I’ve been making an attempt and testing the newest sports activities watches to hit the working scene since mid 2023 – of various makes and fashions.
From the Garmin Forerunner 265 to the G-Shock GBD-H2000 with Coros, Suunto, Huawei, Fitbit and Polar someplace in between.
And sure, I’ll admit some manufacturers have perks others dont – we’re speaking physique battery from the Garmin or the Navigation help on the Coros Tempo 3 all present wonderful competitors for the Polar Vantage V2.
However right here’s the the explanation why I’m but to commerce in or be persuaded to 86 the 2020’s V2, and go for a special mannequin (and sure that features its improve, the V3 launched October 2023).
1. The upgraded V3 is a let down
Sure the V3 appears to be like just like the Polar design workforce stepped up their sport however what it had in pizazz it sadly lacked in performance and reliability. Forgive me however after three years I’d count on an improve on a variety of ranges not simply aesthetics – however clearly I used to be mistaken.
The V2 outperforms the V3 on a lot of components that basically matter to runners resembling coronary heart fee studying reliability, water resistance and battery life – the remaining metrics and efficiency (navigation, post-run knowledge, restoration stats) have been related so there was no actual want for the improve.
2. HR by tattoo
The V2 and the Coros Tempo 3 are the one two watches who efficiently and precisely learn coronary heart fee by a tattoo. The V3, Casio, Fitbit, Huawei and Garmin can’t compete on this space in any respect so i needed to put on the opposite watches on the interior wrist while out working and sleeping. Nevertheless on the Garmin 265 for eg, i needed to put on it on the interior wrist 24/7 so my restoration metrics went unaffected.
3. Already good with navigation
V3 navigation help is unbelievable (providing breadcrumb and turn-by-turn help with nack to start out help too) and it doesn’t take lengthy for the GPS sync with the watch pre-run (we’re speaking max 20-seconds even in essentially the most distant of areas). I’ve by no means wanted an offline map choice however that function got here with the V3 and truthfully had zero impact – once more even in essentially the most distant of areas. So this watch is but to let me down on the navigation entrance.
4. Restoration metrics
The Orthostatic take a look at, Leg restoration exams, evening restoration metrics imply you’ll be able to have a transparent understanding how your coaching is affecting your physique with Coronary heart Fee Variability as normal.
Sure Garmin comes shut with their restoration metrics – however can they provide me a leg restoration take a look at? No.
The V2 comes out on prime once more.
5. Battery life
The Coros Tempo 3 does beat this look ahead to its battery life capabilities (30 days for Coros in comparison with about 10-14 days for the V2). Each fashions are miles forward of their opponents on this division – may or not it’s because of the lack in display screen graphics? I’ve raced in an Extremely that took me 10 ½ hours to finish with fixed HR measuring and GPS navigation and barely scratched the floor. In all of the V2 has over 40 hours of battery life in full coaching mode.
6. Holding it’s worth
You’d suppose that with the arrival of the up to date V3, that the V2 would drop in worth – but it surely hasn’t. To me that screams the worth during which the V2 holds – how nice of a watch it’s at $499.99 from Polar’s Web site.
7. Newbie to professional stats
Submit run it additionally breaks down an array of information that’s simply digestible for freshmen but in addition helps you study which metrics are vital and why that will help you alongside your health journey. Coloration coded particulars and bar charts are so easy but efficient to know efforts and the way a lot restoration is required.
8. Easy coaching
The Polar Model don’t permit you to import coaching plans from a 3rd get together platform nevertheless they make up for it for his or her thorough and tailored-to-you coaching plans that make coaching for 5k, 10, marathon easy. The watch tells you what that you must do, when, how, and guides you thru on a regular basis.
It completely removes the ache of planning coaching and will get you outside. You possibly can actually click on go and let it information you thru the session be-it intervals, coronary heart fee targets, tempo and even drink reminders – you’ll be able to completely depend on this piece of equipment. – A unbelievable coaching companion for any skill runner.
9. Measurement and weight
For a smaller wrist, the V2 doesn’t look ridiculously massive whereas G-Shock, V3, Huawei GT3 all have. Its 52g (V3 is 57g, G-Shock H2000 is 63g but the Coros Tempo 3 was 30g) and has dimensions of 47 mm in width, 50.8mm in top and 14.5mm thick, with a 1.2” display screen.
Its center of the street in the case of bezel weight and bulkiness however the glossy spherical design means sleeves don’t get caught on the watch – its simply lined if want be.
What I might enhance on the V2
Clearly not all the things could be excellent, however having examined a lot of totally different manufacturers, i want to see some modifications on the V2 resembling:
- Embody Interval/menstrual monitoring
- Higher display screen design (this did happen on the V3 however i’d wish to see extra design concepts as choices have been restricted)
- Totally different straps – just like the CP3 had magnificent fast-drying, light-weight and properly designed nylon straps
- Morning reviews – pulled from the Garmin 265, I actually loved figuring out what sort of sleep I had and what was on my coaching diary that day proper from the second I awoke.
- Coaching plans that transcend marathon distance – with the recognition of 50k distances now… sustain with the instances Polar!
All in all of the V2 does have its drawbacks and there are shut opponents on the market such because the Garmin 265 and the Coros Tempo 3, however for me, the V2 comes out on prime due to its restoration metrics (CP3 doesn’t do that), skill to learn HR by a tattoo (265 can’t do that), navigation and its skill to make coaching easy for me as an avid path and ultramarathon runner.
The Polar Vantage V2 is but to depart my wrist.