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GPS watch for runners
Polar Pacer Pro in the test: Smart all-rounder without frills?
With the Pacer and the Pacer Pro, Polar wants to accompany and guide both beginners and experienced runners during their training. Both GPS watches also have many other features. We put the Pacer Pro to the test.
© Jan Sägert / stern.de
Sports watch pioneer Polar is looking to kick off the running season with two new models. Pacer and Pacer Pro are designed to support beginners and experienced runners alike during training. Smart all-rounders. No frills. Can that work?
Almost exactly 40 years ago, the Finnish company founder Seppo Säynäjäkangas presented the Polar “Sport Tester PE2000″, the world’s first wireless heart rate monitor. Without a doubt a device that revolutionized sport at almost all performance levels and continues to shape it to this day. But the sports watch pioneer is no longer alone on the market and the watches that runners wear on their wrists today during training and competitions basically have nothing to do with the clunky prototype from the 1980s.
They are small computers that record and spit out dozens of other data in addition to essential information such as heart rate and training time. They give training tips, analyze sleep and sometimes give their wearers a kick in the butt (only in the figurative sense, of course) when their inner demons have taken over. Which brings us to the topic: Polar is stepping up the pace just in time for the start of the 2022 running season and is expanding its product range two years after the Polar Grit-X further expands its portfolio.
We laced up our running shoes, warmed up properly and tried out the new Polar Pacer Pro examined a little more closely.
A GPS watch without any frills?
I would like to say up front that I am more of a pragmatic type when it comes to (GPS) sports watches. A digital coach on your wrist is important. I think so. Beginners should definitely think about a smart assistant. The crux and my problem with current GPS sports watches: They are crammed full of menus and functions right down to the color display. And I am firmly convinced that these can confuse, and possibly even unsettle, a normal amateur runner (there are many of them in Germany) more than they help them with their training.
This is exactly what Polar wants to avoid with its two new models. Tailored to runners of all levels, Pacer and Pacer Pro. And: They have concentrated on the essentials “without any frills”, said the Finns at the official launch. Wow! That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for for many years. But wait a minute. What exactly is the essentials? Where does it end and where does nice-to-have begin? As is so often the case in life, that’s a matter of opinion.
Tried and tested know-how with some new details. The Polar Pacer Pro.
© Jan Sägert / stern.de
The test
Here, too, I would like to say something up front: Due to time constraints, when testing the Polar Pacer Pro, I focused on the core competencies of the device and a few smart functions. The watch can do a lot more. Whether you need all of that? Well, you know.
A smart coach should know his protégé as well as possible. For the first date, the Pacer and Pacer Pro first require some personal information to be entered. The easiest way to do this is with Polar’s own Flow app, which is available for free download from the App Store. Height, weight, age, current training schedule and sleep time. Before the first run, take a look at the watch itself. The Pacer Pro weighs a slim 41 grams including the wristband. This makes it a remarkable ten grams lighter than the popular M430, which Vantage M and V2. The bracelet is made of slightly roughened silicone on the outside, and the color-coordinated stainless steel clasp makes a classy impression.
Nice idea: the small silicone pin on the inside of the second safety strap for securing the bracelet. Simply press it into a hole at the end of the bracelet. It holds wonderfully. A small but nice extra. In comparison to the black, rather plain casing of the M430, Polar has also given the new Pacer series a sporty, elegant frame that is suitable for everyday use. The stylish brushed stainless steel casing is available in four pastel shades (for him and her). In our case, a model in midnight blue coached.
