- 3 complete sports watches for occasional to professional sports
- Design and technical features: 2 robust and touch screen models
- Autonomy: up to 100 hours on the Polar Grit X
- Sensors: wrist power and barometric altimeter for 2 models
- Features
- Activity monitoring
- Connected functions
- Our opinion: Polar Vantage M, Vantage V or Grit X: which one to choose?
- Polar Vantage M, Vantage V, Grit X: where to buy it?
Buy Polar Vantage V
Buy Polar Grit X
3 complete sports watches for occasional to professional sports
Polar offers 3 sports watches oriented running and triathlon, one of which is also designed for trail and outdoor use. The mid-range model (Vantage M) will suit most sportsmen and women. The Vantage V is performance and competition-oriented. The latest Polar Grit X watch released in 2020 adds advanced features for trail and outdoor use. These comprehensive models are clearly competing with the sports watches from Suunto, Garmin and Coros.
Here is a short overview and comparison of these 3 cardio-GPS watches to help you choose the one that best suits your objectives.
Polar Vantage M: a triathlon watch with an advanced performance analysis function
This cardio watch is designed to follow you in your sports outings and optimize your performance, beat your records and reach your goals thanks to numerous monitoring tools. A Training Load Pro function also prevents overtraining. Thanks to Polar Flow, you will be able to analyse your performance. Its brand new revolutionary optical sensor with 9 LEDs and 4 sensors is very accurate and works in the most difficult conditions, even underwater! It offers more than 130 sports. It has an activity monitoring function including sleep analysis (time and quality). Compact and lightweight, it is perfect for running. Its 30-hour autonomy is quite comfortable. For a more chic look, you can easily change the strap. It is a relatively complete multi-sport watch in terms of training monitoring, especially for running, and it offers a reliable optical sensor.
Polar Vantage V: for performance and demanding athletes in running and triathlon activities
Replacing the famous Polar V800, the Polar Vantage V is the top version of the Polar Vantage M. It retains all of its features and adds some interesting innovations such as wrist power measurement without an external sensor, a Recovery Pro function that evaluates recovery and provides advice on how to train optimally. It's aimed more at performance-oriented sportsmen and women.
This model has a barometer and a touch screen. Its autonomy is also better.
Read our detailed review and opinion on the Polar Vantage V
Buy Polar Vantage V
Polar Grit X: for outdoor, trail, triathlon with a record autonomy
The Polar Grit X is a multi-sport and triathlon watch with all the features of the Polar Vantage V (except for the Recovery Pro function) plus new and practical functions for outdoor and trail use. It is equipped with a colour touch screen.
Its sports functions, common to the Vantage V, include power at the wrist (without external sensor), advanced training functions (progressive training to prepare for a race, recovery analysis, evaluation of the effects of a training session, etc.). In addition, it offers complete functions for outdoor, trail and mountain biking such as a compass, access to the 2-day weather forecast, the possibility to program a route with Komoot and follow it directly on the watch, return to the starting point. The watch knows how to analyze the slopes live and has a refreshment assistant (food and hydration).
The Grit X offers intelligent battery management and a 40-hour battery life that can be extended to 100 hours in battery-saving mode.
Read our detailed review of the Polar Grit X and our opinion on this model
Buy Polar Grit X
Main differences between Polar Vantage M, Vantage V and Grit X
Features | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
Price | ~250 € | 399 € | 429 € |
Case diameter | 46 mm | 46 mm | 47 mm |
Thickness | 12.5 mm | 13 mm | 13 mm |
Weight | 45 g | 66 g | 64 g |
Autonomy (GPS / Eco / + watch with 24-hour tracking) | 30 h/ - / 5 d | 40 h / - / 30 d | 40 h / 100 h / 30 d |
Sports profiles | 130+ | 130+ | 130+ |
True Multisport (manages transitions between activities) | • | • | • |
Triathlon mode | • | • | • |
GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS |
Wrist cardio | • | • | • |
Personal Training Assistant | • | • | |
Interval training | • | • | • |
Recovery Pro | • | ||
Assesses physical fitness | • | • | • |
Assesses stress level | |||
Relaxation / breathing exercises | • | • | • |
Sleep analysis | • | • | • |
24/7 activity monitoring | • | • | • |
Waterproofing | 30 m | 50 m | 100 m |
GPS Navigation | • | ||
Barometric altimeter | • | • | |
mp3 player | |||
Payment function |
Design and technical features: 2 robust and touch screen models
Polar offers 3 watches of similar design with a definite advantage over the 2 top-of-the-range models in terms of robustness, elegance and comfort of use.
