I am going to be upgrading my HRM. Based on the fact that i would like to train and race with the same watch, i’ve narrowed my search down to either the Polar RS400 or the RS800. Most of the features on both these watches are almost the same. The main exception would be the Speed & Distance sensors (footpod and GPS). Listed below are the pros and cons i can think of. (I have not physically had the watch in my hand to play around with the thing)
RS400
Pros
Foot pod uses regular batteries which i can use rechargeables which would save me $$ in the long run.
Rumor of G1 sensor will be released later on this year (no real need for calibration).
G1 sensor also uses regular batteries which i can use rechargeables.
Foot pod, once calibrated, is pretty reliable and not dependent on clear view of the sky.
Cons
Foot pod is huge.
Foot pod battery does not last very long (20-30 hrs) per charge.
Foot pod needs to be calibrated every so often.
G1 battery does not last very long per charge.
GPS will be affected by tall buildings (marathon race in the city)
RS800
Pros
Foot pod uses smaller watch batteries which are non-rechargeables which would cost $$$ in the long run.
Foot pod is small.
G3 sensor uses regular batteries which i can use rechargeables.
Foot pod, once calibrated, is pretty reliable and not dependent on clear view of the sky.
Cons
Foot pod battery does not last very long (20-30 hrs) per charge.
Foot pod needs to be calibrated every so often.
G3 battery does not last very long per charge.
GPS will be affected by tall buildings (marathon race in the city)
Not very sure about this W.I.N.D. thingy.
One thing to note, would be that i would not be swimming with the GPS sensors. I’ll mainly use the footpod and GPS sensor ONLY for the run. I don’t need a the S+D feature on the bike as i have my bike computer for that. Right now, with the release rumor of the G1 sensor, i’m leaning towards the RS400 with G1 combo.
To those users of these 2 watches out there, what else can you guys think of that you guys have found out about these watches. Any advice is much appreciated.
The S3 turns itself on. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it’s a feature I really like.
The thing that I found causes inconsistency is when the footpod gets moved on your shoe. Because the S3 is so much smaller, it stays put. I only check the calibration when I change shoes.
I’ve had the RS800 since October and I’ve only put one battery in the footpod. I think you’re worrying too much about batteries. The cost seems insignificant relative to an $500 watch.
The WIND transmission works very well, but the WIND tranmitters aren’t compatible with anything else. Think it through because it might result in having to change chest straps during a race if your bike computter does HR.
In my mind, the 800 is worth the price difference unless you need the 400 chest strap to work with something else.
The WIND transmission works very well, but the WIND tranmitters aren’t compatible with anything else. Think it through because it might result in having to change chest straps during a race if your bike computter does HR.
Wait till October if you are thinkin of the RS800...the NEW RS800CX will come compatible with Cadence and Speed Sensors (WIND)....
I just got the RS800sd yesterday because I dont care about cadence and speed on the bike since I already have a computer but if anything ill just get the CS600 powermeter from them which is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet
I already have a regular bike computer which spits out the 3 important things i need to know - time, diatance and speed. All other info on the bike computer is notreally important to me. So, i don’t really need the HRM to sync up to anything else except for the chest strap and the footpod/GPS.
The problem with the WIND, is that it is locked into the WIND frequency only, so if something happens to my chest strap, i’m screwed. Where else, if i have the regular chest strap, i can borrow a chest strap from some other polar user.
Ah ok so your like me then, you are just gonna use it for running and while on the bike just to see your zones? Give it some time and the Polar rep will come in and help out lol…I am no expert in this as I just got my first HRM yesterday lol
I have an RS800 with both GPS and footpod. I really like the new watch as it is a whole lot smaller than the others.
The one big drawback to the RS800 is that the HR monitor won’t work when you are swimming. Once I put my wetsuit on the HR goes away. Something to do with the frequency that it works on it won’t work in the water or apparently under a wetsuit. I probably would have gone with something else had I known that going in but it was marketed to multisport athletes so assumed it would work just like all of my other polars in the past.
If this is not big deal for you then you will like it a lot.