Polar Pacer and Pacer Pro: The technical data
| Polar Pacer | Polar Pacer Pro | |
| Weight | 40 grams (23 g without strap) | 41 grams (23 g without strap) |
| Battery life | Training mode: up to 35 hours Clock mode: up to 7 days | Training mode: up to 35 hours Clock mode: up to 7 days |
| Display size | 45cm diameter Resolution: 240×240 px | 45mm diameter Resolution: 240×240 px |
| battery pack | 273 mAh (lithium polymer) | 273 mAh (lithium polymer) |
| bracelet | Silicone/Stainless steel Size S and M/L (130-210 mm wrist circumference) | Silicone/Stainless steel Size S and M/L (130-210 mm wrist circumference) |
| Compatible Apps | e.g. Polar Flow, Strava, Training Peaks | e.g. Polar Flow, Strava, Training Peaks, MyFitnessPal |
| Colors | Lavender, Black, White, Blue | Carbon Grey, Midnight Blue, Autumn Maroon, Aurora Green, Snow White |
| RRP | 199 euros | 299 euros |
Polar has adopted tried and tested features for the Pacer and Pacer Pro. Two buttons on the left, three buttons on the right. Experienced Polar users will be familiar with this. As with the Vantage V2, the small grooves on the surface of the buttons are designed to provide “super grip”. Polar is also staying true to its line with the non-touch display. Intermediate times can therefore still be recorded without having to look at the small display or even press anything. Otherwise, the watch is as intuitive as usual. Anyone who is using a GPS sports watch from Polar for the first time should read the (very comprehensive) manual before starting their training.
The analysis of the Polar Pacer Pro training data on the PC is a little more detailed. There is hardly anything left to be desired here.
© Jan Sägert / stern.de
During the run itself, you can choose between different displays, all of which are clear and easy to read even in strong and direct sunlight. Beginners will probably find the standard display the easiest to get along with. It shows the current pace, the distance covered, the pulse and the total running time at a glance. That’s it. In our opinion, amateur athletes can safely ignore calculated watt values, details on ascent and descent or the compass.
Noticeably inconspicuous: GPS and heart rate
Back to the tried and tested: the improved chips in the Pacer and Pacer Pro calculate the heart rate via the blood flow under the skin. To be more precise, this is done by nine LEDs installed on the underside. Four additional sensors analyze the skin contact and also hold the magnetic clip that is used to charge the watches. This worked very reliably for us. The battery, which was not completely empty after seven days (approx. 10%), was fully operational again in well under two hours.
The fact that the heart rate measurement on the wrist is slightly delayed and appears on the display a little jumpily is due to the technology and is known. For the vast majority of runners, however, this is precise enough and completely sufficient. If you want to control your training more precisely and accurately, you cannot avoid the chest strap that fits the Pacer and Pacer Pro. In our test, the heart rate was reliably recorded and displayed. Runners with smaller wrists can rejoice: Polar supplies the Pacer and Pacer Pro with wristbands in two different lengths.
Just one of many summaries of completed workouts in the Polar Flow app.
© Jan Sägert / stern.de
The GPS positioning also proved to be no slouch in our test. Whereas previously you often had to wait a few minutes for a satellite signal, today you can get started within seconds. In the case of the new Pacer series, the casing is designed to amplify the signal. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is also supported by a number of other satellite services.
The conclusion
In 2022, it is almost impossible to go all out with a GPS running watch. And yet: The new Pacer duo from the Finns shines with tried and tested Polar technology. The feel, battery life and the display leave little to be desired. The case is significantly more valuable than some of its predecessors. Weighing just 40 grams, the Polar Pacer Pro very pleasant and unobtrusive. A clear plus point. The displays are tidy and clear. The operation is intuitive even for those new to running watches and can be learned quickly even under stress. The comprehensive and quick evaluation of the various metrics using the Polar Flow app (mobile or PC) also convinced us.
In terms of data, Polar has given both watches various new performance tests. What we think is particularly exciting is a simple walking test that can determine general fitness level based on pace and heart rate. This is particularly interesting for running beginners. It remains to be seen to what extent a new target group can be reached here. In short: The new Polar Pacer series cuts a fine figure and overall comes with a little less frills than other models. For beginners, the Pacer (from May 2022) is therefore an attractive deal with its RRP of just under 200 euros. The Pacer Pro offers a little extra for 100 euros more. In our view, this is a clear case for ambitious runners with a keen interest in detailed statistics.
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