The Vantage V and Grit X offer a stainless steel housing and ultra-resistant Corning Gorilla glass. Both watches are robust and comply with the military standard MIL-STD-810G (high resistance to shock, temperature and humidity), an important criterion especially for an outdoor watch (Grit X). The Vantage M benefits from a slightly thinner (12,5 mm vs 13 mm) and cheaper polymer case. Note that the Grit X is a little wider in diameter (47 mm versus 46 mm) for the same size and screen definition however (30 mm in 240 x 240 px for the 3 watches).
The colour screen has the advantage of being touch-sensitive on the Vantage V and Grit X.
The weight of these watches remains very correct with only 66 g for the Vantage V and 64 g for the Grit X. The Vantage M, on the other hand, is a featherweight. It weighs only 44 g thanks, in particular, to a saving on the weight of the case (made of polymer), the smaller battery and the components (no barometer).
Finally, the Grit X model benefits from more diverse silicone, fabric and leather straps. These are interchangeable without tools, as on the Vantage M.
Features | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
Case | Reinforced polymer | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
Case diameter | 46 mm | 46 mm | 47 mm |
Thickness | 12.5 mm | 13 mm | 13 mm |
Lunette | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
Glass | Glass | Corning Gorilla | Corning Gorilla |
Weight | 45 g | 66 g | 64 g |
Screen resolution (px) | 240 x 240 | 240 x 240 | 240 x 240 |
Screen size | 1.2\" (30 mm) | 1.2\" (30 mm) | 1.2\" (30 mm) |
Touch screen | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | |
Colour screen | • | • | • |
Waterproofing | 30 m | 50 m | 100 m |
Bracelet size (mm) | 130-175140-210 | 130-185155-210 | 130-190145-215 |
Wristband width | 22 mm | 22 mm | 22 mm |
Bracelet interchangeable without tools | • | • | |
Wristband material | Silicone | Silicone | Silicone, leather, fabric |
Autonomy: up to 100 hours on the Polar Grit X
Autonomy is an essential parameter for a sports watch, especially if you practice long-lasting sports (ultratrail, ultramarathon, ironman, etc..). Polar offers 30 h in GPS mode on the Vantage M which is already a very good autonomy for most sportsmen but of course not for ultra long races. On the Vantage V, a larger battery (320 mAh instead of 230 mAh) can wait 40 h. On the Grit X, Polar goes further by offering intelligent battery management with display of remaining time and the possibility to change or deactivate certain functions. Up to 100 hours of autonomy can be reached by playing on 3 parameters: the recording rate of the GPS track, the deactivation of the optical heart rate sensor and the display refresh rate.
The Grit X model thus becomes interesting for long runs, at least in gradient mode. But for a good precision and the use of the optical sensor, we will hardly be able to exceed 40 hours of use because, unfortunately, Polar does not propose a recharge during the activity. To gain in battery life, you can however use a cardio belt and deactivate the optical heart rate monitor.
Model | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
Watch mode with HR monitoring | 5 days | 7 days | 7 days |
Watch mode without HR monitoring | 30 days | ||
GPS training mode | 30 h | 40 h | 40 h |
Energy saving mode | 100 h | ||
Intelligent battery management | • |
Sensors: wrist power and barometric altimeter for 2 models
On each model you will find the classic sensors: GPS compatible with GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS (Japanese system), optical heart rate monitor on the wrist, accelerometer. The Vantage V and Grit X also have a barometer and a barometric altimeter that can be manually calibrated on the Grit X. There is also a digital compass on the Grit X.
