Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch

by Polar

Product Features

• Heart rate monitor designed to help you hit training and fitness goals in multiple exercises
• S1 foot pod relays computed velocity and distance information to monitor
• 5 exercise sets for interval training with HR target zones and recovery calculation
• 24-hour clock with day/week indicator and stopwatch
• Large easy-to-read, backlit display with split screen; water resistant to 30 meters

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Polar S625X provides runners, triathletes, and coaches with a complete tool to measure performance and workout intensity. With the optional cycling and power sensors and enhanced training tools like the Polar OwnOptimizer recovery test, plus altitude and ascent for route profile, the S625X lets you cross train and put the power of information to work for you. It includes the S1 foot pod, a shoe-mounted sensor that continually relays computed velocity and distance information to a specially-adapted, wristwatch-based display. You'll be able to get data on total speed and distance, speed displayed in pace or kmph/mph as well as a distance-based interval timer.

It comes with the S625X wrist receiver, a transmitter that's worn comfortably around your chest, and an elastic strap to hold the transmitter in place. The wristwatch-like receiver features a large display that includes 12/24-hour time of day, alarm, and stopwatch. It provides readings of maximum heart rate of total exercise, average/maximum heart rate of each lap, recovery measurement (by either heart rate divided or time), and interval timers.

You can also better assess your training data using the included Polar Precision Performance (PPP) 4.0 software when you transfer data from the monitor to the PC via a wireless infrared (IR) connection. This feature requires a PC with an IR window or you will need a separate Polar IR interface.

The OwnCal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. It also allows you to set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure. The OwnIndex feature will determine your fitness level, track your improvements, and provide motivation. Polar's OwnCode technology blocks unwanted signals from other heart rate monitors, ensuring disturbance-free transmission of your heart rate data.

The S625X's visual and audible alarms alert you when you reach your target heart rate zone. The Time in Target Zone feature calculates the percentage of maximum heart rate or beats per minute in your personal target zone. You can use this feature together with the Total Exercise Time to determine the effectiveness of your exercise program.

Feature Detail:

• Displays your heart rate as beats per minute and percentage of maximum heart rate, average heart rate, and exercise duration
• S1 foot pod shoe-mounted sensor that continually relays computed velocity and distance information to monitor
• Runners' data including total speed and distance, speed displayed in pace or kmph/mph
• Wirelessly sends exercise data to PC via infrared connection
• Allows you to set 5 exercise sets for interval training with HR target zones and recovery calculation
• Records a complete file and five summary files of the exercises
• Predicts your maximal oxygen uptake
• Reduces possible interference from other heart rate monitors
• Target heart rate zones with audible and visual alarm
• UpLink feature enables download of exercise set from Polar web site
• Large easy-to-read display with backlighting and split screen
• 24-hour clock with day/week indicator and stopwatch
• 1.5-year average battery life
• Water resistant to 30 meters

What's in the Box?
S625X heart rate monitor watch unit, S1 foot pod, wireless transmitter, elastic strap, battery (built-in CR2032 lithium cell), Polar Precision Performance (PPP) 4.0 software, printed instructions

Manufacturer Warranty
2-year limited warranty

Note:
Polar heart rate monitors are precision instruments; consumers are not advised to change their own battery. Polar recommends that all service be done by an authorized Polar Service Center which will include a warranty for 90 days on repairs and 6 months for batteries.

Product Description

The Polar S625X is like having a performance lab with you on every workout. All the heart rate, running and cycling data you will ever need is available right on your wrist. The S625X delivers continuous running speed without relying on where satellites are positioned. With the optional cycling and power sensors and enhanced training tools like the Polar OwnOptimizer™ recovery test, plus altitude and ascent for route profile, the S625X lets you cross train and put the power of information to work for you.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00075LNG8
• Item model number: 90023837
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,213 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT HRM that will take 4 to 6 hours to learn., January 29, 2005

By 

Daniel S. Winger (Verona, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I LOVE my Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor... and I'm VERY picky about the design and implementation of techno gadgets. There are only three things I've thought of that it could do better.

First, the temperature sensor is on the wrist side of the watch. So, when I was running and the air temperature was about 16 degrees fahrenheit, the sensor reported 65 degrees. Since I know of no good reason for this design decision, I have to call this a silly and unfortunate design error.

Second, the accelerometor could probably very easily provide a pedometer reading, i.e., "How many steps did that run require?" It doesn't... at least as far as I can tell.

Third, the menu system appears to be inaccessible during a recording session. That is, you have to stop the recording session to look at or change file information or user information, etc.

But, other than these 3 things, I'm very impressed. (I'd be very very impressed if the pedometer and menu shortcomings mentioned above could be fixed via an EPROM upgrade via the Infra Red port.)

The Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor is a complex tool. Plan on spending between 4 and 6 hours of concentrated study to learn to use it to its full capability.

And finally, I'd like to add that PC Coach/Biometrics, Inc. shipped on time and provided EXCELLENT technical support when I asked them questions about this HRM. I highly recommend them.

20080608 Update:
The original battery is still working! That's about 3.5 years of regular usage 2 to 5 times per week!! I'll soon have to replace it. But I'm very happy with the S625X's battery life.

There is one thing I hope the folks at Polar will do for me, however. Wouldn't it be cool if Polar would make a bathroom scale that would interface via wireless to the S625X so that the watch could gather my weight and body mass index info, too?!! ;-)

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very practical and useful, November 28, 2004

By 

Ryan Parasram "parasram" (Sugarland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I trained for the 04 Atlanta half marathon with this device.
It gave me alot of useful information before the race, like
- My max sustainable heart rate is 180.
- My mind convinces me that I am tired at mile 9 eventhough my body is capable of more output. I realize this when I see my heart rate at only 160.
- Exactly what mileage I run and the pace DURING the run, together with the heart rate. This information is all on the screen without you having to fiddle with buttons during the run. The watch also automatically beeps every 1 mile and tells you your pace!
- The watch's distance measurement did not need any calibration before the first use! Other devices are normally very off before the first use. I verified this with a treadmill and with the mile markers during my race.

