Polar Grit X2 Pro Titan

Polar Grit X2 Pro Titan is a rough and rugged outdoor sports watch crafted for adventure with sapphire glass AMOLED display in titanium casing, and a hi-tech toolkit of navigation and performance features for exploring the wonders of the world, and the body.

Polar Grit X2 Pro

Polar Grit X2 Pro is a rough and rugged outdoor sports watch crafted for adventure with sapphire crystal glass AMOLED display, and a hi-tech toolkit of navigation and performance features for exploring the wonders of the world, and the body.

Polar Vantage V3

An ensemble of biosensing instruments, AMOLED display, dual-frequency GPS, maps, and the most comprehensive suite of training and recovery tools on the market. The stage is set, and the Polar Vantage V3 smart sports watch is ready to put in the performance of a lifetime.

Polar Ignite 3

Polar Ignite 3 is a stylish fitness & wellness watch that helps you live a more energized life. It tracks your sleep, activity, and heart rate to provide guidance that’s tailored to your body and lifestyle.

Polar Pacer Pro

Polar Pacer Pro is an ultra-light, new-generation sports watch with integrated barometer that equips athletes with advanced tools to improve running economy, training sessions, and sports performance.

Polar Pacer

Sport is play – why complicate it? Polar Pacer is a no-nonsense sports watch that gives new athletes all the essentials, plus the specialized training tools they need to train better.

Polar Vantage V2

A powerful convergence of minimalist design, innovative technology, and intelligent training and recovery tools make Polar Vantage V2 our most formidable sportswatch to date.

Polar Grit X Pro

Built for military-level durability with sapphire glass and ultra-long battery, equipping you with new navigation tools, always-on outdoor features and Polar's ultimate training solutions.

Polar Vantage M2

Designed for function, the Polar Vantage M2 works as hard as you do. Our industry-leading technology is here to help you reach your goals and come back stronger. For that athlete attitude.

Polar Ignite 2

A fitness watch that’s sleek, simple and smart? Polar Ignite 2 is a true triple threat. Versatile and full of great features, it’s the perfect companion for any sport and any lifestyle.

Polar Ignite

A waterproof fitness watch with advanced wrist-based heart rate and integrated GPS, Polar Ignite offers you a full view of your day and guides you towards a more balanced life.

Polar Unite

A beautifully simple watch with personalized daily workout guidance, 24/7 heart rate and activity tracking, plus automatic sleep and recovery applications.

Polar Vantage V

Polar Vantage M

An all-round multisport & running GPS watch for anyone who loves setting new records. Polar Vantage M is a slim, lightweight training companion that gives you all the data you need to improve your performance.

Polar Grit X

An outdoor multisport watch with rugged yet lightweight design, ultra-long battery life and military-standard durability for anyone who prefers the trails over the roads.

Polar M430

A GPS running watch with wrist-based heart rate, advanced running features and Polar Running Program, Polar M430 is a top-level watch for runners who want more.

Polar Verity Sense

When freedom of movement is important to you, Polar Verity Sense is your go-to choice for any sport.

Polar H10

Widely regarded as the gold standard in wireless heart rate monitoring, this is the most accurate sensor in Polar’s history.

Polar H9

A reliable, high-quality heart rate chest strap for all your everyday sports with Bluetooth® and ANT+ connectivity. Get connected and get going.

Polar OH1+

Polar OH1 is an optical heart rate monitor that combines versatility, comfort and simplicity. You can use it both as a standalone device and pair it with various fitness apps, sports watches and smart watches, thanks to Bluetooth® and ANT+ connectivity.

Wristbands

Personalize any watch for any style and any need.

Straps

Replace or upgrade your Polar Sensor chest straps or arm bands.

Power & Cables

For charging your products and data transfer.

Mounts & Adapters

Adapt your product for any situation.

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Polar Grit X Outdoor Series

Made for outdoor sports and built to handle any environment nature can throw at you, Grit X watches are designed to help you explore the world and gear up for adventure.

Polar Vantage Performance Series

Our flagship series is tailored for high-performance and endurance sports and training. Every aspect of our Vantage watches are designed with one particular person in mind – the athlete.

Polar Pacer Multisport Series

The Pacer Series gives athletes all the essentials such as accurate GPS and precise heart rate tracking, plus the specialized training, sleep, and recovery tools they need to train better.

Polar Ignite Fitness & Wellness Series

Sleek, simple, and smart – Ignite watches are the perfect partner for any fitness goals and any lifestyle.

Unlocking the mystery of VO2max

There are different ways to find out one's VO2max ranging from estimates calculated without testing to lab tests. Roughly, the more you sweat, the more accurate your VO2max result. However, sweating is not always necessary. The most appropriate way for you to measure your VO2max depends on your goals and training habits. If you're a pro athlete, knowing your VO2max as precisely as possible is important. If you enjoy leisurely bike rides on Sunday mornings occasionally and go to the gym every now and then, there's probably no point in taking a lab test or an all-out field test.

