Polar Loop

Glovesave3373
Glovesave3373 Posts: 92 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I know that MFP doesn't intergrate currently with the Polar Loop but I was wondering if anyone else has used this activity tracker. I have looked at the Fitbit and the Up24, but I feel that for my activities like hockey I prefer to wear a HRM and the Polar Loop is the only current activity tracker that has this capability. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREAT. Additionally if anyone at MFP could give an update as to if the Polar Loop is even on the radar as a soon to be added app that would be greatly appreciated.

Replies

  • kaaaaylee
    kaaaaylee Posts: 398
    Actually the garmin vivofit also has the HRM chest strap.

    If you search "polar loop", a ton of threads will come up, if you don't want to wait for answers.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    Garmin Vivofit also uses the heartrate monitor.

    I have tried both, and both have advantages and disadvantages.

    Vivofit does not have a backlight, which makes it difficult to see in low light, but also saves battery. You don't have to recharge it at all, ever. You just buy new cheap watch batteries about every 9 months or so. The HRM works after you push a button and wait for it to connect each time, but you won't get info like calories burned during the workout until after you've synced the vivofit with a computer or smartphone. It tracks sleep movement, but you have to put it in sleep mode. The strap is comfortable, but prone to snagging on things and coming off. It's waterproof for swimming. You can set custom goals, and you can turn screens off that you don't use so that you don't have to cycle through them (like the time and date).

    The Loop has a nice bright red-on-black screen which is easy to see in the dark, but difficult to see in bright sunlight. You do have to recharge it every few days, but it charges really fast. You don't have to push anything to link the HRM each time, you just put it on and the Loop detects it automatically. It gives even less info than the Vivofit during the workout, but a bit more after the workout when you sync with the computer or smartphone. The software is a bit nicer than Garmin's. It also tracks sleep movement, but it does it automatically. It tells you how much time you've spent during the day lying down, sitting, standing, walking, and running (or other high intensity movement). It's not always accurate (none of them are completely accurate). You can't set custom goals, but on the other hand, the wristpiece will tell you how many minutes of light activity, moderate activity, or intense activity you need to do in order to reach the goal it set (for example, jog 55 minutes). The button and the band are both nicer on the Loop. It's very secure, and the button is touch sensitive so you don't really have to push it, just touch it.

    It's a matter of: do you want to see your heart rate during your workout? If so, get the Vivofit, not the Loop.
  • tacgroup2
    tacgroup2 Posts: 1 Member
    snugglesmacks pretty much summed up both quite nicely. I am only responding to emphasize the 'visible heart rate' issue between the two. I have both and like them both. I think the Polar Loop is a bit more stylish (for a man anyway) and has a nice clasp that keeps it locked on your wrist. The MAIN issue, as I see it anyway, is that you always have to touch the Loop to get info. I like being able to quick glance at my wrist and see the time or heart rate while working out. I ride my bike and rollerblade a lot for exercise and its a pain to have to remove a hand from the handlebars and touch the loop to see if I am in a fat burning HR zone or not. Same thing while skating, although I have figured out how to touch the Loop to my chin and then look at the display which saves the 2 handed operation issue. I am torn between the two since they both have pros and cons but it appears the Vivofit is winning the battle based on my need/desire to see the screen when I turn my wrist.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Here are two unbiased reviews for both. Read them both and make your own decision.

    Polar Loop:

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/12/polar-depth-review.html

    Garmin Vivofit:

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/03/garmin-vivofit-review.html
  • k8es
    k8es Posts: 271 Member
    Bump
  • SMarie10
    SMarie10 Posts: 956 Member
    Just purchased the polar loop (with a discount code from the DCRainmaker website) for less than $100. Very excited to give it a try.

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