Polar loop - reviews? To buy or not ?

" I am not sure why you are saying you want an H7 to swim with because the Bluetooth signal will not transmit in the water. "

SJcon,

This is simply not correct.

I have worn ALL iterations of Polar chest belts from the start of Polar in the early 90's and have always worn them in the pool with the wrist monitors.

The H7 bluetooth transmits HRM data PERFECTLY to my S610i in the water. As reliably as _any_ previous model.

I wear the Loop on the other wrist, and the Loop does NOT receive HRM data consistently. I can't get a handle on why this is so, there's no logical reason why or why not.

However, your statement that the H7, as I read it-that it does not transmit in the water is just not correct. It works perfectly for a Polar S610i. More reliably than any previous belt iteration, in my experience.

If I've missed something, or erred in my understanding of your statement, please correct me.





brendan

"It could have been the killer product, but i guess i will have to wait for a product that will do it all."

SPG71,

What do you suppose went wrong with the Loop?

I reckon Polar got too used to the churn for $500 devices they wanted to sell you every two years.

Fitbit got under the $100 mark and the competition left Polar having to put out a product before it was ready. Lawdy, the software surely is not.

Polar are getting their butts kicked in public-kinda sad, but deserved. The best of their products work really well, but some aspects of their customer service and software need radical overhaul and money spent.

If fitbit can marry HRM data into the little wristpiece or jewellery of the future-that's where it will be at.




brendan

Loop is not alone here, they released a Bluetooth foot pod as well that does not work correctly but it is due to a software issue, it will not hold a calibration change you set in. The other big negative in my book is that they combined the Flow (read Loop) visibility with their new visibility for their HR products which is called Beat. The Flow and beat do not share any information which should be a very simple web change but apparently not to Polar.The only way to get all of your activity into Loop and its visibility is to NOT use the training visibility and programs you are used to or to wear two chest straps and sensors. I am switching to Garmin with their new Vivofit. That will use Garmin Connect and Garmin is much better at web/app integration.

" I am switching to Garmin with their new Vivofit."

SJ,

That looks _very_ interesting indeed. Especially that it is useable in the pool.

Not out till the end of March. I hope they get it right on launch.

What kind of record do Garmin have on products ready to go when in the shops?

This whole area is filled with half-cooked stuff.

I'll probably get one, but I'll be interested in your evaluation.

brendan

Usually pretty good, unless they go for the kitchen sink method again, putting everything in except that. Then it seems like the feature you desire is the one waiting for an upgrade, which they do come.

But they've been much better about their website and improvements too.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/01/vivofit-activity-monitors.html

Nice full review.

" I am switching to Garmin with their new Vivofit."

SJ,

That looks _very_ interesting indeed. Especially that it is useable in the pool.

Not out till the end of March. I hope they get it right on launch.

What kind of record do Garmin have on products ready to go when in the shops?

This whole area is filled with half-cooked stuff.

I'll probably get one, but I'll be interested in your evaluation.




brendan

Haybales failed to mention that Garmin also uses the "Firstbeat Algorithm" which some consider more accurate for Burn estimations.

This is a good article on the subject also by DCrainmaker http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/11/how-calorie-measurement-works-on-garmin.html

Since that was published Garmin is now using Firstbeat in all of their new products I think.

"I love my Loop,"

KNRA_GRL,

Happy you love your Loop, I do NOT love mine. At all.

" it does have the option to sync with the H6 or H7 chest strap also."

Not in the water, it don't.

I bought the Loop, along with an H7, SPECIFICALLY because Polar said it was waterproof and that it could be used successfully in the pool.

My experience, (and I'm a _very_ experienced Polar user.) is that it is quite simply hit and miss when it does pair with the H7 when in the water--and when it does, the results don't bear ANY comparison to the results obtained with the Polar HRM S610i worn on the other wrist.

The Loop, quite frankly is a bust, IMO and unless Polar get its act together and fix it quick, their reputation will suffer desperate loss. The miserable excuse for a design for the wrist strap must have been put together under the influence of Vodka, it is quite simply, abysmal.

I've now sent five emails to Polar customer support, NONE of which has received a reply.

I could put up with the minor irritations if it simply did what it was supposed to-pair with the H7 when told to, and record the HRM data correctly for synching. IT DOES NOT.

The H7, works as it should. Does exactly what it says on the tin. The Loop (as advertised,) is a piece of toot.

The Fitbit Force is a far more useful piece of kit, that works and does everything it says it should.

The Garmin Evofit looks intriguing, and if it works as advertised, will kill the Loop stone dead and be good competition for the Force.

If somehow, Fitbit add proper HRM data to a device that fits on the wrist securely...or even implant:) That would be a great step forward in this mess of a market.



brendan

I see that there is a LOT of experience on HRM' s here! Great! I am looking for an HRM, not too expensive, that will work with my samsung galaxy s3 and that I don't have to wear a wrist unit. Any suggestions?

