Polar Vantage V3 Review From Three Runners: A Garmin Forerunner 965 Rival?

[@gustavahenriksson]

Thanks for a once again solid review! It is interesting to hear your slightly different perspectives and opinions in the same Vid. On a related note…a sort of wish: would you have the time and energy to do a UI and system comparison between the four major brands? I personally think it would be extremely useful for people who are considering a brand swap, or who are new to the field, if one could see a comparison (including your personal thoughts, of course) between a) watch UI, b) phone app UI c) computer/web UI. I know that it was made by Chase the Summit a while ago, but a lot has happened with some platforms since. Keep up the good work!

[@vpnconsult]

Both are great runner watches.

[@m.ch4rmaland3r10]

That screen is very nice

[@evanfortune-cabrera8887]

The syncing issue has existed for years with Polar watches. The most reliable syncs I’ve had is with the Pacer Pro and Grit X, as compared to my VV2, Grit X Pro, Grit X Pro Titanium, ignite 3 and Unite - all of these have had terrible syncing issues. Also, don’t get me started on Polar’s handling of notifications on iOS….

[@TheZlantan1926]

And you keep buying polar watches..

[@evanfortune-cabrera8887]

​@@TheZlantan1926I haven't bought any for a few years at this point.

[@TheRiseofKorolev]

Wow, I had the same thing happen with my first VV3 go randomly black, and all it would do is flicker for have a second trying to start up or something. Had to be returned.

[@TheHutchRuns]

Garmin still way better, the turn by turn navigation sounds like a right faff especially

[@qikcraig9173]

you mention the strap in your video, you dont mention if you can change it? is there a nylon strap to help? that might also help with HR accuracy...

[@nsbsociety]

Sorry but this watch have lot of bugs and softwear issues. Know few People who return the watch. Did u have some crash and softwear issues to ? Thanks for the review

[@mikekoski2209]

Any issues with scratching the Gorilla glass crystal? That's my biggest concern vs sapphire on Suunto.

[@uhuhuhuhuhuh91]

no concerns for me, I own the watch since the release and wear it almost non-stop.

[@Neilveg]

I wish i’d stayed with Polar as my Garmin 965 is way behind my old Polar grit. Can’t get anyone to buy my 965 so i’m stuck with it. Never had a problem syncing Polar watches so thinking this review is probably paid for by Garmin

[@TheZlantan1926]

@@Neilveg way behind??you are kidding

[@eriktaasti]

If it doesn't get a core metric like heart rate correct, how does it get resting heart rate right and, more importantly, HRV? The latter is needed to come up with reliable dynamic training plans and be able to calculate, e.g., training adaptation. I need help understanding this recommendation..!

[@ailsa7555]

Exactly. The watch is nice but not fit for even basic purpose when HR reading isn't reliable.

[@mfcxmfcx5085]

Resting heart rate and HRV is more accurate because there are no rapid movements/vibrations.

[@NAW32Nicoisme]

nice sportwatch

[@snowwalker9999]

It’s 2024 all intermediate to advanced Sports watches have to have at least perfect navigation topo maps, some essential smart features, sapphire glass amoled screen training readiness HRV etc.

[@regstoy]

Kieran your email address was visible on your phone

[@LiberaTeTutemetExInferis]

Unless they do add major features via updates, no roadmap has been made public at this stage, they will have to half the price in order to be competitive. I have been a Polar enthusiast since their rs100, in fact I own almost every single generation of watches they released, they did send me a 50% coupon in order to purchase the V3, it is my understanding that Polar has been rewarding long time users with a significant discount as soon as they released the V3......it looks to me that they simply rushed the launch for Christmas, this watch is not ready as such.

[@shashi566]

50 percent coupon? I have been buying Polar Top watches since 1996 and have never even received a 1 percent coupon. :-D

[@LiberaTeTutemetExInferis]

Probably depends on where you live , I live in Cali, and whether or not you buy from the official site.I bet you contact them explaining this and within a few days, you ll get one too. Reviews are less than flattering and even though most issues will be fixed at some point, the launch is a disaster and so are the sales.....

[@eagle63-94]

je dois avouer que les montres Polar sont belles, même si peu de modèles proposent différentes tailles. La chose qui m'ennuie le plus : l'application, trop vieillotte et dépassée par rapport à Garmin, riche en couleurs et par contre un peu chargée, mais on a tout. Quant à la synchronisation, Garmin est à la ramasse en ce moment, que des soucis, je regrette l'achat amèrement de ma Fénix 7S, je me serais peut être orientée vers Polar. Le seul modèle que je n'ai porté que quelques jours : Grit X, une horreur, lourde, interface de navigation incohérente. Heu, je revois l'application Polar flow, décidemment pas pour moi, que c'est moche. Tant pis, si je devais prendre un écran Amoled ce serait Garmin 965, quand leur écosystème fonctionnera mieux, car c'est galère en ce moment

[@Fozzee.1970]

Nothing beats Garmin for features and software.

[@wazeroonie6084]

The issue I have with this watch is that it looks like it was designed to appeal to 8 year old children.

[@imirish4702]

Fitness isn’t for you then. Get an automatic watch for $5000

[@wazeroonie6084]

@@imirish4702 Thanks troll👍🏼

[@gustavahenriksson]

Design is always a matter of opinion…from a training watch point of view it IS an adVantage (pun intended) to have a low, minimalist design, that doesn’t snag on clothes. Some people also like that design for daily use. I do think it differentiates the VV3 from other top end watches (Fenix, Epix, Race…even FR), with their clunkier (or FR’s plasticky) design. I’m personally waiting for an updated Grit X Pro (I like its design more), which I hope has the oddities of the VV3 ironed out.