Polar M200 GPS watch

[Uni]

hey peeps.

 

I inherited an old Polar FT7 and was happily using that the last 2 odd years and I really only care about my HR for Vitality points. But polar is now discontinuing their polar personal trainer platform so the FT7 will no longer be able to synch with Discovery.  Polar are offering a discount of 30% on new product for client retention purposes.

 

i'm purely a weekend warrior and not interested in forking out thousands for a sport watch.  I like the idea of an integrated HRM as I hate having to strap on a chest strap each time and then realising you've left some component at home etc, and I understand the wrist HR is not as accurate. 

 

would be cool to have integrated GPS rather than Strava through my phone though I like how my phone lies to me about how much I've actually climbed.

 

So question really is has anyone used the Polar M200 specifically and have any dodgy experiences with it? 

 

[RobertWhitehead]

I've never used the M200 but I have had the M400 and currently a V800. I love Polar and do not find much to complain about. Yes, the M400 has some limitations and its currently 4 years old so it's starting to give some issues when syncing but it still goes strong  . 

 

Have a look at the review from DC Rainmaker - he is the go-to guy when you want a proper in depth review about any sport gadget 

 

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/10/polar-m200-hands-on.html

[robbybzgo]

I really like the Polar product.

I've got the bike mount M460 and the V800 (recently purchased on special for R3200 with HR strap). 

Both do Live Segments (via Strava) - a big plus for me (My on the arm trainer).

Black Friday coming up...consider your options as the M200 is an older model...

I prefer the stap due to its accuracy and I don't even know the strap is there sometimes. 

It's just one strap and one sensor to attach (seriously, no big deal - you'll leave it at home on one occasion, then never again). My ex still curses her wrist monitor as it doesn't always track HR accurately - as you stated)

The screen on the M200 is quite small and is more of a runners watch with daily activity tracker. It would do the job if you don't want to look at the screen often.

[Uni]

 

Have a look at the review from DC Rainmaker - he is the go-to guy when you want a proper in depth review about any sport gadget 

 

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/10/polar-m200-hands-on.html

Um..help me out here..what does this mean?

 

Note, the optical HR sensor is *NOT* used for 24×7 HR tracking. However, you can use the ‘My HR’ feature, to simply check your HR at any point in time.

 

Will it calculate average HR per activity?

[SwissVan]

Um..help me out here..what does this mean?

 

Note, the optical HR sensor is *NOT* used for 24×7 HR tracking. However, you can use the ‘My HR’ feature, to simply check your HR at any point in time.

 

Will it calculate average HR per activity?

It means it does not track your HR all the time 24/7 like activity trackers do, but only when doing an activity in the watch system (for example cycling) and when u use the my HR function to see your hr at that particular time.

 

Yes im sure it will record your average hr during an activity session

 

Disclaimer: have used many polars but not the m200

[Uni]

It means it does not track your HR all the time 24/7 like activity trackers do, but only when doing an activity in the watch system (for example cycling) and when u use the my HR function to see your hr at that particular time.

 

Yes im sure it will record your average hr during an activity session

 

Disclaimer: have used many polars but not the m200

Phew, ok  

[Duane_Bosch]

That would be my interpretation too.

 

TBH the novelty of 24hr HR reading wears off pretty quickly. It's your HR during exercise that you are interested in.

 

Also optical HR sucks. In a controlled environment like the Gym it's fine. But as soon as you add wind and temperature fluctuations like you encounter on a ride it becomes wildly inaccurate. Also you won't be able to mount the watch to your bars (where you want it) if you use optical HR.

[SwissVan]

That would be my interpretation too.

 

TBH the novelty of 24hr HR reading wears off pretty quickly. It's your HR during exercise that you are interested in.

 

Also optical HR sucks. In a controlled environment like the Gym it's fine. But as soon as you add wind and temperature fluctuations like you encounter on a ride it becomes wildly inaccurate. Also you won't be able to mount the watch to your bars (where you want it) if you use optical HR.

Ja im not convinced about their accuracy either, way to sensitive and you have to tighten the strap very tight during exercise.

