Tried and tested: the new Polar Vantage M racing watch



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As more of us focus on wellness and self-improvement, the race watch market is booming. New versions every year offer better prospects, higher management and slimmer designs.

The latest of the heavyweights is Polar's Vantage M, taking over from the popular M430 model, which has many improved, bond-like features that everyone loves, from pro-athletes to weekend warriors.

The Vantage M is for everyday athletes (Polar / PA)

So how is it going? I took it on a 10 km run to find out everything you should know before you buy …

She looks as good as a fashion watch

The M430 was not the prettiest smart watch on the market, but Polar really improved its game when it came to finding the balance between a watch that looks great on the track and in the office.

They gradually eliminated the rectangular screens and opted for a traditional round dial. A bit like the big competitor, the Garmin Forerunner 235, the Gorilla Glbad screen has a fairly large diameter, with a flawless color screen placed in a smooth stainless steel bezel.

The Polar Vantage M (Liz Connor / PA)

This is Polar's hottest watch yet, and while it's not obvious that you're wearing something that fits your wrist, it's still super light with just 45g. It is also completely waterproof and can defend itself in wet and rough weather.

There is no touch screen to scroll through notifications while on the move (you'll have to pay an additional £ 190 for the more technical Vantage V model), but five satisfactorily textured buttons will allow you to type quickly when sweating. to do exercises.

The soft silicone sport bracelet was comfortable enough to be worn all night to better understand sleep, and it could easily be removed and replaced with different colors.

There are features to help you run faster and smarter

This is not a case of any style or substance; The Vantage M is also a serious race tool packed with features designed to help you run better.

Its large USP provides PB trackers with elite level measurements, thanks to the next level heart rate monitor. Under the watch, there are nine LEDs that use different wavelengths of light to penetrate deeper into your skin, allowing for a more accurate reading of the heart rate. It is paired with four raised electrical sensors that measure the quality of skin contact to provide additional information to improve your data, for example if the watch slides up and down on your wrist during intense training.

The Polar Vantage M uses 9 LEDs for a more accurate heart rate reading (Polar / PA)

Basically, if you still intend to wear a chest strap to get better BPM information with your current laptop, this watch will help you to drop it. For swimmers, the improved optical heart rate will also track your heart rate in the water.

Another impressive feature is the measurement of your "training load", which examines the functioning of your cardiovascular system, the level of stress of your muscles and your work force, to give you an insight into the effectiveness of your workout. training. At a glance, this information will tell you if you train, if you hold, or if you exceed your goal.

You will notice that you trained less than usual (Polar / PA)

Rather than simply monitoring your performance on an ad hoc basis, a measure of "stress" badyzes the average load over the past week to give an indication of muscle fatigue, while "tolerance" examines the intensity of your training for a whole month. With the help of this information, the watch will tell you if you are overtraining and could injure yourself, recommending you to take a day off or try a lighter workout instead.

Coaching plans and personalized data

The watch syncs with an easy-to-use application, where you can get detailed graphs of your stats after the race – like cadence, cadence, heart rate and altitude of your course. You can also use the app to set up a tailored coaching plan for distances ranging from 5K to a marathon. A calendar built into the app allows you to easily see the time of your next race.

My 10-km summary (Liz Connor / PA)

As a person who does not respect any physical form, I was impressed by the fact that you can load the watch with different sports profiles (there are 130 in all), like circuit training, pilates and boxing. Each setting uses a slightly different algorithm to provide more accurate data, which is a step forward from other wearables I've tried.

When you are not exercising, it also applies all of the usual basics (tracking steps, monitoring the duration and quality of your sleep) and can be paired with your smartphone to receive notifications about incoming calls and calls. updates from your applications.

Verdict

At £ 249, the Vantage M is not given, but if you're a serious runner on the road to the marathon, this could very well be the pocket coach that will take you into the fast lane – and that you make him avoid injuries.

(Liz Connor / PA)

The post-badysis badyzes and the battery power have really impressed me. This allowed me to follow 30 hours of continuous training with GPS and optical measurement of heart rate. My only little insect? The brightness and clarity of the screen do not match those of other high-end smart watches that I've tried.

If you tirelessly pursue a faster finishing time and you have the budget needed to increase your chances, it's a nice Christmas gift to put on the gift list.

The Polar Vantage M is available for purchase now. Visit polar.com.

– Press Association

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