Polar has released two new GPS watches with advanced heart-rate monitoring. The new products—Vantage V for elite athletes and Vantage M for competitive amateurs—feature Polar Precision Prime. New sensor technology uses two LED colors and a skin contact measurement to provide more reliable and accurate heart rate readings from the wrist.
Chest straps remain the gold standard in heart-rate monitoring, and Polar’s announcement notes that its H10 chest strap is “still the best match.” But improving the performance of an optical wrist-born reading would be a big step forward for those who find chest straps uncomfortable or can’t wear them due to the nature of their sport.