easier for me to read without glasses. The watch acquires satellite connection fast and doesn’t lose it (unlike my Garmin that used to randomly drop sections of a run from time to time). Heart rate tracking seems comparable to the Garmin, but faster to adjust to a change in activity. One of the best features of the watch is being able to have heart rate zone plans from Polar, which are tailored to you,

Polar Vantage V - Reviews

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