Polar RS400 Running Computer Watch

I shouldn’t have said it, “hey, that’s cool”. The geeks took one look at me and another at the Polar RS400 Running Computer and decided who would be testing it. At first I mistook it for a generous offer. That was before daily temperatures dropped below 15 degrees and winter bit back.

The Polar RS400 is designed for the active endurance athlete – which I am not but would probably like to be in a future incarnation. I am a well-intentioned exerciser – Pilates, tennis when the sun shines, yoga and the occasional jog around the Zoo Lake.

Still I persevered.

The Kit

The Polar RS400 needs Windows to run. The model I got included a Polar transmitter which you strap around your chest and which transmits your heart rate to the running computer — in this case a digital watch, cool in a retro kind of way especially if you wore one the first time around.

The software package includes the user manual and the Polar ProTrainer 5. This model also comes with a foot pod that I didn’t get to try out but having lived with someone who has, I know it enables you to measure distance and speed so no more driving your route beforehand.

What it does

The Polar RS400 is a fitness improvement tool that helps you monitor your progress by assessing changes to your heart rate.
It allows you to plan your exercise regimen, monitor it and then store your training data so it can be assessed.

How it works

For it to be effective you first need to establish your maximum heart rate, which can be done in a number of ways, but the most accurate method would be for you to exercise until you reach exhaustion — by running on a treadmill using increased elevation or by doing a step test.

You use the Polar Fitness test to do this – by putting in your user information, and the Polar RS400 will guide you through the process. Depending on your physical condition, supervision may be recommended. Another way to establish your maximum heart rate (HRmax) is by using an age-based formula. (Available at www.polarusa.com).

Once you have established your HRmax you are ready for the next step — which involves a choice of what you want to achieve from exercising — fitness, general health, losing weight, speed or endurance.

Using your HRmax and your goal, you can then plan your training, selecting appropriate zones to exercise within. The running computer allows you to set ranges, and alerts you with a series of beeps to ensure you are running or exercising within the desired range. Once you have established a training regimen the information can be uploaded, kept track of over time and generally made to be meaningful.

What it’s got going for it

When it comes to training aids — this one is a great adjunct as it allows you set goals and to monitor your progress towards reaching them. Used correctly, it’s a great motivational tool.

Possible Drawbacks

It comes with a lot of instructions and the Running Computer can be a bit finicky with lots of little buttons to press. Getting your head around these is just the initial hurdle.

Do you need one?

If you are looking at buying a fitness improvement tool then Polar is probably the best brand to buy. They have a wide range of products suited to every exercise need and a great guide to all of them is available on their website (www.polarusa.com).

In fact the website is an added bonus, filled with clearly explained and useful information, exercise guides and tips. Polar is the really the gold standard when it comes to this type of fitness equipment although having recently seen a presentation on Nike plus (http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/), a social networking fitness tool, which uses your iPod together with a foot pod, and plays you a power song when you need the encouragement I think it is giving Polar a run for it’s money.

So do you need one? I would say yes. Anything that helps get you off the couch in winter can’t be that bad.

Price and Availability

The Polar RS400 is available from most sport stores nationwide as well as from WantItAll for R 3,226.

Guest review by Laurice Taitz.

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(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Filed Under Featured Reviews, Other Gadgets, Stuff