Polar Pacer Pro In-Depth Review // Polar packs in the features!

[@DesFit]

*** The regular Pacer is also available to order today. Shipments will start in May. Sorry for the confusion! 👍

[@jasongordon9602]

Great review. I have been using the Polar Pacer Pro for the last month. Screen is great during the day and in ambient light. No reflections. Love the buttons. Always responds even when sweaty. GPS accuracy is fantastic compared to the fitbit charge 5 on the other wrist. Connects quickly to GPS signal and stays connected. Running index seems more accurate after running activities rather than test programs as reflected in review. I am 52yo my VO2 max is usually between 54 and 58. The PPPro reflects this. I think the fitbit charge 5 sleep accuracy and sleep results are slightly better however this watch is no slouch. I have to say this is my favourite sports watch. Previously had a Garmin fenix 6 and found it too heavy and sports analytics not as straightforward. Happy to wear this 24/7 due to weight and size. Battery is good for 5-7 days if using for activities. Up to 3-4 weeks if in flight mode without activities and heart rate sensor. So essentially being used as a watch only. If you aren't interested in music or smart watch features definitely a great sports watch. If those features are important to you look elsewhere.

[@fitgearhunter]

10 min video! Ugh - genius over my 30+ min version… awesome job all around.

[@DesFit]

Thanks Hunter! Your video is in my queue today to watch!

[@fitgearhunter]

@@DesFit awesome! That means so much. Sorry it’s not shorter - hope you set aside many minutes of your life to never get back haha.

[@amandanorth6526]

Fantastic review, thankyou. I loved the practical explanations of all the changes and features - they helped me understand very well what the real world experience with the watch will be. Most helpful review for this watch!

[@massimonline73]

Great review. I have used the Polar Ignite for 2 years and decided to treat myself and upgrade to the Pacer Pro but unfortunately it will have to go back. The screen is terrible, it’s okay in daylight but when inside the colors are lost, once the backlight kicks in all is washed out, it looks cheap and hard to read.

[@Panos_79]

Thank you, great one as always. The Pro seems to be positioned against the upcoming Forerunner 255, I'm really looking forward to see how they compare.

[@franzkuntschnig1320]

Like always. Garmin will have more data despite how accurate and useful it is, more and better integration of social media, music, maps and stuff. Polar will have the better design, a cleaner and slicker system with less data but it will tell you what to do to improve your fitness and displays it very easy and understandable. Hardware wise Garmin will likely integrate a barometer, polar has power measurement. But after all its just heart rate training and regeneration that delivers progress, not the data or hardware. That hasn’t changed over all the years.

[@ikuturso7570]

@@franzkuntschnig1320 And Polar will give you multisport and tons of more sport profiles. As a person who does a lot of different sports I find Garmins (non-Fenix) limited selection very frustrating.

[@franzkuntschnig1320]

@@ikuturso7570 I see. But honestly, you can create profiles on the Garmin. You just maybe don’t have an specific icon. Because the data screen can be modifiedby will on polar and Garmin - so there are no real specific profiles with specific parameters. Though I’d love to have a jump rope profile with skip counting. That would be a specific data. Just on Garmin as app sadly. Though I use polar, I like the simplicity and design language way more and the expression of data and use of exercise is better imho.

[@ikuturso7570]

@@franzkuntschnig1320 I know you can create profiles but exporting comes cumbersome. I export to 3rd party software from Connect/Flow and always have to change the custom sport there as it is not recognized. Also I might do some sports 1-2 times a year and using time to create profiles for them seems stupid. So it is just bad user experience while you can get around it.

[@Chris_hong_sung]

As always very informative video which covers all the important aspects in a very unbiased way!

[@DesFit]

Thanks!

[@darranlightbody4463]

Great review as always. Was going to go for the M2 for gym based training and track sessions but this is very tempting, unless they intend to update the M2 soon.

[@nollys8523]

I think the M2 came out last year; the original M came out in 2018, so I don’t see an upgrade to the M series any time soon.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Nice one Des! 👏

[@DesFit]

Thanks Dave!

[@nadimabdallah3984]

Hey man, looking for the best watch for a CrossFiter. What would be your choice ? Thanks

[@frenchpeacock]

Sounds like Coros Pace 2 still comes out on top for me with battery life being the key stat.

[@johnmanley4528]

Great job, Des!

[@DesFit]

Thanks John!

[@ericsisk1]

Great review Des!

[@DesFit]

Thanks Eric!

[@Girafaris92]

Great video. Is it still worth it in 2022 to buy a Garmin 245 or Coros Pace 2 now that the Pacer pro is in the market if not considering ecosystem?