The Vantage V and Grit X offer power at the wrist, i.e. without an external sensor. This Polar-exclusive feature is of particular interest to running fans. The watch simply uses only the sensors it carries on board to make calculations (speed, acceleration, slope in particular).
These watches are compatible with external sensors (speed, cadence, power, footpod, cardio belt, etc.) as long as they operate in Bluetooth. ANT+ is not supported (check your sensors and fitness equipment for compatibility). The Grit X also allows you to connect several sensors of the same type, for example 2 cardio belts or 2 cadence sensors. You can thus use 2 bikes (indoor and road bike), each with its own sensors (cadence, speed, cardio belt), which avoids complications especially for multi-sport activities.
Finally, on the Grit X, Polar improves its optical heart rate sensor by using orange LEDs for even better adaptation to different skin types.
Features | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS |
Wrist cardio | • | • | • |
Wrist cardio works underwater | • | • | • |
Barometer | • | • | |
Accelerometer | • | • | • |
Compass | • | ||
Thermometer | |||
Pulse oximeter | |||
Cardio belt compatible | • | • | • |
Compatible running power sensor | • | • | • |
Rate sensor & running speed | • | • | • |
Bicycle cadence sensor | • | • | • |
Bicycle power sensor | • | • | • |
Multiple sensors of the same type | • | ||
School external sensors | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
Features
In terms of functionality, the 3 watches offer complete functions to accompany the sportsman in his training. Broadly speaking, the Vantage M offers comprehensive basic functions. The Vantage V completes these functions for sportsmen and women in search of performance (pros, competitors, etc.) with improved autonomy and water-resistance allowing diving. The Grit X has all the functions of the Vantage V (except 2) and offers even better range and water resistance.
The Polar Vantage M offers all the basic tools and will satisfy most athletes: adaptive training (to prepare for a 5 km, 10 km, half marathon or marathon), running time evaluation, nightly recharge evaluation, training programming, training efficiency evaluation, FitSpark training guide, VO2max evaluation, fitness test. The watch also performs activity monitoring including an excellent sleep analysis (the best on the market to date). It can be connected to external sensors (cardio belt, speed and cadence sensors, power sensor, footpod for example) for more measurements or greater accuracy. It can be used for swimming but not for diving.
The Polar Vantage V brings more advanced tools for pros, competitors and athletes looking for advanced tools and statistics. In particular, it evaluates the power developed when running without the need for an external sensor, an exclusivity Polar. It is compatible with Strava (for cyclists). It offers an orthostatic test and the Recovery Pro function, two tools exclusive to this model. They make it possible to evaluate, in a very simple way, recovery after intense and frequent training, to optimise training in order to avoid overtraining and to provide recommendations regarding the activities that can be practised. The watch has audible alerts (in addition to the vibration alerts on the Vantage M). Its water resistance of 5 ATM allows diving in shallow water. Read our detailed review and opinion on the Polar Vantage V.
Finally, the Grit X offers all the features of the Vantage V except for the orthostatic test and Recovery Pro function. In addition, it includes new practical functions specific to outdoor, trail and mountain bike riding. These include a Hill Splitter function that analyses live hill climbs and descents (vertical speed, distance, time, number of climbs/descents, etc.), the possibility to plan and follow a route with Komoot, energy expenditure tracking, a fuel assistant (FuelWise), access to the weather forecast, etc. Its waterproofness is 10 ATM (100 m). Read our detailed review and our opinion on the Polar Grit X
The advantage of the Grit X is that it is more complete than the Vantage V while being less expensive! On the other hand, it does not offer the Recovery Pro function, which can be a disadvantage for runners.
