I've owned a couple of Polar HRMs over time and I like this one the best.The watch itself is very nice.I have small wrists and this one fits my wrist nicely and the strap length is better than in the past.The band to hold the excess strap has a bump in it to keep it on the tail end of the strap.It comes with an extension strap for giant arms or over a coat.The buttons and thier function are pretty much the same as my previous Polar instruments.The display has changed although navigating the menus is in the same style.The top of the display is a matrix of dots so images and text can be displayed.This makes the menus easier to get through for me.When in monitor mode there are configurable screens that can be set up with the software the way you like.The functionality/options are pretty much the same as my prior watch s625x.The battery on this watch is easily changeable.Prior versions required skill and patience to change the battery as the entire guts of the watch had to be dissassembled - this new approach is a welcome change.
The stride sensor: the things I was interested in are: cadence (steps per minute for one foot), speed, distance.One has to calibrate the sensor.The watch allows for three calibrations for three pairs of shoes.As with any sensor like this the calibration needs to be done at the speed you use it most for acuracy there.If you calibrate it running it will be off when walking.I'm kind of a data nut so I look at this a bunch and it stays accurate for me at my usual pace.The S3 stride sensor has no switch and the battery is now a coin cell.This is nice to me.Its also smaller than the previous sensor.
The GPS .Polar G3 GPS Speed and Distance Sensor Set , an additional option, is more of a fun option for running and I'll use it this winter cross country skiing.The watch will use both the stride sensor and the GPS at the same time.This is something only the cx version has.If the stride sensor is on (you have to turn it on) the speed, distance, and cadence are all used from it and the GPS data is simply a record of where you went.When using the ProTrainer software you can look at your route in Google earth or a .gpx file viewer - I use Garmin's MapSource.The watch marks a waypoint when laps are set.I've used this to double check distances.I will be running in a city with lots of buildings in the near future so I'll see how well the GPS records there.
The unit does come with the polar usb irda port in the box which I find works well on my Windows XP laptop (Dell).Nothing I could find indicated it was in the box.
The software is very similar to the prior versions to me.The one thing that is a bit wacky is the way the watch settings load.I have an email in to Polar about this.I find I have to be careful when updating the settings via the irda interface as all the settings from the watch are not always loaded when the watch data is read.When you write any of the settings they all get written so this can erase or change settings.So, I have to check all the screens and make sure my data is the way I like before hitting save.I hope this gets fixed.The other wacky thing is the mileage in the exercise dialog is not the same as the recorded mileage from a run.In my software it is always a few miles higher.I just type in the real mileage.Have an email in on this as well.
Overall I really like this Polar watch.I give it four stars because of the bugs in the software
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Polar RS800CX Run Heart Rate Monitor Watch with S3 Stride Sensor W.I.N.D.Product Description: Are you serious about your athletic training? If so, turn to the Polar RS800CX Run heart rate monitor watch, which offers a complete system for planning, monitoring, and analyzing every part of your training. This particular version of the RS800CX is equipped with a host of valuable tools, including a built-in altimeter, a WearLink W.I.N.D. heart rate transmitter with a soft textile chest strap, a copy of Polar ProTrainer 5 software, and an S3 Stride Sensor W.I.N.D. designed to help you improve your running technique. As a result, there's no better way for runners to create a comprehensive training workout that's efficient and effective. Even better, the watch lets you combine training sessions from different sports into a single file, so you can integrate your running workouts with separate cycling, hiking, and skiing sessions without missing a beat. It's the ultimate multi-sport training watch.
The RS800CX watch is the ultimate training computer for multi-sport athletes. As a heart rate monitor, the RS800CX works by first checking your daily condition, and then guiding you to the ideal training intensity for your age and fitness level. Knowing your heart rate not only helps you reach your personal fitness goal, but also improves your physical condition in general, as it's vitally important to train at the appropriate intensity level. If you exercise too hard, you may quit before you reach the real benefit, but if you work out too leisurely, you'll struggle to lose weight at all. The RS800CX helps overcome these problems by encouraging you to map out a complete fitness routine. The watch also displays heart rate info in several ways, including as a percentage of your maximum heart rate, as beats per minute, and within a graphical target zone indicator. And should your heart rate exceed or dip below your target zone, the RS800CX will sound an alarm that helps you return to form.
