I have the Polar RS300x watch and am looking at adding the S1 foot pod or the G1 GPS sensor so I can track pace and distance. Any suggestions on one over the other? Experiences with either? The prices are basically the same (the GPS is $10 more) so it really comes down to which one works better.
Thanks for the help!
I haven’t used either one of the Polar foot pod or the Polar GPS pod, but have used three generations of the Nike foot pod and also the Suunto foot pod, as well as the Garmin 301, 305 and now 310XT.
I found that the foot pods all worked reasonably well as long as I was going a consistent pace. If I just went out for a normal run the foot pod matched my GPS almost identically.
The place were I always ran into trouble with the foot pod was when I did mixed tempo workouts where I would have some tempo intervals thrown into the middle of a run. The foot pods that I have used all had trouble tracking distance correctly when I changed pace rapidly, like going from 7:30 p/m pace down to 6:00 p/m pace.
I have never had a problem with GPS measuring run or bike distances correctly regardless of pace or pace changes.
I had the polar 800 foot pod I really liked it. Now Im trying the garmin out. I think the gps for polar is not very good just by design. I used the timex gps which is close to the polar in size and function. So if you dont mind carrying the gps pod then it shouldnt be a problem. I like foot pods better then gps, gps tends to jump for me. When I run I look at my pace in a range instead of one number ex. 7:00-7:15 instead of 7:07.
I did a trail run today. My uncalibrated polar footpad said I ran 12.4 miles. My Garmin Edge 705 gps which i also carried said I ran 11.9 miles.The course was 20K so it should have been something around 12.4 miles.
If you run on the treadmill or in woods or even in the city I would expect the footpod will give you better results. If want to use the device for cycling skiing or some other non running outdoor sport the footpod isn’t really an option. Also the footpod is not right all the time. I think the error just averaged out today.
So what do you care about most? Where are you going to run? Are there other sports the G1 might be useful for?
I have a Polar S625x w/ S1 footpod. You don’t even notice the weight and it is as accurate as described. I believe uncalibrated, the manual says 3% diff.
I would definitely recommend it.
Jim
I don’t use GPS for running, but have been happy with my Polar RS800 with the S3 footpod. I use it to watch my pace as well as my run cadence and I think it has improved my running. I frankly would never buy the Polar GPS myself because it is a separate pod and couldn’t see myself using it in a race (under wetsuit? Put on in T1? T2? etc…) If I was really in need of GPS I’d go with a 310xt (which I may do eventually but that’s another conversation…)
I have the Polar HRM w/footpad for about 2 years. It works ok, sometimes you look down at your pace and it is obviously wrong, however the distance always seems to end up being very accurate. I have worn the pod in several races and it always checks out. I have had no problems wearing the pod, you can hardly notice it on your shoe. I also run with several people with GPS, and I would say the pod is more reliable…not as techie cool, but more reliable.
I have the Polar RS200 with the footpod and would x2 what Mike Plumb said in that if my pace changes, the distance I run is way off. I live on a secure compound in SE Asia and have a very good track worked out and know accurate distances very well as they have all been measured. I find that I am constantly needing to recalibrate the footpod and it is just a waste of time IMHO. I have ordered the 310XT so I will see how that differs from the pod. The footpod is an alright tool for training and you do not realize it is on your foot.
You are going to read some posts saying the footpods have worked for them. I have up. Calibration is a pain, and you have to do it everytime you rotate shoes, which I assume most of us do.
I have gone with Garmin and found it be be more reliable and consistent.
Pretty good post and replies. MALIK had a great reply, with the GPS, you can use it for other sports. The GPS can be clipped on to your shorts and not worn on the arm. With all the responses posted . I tend to use footpods before our GPS, it came out first, and I live near a measured course to calibrate when I switch shoes. I find the footpods give a more consitent pace to the watch, GPS is user friendly, push a button and go, and distance is accurate. If you want it just for running, I would suggest S1 footpod, and once calibrated, go straight home and run a 1/2 mile and know where that lanmark is. If you switch shoes or maybe put the pod on racing flats, you can calibrate it right out your front door in minutes.
I had real accuracy problems with my footpod. No matter how many 6min miles I banged out, it never read faster than 7:30…
I have an old times S+D GPS, a Polar 625x w/S1 footpod, and a Garmin 305.
I use the Polar all the time now. I run the same routes often and find the Polar to be accurate enough for me, even when changing batteries or shoes. The only thing I don’t like is when the battery dies in the middle of a run. I think it’s ‘real time’ pace is more accurate than the Garmin. The altitude on the Polar is more accruate and very valuable information. I download all my workouts, and that data is much better from the Polar. When the calibration is off, it is consistanly off, that is, if it’s short, it will be short each mile. I also agree that pace affects the accuracy. If I shuffle through the first couple miles to get warmed up, those miles will be off.
The Garmin works very well if you are just interested in an accurate ‘total distance’ for a run, each mile may be long or short, the ‘real time’ pace can be way off, or lags significantly if you turn on ‘smoothing’, don’t even bother looking at the altitude or ascent data. Downloading the data is great if you want to see your route, but the speed curve is useless.
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I have a Polar S625x w/ S1 footpod. You don’t even notice the weight and it is as accurate as described. I believe uncalibrated, the manual says 3% diff.
I would definitely recommend it.
Jim
I wrangled for a while between an 800multi/GPS and the combo you have. In the end, I got a good deal on the 625x with the S1 - very pleased with the purchase.