Features | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
GPS speed and distance | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, GZSS |
GPS Altitude | • | • | • |
Interval training | • | • | • |
Adaptive training (5, 10, 21, 42 km) | • | • | • |
Evaluation of the running time | • | • | • |
Strava Live Segments | • | • | |
Orthostatic test | • | ||
Power on wrist (without external sensor) | • | • | |
Power (with external sensor) | • | • | • |
Training Load Pro | • | • | • |
Recovery Pro | • | ||
Nightly recharge (evaluates nightly recovery) | • | • | • |
Training programming | • | • | • |
Training efficiency | • | • | • |
VO2max (Running Index) | • | • | • |
FitSpark (training guide) | • | • | • |
Sleep Plus Stages (sleep analysis) | • | • | • |
Hill Spliter (coastal analysis) | • | ||
GPS Navigation | • | ||
Route planning with Komoot | • | ||
Importing routes | • | • | |
FuelWise (refueling assistant) | • | ||
Energy source | • | ||
Polar Fitness Test | • | • | • |
Audible Alerts | • | • | |
Vibration Alerts | • | • | • |
Weather | • |
In terms of sports activities, Polar offers more than 130 profiles. The 3 models are of course ideal for running, but also for cycling, swimming and triathlon, in addition to many other sports.
The Vantage V is perfect for running, with its comprehensive tools and wrist power measurement. The Grit X is more suitable for mountain, trail and mountain biking thanks to its barometric altimeter (also present on the Vantage V), a compass, and functions designed for outdoor use (route tracking, return to the start, real time track display, hill climb analyser, fuel assistant).
For cyclists, the Vantage V and Grit X are compatible with Strava Live Segments, an advantage not offered by the Vantage M.
Function | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
Sports profiles | 130+ | 130+ | 130+ |
Triathlon | • | • | • |
Running: | |||
Interval training assistance | • | • | • |
Running training | • | • | • |
Speed and cadence sensor support | • | • | • |
Wrist stride rate | • | • | • |
Stryd power sensor support | • | • | • |
Power at the wrist | • | • | |
Cycling: | |||
Speed | • | • | • |
Power Sensor Compatibility | • | • | • |
Cadence sensor support | • | • | • |
Speed Sensor Support | • | • | • |
Strava Live Segments | • | • | |
Varia Compatibility | |||
Swimming: | |||
Recommended activities | Swimming pool and open water | Swimming pool and open water | Swimming pool and open water |
HR measurement and monitoring | • | • | • |
Swimming rhythm in pool and distance | • | • | • |
Open water swimming rhythm and distance | • | • | • |
Swimming type detection | • | • | • |
Swimming efficiency (SWOLF) | • | • | • |
Rate and number of movements | • | • | • |
Calories expended | • | • | • |
Outdoor: | |||
Route recording | • | • | • |
Real-time trace visualization | • | ||
Follow an imported or saved route | • | • | |
Back to departure (straight line) | • | • | • |
Back to departure (route monitoring) | • | ||
Barometric Altitude | • | • | |
GPS Altitude & elevation difference | • | • | • |
Activity monitoring
Like most sports watches today, the Polar watches being compared have a classic 24/7 activity monitoring function with continuous recording of distance travelled, number of steps taken, heart rate and calories burned and a detailed sleep analysis, the best on the market today.
Function | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
Tracking through Internet | |||
Communicating with the group's athletes | |||
Fall detection | |||
Assistance in case of a fall (SOS call) | |||
Telephone notifications | • | • | • |
Weather function | • | ||
Smartphone music control | |||
Mp3 player | |||
Payment solution |
Connected functions
Polar only offers Smartphone notifications and, for the Grit X model, access to the weather (via Smartphone). This is a far cry from the many functions offered by Garmin, for example on its Fenix 6 or its Forerunner 945 (assistance in case of a fall, SOS call, remote device control, Internet tracking, MP3 player, payment, etc.) or by Suunto with Wear OS on the Suunto 7.
