( 4 reviews )
-
Posted: Sep 12 2008
Great product in theory, but I was less than impressed for the price. Although it is hard to find all these features in one watch, having them all in one piece is worth searching for. The problem I had with this one was mainly in its lack of ease of use. Its relatively heavy and the interface is nothing to write home about. My use was mainly to keep track of elevation changes and distance while I backpack and hike. The barometer is a nice feature but I wish all its features were more obviously accessible. The directions were not very easy to follow as I found that the watch didn't always react the way the directions said it would. I had to start over a few times. Once I initially calibrated the altimeter I couldn't recalibrate. At this point I returned it. If you are a gadget wiz you may like it but as an average tech user I found it more involved than I was looking for.
-
( 0 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 6 2008
I wouldn't buy one for the wife before she drops a hint for it. However, if she basically asks for one, then get it for her. It's a good piece of gear. The wife loves hers.
-
( 12 of 12 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jan 15 2008
To gain confidence in the data from the Polar Activity Watch, I compared total active steps, time in different activity levels, and kcal expended with similar data for 4 different cadences on a Precor EFX524i elliptical exercise machine. Data was recorded from the Precor at average cadences of 120, 130, 140, and 150 strides per minute, exercising for 30 minutes at each level (different days for each level) while wearing the Polar watch. All elliptical exercise was at the same resistance and incline setting. The Polar watch divides the activity zone data into 5 levels (slow walk, walk, brisk walk, run, and fast run). At an average of 120 strides per minute, the watch credited 6 minutes in the slow walk and 24 minutes in the walk range. For 130 strides per minutes, the activity levels from the watch were up to 11 minutes at the walk level and 18 minutes at the brisk walk level. At 140 strides per minute, all 30 minutes were recorded as a fast walk. At 150 strides per minute, 24 minutes total were recorded as a run. The progression suggests that the activity levels recorded by the watch do accurately reflect the increasing level of activity on the elliptical. I next compared the total steps recorded by the Polar Activity Watch (which is an estimated number based on the accelerometer measurements) to the total strides on the elliptical (which should be an actual count). The tabulation combined data from the four 30 minute periods of exercise at the 4 difference cadences. The total strides for the Precor was 16,145 and the Polar total was 16,382. That is only a 1% difference! The difference was greater for the kcal count: 950 and 1054 for the Polar and the elliptical respectively, resulting in a 10% difference. Neither the Polar Activity Watch nor the Precor elliptical data is a true measurement of kcal expended. They give an approximation to be compared with future activity. Still, the numbers for the two instruments are close. Differences were greater for some measures and less for others when the same comparisons were applied to each of the 30 minute intervals separately rather than combining data from the 4 intervals (same principal as with batting averages, the season average tells more about the player than does knowing only the number of hits in a single game). A single 30 minute (or shorter) interval could be misleading as could looking at data for only a single cadence. It would be incorrect to assume that other Polar Activity Watch users will have the same results (although most results will probably be similar). Parts of the data are based on height, weight, age and gender which are entered into the Polar Activity Watch. Because of manufacturing tolerances, each watch manufactured will give slightly different readings. Each user of the watch can do calculations similar to what was done here in order to appreciate how their watch compares with their favorite elliptical or treadmill. Just remember this data is with a natural arm swing (not holding on to safety railing and not using the upper body exercise poles that come with some elliptical machines). Perhaps someone else can report on using an elliptical with the upper body exercise poles or the results with a treadmill. The Polar Activity Watch lends objectivity to daily activity and exercise measurements. It did accurately reflect the time spent on an elliptical exerciser. Recording of daily or weekly data totals should help with setting activity goals and weight management planning.
