Details
Brand
Polar
Model
V800
Battery Life
13 hrs GPS | 30 days
Use
Tracking
Latest Version
Yes
Key Features
• Waterproof (30m)• Continuous heart rate monitoring (via optical wrist monitor)• Provides step count, calorie burn info, and various pieces of data for activities (like distance and pace)• Various sports modes available• Training Benefit gives you idea of how hard you worked• Polar Sleep Plus Analysis is a new and improved sleep tracking feature that works exceptionally well• GPS compatible (which means you’ll need to be connected to your phone to use it)• Smart notifications (via Bluetooth connection with a Smartphone)• Works with Polar app and various other fitness apps like MyFitnessPal• Interchangeable bands made of silicone• Full• color screen• Charges via micro USB (USB port is covered by a small cap on the device itself)• Accelerometer allows users to track indoor runs or runs without GPS from phone• Bluetooth connectivity• Touchscreen
Comfort
The Polar A370 works well for those with average to large sized wrists. Smaller wristed folks found the watch just didn’t fit well and some even had issues with the watch falling off and becoming damaged. The silicone strap feels comfortable against the skin but the chunky construction felt cumbersome to some reviewers.
Size
s Available;The Polar A370 comes in two band sizes: size small and another size that’s suitable for medium and large wrists. For both sizes, the actual watch size stays the same. Again, it needs to be noted that many small wristed wearers had a lot of trouble with the fit of the watch. The fit is very important since getting an accurate heart rate reading depends a whole lot on whether you can adequately tighten the watch.
Accessories
The Polar A370 is not ANT+ compatible. Instead, it can be used with Bluetooth heart rate monitors. In fact, the device includes a fitness test module but it can only be used with a Bluetooth chest strap sold by Polar. It’s a weird limitation for the fitness test but a chest strap will definitely get you a better heart rate reading. Other accessories compatible with the A370 include most Bluetooth enabled Polar accessories like foot pods or bike sensors.
Style
The Polar A370 is one sporty looking watch. The flexible silicone band is interchangeable but there are no fashion forward options available. Some reviewers dislike this lack of variety. The watch face is rectangular and is customizable so you have the choice to go digital or analog.
Activities
The Polar A370 comes with the ability to use a multitude of sports modes. It arguably has one of the most varied lists of choices in terms of activity modes. That doesn’t mean it tracks each sport using special sensors, it’s much more simplistic than that. It basically just allows you to log different sports activities accordingly. The metrics shown on the watch are also customized according to the specific sport. You can’t customize the data fields, though. Which is kind of a letdown but seems in accordance with the device’s price point.
Basic Features
The Polar A370 comes with the ability to use a multitude of sports modes. It arguably has one of the most varied lists of choices in terms of activity modes. That doesn’t mean it tracks each sport using special sensors, it’s much more simplistic than that. It basically just allows you to log different sports activities accordingly. The metrics shown on the watch are also customized according to the specific sport. You can’t customize the data fields, though. Which is kind of a letdown but seems in accordance with the device’s price point.
Advanced Features
The Polar A370 comes with an optical heart rate monitor which reads HR info via your wrist. Something new with this version of the device is that it can record continuous heart rate data and you can get a sense of your varying heart rate throughout the day. The watch also has a Smart Coaching feature which helps you get through your workouts and stay on track. One of the best new features on the device is the Polar Sleep Plus analysis which does a great job at tracking and analyzing sleep quality, even providing important feedback so you can actually work towards a better night’s sleep.;The watch is GPS connected. That means it’s not GPS enabled but it can harness the GPS from your Smartphone to relay information to you and track your workout. It also connects to your Smartphone to allow you to view notifications (calls, emails, etc.) on the watch face.;Runners can also use ready-made training plans that are compatible with the watch. Training Benefit is a feature that lets you know how hard you’ve worked. A fitness test is also available for use but it requires a separate heart rate strap, which seems kind of strange considering the watch comes equipped with an optical HR monitor. The watch also lacks an auto pause feature which might be a deal breaker for avid runners. If you stop, the watch will just keep recording. An internal accelerometer means the watch can be used without needing to connect to your phone for GPS. An accelerometer is, of course, a lot less accurate than GPS but it’s a decent option for those who want to be able to track runs indoors.