You don't need a HRM, you can get an app on the device for that. You need a HR strap that reads the HR and sends the beats to the app for doing something with.

An "HR Strap" IS an HRM (heart rate monitor) and you will need one of those if you want your smartphone to "see" your heartbeat. I have use the Polar H7 and the 60 Beat I prefer the Polar because it is more comfortable and transmits not only on Bluetooth LE (aka Bluetooth Smart) which is what your phone needs but also transmits on another frequency called GymLink which most cardio equipment found in gyms will pick up and display.

I'm genuinely curious *kitten*. What are you waiting for in terms if features or functionality that is not already available?

so much info

"What are you waiting for in terms if features or functionality that is not already available?"

Fyoung,

What I'd like is something that worked.

The Loop simply doesn't-not in any reliable way or form.

What I'd like is the Fitbit Force, with a proper watch strap-that connected to a chest belt, and WORKED!

AND I can swim with it.

I don't mind paying for it, a bit like Gore Tex, if you want water proof, not water resistant, there's a cost.




brendan

I have had the LOOP since Dec 2013 - got it online for $79, then picked up the H7 band for $16 - so wasn't that bad on price.

As to as tracker, since I'm a Android user I have NO DAMN APP STILL, so I have to sync it with my laptop EVERYDAY. (Galaxy S3 w/ 4.3)

I do like it for the Heart Rate Monitor part, and it fits better than the Flex, plus has TIME on it, so it doubles as a watch.

But If I Had to do it again, I wouldn't for the main part of NO ANDROID APP. (But I'm a technophile and wear 3 trackers - ALL OF THEM DON'T HAVE ANDROID SYNC which in case you haven't noticed, is PISSING ME OFF.)

I will say that it's usually within 300 steps / 150 calories of my FitBit Flex and is about 2000 steps/ -400 calories from the BodyMedia Fit Link (not sure why so different bwt them).

I'm watching the Kickstarter for the FlyFit, which is a monitor that you wear on your ankle (as well as I'm gonna make me a ankle pouch to experiment w/ my FitBit Flex). BUT WARNING - it only supports 4.0 BLU (4.4 kitkat android) - which is a MAJOR turn off :sad: [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/522669502/flyfit-unique-ankle-tracker-for-fitness-cycling-an]

I saw the "in ear" bud things, but they want an ARM (299$) for a set. Maybe if the price goes down & they can prove they work well.

Brendanstalla,

Well, if that is all you want, you are in luck. The Garmin Vivofit started shipping this week and does all of the things you say you want. I hope to have mine by the weekend.

The Polar Loop, by the way, is actually a pretty nice piece of hardware. As hardware, once you understand it, it works very well. MY problem with it is 100% poor software on the web and on the iPhone though the app has been gradually improving. I'm also tired of waiting for MFP integration.

I am told that I can use Garmin Connect to feed Runkeeper which will, in turn, feed MFP. We shall see in a week or so.

I want all of the things you want + strapless heart rate monitoring. Unless Samsung has finally got that working, it looks like I'll be waiting a while. My Basis B1 is a bust.

Frank

"The Garmin Vivofit started shipping this week"

Frank,

I just spoke to a couple of suppliers, and they say that the Vivofit is shipping this week, but the straps won't be ready till the end of March.


brendan

ANT can't make it through water either, have Garmin's 310XT, and prior, frequency is just too high.

I stop every 5 laps, chest out of pool, and 3 seconds to see current HR, and once it drops a beat, back to the lap.

Brendan,

Here is another thought. When my Loop was less than 60 days old, it quit pairing with my H7. Just flat out quit all of a sudden. The next thing I discovered is that the Loop would not talk to my iPhone either. Clearly the Loop's Bluetooth capabilities were kaput. After a long and pointless telephone support session, Polar agreed to take the Loop back and fix it. They returned it to me a few weeks later in a box with no paperwork and no explanation but it worked again so I was happy.

Maybe your Loop's Bluetooth component died just like mine? Does it still sync with your phone?

Frank

"Maybe your Loop's Bluetooth component died just like mine? Does it still sync with your phone?"



Frank,

Iss like one of them awful electrical problems on a lucas equipped car, innit? LOL.

Now and again it'll pair with the Polar beat app on my Nexus 5, but it will not pair with the phone via the "settings," menu.

I'm going to have another little go at Polar and without any further messing, if it don't work, Amazon will get it back as a defective return.

I'm convinced it's not the H7, that works better than ANY chest belt I've ever had from Polar, on everything from the gym to the pool.

I appreciate all the help and suggestions, I really wish I could make the thing work, I really do. I've been a big Polar user in the past and I hate that they've made this *** that don't work like it should.

It isn't a matter of the money. I'd happily pay more for one that would work.



brendan