Function | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
Number of steps and distance | • | • | • |
Physical activities objectives | • | • | • |
Calories burt | • | • | • |
Detailed sleep analysis | • | • | • |
Evaluation of night-time recovery | • | • | • |
Relaxation exercises | • | • | • |
Number of floors climbed |
Our opinion: Polar Vantage M, Vantage V or Grit X: which one to choose?
First of all, it is important to know that these 3 watches target different usage and a different public. All 3 offer complete functions for running, swimming, cycling (for exclusively cycling use, it is however better to turn to a GPS bike computer, we recommend the Garmin Edge series), triathlon and many other sports.
Polar Vantage M: all the basic functions that most sportsmen and women will need
If your budget is limited and you are looking for a sports watch with good features for training and progress or just for sports monitoring, the Polar Vantage M will do the job. It is sufficient for most sportsmen and women. It has the advantage of being lighter than the other two (2/3 of the weight). On the other hand, it is less robust, its screen is not touch-sensitive, it does not carry the wrist power measurement tool (but an external power sensor can still be connected if necessary) nor the Recovery Pro function, it does not have a barometric altimeter (the accuracy will be a little less good) and its autonomy is a little less (30 h versus 40 h on the Vantage V). In short, fewer benefits that won't make much difference to many occasional to regular users. Be careful, its 3 ATM waterproofness is not compatible with diving.
Polar Vantage V: the model to choose for demanding sportsmen and women in search of performance
For advanced use (competition, pro use, etc.), the Vantage V will be a better choice. It is a Premium watch for sportsmen and women looking for performance and optimisation of their training, especially for running. The watch is compatible with Strava Live Segments, an advantage for cyclists. Its greater autonomy and its water-resistance of 5 ATM can also be a determining criterion depending on your objective. It is also prettier with its metal case and more robust (military standard), which makes it more suitable than the Vantage M for certain sports where shocks or rubbing are frequent. And its touch screen makes it more convenient to use, but not necessarily during sport.
Polar Grit X: the most complete and autonomous model designed for trail and outdoor use.
If you are looking for a complete watch for trail, mountain biking, hiking, adventure, the Grit X will be the best model: it offers everything the Vantage V offers (except the orthostatic test and the Recovery Pro function) with, in addition, a greater autonomy, more complete analysis tools and 10 ATM waterproofness. It is also robust and elegant (metal case, tool-free interchangeable straps in leather, fabric, silicone). It is more suitable than the Vantage V for mountain outings. The route planner, compass, slope analyser and fuel assistant are additional features. Its autonomy of 40 hours or 100 hours in eco mode makes it compatible with long runs. Too bad for ultratrail fans that it can not be recharged during an activity! (ditto on the 2 other models)
Features | Vantage M | Vantage V | Grit X |
---|---|---|---|
Awards | $$ | $$$ | $$$ |
Recommended sports | Triathlon, running, cycling, swimming | Triathlon, running, cycling, swimming | Trail, outdoor, hiking, triathlon, running, cycling, swimming |
Elegance (size, finesse, design) | ++ | +++ | +++ |
Comfort (weight, size) | +++ | ++ | +++ |
Autonomy sport mode+GPS | ++ | +++ | ++++ |
The plus of the model | Good value for money for most sports people | Suitable for performance and competition, suitable for diving | Suitable for performance and competition. Suitable for diving. The most complete in terms of sports and tools. |
Sensors | Power at the wrist | Power at the wrist | |
Suitable for running | ++++ | ++++ | ++++ |
Suitable for hiking | + | + | ++++ |
Suitable for swimming | ++++ | ++++ | ++++ |
Suitable for diving | ++ | +++ | |
Suitable for cycling | ++ | ++ | +++ |
Suitable for outdoor use | + | + | ++++ |
Polar Vantage M, Vantage V, Grit X: where to buy it?
You can find these watches on the Internet (see below) or in specialist shops. Sport Passion and its partners offer you discount vouchers.
Buy Polar Vantage V
Buy Polar Grit X
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