Review of the new Polar Pacer Pro GPS heart rate watch

Polar, the Finnish brand well-known to heart rate monitoring enthusiasts and those keen on tracking their athletic performance, is launching two new watch models specifically designed for runners: the Pacer and Pacer Pro. And even before the product was available to the public, we had the privilege of pre-testing this technological gem in real conditions, during the 2022 Paris Marathon: the Polar Pacer Pro.

By Jean-François Tatard – Photos: ©3bikes.fr / ©Polar

It’s 1975, and at the time, there was no accurate way to record heart rate during training. The idea for the first wireless portable heart rate monitor in history emerged on a cross-country ski trail in Finland… And it wasn’t until two years later, in 1977, that Polar truly came into being. That year, the Finnish company filed its first patent for wireless heart rate measurement. Its late founder Seppo Säynäjäkangas (1942-2018) thus became the sole true first inventor of the wireless ECG heart rate monitor. The story began. Since then, the Scandinavian manufacturer’s technology and devices have been widely used in various sports where their utility is proven.

The new Polar Pacer Pro watch

No product sheet… This is a true blind test! But clearly multiplying technological sensors and software innovations, the Pacer Pro aims to concentrate the best of Polar into this small, seemingly very lightweight case.

The Polar Pacer Pro relies on its software evolutions and, visibly, on simplifying its sophistication to make the device even more accessible to everyone. In addition to sports functions highly anticipated by our population, this sports watch opens up to functionalities that most watches on the market at this price point lack.

At first glance, this watch presents itself as the lightest time and performance measurement instrument one could wear. It’s hard to get any lighter. All while maintaining very conventional dimensions. We find an apparently very solid aluminum case, adorned with a 1.2-inch screen. And even if the display, with a rather modest pixel definition, is content to be legible, its color palette is limited. I also appreciate the automatic backlight that activates with wrist movement or via a dedicated button. As for the back, the heart rate monitor is surrounded by a pulse oximeter and magnetic fasteners necessary for the watch’s proprietary charging.

The Polar Pacer Pro interface

Without any grandiloquence, what can be said is that the interface of this Polar does not overdo it with big words or easy, useless effects. Sobriety, efficiency, and simplicity are the order of the day. The menus are uncluttered, the fonts are large, and readability is maximal, even if it might lack a bit of flair.

Nevertheless, it must be admitted, a runner who equips themselves with a connected watch to monitor their performance is not looking to buy a trinket. Moreover, focused on running, the Pacer Pro offers only a limited number of functionalities. The main menu is divided into less than a dozen alternatives. And all are designed primarily for running. And also, in addition to being able to start physical activity or configure the watch, it is possible to plan refreshments, select favorite segments in Strava, or launch Serene. What is Serene, by the way? I’m discovering… Serene is an aid to learn how to calm your body and mind, as well as your stress. This guided deep breathing exercise option guides its user to breathe at a slow and regular pace, six breaths per minute, the optimal breathing rate to relieve stress. I learned it here. Thus, when you breathe deeply and slowly, your heartbeats begin to synchronize with your breathing rhythm, and your heart’s R-R intervals begin to vary more.

During the breathing exercise, the Polar Pacer Pro helps us maintain a slow and regular breathing rhythm through an on-screen animation and vibrations. Serene assesses our body’s response to the exercises and gives us real-time feedback on our breathing. After the exercise, we receive a summary of the time spent in each of the three serenity zones. The higher the zone, the better the synchronization with the optimal rhythm. The more time we spend in the higher zones, the greater the long-term benefits will be.

The menus inside the Polar Pacer Pro

At first a little disappointing, this limited range of features, however, has the advantage of making navigation much smoother than most competing watches. It didn’t take me long to understand and get used to it. I received it on Friday and by Sunday I was already at the start of the Paris Marathon with it. Then, in three clicks, you launch the activity, and ultimately, when you’re a runner, that’s what you expect most from your GPS watch. During outings, the screen stays on and its readability is indisputable. Any possible confusions are written clearly enough to be understood at a glance, even when the intensity of our effort disrupts our comprehension. A real comfort that I appreciated that Sunday morning in the streets of Paris…

The app linked to the Polar Pacer Pro

This watch synchronizes with Polar Flow, available on Android and iOS. And this application obviously focuses on our sports sessions themselves, but it also offers a broader view of the user’s activity (number of steps, sleep time, calories burned, etc.). The overview is truly very relevant. It’s general enough for everyone to find something useful. The app provides a summary of our physical activity. It also indicates our progress towards our activity goals and signals if we are training too intensely, for example. Or, conversely, if we are behind because we are not putting enough effort into it, no pun intended. It is also via this app on the smartphone that the watch synchronizes and updates. This is where you will identify the essential parameters for optimal use of the watch. For example, it is possible to configure “Do Not Disturb” mode, notification display, an alarm, or the language. Polar Flow also allows you to create personalized sessions that can be transferred to the watch. It’s very ingenious and very convenient.

In use with the Polar Pacer Pro

In addition to the traditional heart rate monitor and GPS, the watch offers a whole host of sensors: compass, accelerometer, altimeter, barometer, slope inclination, ascent, pulse oximeter, power in watts, etc. I infinitely appreciated my first experience! No GPS wandering even under the long tunnels along the Seine at the Paris Marathon. Moreover, the GPS is generally very precise and the result rendered once the activity is finished is completely consistent in terms of distance calculation.

As for the heart rate monitor, it offers near-perfect tracking. The watch manages to faithfully reproduce the evolution of heart rate. And thus, compared to my old Garmin Fenix, which has long earned my trust and which I wore on the other wrist as a reference during this marathon, the Polar Pacer Pro offered me excessively similar results. It convinced me…

Sober and simple to use, yet highly relevant and effective, the Polar Pacer Pro is an eloquent running watch that proves persuasive. GPS and heart rate tracking are also of very good quality. This makes me very eager to extend my experience for a few more weeks, to discover the other features of this little ornament in more detail. The music function, in particular, which I haven’t fully understood yet. Finally, continuing this familiarization should allow me to make this watch a true training and challenge companion with whom I would like to share other great adventures…

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