Connectivity
The watch is meant to be used in tandem with a Smartphone. It connects to a Polar app via Bluetooth so you can get a more in depth look at your stats. Some reviewers complained that the Bluetooth connection was prone to disconnecting which is a problem when you’re counting on getting GPS data from your phone. Unfortunately, the Polar A370 is not compatible with ANT+ peripherals. The device also lacks the ability to auto sync workouts. You need to manually decide to sync the watch with your phone which isn’t always convenient.
Ease of Use
Quite a few reviewers commented that the Polar A370 was a bit too complicated for their needs. One reviewer pointed out that the watch required too many actions to be taken in order to begin an activity. Users who just want to click start and stop might not find the A370 super intuitive. Since the watch requires a connection with a Smartphone for GPS usage, some might feel starting a run activity a bit overly complicated. The Polar A370 also features a ton of selection in terms of different activities. For some, the selection might feel overwhelming. It feels a bit like overkill.
Power Source
The Polar A370 features a slightly more powerful battery than the A360. This means it could theoretically last a little longer, but the A370 features continuous HR monitoring, so the battery life is about the same. The rechargeable battery is meant to last up to 4 days depending on how you’re using it. Frequent Smart notifications will drain the battery quicker.;The watch comes bundled with a charging cable. It charges via micro USB. The watch itself features a micro USB port with a small cap. Reviewers complained about this particular type of charging because the cap is very easy to misplace.
Accuracy
The step tracking on the Polar A370 is up to par compared to other fitness trackers. GPS is a bit wonky but that really has more to do with the shaky Bluetooth connectivity. The new continuous heart rate monitoring is okay in terms of accuracy but it’s not even close to being the best. When at rest, a reading is only taken every 5 minutes which is really infrequent. While cycling, it’s even worse. Reviewers cautioned others not to bother with the watch for heart rate training if their main activity was cycling. Sleep tracking has the best accuracy of all the device’s features. It does a great job at nailing sleep and wake times and provides really interesting data thanks to its accurate recording abilities.
Face
The Polar A370 features a rectangular watch face that can be customized should you get bored and want to change things up a bit. The watch itself is pretty big so with the A370 you get a pretty large screen. The screen is full color and easy to read, though some might find they have trouble in very bright sunlight.
Band
The Polar A370 features a silicone watch band that closes using a standard watch clasp. Straps can be swapped out for different colors but the choices are all sporty. You won’t find any fancy premium band options similar to what Fitbit offers. Quite a few reviewers mentioned that the band was quite thick. The thickness might not please all users. It makes the watch a lot more conspicuous.
Apps
You’ll need the Polar Smartphone app to get the most out of your Polar A370. There’s no way to really customize your watch via the actual device. The watch can also be synced with other fitness apps like MyFitnessPal.
Sizes Available
The Polar A370 comes in two band sizes: size small and another size that’s suitable for medium and large wrists. For both sizes, the actual watch size stays the same. Again, it needs to be noted that many small wristed wearers had a lot of trouble with the fit of the watch. The fit is very important since getting an accurate heart rate reading depends a whole lot on whether you can adequately tighten the watch.
Durability
As mentioned previously, some small wristed wearers had issues with the watch falling off. It resulted in breakage for some. The band is pretty tough. It shouldn’t have problems taking you through most activities. The screen is tough enough to be used for most activities so unless the watch falls off unexpectedly, you should have no problem using it for a long time.
Price
The Polar A370 costs under $200. Is it worth it? It has an optical wrist heart rate monitor and can provide continuous HR data, it acts as a 24/7 fitness tracker, and tracks sleep very well, but there are a ton of devices out there that do a lot of these things and fall in the same price range or slightly more. Other devices also tend to be more accurate. What makes the Polar A370 worth it is that it’s waterproof (up to 30 meters) so you don’t have to worry about taking it off in the shower or when you swim.
Bottom Line
The Polar A370 is an interesting option for those looking for a 24/7 fitness tracker. It’s probably a better choice for those simply looking to track daily activity information like steps and calories burned. Hardcore fitness enthusiasts will probably end up feeling like they’re missing something from the watch.;Runners will probably be better off spending a little bit more money for a GPS enabled device. However, someone looking to accurately track sleep will get a great bunch of data from the A370. For most people, the Polar A370 will either feel a bit too complicated or too bare bones. The fact that it’s waterproof is definitely a point in its favor but it’s limited in its ability to actually track swimming.;It’s a nice fitness tracker for those looking for something sporty. Those seeking a watch with a premium look will want to look elsewhere.