[@consigliere20]

Great video 😎 I recently got a Vantage M2 (copper) and found it accurate for GPS and HR comparing with a Garmin Chest Strap HR on bike rides of upto 100km, virtually the same. Looks great too. I wonder if they reverted to the flat HR sensor in the Pacer to make the watch thinner/bring the screen closer to the surface? From the research I did before buying, the Precision Prime sensor in the M series is one of the most accurate in Polar watches. Also not sure the new charging cable looks as secure as the round ones in their other models. This model certainly packs a lot of features for the price.

[@FadzliRealtor]

Currently the Polar Pacer Pro and Garmin Forerunner 935 are at the same price, which would be a better buy? Sleep tracking is my most important feature and football.

[@adamfeerst2575]

I wear a chest strap when I want accuracy. Wrist (vantage M) is OK on the bike, but wide fluctuations running.

[@DesFit]

A chest strap is definitely the way to go for the best accuracy 👍

[@tztrp1406]

👍🏽 You’ve answered all of my questions… except one… when you answer a call on your watch, can you hear/speak through your watch like you can with Apple or does it just accept/decline the call and you still need to use your phone? Cheers!!

[@DesFit]

It doesn't have a built-in mic/speaker for calls which is about the same for nearly all sports-focused watches.

[@tylermiller5294]

Have you used this with structured workouts imported from Training Peaks? And what are your thoughts on fuel wise with trail runs? Thanks for the great review!

[@daniellimaribeiro7387]

A major shortcoming of Polar watches is that Polar Flow and the watch don't import structured workouts from TrainingPeaks (and they don't export split data to TP or Strava either)...

[@davidlewisohn4566]

Thanks for the review - if I could buy either the Forerunner 245 music with HRM Pro Plus strap or the Polar Pacer Pro with H10 strap, each for a total of £240 (UK), which would you choose? I don’t mind either ecosystem. I will be using it predominantly for running and Peloton and will be training up to do marathons etc. is the Forerunner 245 now getting obsolete because it’s much older or is that not the case compared to the Pacer Pro etc?

[@malekcecs9620]

Hello, any reviews about the open water / pool swimming tracking accuracy ?

[@holypupppet]

Great video!

[@DesFit]

Thanks!

[@Gonzalo-uf1jf]

Hello! Is the heart rate pulse light always on like Garmin? In the manual for this model it explains that if you are stopped the watch will measure your pulse every 5 minutes. Thank you!

[@Thesportynerd16]

This vs the Venu 2? What do we think? Venu is only $50 more at this time... trying to compare

[@TranceMusic20]

I'm interested in treadmill accuracy of polar pacer. I need to know how many meters it's adding extra or short.

[@ahmadshahrul1028]

Hi, does Polar Pacer(not pro) has triathlon mode?

[@williamdavidson4576]

Hi Des, did you try the sleep tracker on this watch? Was it any better than the Vantage M2? Thanks.

[@DesFit]

It’s about the same

[@BB-fv2kc]

They are Really good!

[@francescocassano9393]

no track run?

[@pkldp]

If you were to wear this wacht 24/7, could it be a replacement for things like Whoop? Or are the data collected by the sensor not to the precision of whoop and / or Oura ring?

[@DesFit]

Whoop is more about how they present the data. They do a good job in that department. Accuracy isn’t their strong suit though. Oura - I’m still testing that and will have to get back to you but as of right now the feature set isn’t there. Polar does a good job at collecting tons of data and for the most part it’s accurate. How it’s presented could use some polish though.

[@pkldp]

@@DesFit Thank you for your reply! I'm still using the Polar Vantage M and was looking to eighter upgrade to a new sportswatch or to a whoop and switch my watch to a non sporting watch. With your reply in mind i think it would be more logical to upgrade the Polar as the data collected is more accurate only presented in a slightly lesser graphical way.

[@adamfeerst2575]

@@DesFit When you say Polar could use some polish, are you talking about the watch or their Flow app/web?

[@adamfeerst2575]

@@DesFit Also, isn't whoop subscription based while Polar Flow is free?

[@blastabone]

Would you say that it’s worth to for the pro version?

[@ikuturso7570]

This seems very good indeed. Small enough, light enough, baro, good gps-battery, all sport profiles you can think of (as Polar always does) and non-ridiculous pricing (looking at you Garmin). The design is still a bit dated (bezels) I could live with that.

[@karespanne5093]

Is it possible to keep the backlight always activated on the polar pacer pro?

[@BerduaDiLangitBiru]

Is it possible that outdoor dashboard would be added later via software update since pacer pro already has the ABC sensors?

[@DesFit]

Possible, yes. Probable? Leaning towards them keeping it on their higher end units but I could be wrong.

[@Aiden_B]

what are the the differences for the pro and non pro versions

[@JaradPetroske]

Dinosaur Jr! Nice!

