Polar Grit X review

The Polar Grit X is a fitness tracker primarily aimed at runners and athletes, with a focus on long-distance running. It is also a very strong option for tracking a variety of other activities and a compelling health tracker for general users.

Compared to other Polar models, the Polar Grit X has a larger shape, but it is not too big. Compared to the thinner Polar models you are used to, the design is more reminiscent of Garmin. The watch is designed more for hikers and other outdoor sports than for running indoors, and that’s intentional. However, it is not suitable for jogging on the track, but it is still fantastic for any outdoor runner.

Additionally, the waterproofing has been upgraded, making it ideal for any outdoor trip because of its remarkable durability. When it comes to multi-sport watches, the Garmin Fenix 6 is the industry benchmark. The Fenix offers the best tracking performance for endurance athletes in practically every discipline, provided you have the premium money it asks.

But what if you don’t want to spend the money on Garmin’s premium model? What if you’re willing to make a few concessions in exchange for a capable, long-lasting outdoor watch with an excellent suite of tracking abilities and training insights. Introducing the Polar Grit X. Built-in GPS, an optical heart-rate sensor, support for more than 130 sports, and a running watch-like design are all features of this $429.95 fitness tracker.

It also promises plenty for those looking to try something more adventurous on the trail, including Komoot route guidance, adaptive fueling tips, reactive hill splits, responsive recovery insights, and tailored workout recommendations.

Polar Grit X review: Design and Interface

The Polar Grit X is physically balanced between a solid construction and a sleek style. Although it can withstand a number of military durability tests, such as water resistance up to 100 metres, it is less obviously durable than its Garmin or Suunto competitors. The silicone strap, which has 22 adjustment possibilities, a high textured surface, and is both strong and comfortable, is similar.

The spacious 47mm diameter of the stainless steel casing doesn’t make it bulky or heavy. It is 13mm deep, sits low enough to go under most sleeves, and weighs only 64g thanks to a strengthened polymer back. Because of this, the Grit X feels more like a running watch than its heavier outdoor competitors and is 16g lighter than the Fenix 6. A black frame with discreet clock indications surrounds the 1.2-inch colour touchscreen, which is front and centre.

The display does well outside, even though it can’t compete with the sharper smartwatch screens: it is legible and clear in even the strongest sunlight, has good contrast, has plenty of space, and has a backlight for backup on midnight runs.

The shell has five nicely sculpted, textured buttons. These are responsive and well-proportioned, and they perfectly complement the operating system of the watch, which is uncluttered and has a logical structure that is simple to use when working out. The use of the tactile inputs feels so natural that the sluggish and inaccurate touchscreen is essentially obsolete.

Polar Grit X review: Accuracy and data

You’re actually here for the fitness tracking, after all. Fortunately, the Polar Grit X shines in just that area. When it comes to tracking your runs, cycling, swims, and even weightlifting, you’ll discover that this device is highly competent. Oh, and also absolutely everything else.

However, the heart rate monitoring may be improved. A total of 10 lights on the Grit X are used to track heart rate. These contain lights of various hues that reach various depths in the skin and are more effective on various skin tones. In order to deliver an accurate reading, they must cooperate. Results are adequate in practise but fall short of the competition. This is particularly valid when it comes to weightlifting. I compared the outcomes of several runs, walks, indoor bike rides, and weight training sessions using my Apple Watch and a Polar H10 chest strap. This is our barometer since chest straps are more precise.

During an indoor cycling session, the Polar Grit X (purple) and Polar H10 (yellow) can be seen tracking fairly well against one another. The chest strap is undoubtedly more precise and undergoes more frequent modifications The Grit X, on the other hand, keeps up admirably. For the majority of uses, this data is without a doubt precise enough.

However, lifting weights is known to be hard for wrist-mounted heart rate monitors. Lifting weights changes the blood flow by causing the blood vessels to expand and contract. Sadly, the Polar Grit X struggles in this situation.

Polar Grit X review: Performance

Most of the time, quite well. The optical heart rate reader is just as accurate as any wrist-borne monitor I’ve ever used, in my opinion. It has closely matched the heart rate reported from the MyZone MZ-3 belt I’ve been using as a reference utilising a combination of red, orange, and green LEDs. It also displays extremely similar average, maximum, and minimum readings for each run.