Even if you never took a test, we estimate your VO2max value automatically based on your age, height, weight and sex. You can find this value in the physical settings of your Polar account. You can change it manually.

Between the rough estimate and a lab test, we have a bunch of valid ways to estimate your VO2max. Keep reading to learn more about your options.

Fitness Test - as convenient as it gets

Fitness Test is a quick, safe and comfortable way to estimate your VO2max. It doesn't require any physical effort – you can take it lying down in five minutes. It calculates your VO2max based on resting heart rate, heart rate variability, age, height, weight, sex and training background. Fitness Test should be your choice especially if your life involves little or no physical activity, you can't run for some reason or you're about to start a training program.

Running Index - automatic and submaximal

Your Running Index is an estimate of your VO2max in running. As the name implies, it involves running, which is why it's not suitable for everyone. Running Index is not a test, but a result that you get automatically after every running session. We measure your heart rate and speed when running, and then calculate your VO2max based on this information. We also take your resting heart rate and maximum heart rate into account. If you're a runner, this is easy and convenient for you. No need to arrange time for testing. No need to go through a grueling all-out performance.

Running Index is ideal for fitness runners who want to follow their performance, but don't want to go through the trouble of testing. It's also handy for performance-oriented athletes and pros who want to follow their performance in between the actual tests they take. For reliability, choose similar sessions as points of comparison. A session of trail running can give you a very different result from a session of road running.

Running Index works best for runners, which means that the VO2max estimate you get from a running session may not be directly applicable to other sports. Different sports activate different muscle groups, which may influence the result. It's been shown that Running Index correlates well with your actual aerobic fitness when you run at a moderate or vigorous speed. Like Fitness Test, Running Index offers you the possibility to compare your aerobic fitness level to other people of the same age and sex.

Walking Test - safe and simple

Walking test is suitable for most adults interested in tracking their fitness level. It's a perfomance test alright, but not grueling and tough in the sense that we often associate with performance tests. Not involving maximal exertion, it's safe and easy to repeat. All you need is a Polar watch that has the walking test feature.

In a nutshell, the higher your walking speed and the lower your heart rate, the better your aerobic fitness. We use your age, sex, height and weight in calculating the result (your VO2max), which is why you should make sure the physical settings of your Polar account are up to date. To track your progress, we recommend repeating the test every three months. However, there's no reason why you shouldn't take it more often if you wish.

Walking test works for beginners as well as occasional and regular trainers who are not into running. If you're highly fit, this test is not the best option for you. That's because you probably can't strain yourself hard enough by walking briskly.

Running and Cycling Tests - when the going gets tough

You get VO2max results from Running performance test and Cycling performance test as well. These tests are physically demanding. They work best for performance-oriented athletes or fitness enthusiasts who want to find out their individual training zones and are willing to go through some trouble for increased accuracy. However, these results may not be directly applicable to other sports.

If you're up for a performance test, you should prepare as if it was a competition. You should be in your best possible physical and mental state and ready to give it your best shot. If you're ill or suffering from an injury, you should postpone the test.

Don't forget to fuel with carbs within 24 hours before the test. These tests will eat up your energy reserve!

Running performance test

This test is definitely the choice of a dedicated runner. All you need is your Polar watch with GPS or speed sensor to track speed, and loads of grit. Running performance test calculates your VO2max based on maximal aerobic speed (MAS) that it measures during the test.

The beauty of Running performance test lies in the fact that you can use it in two ways: you can go all-out or you can take it easy. In other words, you can take the maximal or submaximal test. The maximal test is very tough and very accurate. The submaximal test is less accurate, but it's also less exhausting. It's safe and easy to repeat. In case of the submaximal test, it's especially important that your maximum heart rate value in the physical settings of your Polar account is up to date. The maximal test measures your maximum heart rate, whereas the submaximal test uses the setting in calculating your results.

If you want to use Running performance test to track your progress and help you choose the right training intensities, you should repeat the maximal test every three months to ensure that your training zones are always up to date. If you want to follow your progress more closely, you can repeat the submaximal test as often as you wish in between the maximal tests.

Cycling performance test

This test is a good option for you, if you're not only into cycling, but also healthy and fit. Besides your Polar watch, you need a bike with a compatible power sensor. Cycling performance test measures the maximum power that you can maintain for 60 minutes (functional threshold power, FTP), and calculates your VO2max based on this value. It's also possible to estimate FTP from shorter test sessions (20, 30 or 40 minutes). To track your performance reliably and keep your cycling power zones up to date, you should repeat the test every 2-3 months.

Practical tips

For reliable results, you should prepare for any of the above tests by avoiding heavy training for 48 hours before the test and following your usual sleep schedule. And of course, you should avoid heavy meals, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, etc. for a few hours before the test. Make sure the physical settings in your Polar account are up to date since they are used in our calculations. Don't take the test if you're not healthy.

All tests are not available on all watches.

Further reading

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