Polar RCX5

EMPM

I am in the market for a new watch and i was thinking of buying this Polar watch. I have used basic polar watches in the past and liked them.

I have more recently used a Garmin 405 but have grown to hate it, dont like the size, bezel and battery life and a few other things so im looking for an alternative.

Just looking to see if anybody has used this watch or a recomendation of something similar

thanks
EMPM

wayne0308

EMPM wrote: »

I am in the market for a new watch and i was thinking of buying this Polar watch. I have used basic polar watches in the past and liked them.

I have more recently used a Garmin 405 but have grown to hate it, dont like the size, bezel and battery life and a few other things so im looking for an alternative.

Just looking to see if anybody has used this watch or a recomendation of something similar

thanks
EMPM

I got one in the sales with the cycling sensor. I've only had it for a little less than two weeks but I really like it.

It's missing some functions that other monitors of about the same price range have, for example it doesn't record R-R wave intervals like say the Polar RS800 does. But I don't really need this.

Things that attracted me to it are that it's compatible with a lot of third party software like sporttracks (although not officially). The heart rate measurement is accurate and you can store a lot of sessions on the watch itself. The online software that your supposed to use with this watch (polarpersonaltrainer.com) is okay. It's nothing like what Suunto have with movescount but it works and is functional. If you want to use the offline polar protrainer 5 software, it works fine although the rcx5 again isn't supported officially.

Another great thing is that it works under water. I've tried it in the pool and got accurate heart rate measurement, I'm not sure does the GPS pod work in the water though. The strap can slip a bit as you swim which can be annoying.

One thing I don't like about polar (and suunto) monitors is that a lot of functionallity comes from extra pods that you have to buy separately. It can get expensive if you want full functionality. It's this fact that makes Garmin computers pretty attractive I think.

I've been told by others that the RS800 is a better monitor overall but it's a bit pricey which is why I went for the RCX5.

sconhome

I've been using hte RCX5 since June last year.

The GPS is IPX7 which is waterproof for 1m for 30minutes. It is not recommended that you swim with it, but they said that about the Garmin 305 and everybody tucked it under their hats and no problem. I have not swim tested it yest as I got the GPS in October last year.

As noted you do need additional pods for functionality, speed & cadence sensors & power meters for the bike, stride sensor for the run but this is likewise with the Garmins and other HRM ranges.

Using the arm mounted GPS works for run & bike the extra pods just give more data. If you combine the stride sensor (say) with the GPS, the GPS will map but the sensor give your run data, stride length & cadence, pace, distance and running index. Same applies to bike sensors, GPS for mapping, sensors for data.

The unit will read HR under water due to radio frequency transmission and used WIND for non water based unit pickup.

Automatic link to your Mac / PC via wireless and update of your Polarpersonaltrainer.com where you can do all your reviewing and planning of programs. Polar do endurance training programs to download to the unit, these are updated based on your results.

I like it and while there is a difference between it and the elite level RS800, the RCX5 is a multisport watch.

There is a new RCX3 coming mid summer to replace the RS300 series and a new all-in-one in the autumn with in-built GPS.

EMPM

thanks for the info Wayne.

It seems to have all the functions i would need.

The only thing putting me off is the extra pods and the hassle of having to attach them to runners & armbands etc. Your right, it does make the Garmin attractive from this point of view.

As far as i know the GPS pod is not waterproof, i think it is just splash proof.

EMPM

Thanks for that AKW.

Do you find it a hassle having to carry the GPS unit around aswell on a run.

The new all in one sounds interesting, dont know if i can wait that long though.

sconhome

EMPM wrote: »

Thanks for that AKW.

Do you find it a hassle having to carry the GPS unit around aswell on a run.

The new all in one sounds interesting, dont know if i can wait that long though.

Unit is same size as a car key fob. Either in the back pocket of running tights or holder on your arm I don't notice it at all.

From a race point of view I am going to try it out in the pocket of the tri suit. I doubt it will pick up GPS under the wetsuit but would work straight away on the bike & run. On TT bike I have watch set to auto start once it picks up bike sensors so no faffing about with the watch in T1 or T2. ie our of the water and change the sport to bike on the mat (marking your swim time) and the push of the bike starts the sensors marking the bike leg. Likewise ini reverse going to the run.

A handy function I forgot was race pace. You set the time you want for run / cycle and the distance and the watch shows how far ahead (or behind) race pace you are. Saves mental maths under pressure.

Ceepo

Sorry for jumping in.

Was thinking of this myself as it is way smaller than the Garmin 310,
i,m not really a big into Number crunching but do train a lot by HR,
Using Polar RS 400 NOW, but was looking at the Garmin 910, the big fear would be if Garmin didn't sort out the HR spiking.
Also really like the Look of the Polar, Garmin 310 is Ugly imo.

Aren't the Garmin also add on's, cadence etc

AKW, have you compared the Garmin to Polar ?

sconhome

Ceepo, sorry I didn't see your question there.

I haven't done a functions comparison between them. I had the FR305 (like most) and thought it was a great watch up to the HRM, I just didnt like it.

I changed to the Polar RS800 and found it bet the living out of the Garmin in terms of the training info possible but didnt do mapping ( I was quite enamoured with my maps then) very well.

Polar have really upped their game on the back end suppport. Their polarpersonaltrainer website is much improved and continues to do so quite regularly. When I got the chance to get my hands on a RCX5 I used the stride sensor without calibrating it and my runs were all over the place. I used my G3 sensor (from RS800) and ran a test with the Garmin (the mapping data, pace etc was identical).

On the bike I have the speed and cadence sensors, again fitted before the G5 GPS sensor became available. Polar held back the launch due to tech issues with the ppt website. Now I use the G5 mostly for runs, biking, MTB (OW swim hopefully) and have the sensors for the additional data.

Yes, all the sensors are additional, exactly the same as Garmin. Polar have bundled them nicely but having done the maths, the RCX5 GPS bundle with the speed and cadence sensors work out as the best bundle for multi sport. (There is a small deal on these with us - sorry for the plug!)

In terms of function I can't see any reason for me to go back to Garmin. Yes, the 910 will feature swim stroke capability, but it can't do HRM in water. Other than that what extra is there?

Polar can be worn as a watch, Garmin 20 hours?
Bring the Polar to your chest strap and you can have it display a range of different information, heart touch is a nice touch. I create my own traingin programs on the ppt and download to the watch. Many different sports profiles and you can create your own.

Maybe a Polar vs Garmin, show me yours, show you mine thread could work.