The RS800CX also offers a variety of proprietary Polar functions. The ZonePointer, for example, is an audible and visual feature on the display of your watch that shows you where your current heart rate sits within your target heart rate zone. The Polar OwnZone mode, meanwhile, provides a customized target zone for individual exercise sessions. Finally, the Polar OwnCal mode shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session, as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. You can also set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure, helping you achieve both short-term and long-term goals. Other proprietary Polar functions include a Polar fitness test that measures your aerobic fitness at rest in just five minutes; a ZoneLock button that activates a target zone alarm while exercising; and an OwnOptimizer mode designed to keep you from undertraining or overtraining--a must when trying to improve overall performance.
The watch comes with the runner-specific S3 Stride Sensor W.I.N.D. Serious athletes will appreciate in the built-in altimeter, which measures your altitude, cumulative ascent, and cumulative descent. It's the Polar ProTrainer 5 software, however, that really helps the watch stand out. You can use the Polar ProTrainer 5 to plan your workout in advance--including creating maps and routes in conjunction with the G3 GPS sensor (sold separately)--and then transfer the settings to the RS800CX watch. Then, after training, you can analyze the results using versatile, customizable graphs to ensure a deeper understanding of your speed, exertion level, and distance. The software also includes a custom calendar that functions as a complete training log. Each time you transfer an exercise file to the program, the calendar automatically creates a diary entry with all your training data--a terrific option for athletes who want to monitor their workouts over the long term. The software even lets you export your GPS mapping routes to Google Earth, so you can view your exact training route or calculate mileage on the spot.
This version of the RS800CX comes with Polar's S3 Stride Sensor W.I.N.D., a compact transmitter that mounts to training shoelaces or inside a specially designed mid-sole cavity in adidas adiFusion MC and adiStar Fusion running shoes. The S3 Stride Sensor does more than just measure speed and distance, but also provides insight into the stride itself. By measuring each stride you take, the sensor can help you perform better in competitive situations, where shorter and faster strides can have a dramatic impact on your overall performance. The S3 communicates this stride data directly to the RS800CX, which analyzes the data in a variety of ways. The RS800CX also supports other optional W.I.N.D. sensors (sold separately) that are custom built for various training needs. The CS Speed Sensor pod, for example, accurately measures your cycling speed and distance, while the aforementioned G3 GPS sensor accurately tracks your movement during less-traveled sports, such as canoeing, mountain biking, rowing, or Nordic skiing. With the purchase of all three W.I.N.D. sensors, your RS800CX will become an extremely versatile multi-sport training computer.
Other watch features include several recording options to help track your heart rate, calorie expenditure, distance, and more and save it in an exercise file (with 99 total files); water resistance to 50 meters; a Polar WebLink connection for transferring exercise data from your wrist unit to a computer; a 12/24-hour clock with a day/week indicator; a built-in backlight; an alarm with a snooze; and a low battery indicator. Sporting an attractive silver housing, the watch carries a two-year warranty.
Manufacturer's Warranty The original purchaser of this heart rate monitor is backed by a limited warranty that states that this product that the product will be free from defects in material or workmanship for two years from the date of purchase.
About Polar The first EKG accurate wireless heart rate monitor was invented by Polar back in 1977 as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. The concept of "intensity training" by heart rate swept the athletic world in the eighties. By the 1990s, individuals were looking to heart rate monitors not only for performance training needs, but also for achieving everyday fitness goals. Today, the same concept of heart rate training is being used by world-class athletes as well as everyday people trying to lose weight. Polar is the leading brand among consumers, coaches, and personal trainers worldwide and the company is committed to not only producing the best products, but also being the leading educator on the benefits of heart rate based exercise.
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I suspect there are 2 kinds of people who'd buy a running watch of the rs-800sd caliber: the first are highly competitive or enthusiastic runners, and the second are gadget freaks who tolerate running and want to measure results. 