[@DesFit]

Still good!

[@marctapias723]

Thanks a lot for the review. Can you test on a swimming pool and give us a feedback? I would really appreciate :) cheers!

[@stevendeckert6373]

The vantage M is fantastic in the pool with recognizing strokes and distance. Much better than the fenix series. It even does optical HR underwater on the wrist well.

[@munishtaneja3456]

Hey there- how do you change the band on this? I'm trying to switch to the small. Thanks!

[@DesFit]

Remove the silver pin by gently prying it out.

[@dsm163]

Hey Des , does this model have strength training mode?

[@fibk]

Yes.

[@AnTTo1000]

Where is the race time predictor in menus?

[@kroko9691]

If Polar didn’t change anything, then you#ll find the prediction on their website only.

[@franzkuntschnig1320]

Normally you get a running Index after every run. That equals to estimated times for several distances from 5k to marathon. But that index is found on the web page/internet while the running index is displayed in the work out information. I don’t know if they changed or added something with the pacer models

[@sdnalyam]

How does it compare to the Coros Pace2?.

[@TheSlickpt]

Can the pacer pro do power based workouts?

[@arleneallen-buono9826]

How’s the accuracy during interval running?

[@DesFit]

Seems to be pretty dynamic in tracking intervals.

[@andianwar5784]

does it have feature like garmin-pacepro on Polar Pacer Pro?

[@DarrenManleyBigRed]

Sad that it doesn't include the leg recovery test :-(

[@franzkuntschnig1320]

Vantage v2 isn’t that much more expensive if you get it at a sale.

[@alexanderblom5829]

Hello and love tour videos! :) I cant pick what watch to buy! Can you Plz help me out, looking at suunto, Garmin and polar and also coros. Mostly for bike and hike and some easy run. Also need notifications. Price range 200-250 dollar Give me some tips in all of the brands. Thks// Alex/Sweden

[@gha97zal]

Can I buy it if am doing only indoor sport?

[@DesFit]

Yup! It has plenty of indoor sports profiles.

[@fabii85]

Hi, I'm using the Edge with a H10 strap for Cycling and the polar watch for running and general use. How can I transfer HR data from my cycling session to flow and my polar training load?

[@DesFit]

You can try to use RunGap on iOS to transfer your completed Edge workout to Polar Flow or you could record your activity with Polar Beat with your H10 (support.polar.com/en/support/can_i_record_my_heart_rate_without_a_training_device_or_a_training_app). But honestly the easiest way would be for you to just record the cycling session on your Polar watch in addition to your Edge.

[@RunnerJong17]

So polar pacer pro ? Vs coros apex pro ? Lol im a runner

[@tahaghafari1171]

Adding bank card for polar pacer is available?

[@DesFit]

They don’t have contactless payment functionality

[@mike_smithbike]

Hi can you use this for bikes

[@DesFit]

Yup

[@thestandardmanual3446]

A huge pity they dont do golf, looks like an awesome multisport watch.

[@DesFit]

Ya, not sure if golf is on their radar.

[@leslie7922]

This video didn't help me at all (I own garmin) but I pressed like anyway

[@DesFit]

Thanks Leslie!

[@vmhongkong]

why polar product don't support ant+......

[@Peter.Fields.]

I don’t have to say anything in software or how it works cause I don’t have it, but I think that my eyes function the same way as humans and i really don’t like the design of it, even on garmin side .. they really look sporty which is the point but I don’t see myself wearing to anything let say fancy

[@1984rbarker]

Love your content Des. Can you do us a favour and pause between sentences when you speak? It all comes out in one massive paragraph that is hard to tune into.

[@DesFit]

Sorry, just kind of my style but I’ll see what I can do.

[@jkadbhjadhboa]

I haven’t noticed this to be an issue. (Love the content, too.)

[@SteamyPMcGee]

Hey friend, you can fix this yourself to a degree if you click the cog and change playback speed to 0.75. I hope this helps you. X

[@richardthorpe3161]

😢 I have a polar beats H7 doesn't work you must be joking I've had it now for 4 weeks and it don't work I can't get it connected to my Bluetooth and it's just causing me a lot of aggro don't give me all this what's it about being so good it's rubbish

[@DesFit]

Have you considered that maybe you have a one-off bad unit?

[@murtazabanday]

Please never ever buy polar watches. I bought vantage and pacer pro. It is a nightmare to sync the watch with my phone. Random glitches . Got my watch replaced twice. Resets randomly where you lose all your data that is not synced yet. Horrible.

[@HeoZeo]

Are you using an iPhone to sync?

[@alancampbell6236]

I don't like Polar, since they charged 50DM for just changing a battery in a heat rate strap - also this is not a convincing product!👎