Is the Polar S210 good for a beginner?

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Question:

I’ve studied the Polar watches and they only have a few models on their website, I don’t see all the models people talk about. For running there are only 3, and the Polar S210 is the middle one. Seems to be good for me. Not much more expensive than the S120. Is this a good watch for a beginner? Thanks

Response:

Is this a good watch for a beginner?

It’s OK, though I’d buy the base model that merely displayed HR until I knew what I was doing. Then I’d donate it to a local youth running group and buy a nice complex one that I could play with for hours. And, by golly, that’s what I did!

Response:

Then I’d donate it to a local youth running group

Anything you can do to get near young ones eh Roger?

Response:

http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/productfinder/productfinder.asp Hmm, it lists S120 as $120, S210 as $200, and S410 as $230, and a ton of other models. http://www.polar4less.com/heart_rate_monitors.htm has cheaper prices with S120 $90, S210 $137, and S410 $165 (I’ve not dealt with this company and have NFI in either) Short version: If you just want something to start with, the more basic model like the S120 (and they have some lower cost models but not familiar with that series) would probably be fine. If you even think you want to download stuff, I’d get the 410 rather than the 210 for the extra $30. The 210 is a fair amt more than the 120 in these lists, and if you’re going to spend that much money, I’d get the download capabilities. Just my $.02. Long version: What you get depends on how you want to use it, in particular if you want to download your data to a computer – or if you even need a hrm (can take pulse manually or run by feel or breathing effort). If you’re not sure, then you might start out with a low-end model and after you get a better feeling for what you want to do (type of running, duration of runs, frequency of recording, multisport, etc), get something better. If you know you definitely want to download stuff, I think the S410 is the lowend, but has some limitations (single exercise set, frequency of recording decreases with longer workouts). I’m a beginner and have used an S410 for about 3 years, but have been planning on upgrading for at least a year (waiting for batteries to die, which they did recently) because of some of its limitations (some of which are artifact of early version, but some of which are inherent in it). I got it thinking it was the upper end of what I’d be interested in. Wrong. My interests expanded substantially about 6 months after I started using it. But I don’t look at it much while running (go by feel now) and depend heavily on the download capability – but that’s me, what I like, and my personality. In contrast, the runners in my cross-training class (mostly much more experienced) couldn’t understand why anyone would want to download data or even if it was worthwhile to get a hrm. YMMV. Dot waiting for S625x to upgrade

Response:

If you know you definitely want to download stuff, I think the S410 is the lowend, but has some limitations (single exercise set, frequency of recording decreases with longer workouts).

Also uses sonic link rather than infrared port for transfer and probably a couple other things I didn’t care for but can’t remember at the moment. I think the 610 gets rid of those issues.

Response:

Here’s a nice comparison tool to help you sort things out: http://tinyurl.com/4nqxj They list these models as being for running: S120 $90 S210 $137 S410 $165 S610i $189 S810i $291 S625X $??? I have the S610i, which I purchased from Polar4Less.com at a substantial savings. I’ve listed their prices above. The 610 has infrared data communication. The 410 uses a sonic link. I’ve found infrared communication to be flawless. Since I have an infrared port on my laptop, it is very convinenient to transmit the data from the watch to the laptop using the software application. You can also download data to the watch. This makes it easy (using the Polar Precision Performance software) to create your exercises, HR zones, etc., then download it to your watch. The 610 and the 410 come with the Polar software. The 610i can store up to 99 exercise files. Since I pull the data frequently, I never even get close to using up the memory on the watch. The 410 and the 210 can store 1 exercise file. There are a few other differences, but they aren’t that important. As Dot has already mentioned, it really depends on what you want to do with it. Are you really in to analyzing your exercise data? If so, you have to at least go with the 410 (or the 610 for $25 more) for uploading and software included. Since you are just starting out and just want something to measure your HR and motivate you, then maybe the 120 is good enough. That way you won’t be spending too much money, and can justify getting a better one, once you realize what you actually want or need. Or you may realize that you don’t need an HRM at all. So at least you won’t have wasted too much money in the process. Phil M.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve studied the Polar watches and they only have a few models on their website, I don’t see all the models people talk about. For running there are only 3, and the Polar S210 is the middle one. Seems to be good for me. Not much more expensive than the S120. Is this a good watch for a beginner? Thanks http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/productfinder/productfinder.asp Hmm, it lists S120 as $120, S210 as $200, and S410 as $230, and a ton of other models. http://www.polar4less.com/heart_rate_monitors.htm has cheaper prices with S120 $90, S210 $137, and S410 $165 (I’ve not dealt with this company and have NFI in either)

