There is more to a workout than just the training session.
Maximizing your training through your heart rate, sleep patterns, daily activity levels, calorie burn, and the strain a training session has on your body all come into play when you want to benefit from your workout time.
In this Polar Vantage M review, you will see how this watch gives you all the stats, apps, and support you need to glean as much information as you can from your workouts.
For the athlete that loves a variety of workouts and the stats to go with it, this is the ideal training partner.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Polar Vantage M
Having all the stats you can for how your body is reacting to both exercise and rest can be a game changer in your training.
Knowing exactly how hard to train and how much to recover can be the difference in a personal best or just another workout event.
With all the choices you have for multisport watches and 24/7 activity trackers, you need to ask yourself a few questions to determine if this particular watch will serve your fitness needs the best.
Do You Stick to One Main Type of Workout?
This particular watch is built for multiple sports. It offers 130 sports to choose from and 20 that you can make a specific profile for to use on your watch.
However, if you tend to stick to the same one or two sports, then you do not need this robust of a watch.
You can probably make do with a simple running watch or fewer featured activity tracker.
How Much Time Do You Have to Analyze The Data?
You get access to a serious amount of data and statistics with this multisport watch. In fact, you get so much information that it might become a bit overwhelming on what you should pay attention to.
You could spend a few hours looking through all the information, so it is important to ask yourself if you even have time for it all.
If you are not going to be using all the data to inform your workouts and rest then there is not much purpose in having it.
Do You Want The Most Accurate Heart Rate?
While Polar does offer some seriously upgraded and innovative technology, there is no denying the fact that on wrist heart rate monitors are not as accurate as possible.
If you are looking to have almost spot on heart rate information, then you should go with a heart rate monitor chest strap.
The Polar Vantage M Multisport & Running GPS Watch
The Polar Vantage M Multisport & Running GPS Watch is the only watch you need for whatever sport you enjoy.
With a serious list of features that will help you maximize your training time, you will be able to plan your workouts, recovery, sleep, and daily activity to perfection.
This watch boasts award winning technology and a lightweight design.
This multisport watch is for those who like to participate in multiple sports rather than just stick to one.
This watch is also ideal for those who love analyzing data of their workouts and how their body reacts to different types of training sessions.
Your purchase comes with the watch itself, a charging cable, a user manual, and an information note.
If you want to change the color and style of your wristband, those are sold separately.
Polar Vantage M Review Pros
- On wrist heart rate monitor
- 130 sports to choose from and 20 customizable sports profiles
- 24/7 activity tracker
- Precision Prime sensor fusion technology
- Training Load Pro information
Polar Vantage M Review Cons
- Heart rate may not be the most accurate
- Changeable wristbands are sold separately
- Could be too many features and stats
Polar Vantage M Review Features & Benefits
What makes the Polar Vantage M one of the better multisport & running watches?
Here are a few features and benefits you’ll want to be aware of as you compare this model to others currently available.
Precision Prime Sensor Fusion Technology
Since you can wear the Polar Vantage M as an activity tracker in addition to your regular workouts, you want to be sure the watch is not getting confused on what is actual activity and what is just arm movement.
With the Precision Prime sensor, your watch combines optical heart rate measurements with other sensors to determine what should be a heart rate signal and rule out unreliable readings.
This feature allows you to know exactly what your heart rate is without having other activities confuse it.
Changeable Wristbands
For those who want to customize their watch to match their style, you have a choice in wristbands.
Note that each wristband is sold separately.
The woven bands are made of recycled PET yarn and come in white, orange, and petrol.
The sports bands are made with TPE and silicone. They come in two sizes and the colors of white, black, and red.
Training Load Pro
Not sure how to balance your training and rest? With this innovative Training Load Pro technology, your Polar Vantage M tracks how your training sessions strain your body and affect your rest.
Training Load Pro tracks your cardiovascular system, accounts for how strained you feel, and helps you visualize your tolerance levels.
With this information, you can work the right systems at the right time without overtraining.
20 Sports Profiles
Using the Polar Flow app, which comes free with your purchase, you will find 130 sports to choose from.
Within those sports, you can create 20 sports profiles to be displayed on your Polar Vantage M.
Each of those 20 profiles can be individualized for what you want to see during that particular sports workout.
You can show things like heart rate, speed, power zones, calories burned, and time.
Access to Polar Flow App
The Polar Flow app allows you to have all your data in one place. The app can be synced to some of your other favorite fitness apps for easy access to your information.
Within the Polar Flow app you can share your workout data with your coach so you can train with guidance.