Additionally, GPS accuracy was excellent. You can select a GPS and Glonass or GPS and Galileo system combination, and there is also Assisted GPS available to aid in obtaining a quick positional lock. I haven’t experienced any significant problems overall.

Additionally, throughout the past month, I’ve discovered the Grit X to be a remarkably user-friendly and dependable exercise partner. Although the touchscreen is sluggish, the huge, clicky buttons, which provide a faint tactile input when you press them, make navigating the UI so simple that I hardly noticed. The screen, which appears so dull inside, is crisp and readable in daylight.

Polar Grit X review: GPS and Navigation

If you’ve never purchased a sports watch with navigational capabilities, you’ll probably find the navigational aids Polar provides to be adequate. The Grit X offers turn-by-turn directions for pre-planned courses and interacts with the sports watches navigation app Komoot. However, there are no topographic maps, which may disappoint you if you depend on them for wilderness navigation.

Polar Grit X review: Training features

Some pretty great extra features come with the Polar Grit X. As a hill runner, I adore the first feature, called Hill Splitter. The statistics for uphill and downhill are substantially more detailed. You’ll know your data are accurate and theirs are false if you run with another athlete and attempt the same vertical but wind up with entirely different elevations on Strava. While you’re moving, this function shows you the height, speed, and distance. As the watch recognises hill portions automatically, it also ranks you.

Download the Komoot app to make the most of the route planner. Using this, you may upload a GPX file to your watch to plan your route. Connecting your accounts on Komoot is as easy as a swipe, giving you access to other users’ routes. There are step-by-step instructions and a summary of your session at the end. A compass and an altimeter are useful additions to have.

More than simply for exercising, watches are attempting to “teach” us, and one truly intriguing feature is the FuelWise Smart Fuelling assistant. This watch will remind you to drink and eat 10 grammes of carbohydrates when you need to, lowering the likelihood that you may pass out during longer workouts and races because you forgot to rehydrate. You may set reminders to consume nutrients and water based on your weight, health, and the level of work you’re doing.

Polar Grit X review: Battery Life

Thanks to a variety of power-saving technologies, Polar claims that the Grit X can operate for up to 100 hours (a little more than four days). You can get up to 40 hours of battery life while the GPS is on. The watch still maintained 79 percent battery life after my initial 24 hours of testing, which included two roughly 25-minute runs that I tracked with GPS and a yoga session. In total, it ran for 110 hours before the battery’s charge dropped to 9 percent and a recharge was indicated.

Push the bottom left button, choose Start Training, and then press the light button to access the Grit X’s power-saving settings. Here, you can alter the GPS recording frequency from every second to every minute or two, or you can completely turn it off. Additionally, you can activate a screensaver and turn off heart rate tracking. These characteristics are advantageous for long training sessions and endurance events.

In contrast, the Coros Apex can operate for up to 24 days under normal conditions, 24 hours in full GPS mode, and 80 hours in UltraMax, a battery-saving mode that activates the GPS for 30 seconds every two minutes.

Polar Grit X review: Price and availability

The Polar Grit X is currently available for purchase through Polar website UK, Polar US, and Polar AU for the suggested retail price of £379, $429.95, and AU$599. Check out the widgets at the top and bottom of this review for the most affordable Polar Grit X offers.

Final Words

Can the Polar Grit X rival the Garmin Fenix 6 in performance. It’s not the winner in a straight fight, but it doesn’t have to be. It occupies a genre of its own and does so convincingly while being far less expensive and furnished with a variety of talents to suit those just beginning to venture off the beaten path.

Although the Grit X may look like a tough running watch, it delivers a wide range of insights, training aids, and features that comfortably beyond the capabilities of ordinary activity trackers without going overboard with price.

Hill Splitter is one area that still needs improvement, and the route-mapping in Komoot lacks the depth that most seasoned endurance athletes will demand. However, a long list of more sophisticated functions, such as intelligent fueling support, on a stylish and functional watch should make the Polar Grit X an enticing option for those just starting out in trail running.

Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds is a skilled content editor at Bollyinside, specializing in "How to" and "Tips & Tricks" articles focused on Gaming, Software, and Apps. With a genuine passion for video games, he not only writes about them but also actively engages in gaming. His commitment to providing insightful and approachable content has earned him a trusted reputation within the online community.

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