I purchased the S610i from them. Great price, quick delivery, no problems. If you know you definitely want to download stuff, I think the S410 is the lowend, but has some limitations (single exercise set, frequency of recording decreases with longer workouts).

That’s one reason why I got the S610. The 2-way infrared communication works great. I like being able to setup my exercises on the laptop and upload them to the watch. I’ve never really made use of the 99 file limit, since I’m always pulling the data off the watch. I’m a beginner and have used an S410 for about 3 years

You can stop calling yourself a beginner now. Dot waiting for S625x to upgrade

I’m on a spouse-mandated spending freeze on running paraphernalia. Hopefully the freeze will be lifted when the S625x comes out. Phil M.

Response:

They list these models as being for running: S120 $90 S210 $137 S410 $165 S610i $189

At that price difference, I wouldn’t even consider the 410. Advantages of 610 are worth waaay more than $24 IMHO. S810i $291 S625X $???

$234 according to http://www.polar4less.com/heart_rate_monitors.htm Dot

Response:

I’ve never really made use of the 99 file limit, since I’m always pulling the data off the watch.

I’ve wanted it for different phases of a workout. I sometimes bike and run in one workout. Our xt class has a "warmup" (yea, right, I end up well above LT, sometimes above 95% of my estimated max hr), stretch (don’t need data), then a circuit of some sort which I’d like to record separately from the warmup. I’m a beginner and have used an S410 for about 3 years You can stop calling yourself a beginner now.

Thanks , *but* I’ve only done one normal running race (no multisport, no snowshoes) – although I’ve had a bunch of fun / challenge training for races that got cancelled or just plain creating my own goals and working toward them. In my mind, I’m always beginning to learn – hopefully, until the day I die. Dot waiting for S625x to upgrade I’m on a spouse-mandated spending freeze on running paraphernalia. Hopefully the freeze will be lifted when the S625x comes out.

LOL. Didn’t you just get your 610? She may be justified My 4.5 yr old computer started heading south about a month ago, and I decided buying a new one was easier / cheaper than figuring out problems with old one. So getting the new one configured plus some field trips and other hassles have kept me from thinking about 625 too much. BTW, I did see your pic of Hard Rock and was going to post a couple pics for comparison, but haven’t had time to sort pics or get FTP setup on new machine. After I got the new machine, then I remembered why I’d been avoiding getting a new machine for so long. Dot

Response:

I ordered the S210. I ruled out the S410 because of the soniclink problems. The S610i requires irda which I don’t have, and is another $40. So the S210 is $100 cheaper than the S610i, which I don’t really need anyway. I can’t wait to get it and try it out. Thanks everyone for your help. I’m glad I followed the advice here. Especially by going with the Polar instead of the Nike Triax C6. Only $30 difference in price and the Polar is much better. -Michael

Response:

For truly "recreational" running, almost any HRM is good enough. You might get a little more fun from playing with the features on a higher-end model. But none of those features have much to do with just running for recreation. They have a lot to do with training for competition. For myself, I chose the S210 over the S1xx models, mainly because I prefer the black over the yellow colors. Any of them will show the heart rate and elapsed time on one screen, and will make noise when the heart rate is out of your preset range. Steve

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