You also get a training diary, workout planning, workout analysis, progress reports, and community support within the app.
On-Wrist Heart Rate Monitor
Skip the cumbersome heart rate monitor chest strap and go with the on wrist readings.
Knowing your heart rate will help you stay within your specific training zones and help prevent overtraining or under training for your fitness goals.
Sleep Plus Stages
Keep the Polar Vantage M on through the night and track your sleep stages.
Your watch will let you know how much quality sleep you were able to get so you know how your rest is impacting your daily life and your training.
Running Program
For races of 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon, you can follow a personal and adaptable training plan using your running specific data.
Based on your fitness level, you will be able to train for your race using supporting exercises, heart rate zones, and event finishing prediction times.
Swimming Metrics
Take your waterproof watch to the pool and track your swimming style, distance, pace, strokes, and rest times all from the water.
For those who love to swim or complete triathlons, this feature will help make your water time faster and more efficient.
Phone Notifications
Get alerts from your phone sent directly to your Polar Vantage M. No need to pause your workout to check your messages.
FitSpark Daily Training Guide
With ready-made workouts, you can choose a different type of workout to follow from your watch that lets you workout properly for your recovery, fitness level, and training history.
The goal with this real time guidance is to help you avoid workout burnout, improve your cardiovascular fitness, gain more strength by performing moves correctly and safely, and strengthen your core and mobility to help improve performance and prevent injuries.
Fitness Test
In this 5-minute fitness level assessment, you can determine your maximal oxygen uptake.
This will let you know your cardiovascular fitness levels so you have a baseline level for how your body is working.
Based on your resting heart rate, gender, age, height, weight, and background, you can take this test in about five minutes without breaking a sweat.
What Others Are Saying About The Polar Vantage M
Here’s a quick snapshot of other reviews I found about the Polar Vantage M that might give you a better sense of what you can expect from this multisport & running GPS watch.
Review #1
One reviewer on Amazon states that the watch, “looks really nice, its light on my wrist and it’s very comfortable. I wear it all the time and not just for workouts. I love that it counts my steps!” Read the full review here.
Review #2
Eric from Dirty Old Sneakers claims, “If you want a watch that you can wear all day and wear to work, then this is the watch for you.”
Review #3
The blogger Lukasz states that the, “Watch has a lot of options. We can use auto-pause during workouts, we can set time/HR intervals, monitor laps, HR zones and a lot of other data.”
Polar Vantage M Alternatives
With all the choices you have in multisports watches, you want to be sure that the Polar Vantage M is the right fit for you in terms of what you need and the features that come with it.
Take a look at some of these other options to be sure you are making the best choice for your training goals.
Suunto 5 GPS Sports Watch
The Suunto 5 GPS Sports Watch is a lightweight and compact multisport watch that is not only stylish, but gives you a serious amount of data.
With this multisport watch, you can connect to other sports apps, get accurate GPS tracking, plan your routes, use it as a daily activity tracker, and personalize your training plans for multiple sports.
Suunto 5 GPS Sports Watch Highlights
- Waterproof to 50 meters
- 80 built-in sports modes
- 40 hour battery life
- 24/7 activity tracker
Coros APEX Premium MultiSport GPS Watch
The Coros APEX Premium MultiSport GPS Watch is made for those who like to take to the trails or more remote areas for their workouts.
With an industry leading GPS and distance tracking system, you will never be lost or wanting for your stats.
With this multisport watch, you get a built-in heart rate monitor, barometer, altimeter, and compass as well as a superior battery life depending on your settings.
Coros APEX Premium MultiSport GPS Watch Highlights
- Wrist based heart rate monitor
- GPS abilities even in dense woods
- Enhanced digital knob for easy operation
Garmin Fenix 6X Premium Multisport GPS Watch
Using sensors for enhanced wrist heart rate tracking, the Garmin Fenix 6X Premium Multisport GPS Watch is able to take your environment into account for things like altitude, grade, and environment.
For those who like to take to the trails in mountainous areas, this watch is going to give you a more accurate picture of your workout stats.
Garmin Fenix 6X Premium Multisport GPS Watch Highlights
- Comes with wall and car USB charging adapters
- Large readable display
- Grade adjusted pace guidance
Conclusion
For those who love a variety of sports, data, and working out to maximize their body’s needs and reach a specific training goal, this Polar Vantage M review shows how this is going to be the most ideal watch for you.
With all the training data available, you will be able to put your best foot forward in your workouts themselves and your recovery time.
Using the training guides, running programs, and fitness test, you will never have any doubt about what type of workout is best for you on any given day.