 

But for a fun runner cyclist like me it’s good enough

 

I’m gatvol of chest straps as well

[Duane_Bosch]

I’m gatvol of chest straps as well

For me the novelty is still there and it's like putting on my fullface. Go Time!

 

Yes I know I'm a child.

[RobertWhitehead]

What SwissVan said. I think the M200 will suffice. If your main goal is to just see what the ticker is doing during an activity and you're not too phased about it not being 100% (This can be the case when comparing the wrist to the strap - as mentioned above already) then why not  . One other thing to also mention is that our friends at Discovery is phasing out the Vitality rewards in Jan of 2020 (From this article it looks like they're trying to become more like e-Bucks and get people to get their card as well)

 

https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/350409/discovery-is-phasing-out-vitality-reward-points-heres-how-the-new-system-will-work/

 

Disclaimer: I do not have Vitality and or work for them, but were planning on getting in Jan until I read this article 

 

Um..help me out here..what does this mean?

Note, the optical HR sensor is *NOT* used for 24×7 HR tracking. However, you can use the ‘My HR’ feature, to simply check your HR at any point in time.

Will it calculate average HR per activity?

[Uni]

What SwissVan said. I think the M200 will suffice. If your main goal is to just see what the ticker is doing during an activity and you're not too phased about it not being 100% (This can be the case when comparing the wrist to the strap - as mentioned above already) then why not  . One other thing to also mention is that our friends at Discovery is phasing out the Vitality rewards in Jan of 2020 (From this article it looks like they're trying to become more like e-Bucks and get people to get their card as well)

 

https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/350409/discovery-is-phasing-out-vitality-reward-points-heres-how-the-new-system-will-work/

 

Disclaimer: I do not have Vitality and or work for them, but were planning on getting in Jan until I read this article 

Ja as far as I understand they're converting the current rewards to discovery miles. So still something of benefit I think

[HdB]

It depends on the watch - the average HR reported by my TomTom watch was usually very close to that from my chest strap, when cycling on the road. My Suunto Trainer is more finicky.

 

However, when doing something where your arms move or shake a lot, for example mountainbiking on rough trails, or crossfit or similar, it's pretty much worthless.

 

What does help though, is if the watch can pair easily with a chest strap, then you use that when needed, and the wrist HR when sufficient.

[NC_lurker]

I really like the Polar product.

I've got the bike mount M460 and the V800 (recently purchased on special for R3200 with HR strap).

Both do Live Segments (via Strava)

Out of interest, what battery life do you get from your m460? Mine has always struggled to get much more than 7/8hrs, no where near the quoted 16hr life

[RobertWhitehead]

I get 15-16 hours with my M400 even though the battery life is quoted as 8 hours  . 

 

You get yourself a power bank USB adapter and use your cycling light's battery as a power bank.

 

What the support from Polar told me was: The external power source will not charge the unit but the unit will use the external power source until it runs out and then switch over to the internal battery again. On the M400 it starts to loose its head and give funny messages after 15 hours

 

https://www.extremelights.co.za/collections/cycle-lights-accessories-1/products/powerbank-usb-adapter-cycle-light-batteries

 

 

Out of interest, what battery life do you get from your m460? Mine has always struggled to get much more than 7/8hrs, no where near the quoted 16hr life

[NC_lurker]

I get 15-16 hours with my M400 even though the battery life is quoted as 8 hours .

 

You get yourself a power bank USB adapter and use your cycling light's battery as a power bank.

 

What the support from Polar told me was: The external power source will not charge the unit but the unit will use the external power source until it runs out and then switch over to the internal battery again. On the M400 it starts to loose its head and give funny messages after 15 hours

 

https://www.extremelights.co.za/collections/cycle-lights-accessories-1/products/powerbank-usb-adapter-cycle-light-batteries

Problem is that you can't plug in an external power source to the m460 when using the polar out front bike mount, it doesn't fit.

 

It's only really an issue when touring so I've learnt to plug in a power bank when stopped for lunch & I take the unit off my bike mount.

(Even if your activity is only 6hrs, the unit is still poling for GPS location while paused which over a long day can add considerable time)

[robbybzgo]

Agree with the above...I've never used the M460 for more than for a two day stage race.

I would also happily use a powerbank during rest periods should it be needed.