The new Polar Pacer is designed as an entry-level training tool for runners who are I trained for an ultra with Samsungs Galaxy Ring Best Garmin deals running watch.
It's described by Polar as ‘no-nonsense’, and that’s exactly what it is – there are no bells and whistles in the design, features, performance or price. It does exactly what you’d expect, which is provide the basic data and tracking from your run (or other activities – there are around 120 you can pick from, simply select up to 20 from the Polar Flow app to add to the watch).
or who are looking to invest in their first?
What everyone's reading
An impressive display
The Polar Pacer's display is, like Baby Bear's chair, just the right size and does not feature a giant, oversized face like some other watches. The screen is made from Gorilla Glass for strength, and the display remains bright enough to be read in all conditions, even in that rare UK phenomenon: bright rays of sunshine. It also features a colour display, and this comes into its own when displaying your heart rate while running. The reading is shown at the top of the display, and the digits change colour depending on what HR zone you’re in, heading towards red as it gets faster. This is useful in terms of keeping check on your HR, as a quick glance can tell you your zone by colour alone, especially as Polar claims its Precision Prime OHR technology is the most ‘reliable and accurate in the industry’.
However, we found the metrics on display a little too small to read while running. The main screen contains heart rate (as mentioned), distance, pace and duration. You can toggle through other screens that display elevation information, more detailed (and, crucially, at a bigger point size) heart rate info (including your activity’s max and min), Strava Live segments (so you can see when you’re in a Strava segment) and music controls, where you can control your music from your watch.
In terms of watch colourways, there are four available: Cloud White, Deep Teal, Night Black and, our favourite, Purple Dusk, plus there is the ability to add other colour straps. The watch itself is lightweight – at just 40g, you quickly forget it's on your wrist, and the silicon strap and buttons are easy to adjust and press with sweaty, post-run hands.
Who's got the power?
Polar claims the watch lasts one week on one full charge. For that, you’ll get 35 hours of activity tracking (GPS and heart rate), and 100 hours in power-save mode. During our testing, it more or less matched Polar's claims, lasting around six days before requiring a charge, which is a fairly standard amount when compared to other watches at a similar price point. However, if you use the sleep-tracking feature, it drains the battery significantly more quickly.
Keeping things simple
There’s no denying that the overall look of the watch is basic. And in a time when watch-makers are constantly attempting to outdo each other with the number of features on offer – including ever-increasing amounts of complicated health stats – seeing a stripped-back, minimal design is refreshing, especially for those who want a watch that just does the basics.
And we can confirm that it does the basics well: heart rate is accurate and distance is generally accurate (well, as accurate as any watch's GPS can be – one glitch on the first test run lost GPS connection for around 400m, which skewed the run data slightly). Saying that, it locked onto the GPS satellite almost instantly every time we tested it, which can't be said for all watches.
To use the Polar Pacer, you require the Polar Flow app. The app itself is a useful training tool and provides tonnes of data and metrics from your running activity (if you're into studying your stats), as well as info regarding your sleep if you wear it at night, including the stages you slept in and the quality of your sleep.
Fuel reminders
One useful addition that runners will be clamouring to use is the ‘Fuel alarm’. This is a handy feature that allows you set reminders to consume carbs and/or liquids while running long-distance, meaning you are less likely to forget to eat that gel or sip that drink, which will go towards ensuring you keep moving towards the finish line without start of your running journey. There’s also a handy calculator that works out how many carbs you'll need for your upcoming run depending on the distance, which again is useful for those running marathons or ultras.
Fitness tests
The watch comes with three Fitness Tests loaded: these are for walking, running and fitness, which are useful as markers to see how your training is going, especially if you are at the start of your running journey. Its 'Serene' feature helps guided meditation and breathing, and the watch provides plenty of information regarding your current training load and whether you should be doing more or less, and what your recovery should be aiming for.
Alongside the Pacer, Polar also released the Pacer Pro, a more expensive model in its Pacer range. The Pacer Pro does all that the Pacer does, but has extras too, such as a barometric altimeter, as well as featuring an aluminium bezel (rather than plastic on the Pacer).
Shop the Pacer Pro, £259, polar.com
Conclusion
This is a device that will please those looking for a straightforward, simple running watch that concentrates on getting the basics right. If you're scratching your head over where to start when buying your first ever running watch, you can't go wrong with this. It ticks all the boxes you'd need, plus a few you didn't think you'd need, provides enough battery power to not require charging after every use and its lightweight, robust design will see you through many years' hard wear and tear.
