Polar AXN500 Altimeter, Barometer, Temperature, and Compass (Black)

by Polar

Product Features

• Outdoor sport heart rate monitor and watch with WearLink fabric transmitter
• Altimeter features include altitude with graphical trend (ascent and descent), vertical speed
• Check your pace down the mountain or up the rock with the Vertical speed feature
• Track changing weather and monitor your personal energy expenditure
• OwnCal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Whether you are competing against others, pushing your own limits, or fighting the elements, the Polar AXN500 altimeter/wrist heart rate monitor will help you keep track of your outdoor activities--from mountaineering to kayaking to spelunking--and keep your training goals in sight. The AXN500 takes all the features from the AXN300 (minus the slope counter) and adds a compass for directional information and a WearLink fabric transmitter. It also offers a sleek silver stainless steel design.

This wristwatch-like monitor features a large display that includes 12/24-hour time of day, three daily alarms, and stopwatch. Heart rate tracking includes continuous heart rate with graphical trend, average/maximum rate, and one set of target zones with visual and audible alarms. The AXN500 records up to 100 exercise files with summaries, and it has an automatic logbook with 2-week circular memory. Altimeter features include altitude with graphical trend (ascent and descent), vertical speed, and cumulative ascent and descent. Barometric features include temperature, sea-level pressure with graphical trend, and barometric pressure drop alarm.

The Polar OwnCal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. You can set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure with the OwnCal feature. Because the OwnCal tracks both the energy expenditure during one exercise session and the accumulated kilocalories during a longer time e.g. one week, it helps in achieving both short term and long term goals.

Other features include backlight for easy reading in low-light conditions, user replaceable battery, and water resistance up to 100 meters (330 feet).

Manufacturer Warranty
The original purchaser of this heart rate monitor is backed by a limited warranty that states that this product that the product will be free from defects in material or workmanship for two years from the date of purchase.

About Polar
The first EKG accurate wireless heart rate monitor was invented by Polar back in 1977 as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. The concept of "intensity training" by heart rate swept the athletic world in the eighties. By the 1990s, individuals were looking to heart rate monitors not only for performance training needs, but also for achieving everyday fitness goals. Today, the same concept of heart rate training is being used by world-class athletes as well as everyday people trying to lose weight. Polar is the leading brand among consumers, coaches, and personal trainers worldwide and the company is committed to not only producing the best products, but also being the leading educator on the benefits of heart rate based exercise.

Product Description

When the terrain is tough, when the weather turns, when you need accurate bearings to guide you, the new Polar AXN500 Outdoor Computer will get you there and back again. We've taken all of the features of the Polar AXN300, added in a compass for directional information, superior comfort of the WearLink fabric transmitter, and a sleek stainless steel design.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000F6FHKW
• Item model number: 90023744
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,325 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Polar AXN 500, October 10, 2005

By 

M. Junior "M. Junior" (Sao Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews

Nice features and more complete that equivalent Suunto X6HR but too heavy, very difficulto to keep it during fitness activity or competition. The S625X could be a better choice if compass is not required once is lighter and has the altimeter feature as well with additional bycicle and running features.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice watch, July 16, 2007

By 

M. Ruiz "Not My Real Name" (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Polar AXN500 Altimeter, Barometer, Temperature, and Compass (Black) (Sports)

Granted, I paid much less at REI, but I think this watch is very nice. I too found the interface to be a bit clunky (mostly because it does so much stuff, but also because the buttons are stiff), but it works as advertised. The barometer/altimeter and compass are handy, the heart rate functions are top notch, and the software works well enough. Also, it tells time!

One thing that has really stood out is how tough the watch is: it's large and heavy and gets bonked every so often, but the only evidence of wear after more than a year is a tiny scratch on the face caused by drawing very hard it across a piece of rough steel.

Anyway, price and size would make this a four star item in my book, but I am giving it a tilt because I think the other ratings are pretty low and it really has worked very well for me.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for me, April 9, 2006

By 

Rob M "Rob M" - See all my reviews

I have owned an AXN500 for just over a week, and unfortunately, it's going back. The quality of this watch seemed high to me, but there are interface issues that make it annoying to use, and at the price of this watch, I don't want to feel annoyed when using it. The biggest quibble I have is the fact that you can't view multiple types of data at once. I'd like to see my heart rate as bpm and as a percent of max, plus the temperature and either stopwatch or time, but instead I'm stuck with viewing just two of those simultaneously. There is so much screen real estate you'd think Polar would utilize it better and not make the user move through the menus to view this kind of data. And speaking of HR as a percent of max, I still can't find that feature. The user's manual is passable, but it is certainly not well written. It alludes to HR as percent of max a couple of times, but it refers you to other pages that also refer you to other pages. It might be in there somewhere, but I've lost the desire to page through every page, which is what seems necessary to find it. There's also smaller issues. For example, the temperature readout goes up by 4-5 degrees when I put the watch on. That is understandable, but why not let the user do some experimenting and then be able to decrease the readout by a few degrees to get rid of the need for mental subtraction? Also, when the watch is just in watch mode, I think the numbers should be about 20% bigger than they are--make it that much easier to read in a hurry. The watch is quite big, but hides its size better than the Suuntos I've seen, and you can't fault it for needing some size to accomodate everything it needs to. Unless you're a big guy, expect it to look a little chunky on your wrist. Overall, if you're really into altitude and other data and don't mind sifting through menus, this will be a good product. I am disappointed though.