POLAR RCX5 SD Heart Rate Monitor

I hate wearing the thing around my chest but it works well for all sports including swimming. I tie a cord around my neck to keep the monitor in place when I swim - feels pretty stupid but it works. The stride pod also works well, plus or minus 2% in measuring a mile. I look forward to getting a GPS unit.The watch could have more features. It couldn't be that difficult to add a stop watch and timer application.That said, the units interoperate well and the concept of having separate devices all linking into the single watch outweighs everything else. This watch doesn't need to be recharged at all. Battery lasts a year. I had a different watch with an integral GPS device and it had to be recharged every night - this is way better.

Much easier to use than previous Polar products. The footpod is a welcome improvement over the previous (enormous!) S1.Not as easy as Garmin, but on the plus side, the polar software for my Mac seems much better behaved than Garmin.Garmin does seem to have better connectivity to various web sites.I chose the RCX5 over the RCX3 because I didn't want to have to recharge the watch all of the time. I often run the same routes, and just use the additional GPS unit when I'm exploring new routes.I particularly like the ability to capture running cadence, and view it on the display as I run.I changed the battery a couple of times - very simple.My only complaint is that the companion web site (polarpersonaltrainer.com) is a bit clunky, and Polar does not seem to support integration with other systems very well.

I bought this watch primarily for running. i am an elite marathoner and i run a lot. I train hard several miles a week. This watch did fine with the pedometer while running easy at a 7 min/mile or slower, but during hard training sessions and/or races, it was not able to maintain a connection after about a mile or so. It may just have been the one I had, but on several occasions it would just stop for long periods of time in teh middle of the workout. I did some mile repeats at 5:30 pace and did not have this issue, but when holding a pace under 6 - 6:30 min/mile for more then a mile or so it would start screwing up. For example, I ran a 10k race with it on and it registered 2.5 miles. During the race, the current pace was all over the place. reviewing the workout showed that the watch registered correctly for about 1.5 miles and then just started going crazy.I also had a problem calibrating the foot pod, but I figured it was just a learning curve thing.A few features that I did not like were the display would not increase in size. I would have liked to see the display increase when I only select one output, but I couldn't find a way to do that. Also, while training, i sometimes like to review my workout without starting over. I could not figure out a way to do that. i had to stop the workout, review the data and then start a new one. It wasn't a big deal because the entire workout was listed by date and time in the review screen online.Also, a weird thing, but I like using the auto lap feature, however, when I use the auto lap and set it for 1 mile, i want the ability to hit the lap button manually and have the auto lap go off a mile from that point. On this watch, it goes offf based on the start point of the run rather than the last time I hit the lap. Not a big deal and maybe it was just me, but something that I was used to doing.I gave it a 3 star because I really liked the watch itself and the other features seemed to work fine. I did not have the GPS, so it may work fine as well. As far as a watch and a heart rate monitor and heart rate type training, i would give it a 4 or 5 star. For faster foot pod training, I would give it a 1 star.This watch did not work for me so i returned it.

Purchased the RCX5 as an aid to evaluate the intensity of various MMA courses, this monitor helps evaluate how intense each workout is and the effect on my body. Great tool to gage various cardio vascular programs as well to achieve personal goals. Seamlessly links to Polar Personal Training software via provided data link via USB. I’ve had numerous monitors and this by far the best user interface, most programming via computer sync software. The provided software allows the user to create numerous sport activities to track separately such as boxing classes or just jogging, easy to evaluate what courses provide the best results for the desired intensity. Highly recommended, I would suggest you visit U-tube as that was a great source when making my purchase decision. 03.18.13….

I've used the 625 for the last 5 years and the improvements and ease of use on the RCX5 are huge. Only thing I'd say being an older guy the back lighting is still weak but I can live with that. I really enjoy the auto-sync feature with the foot pod and upload. The new chest strap works a whole lot better than my old one ever did. I'm very impressed with all the new changes. One downside after using the Polar trainer software all these years this watch is not supported. I got the software free back then and now it's an extra for the latest version. You would figure after such a large investment that wouldn't have changed. A little disappointing but not enough to change my feelings on a great product!

Love that I can use it for running, swimming and biking! Love all the other sports profiles that I'm able to use: Shooting (not a typo), martial arts, hiking, skiing... have I forgotten anything? Love that you can 'shut if down' after hours to save battery life; it doesn't display until you press a button.

ケイデンスと歩幅が判ればいいともい購入したが、フットポッドの電池が2回（1回2時間）浸かっただけで、"LOWバッテリー"と表示され使い物にならないこれを買うなら、機能的にも価格的にもエプソンのSF-810が一番いい