Polar RS800CX SD Run Heart Rate Monitor

by Polar

Product Features

• Its range of personal training zones means you can train at the right intensity
• Advanced features come along with the s3 stride sensor W.I.N.D.; You'll be able to track your progress with running index as well as stride length and running cadence
• Measures heart rate combined with running speed, distance, cadence, and average stride length
• Synchronizes with the Polar ProTrainer 5 software for guidance, analysis and creating individual training settings
• Highly sensitive barometric altitude sensor shows your elevation profiles

Product Description

With the included s3 stride sensor, the Polar RS800CX Run Heart Rate Monitor tracks your progress with a running index feature and records stride length and cadence. Set this monitor to show pace and cadence for speed training (shorten your stride and work on increasing cadence while holding the same pace). The stride sensor allows for three calibrations for three different pairs of shoes. The altimeter uses barometric readings to show elevation profiles, and the extended exercise profiles allow you to create training sessions with individual settings for duration, heart-rate target zones, interval training, and recovery calculations.

Product Features

• Housing Material: plastic
• Altimeter: yes
• Altimeter Max Height:
• Route Elevation Profile:
• Barometer: no
• Heart Rate Monitor: yes
• Target Heart Rate Zone:
• Training Program:
• Fitness Test:
• Chronograph: yes
• Odometer:
• Thermometer: yes
• Digital Compass: no
• Declination Type:
• Adjustable Declination: no
• Low Battery Indicator: yes
• Computer Compatible: yes, compatible with Polar ProTrainer 5 software
• Water-Resistant: yes, up to 50m
• Backlight: yes
• Alarms: 1 time with snooze, visual and audible alarm in target heart rate zones, visual and alarm exercise reminder
• Alarm Type:
• Battery Type: user replaceable battery
• Battery Life:
• Face Size: medium
• Strap Material: rubber
• Date Indicator:
• Weekday Indicator:
• Weight:
• Recommended Use: running, training
• Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0055J3H1U
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,937 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars RS800cx with S3 Stride Sensor and G3 GPS, October 26, 2008

By 

Paul "ptaylor7" (Idaho USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polar RS800CX SD Run Heart Rate Monitor (Sports)

I've owned a couple of Polar HRMs over time and I like this one the best. The watch itself is very nice. I have small wrists and this one fits my wrist nicely and the strap length is better than in the past. The band to hold the excess strap has a bump in it to keep it on the tail end of the strap. It comes with an extension strap for giant arms or over a coat. The buttons and thier function are pretty much the same as my previous Polar instruments. The display has changed although navigating the menus is in the same style. The top of the display is a matrix of dots so images and text can be displayed. This makes the menus easier to get through for me. When in monitor mode there are configurable screens that can be set up with the software the way you like. The functionality/options are pretty much the same as my prior watch s625x. The battery on this watch is easily changeable. Prior versions required skill and patience to change the battery as the entire guts of the watch had to be dissassembled - this new approach is a welcome change.

The stride sensor: the things I was interested in are: cadence (steps per minute for one foot), speed, distance. One has to calibrate the sensor. The watch allows for three calibrations for three pairs of shoes. As with any sensor like this the calibration needs to be done at the speed you use it most for acuracy there. If you calibrate it running it will be off when walking. I'm kind of a data nut so I look at this a bunch and it stays accurate for me at my usual pace. The S3 stride sensor has no switch and the battery is now a coin cell. This is nice to me. Its also smaller than the previous sensor.

The GPS .Polar G3 GPS Speed and Distance Sensor Set , an additional option, is more of a fun option for running and I'll use it this winter cross country skiing. The watch will use both the stride sensor and the GPS at the same time. This is something only the cx version has. If the stride sensor is on (you have to turn it on) the speed, distance, and cadence are all used from it and the GPS data is simply a record of where you went. When using the ProTrainer software you can look at your route in Google earth or a .gpx file viewer - I use Garmin's MapSource. The watch marks a waypoint when laps are set. I've used this to double check distances. I will be running in a city with lots of buildings in the near future so I'll see how well the GPS records there.

The unit does come with the polar usb irda port in the box which I find works well on my Windows XP laptop (Dell). Nothing I could find indicated it was in the box.

The software is very similar to the prior versions to me. The one thing that is a bit wacky is the way the watch settings load. I have an email in to Polar about this. I find I have to be careful when updating the settings via the irda interface as all the settings from the watch are not always loaded when the watch data is read. When you write any of the settings they all get written so this can erase or change settings. So, I have to check all the screens and make sure my data is the way I like before hitting save. I hope this gets fixed. The other wacky thing is the mileage in the exercise dialog is not the same as the recorded mileage from a run. In my software it is always a few miles higher. I just type in the real mileage. Have an email in on this as well.

Overall I really like this Polar watch. I give it four stars because of the bugs in the software

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Please so far, March 5, 2009

By 

Carl Jeffery (Boise, ID USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Polar RS800CX SD Run Heart Rate Monitor (Sports)

I have had this watch now since early January. I upgraded from the rs200sd. My chest strap transmitter didn't work when I first got the watch, but Polar replaced it without question, as I expected they should. What I like most is being able to plan my whole workout session on the ProTrainer and having the watch guide me from warm-up to intervals or tempo runs to cool-down without having to touch anything. It is easy to set up the training goals to heart-rate, pace, or even cadence. This feature is the biggest improvement over the rs200. Before I had the monitor, I thought the post-run evaluation on the ProTrainer software would be more valuable than it is, but it is mostly just fun to look at. I can't say I have seen great opportunities to improve my running based on the neat graphs the software generates. Maybe a trained eye would see something different.

Some of the features that some competitor products don't have: A real altimeter. I imagine the gps models triangulate the altitude which typically isn't the most accurate method. The monitor also has a thermometer so you can see your performance in the heat or cold. My problems is that the watch is usually under the cuff of my gloves so i don't get real accurate readings, but I imagine it will improve in the summer months when the heat is probably more of a factor anyway. The CX models will talk to multiple attachments at the same time, so you could also strap the G3 to your arm and use the foot pod to compare the pace/distance from two sources. I just ordered the speed sensor for my road bike and plan on getting the G3 to use on my mountain bike, mostly for fun. There are so many features I am still going back to the manual to make sure I get the most out of the monitor.

The only down side to this monitor is the cost, but I am a believer in you get what you pay for. I highly recommend this monitor for any runner wanting to set specific goals.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible customer service and quality, June 26, 2010

By 

Henrik I. Christensen (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polar RS800CX SD Run Heart Rate Monitor (Sports)

I have used a Suunto heartrate monitor running solution in the past and had a few challenges with the monitor. I ordered the RS800cx run package. Upon receipt the elastic belt contacts came off the first time I took on the belt. I contacted the company and they refused to take the product back as a return. They stated "you have to contact Polar" we handle no returns or repairs. It is not our problem. Totally unacceptable service. I now have to pay postage charges, wait ... an extended period of time due to poor product quality.

The watch has a lot of useful functions and appears to have the functions that would be valuable to a person that runs daily. But the built quality is plastity, cheap, ... not the kind of quality you expect for a $400+ product. Compared to Suunto I have to say that I am disappointed.

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