The download to computer feature is very easy to use. It chronicles all my runs in a very user friendly program. The data is stored in a text file in case if you wanted to graph it differently.

The heart and distance sensors are very unobtrusive. I especially surprised by how comfortable the heart sensor was.

I already convinced 2 other work mates to buy it and they swear by it.

My only wish is that the watch logged temperature! Temperature has a substantial effect on my run and I would have like the ability to analyse it.

[Note that my first half marathon was done in 2:02:35. I don't consider my self a runner and I feel that this watch together with alot of sweat made it possible.]
Look at the profile of the half marathon run at
http://www.parasram.com/marathon.jpg

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Running without it is like driving a car without a dashboard, August 21, 2005

By 

Peter Bryer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Every once in a while, a new technology comes along that completely changes the way we behave. Some obvious examples over the past 10 years have been the web and pocketable cellphones. And now for the runner, it's a device like the Polar s625x.

There are two really enjoyable aspects with using this three-piece watch, heart rate monitor, foot pod combo. The first is while you run: you can actually see your approximate pace together with your heart rate. You can also toggle between a few different displays on the fly, such as distance covered, calories burned, speed, lap time. Before, all this stuff was complete guesswork. I never really knew how far I ran and I always tended to average up. For me, this watch forced reality to set in.

Perhaps equally as fascinating is the after-run. When you get home, you can easily load up the data gathered during your run to your PC via an infrared link (If you don't use a laptop, you'll probably need to buy the IR accessory although there also seems to be some way to transfer the data via a sound emission from the watch.) It's truly amazing to view a chart with your running data such as heart rate, pace, altitude and temperature. So you see in an Excel-style line chart how your heart rate speeds up as you are working up a hill. Or how your body responds as the temperature increases. Over time, you can track your progress. And you can even e-mail the data so you can easily transfer it to another PC. The Polar software installed easily and works well. And you can use the Windows PC program (no Mac version available it seems) as an interface for the watch, so you can input things such as date, time, and personal info using the PC and upload it back to the watch. This way you can avoid using the watch's little one-inch screen to put this data in.

It's almost not fair to complain about the device considering what a leap in technology it's been for me. I would have killed to have something like this when I was running high school track way back during the Reagan administration. But the device is not perfect.

While it is solidly built -- I would say it's almost of military-grade quality: big, bulky and solid --, I do have an immediate complaint. When I needed to replace the battery on the heart rate monitor for the first time (this is the belt-like item that you strap around your chest), the cover was on so tightly that I stripped down the groove on the cap with a coin. I then had to pry it off with a small screw driver damaging it further. It shouldn't cost much to replace the battery cap, but you never know with parts*. Anyway, it's still working fine.

The foot pod is bigger than I wish. It's not something that you would walk around with while shopping for example. Fortunately, it's easy to remove and put back on as you can leave on the bracket that holds the pod. This bracket sits underneath the shoelaces. The weight of the foot pod is not noticeable, at least to me. I wear various styles of the Asics Gel shoes, but perhaps with a much lighter shoe, the contrast would be greater.

The biggest issue I have is the accuracy of the device. Out of the box you will get about 95% accuracy, but for some reason, I just wasn't able to calibrate it to get more accurate results. I ran around a 400-meter track a number of times with the watch in calibration mode. It showed each lap as 390 meters (although I know at times it showed I was running too much) and then it should have figured out the formula to adjust that up to 400 meters. But then the distance measurement was even further off. After a few attempts of doing 1.2 kilometer runs on the track to calibrate the watch, I tried a manual adjustment given the distance I knew was covered and distance the watch thought was covered. That didn't help either. It seems like 94 - 96% accuracy is something at least I'm going to have to live with. This does make quite a difference when you are checking your pace at a race. I was really hoping that the device could monitor my lap times with great accuracy, for example, at one kilometer, one mile, or even 400 meter intervals. Note that when you move the pod to another shoe, it will change to accuracy of the device again.

The usability of the device is also something that can use some tweaking. First, the manual is written as if people don't have anything else to do with their lives other than use the watch. It's full of terms which at least are unfamiliar to me. For example, here is something that was highlighted as being important in the manual: "Your choice of HR, % of HRmax or Pace limit type in limits 1 determines the way they will be displayed in all other limits. Only one limit type can be selected in an exercise set." I've had the watch for a number of months now and have actually read the manual a few times, but I have no idea what that means. There was a glossary in the back listing these terms, but it was all so much work to understand. On the watch, you are never quite sure what the buttons are going to do. It's really takes some figuring out. But the real basic functions, the ones that people really want to use, were easy to get going right out of the box.

Some practical advice: As anyone who's seen the movie "The Green Mile" knows, the conductivity power of water can't be underrated. You really have to wet down the electrode areas to get the heart rate measurement. A few times I forgot to do this and the monitor didn't transmit anything to the watch. When the device shows no heart beat, I was thinking like one of the Marx Brothers: either I'm dead or the heart rate monitor isn't working.

Other devices you might want to check out include the Garmin Forerunner 301 Trainer, which uses GPS technology for better measurement accuracy (if you run in open areas), and cool devices from Suunto, who seems to be the other leading maker of cool HRM watches. There must be something about the cold arctic Finnish air that give Polar and Suunto the edge in making these devices.

(*UPDATE: After contacting Polar support about the damaged battery holder, they quickly sent me a replacement part without any questions.)