Polar S625x

Stephen Logue
Reviewed: 08 March 2006

A GOOD TOOL FOR THE SERIOUS RUNNER, IF A LITTLE QUIREY IN US

Integrates speed and distance with a HRM, long battery life from the foot pod, useful additional features in the watch to measure Polar's view of VO2Max and level of training/over training and a review of each run stored in the watch, along with accumulating total distance, calories and time since these counters were re-set.

The user can set heart rate zones (5 of) ranging from HRmax to a resting rate and then train for a specific session within a target heart rate, for example, setting lactate threshold rate at 85% and running under that for a long run.

The key feature I regularly use is defining a specific running sessions, you can pre-define up to five of these, each can be configured with (1) a user definable warm up period, (2) the actual training session, for example, running 10 X 40 seconds (for my level of fitness this equates to a 200m fast run equivalent to a track session), you can also define a recovery period between each lap and finally (3) a cool down sessions. I also use this feature to define tempo runs (4 x 1 mile) and longer track like sessions, 6 X 800m (again based on time). This enables you to run “track type” sessions virtually anywhere.

You can also set up a running diary on your PC desktop, which provides the ability to analyses each run for heart rate, run speed, lap times, average speed, max speed etc. The watch also creates a file for each run which can be accumulated before uploading to your PC.
the foot pod, useful additional features in the watch to measure Polar's view of VO2Max. Good desk top software, which creates a running diary and the ability to analyise each run for heart rate, run speed etc.

Weakness
Calibration of distance can be difficult, also, you need to set the recording intervals to 5 Seconds to ensure the data from the HRM and foot pod are accurate. While you can set a lower recording rate, what you will note is a variance from the actual distance run on your watch to that shown in the uploaded desktop file, for example, the watch could show 10.1 miles at the end of a run and on the desktop file, only show 9.7 miles. In addition, much of the data on the watch is interpreted by the PC software, leading to other variances and slight inaccuracies in the data on the desktop.

At the end of a run, the watch will give an average speed for a run, for example, after a tempo run, the watch can show an average pace of 6.55 for say five miles. However, when you analysis the actual split times on your PC and total all the splits in excel, the average split time is actually 2-4 seconds faster.

Despite the glitches in Software and some quirkness in the watch, I would recommed it again. The record rate should not be in a minimum of 5 second intervals, but in real time (as Nike do), this would remove the variances.

I also previousley used a Timex GPSA watch and found the GPS unit heavy and a pain to attach to your arm, however, the new Garmin 305, which intergrates the GPS reciever into the wrist unit, makes this watch a very interesting possible replacemnet for teh Polar 625X.

Duane Newman
Reviewed: 08 March 2006

NOT THAT IMPRESSED

Heart rate monitor

Foot pod and distance measuring have to be calibrated. The measurement and calibration of the foot pod is really irritating..especially if u do long slow run and then a fast run where running stride length is different.

Since upgraded system to Windows XP have had endless problems.
have taken to be serviced etc..has not helped.
Memory not big enough.
Size - it is quite large compared to other polar watches.
Sometimes struggles to pick up heart rate when many other around. Sometimes has ridiculous hreat rate of 230 hreat per minute.

I was initiall impressed with the product and got it to work, but was concerned on accuracy of distance. When upgraded PC to Windows XP...I just had endless problems. Even professional help could not fix.
Disappointed.

Peter Hart
Reviewed: 08 March 2006

GREAT TOOL

Keeps you honest in your training and allows you to build a framework to improve and the means to record that improvement. Useable anywhere and for a serious but recreational runner like myself gives a level of accuracy that more than does the job.

The altitude and temperature functions don't work as well as the other functions.

This has certainly contributed to the improvements in my times and performances in the time I've had it.

Rob Coupland
Reviewed: 08 March 2006

COULD BE BETTER

Easy to analyse daily performance.

Even though it's coded I still get cross interference from other users. The manual states that to overcome this you should put distance between yourself and the other user. This is impossible to do during an intense session on the track.The distance calculator seems to work well on the track, but when we go off in to the desert for our long runs it is not so accurate.CD ROM indexing almost impossible to understand.

This is the first heart rate monitor I have used and I find it very helpfull, especially on the training runs - being able to accurately pace my recovery runs by monitoring my heart rate. Annoyingly I keep getting anomolous readings on my heart rate.

Lazy Chef
Reviewed: 07 March 2006

PERSONAL TRAINER ON YOUR WRIST.

The Polar s625X is an excellent bit of kit. It feels well made & will take some real punishment. The pod is extremely accurate and again robust & weather-proof. The computer software & ease of transfer is second to none. Not only a heart rate monitor the watch is also capable of interval training exercise sets which can be distance or exertion calibrated. There are over traing & fitness level tests.

Little to report here, the altitude measurement needs to be set each time it's used, which renders it pretty useless. An ETA calculation for various race lengths would be nice. The battery compartment on the pod is quite fiddly to access. When using the interval training feature the auto lap feature must be turned off manually or your feedback becomes ruined by the lap times. That apart & maybe the initial enormity of the functions the pros far outweigh the cons.

The s625X by polar, has revolutionized & invigorated my running beyond compare. Most notably, my training has diversified to include interval training, heart rate exertion exercises & calculated lap times whilst out on the road, rather than on a track. I am now able to expand my, once routine, measured running routes to include bike rides with the kids & also bridal way routes with my wife on horseback, whilst still being in control of my weekly running schedule. Once back home, I am able to download myriad pieces of information onto the computer to dissect & muse over. I have discovered ways to increase speed whilst reducing heart rate by analysis of exercise sessions on the PC. Reducing stride length & running economically with an upright stance has led to dramatic improvements in my PB’s. This progress, I have been able to monitor using Polars excellent software, which is included with the product.

The measuring pod itself is extremely robust, weather proof & lightweight, you don’t realize it’s on your shoe. It is easy to transfer from shoe to shoe, however the changing of the AAA battery every 150 miles or so is a bit fiddly. The accuracy of the pod in measuring distance is unerring. I completed my local 10K fun run with my watch reading 6.20 miles; you can’t get much more accurate than that. I do find however that the slower the pace, the less accurate the watch gets, maybe 10 strides difference in a mile, still far more exact than the old map & string routine!

I purchased the watch when it first appeared on the sceene and therefore paid a premium. The watch is now very reasonablly priced & I have no quarms in recommending it highly.

The Polar s625X has kept me motivated, keeping to my running schedule, & has improved my technique & times, what more could you ask from a watch.