The cost of the Edge 305/705 is about the same as the Polar. To top it off the EDGE is only for cycling and i still have to buy a HRM for the run too. Although it has rechargeable batteries, the battery life will probably not be long enough to span an ironman race (i’m not in the same boat as Jonnyo and Rappstar).
The IPX7 rating for water resistance equates 1 meter submersion for 30 minutes. Thats a pretty expensive risk to try the watch to see if it will hold up to IM swims.
Warning on Polar and rechargable batteries. I had problems getting rechargable batteries to fit both the S1 footpod and CS600 power sensor. The batteries wanted to pop out of the holders. I switched to disposables and didn’t have the problem. I think the AAA rechargable batteries are a little bigger than disposables.
I still don’t understand why batteries would weigh so much in this decision. I think I paid $2.99 for the last footpod battery and it’s been in there for months. <$10 a year.
My thoughts since I was asked to repsond. Remember, I have one of everything and I must admit, I LOVE the S3 pod. Thing is so small, and of course I could say lighter but, I never found S1 pod heavy on my foot. Rechargable AA’s sound very green and I have many of them myself, but I am finding I could get many months of S3 battery life. Yes, with the WIND Wear Links, you would need another WIND Wear Link middle piece and TEACH NEW WEAR LINK, I can not say that at any given race, run/du/tri that extra Polar transmitter belts are available(unless I am there
Forget about the G1 and the RS400, we pulled it off the shelves, an S1/G1 issue. The GPS is now with the RS800, RS800CX coming soon and some of the FT series coming out soon(not for tri guy/gals). I would say start off with the RS800SD for the extra $$ if it is in the budget. The majority of the athletes do not really follow HR in the pool or OWS’s. Once you get out the water, SEEK SENSOR and the RS800 will find the HR once on the bike
RS400 does have Running Index as well as the RS800 and both have Protrainer5 software and I can say that Garmin owners are more concerned with not getting lost only because as athletes, those who use Polar Protrainer 5 software see the Olympic caliber athlete sofware( spare me the Chipotle Garmin athletes, line, I toss you a few million $$ and you will wear PINK and train with anything of quality, see I said somethign nice. Garmin makes great units that are heavily pro navigation with a dabble of Heart rate. We are not heavily into navigation, though we have it and until I see what comes free with Garmin (Training Center), our software is ideal for athletes who not just train, but really monitor intesnse, recovery, zones per week. There is a reason many Olympians and US Olympic coaches use Protrainer5 software first and the RS800 RS400 is secondary. For $400-$700 my needs are not getting lost. For $149 I wish I could mount my Navigon 2100 from my truck to my bike.
Bottom line, RS400SD will provide everything you need, a little extra $$ some BLING factor and the RS800SD is it. Essentially Ultegra versus Dura Ace. Ultegra is more than I need, but DA is nice.
I hope you all understand that I am not attacking Garmin. I have friends there who I can call anytime. I do not just work for Polar, I train and race like many of you. Everyone trains at a certain level and is goal driven. After a few years or decades of training, your needs and knowledge change. I would say ten years ago many of you who own a Power Meter, fill in the brand probably never thought you would ever own one, or five years ago never thought you would cross an Ironman finish line. So when I wave the Polar pom poms about our software versus Garmin, it is from experience and knowing what our Protrainer 5 software does, compared to Garmin Training Center. If every Garmin came with with Training Peaks for free, my argument would be less, or none existent. So for some of you, our RS100,RS200,CS100,CS200 and to be fair though I do not see Garmin on this board, even a Garmin FR205/305 could get the jog done, and do a great job. Your next level of training computer, because of level of feedback comes down to training in different HR zones because you monitor easy days from intense, you now do Tempo or Threshold workouts and even training with wattage. Once you ge the taste of the finer qualities of life, it is hard to go back to Shimano 105, or in my case a RS100. There is a reason I saw a few Wear Links in the Olympic rowing. Time to go to MAPMYRUN and upload a route to my Garmin FR305
so no G1 sensor? shucks - I was kind of looking forward to trying that out.
I got an RS400sd a couple months ago and I really like it.
