Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)
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 List Price: $169.95 Sale Price: $108.99 Eligible For Free Shipping Visit Amazon:  
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Best used for: Running
Features: Calories * GPS * Heart Rate Alarms * Laps/Splits * Stopwatch * Store Workouts * Waterproof
Are you a runner? You need to know more than just heart rate. Speed, distance, and heart rate—these are the crucial pieces of information you can get in an instant using the Polar RS300X (with the optional S1 footpod or the G1 GPS sensor). You don’t want to waste time working out incorrectly. Our review of the Polar RS300X heart rate monitor found that it is well equipped to ensure you are not wasting your time.
The Polar RS300X is a mid-level monitor in the “RS” line. The RS line for Polar is primarily intended for the runner because of the integration with the Polar S1 footpod and the G1 GPS sensor. The S1 footpod is generally regarded as a very accurate and fast way to determine speed, pace and distance. The G1 GPS sensor is not as highly regarded because of battery life and the lack ability to know speed/pace in real-time.
Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor Orange
The Polar RS300X now features the Polar Fitness Test which measures your level of aerobic fitness. Using the results of the Polar Fitness Test, the RS300X can more accurately determine your calorie burn during exercise. The RS300X can also determine your predicted HRMax. Polar’s HRMax-p (predicted) is a more accurate maximum heart rate than the standard age-based maximum heart rate determination (220-your age).
The Polar RS300X will remember your last 16 workout sessions, 15 weekly summaries, and a cumulative total. If that’s not enough, you can upload your results to the web using the Polar Flowlink. In many ways, the Polar RS300X goes well beyond a standard heart rate monitor- it is your training computer.
How Polar likes to describe the RS300X heart rate monitor:
- Integrated with the optional S1 FootPod and G1 GPS sensor (one at a time but not both simultaneously)
- Polar Fitness Test
- Lap capability with measurement of average and maximum heart rate
- Heart rate target zones with visual and audible alarm
- Average and maximum heart rate for training session
- HRmax-p (Predicted maximum heart rate)
- Measurement of Distance—training, lap, and total (with S1 or GS)
- Interval trainer guided workouts (heart rate/pace/distance)
- HeartTouch—button-free operation of the watch
- Speed-based target zones with visual and audible alarm
- 16 Training files (with 15 weekly summaries and a cumulative total)
- Automatic lap recording (preset distance laps)
- Graphical target zone indicator
The Polar RS300X comes is also based on a cool looking watch.. It has four buttons on the side for the menus and the up/down cursor. It is lightweight and is easy to operate.
The trademark Wearlink+ heart rate monitor technology is strapped around the chest. It has a lighter weight and a more snug fit compared to the Garmin models. It is comfortable to wear around the chest and does not easily fall off.
What we like about the Polar RS300X:
With the HeatTouch feature, many Polar heart rate monitors, will turn on the backlight when you bring the watch close the chest transmitter. On higher end Polar heart rate monitors, including the RS300X, the HeartTouch is configurable. You can select between showing the limits, taking a lap, change the watch view, turning on the backlight and turning off the watch.
Runners will find it a worthy choice. In addition the standard heart rate zones, you can set intervals of distance or time. The RS300X will then alert you during the workout when you move into the next distance or time phase of your workout. This is excellent if you are an athlete undergoing repeat distances or trainings with negative splits.
The Polar RS300X really shines when it is combined with other accessories such as the Polar S1 Foot Pod to maximize its functions. With this accessory, you can also measure statistics such as speed and distance together with your heart rate. The S1 Foot Pod is placed in your shoe strings. The battery of the Foot Pod is a single AAA battery which can last you a long time, although there are some concerns that the weight of the battery may affect the speed. We think it is negligible.
Although it’s a minor feature, we like the event reminder. You can set an event for a future event. The heart rate monitor watch will remind you how many days until the big race or when the 90 day training program is over!
What we don’t like about the Polar RS300X:
Some users online have raised points about minor ergonomic features of the heart rate monitor. For example, the sturdy and reliable WearLink strap may become cumbersome for exercises in the long run. The elastic edges may turn out to bother you when it causes little sharps during the exercise. In addition, some claim the screen can be clogged with a lot of data. For example, if you are looking for a simple heart rate, you have to also be looking at 2 other pieces of data. The display zoom feature helps but it’s an obvious attempt to solve the problem of information overload.
Although you (finally) change the battery in the chest transmitter, you will void the warranty if the replace the battery in the watch.
Others are commenting about the speed of the heart rate monitor to acquire a signal and to take statistics. Moreover, you can’t use a GPS and an S1 Foot Pod at the same time. Although it attaches to your arm, the GPS unit is large and heavy. If you really need GPS to collect speed, distance and location of your workout sessions, we suggest looking at a heart rate monitor with built-in GPS such as the Garmin Forerunner 305.
What Amazon users say about the Polar RS300X:
There are several version of the Polar RS300X commonly sold. The black RS300X, the orange RS300X, the black RS300X with the S1 foot pod, the orange RS300X with the S1 foot pod, even the orange RS300X with the G1 GPS sensor. If you are interested in the foot pod, we recommend buying it with the RS300X- it’s much cheaper. Also, the orange version of the RS300X is cheaper than the black version. If you can deal with an orange watch, buy the orange RS300X with the S1 Foot pod. Between those versions there are over 50 reviews with a total rating of over 4 stars.
Our user reviews for the Polar RS300X:
Click here to submit your review.
Loaded with cool features
The RS300X has a huge # of features. It seems I find a new one every few days!
My favorite feature is the training summaries and the weekly totals.
I was worried about the chest strap, but it's fine. It works great (no dropouts) and I don't even notice it's there when I run.
Programing was easy. I even programmed my own heart rate zones with no trouble. The OwnZone feature is awesome. I really like the speed-based intervals. I am learning how to use them now.
Another victory for China
The Polar RS300 works fine. I can't really complain the functionality. I am not a big fan of the construction. You have to be a little careful with it. It's made in China and it feels like they took a few shortcuts. For example, the main button is a little fragile. It feels like it might come off if you press it too hard.
The Motivator
I got my RS300X a few weeks ago. I love it. It really helps to motivate me. I really look forward to my next run so I can see how I improved. I look at my distance, heart rate, calories, and average pace to measure how I have improved.
OK, but doesn't hit a homer
The RS300 works but it's not my favorite device. I obviously wear the footpod for my runs. It works but it's a little bigger than other footpods some of my friends have.
The watch has countless features but sometimes it's tough to read. The numbers are thin and the contrast can be a little light.
The backlight stinks. It needs to be brighter.
But I have found any other issues with the features.
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