Polar RS800sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Suggested Retail Price: $499.95

Rating: 10/10

Top Features

• Provides numerous advanced running statistics
• Provides advanced heart rate statistics for laps
• Measures your fitness level in 5 minutes (Polar Fitness Test with OwnIndex)
• Personalized target heart rate zone indicator (Polar Zone Pointer & Polar OwnZone)
• Personalized calorie burn counter (Polar OwnCal)
• Block signals from other monitors (Polar OwnCode)
• Computer support with ProTrainer 5.0 software and free IrDA USB2 adapter

Product Specs

• Displays heart rate, average heart rate, and exercise time
• Full clock and full stopwatch function with day of the week and date indicator
• 1 year average battery life
• Water resistant to 165 feet (50 meters)
• 2 year limited warranty

Disadvantages

• Huge price tag

Review

If you're a competitive or serious runner, the Polar RS800sd is definitely a heart rate monitor you'll want to buy.  It's loaded with just about any extra feature you can imagine, and can even give you pace, distance, and stride statistics, as well as assistance in interval training.  It's so advanced, Polar accurately advertises this heart rate monitor as a "running computer".

As you would expect, the RS800sd comes with all the basic features included in other Polar models, like personalized target heart rate zones, calorie burning management, and signal blocking from other heart rate monitors.  But what really sets this model apart is all the advanced running features.  Many of these features are used to help in interval training.  The Polar interval training application uses your own pace, heart rate, and running distances to create customized personal multizone workouts.  You'll also be able to measure your heart rate intervals and reflect your autonomic nervous system in heartbeat regulation with the R-R intervals and heart rate variability function.

Another new feature in the RS800sd is the S3 Stride Sensor W.I.N.D system, which provides running speed, distance, and running cadence information by using a GPS sensor.  This works by integrating the stride sensor into Adidas running tops and shoes.  Then, you'll be able to access all kinds of information from your heart rate monitor to help your train.  You'll be able to optimize your running cadence and stride length to find the best balance between leg power and leg speed.  Additionally, you'll get all kinds of speed and pace statistics.  This includes target pace, speed displayed in pace, a trip odometer, and even shoe selection, among many others.

Also, the Polar RS800sd heart rate monitor comes with solid computer support in the form of ProTrainer 5.0 software and the included IrDA USB2 adapter, which is almost a $60 value.  It can be a little difficult to upload all of your information at first, but once you get the hang of it won't be too hard.

Although many people won't want to shell out nearly $500 for a heart rate monitor, serious runners will still swear the RS800sd is worth the price.  This model really will improve your training more than any other can, and if you're looking for the very best running heart rate monitor, this is your best bet.