I’ve had a few polors (S120 ?, and RS100) that were just simple watches with HRM. I really like the RS400sd:
The footpod seems to be very accurate, plus you can change the calibration on the fly so if you run a marked course and notice it is suddenly off by a large margin you can adjust it. For what it’s worth, the other day I did a run that measured within 1% of the actual distance over 16+ miles! The battery lasts well over 20 hours. I just put the third battery in my footpod the other day - after 40-50 hours of running on it - With the first battery getting left on by accident once.
I also like that you can customize the displays to see the info that you want - where you want it.
For me the choice between the RS400 vs. RS800 was the HRM belt. Had I gone the RS800 (or a garmin which I was considering) - I wouldn’t have HR on the swim (which is interesting to look at post swim), I would have to use a different belt on the bike (garmin/wind not compatible with SRM).
So for me it amounted to accurate speed/distance, and one transmitter belt to rule them all - that and the $280 at amazon made it easy on the wallet.
Forget about the G1 and the RS400, we pulled it off the shelves, an S1/G1 issue. The GPS is now with the RS800, RS800CX coming soon and some of the FT series coming out soon(not for tri guy/gals).
Boy…, no G1 huh…? Well, guess i’m gonna have to GO with the RS800 if i ever want the GPS.
The RS800 can use the G3 sensor, but my understanding is that the foot pod is actually more accurate. Also with the G3, it does not save your coordinates in a file that allows you to map your course later. So if that is a feature you’re looking for you need to use a Garmin or wait for the RS800CX. Or you could use a GPS data logger. I use an i-gotU which has the same chipset as the Garmin Forerunner 305 and is waterproof (I also put it inside a small ziplock bag). You can swim, bike and run with it and it is was only $50. Here is a google earth photo of a swim I did. As you can see my sighting was pretty bad but part of it just the inherent inaccuracy in GPS technology.
I was hoping that the rumours of the new polar tri offering would see me switch back to polar after a three year period with garmin (was a heavy polar user for years and still wear a 720i everyday as my reg watch)…
but i now find myself sticking with garmin… the main reason being WIND vs ANT+ … and that the new CX won’t be compatible with a power meter.
i think polar a looking at garmin’s ‘edge’ 2yrs too late… when garmin started picking up polar customers (like myself) we were drawn in by the tracking the route on the web that we did (totally agree with wvarta - is a gimmick not a training aid - but is a nice momento of races and holiday runs etc).
however… the real draw for us now is all of the ANT+ compatible powermeters coming out.
so… i am now in a position as a forerunner 305 user (and formerly a 301 user also) who is about to buy an Edge 705 with a view of getting a powermeter for it later on (after my ergomo dies - nobody say ANYTHING! - nice thing about the ergomo is that i use my nonWIND polar wearlink )
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regarding software?.. hmm… i am very happy with the analysis i get with sporttracks… the polar software is cool, but i get everything i need from sporttracks ( and only use the garmin stuff for unit specific stuff - courses etc)
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this sounds like a moan at polar and a ‘dont buy polar, buy garmin’ rant, but it isn’t really… it is a heavy internet sigh from me at my disappointment in the new polar CX watch.
i think the difference between polar and garmin is that polar wait and test things fully and give you a nice watch that works, whereas garmin release new units too quick (large number of returned faulty units) and usually the software isn’t up for it until a few firmware releases down the line… but i am a very happy forerunner 305 user (if only they would make a waterproof watch with a 24hr battery!) and am looking forward to getting an edge 705.
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to answer the OT question… assuming you are going down the polar route… i would wait for the 800CX. despite the limitations that are too big for me… it does add an extra dimension for us as triathletes… of course… no doubt it will carry a hefty price!
Can 2 people share one RS800SD? That is if both have their own straps can each person share one watch and still load info on pro trainer? I am debating on getting an RS800SD. I heard this fall an 800 CX is coming out. If it can plot routes via google earth and apply it to the protrainer and still have all the functions of an RS800SD, that might be a consideration to wait for the new model. Any idea on price comparison to the 800sd?
Sorry for the delay, life got in the way. Watch can only record one exercise file(like every other brand)The RS800CX will only have post run/ride routes via google earth. Pre workout uploading of a route and then following the route will be Garmin. RS800CX. Price. should be similar to current RS800SD or RS800G3
