Are you familiar with the Polar Loop Activity Tracker? I have been a Polar USA ambassador for quite some time and have been meaning to tell you more about the Polar Loop. I am still undecided on whether I like my original Polar heart rate monitor (I had a black one) or the Loop best.
I love the fact that the Polar Loop is water proof and I can wear in the pool or shower. The only thing I have noticed is that when under running water the menus on the tracker pop up. I’ll edit this post to let you know how it works out for us snorkeling this week. The tracker will count swimming only as active movement, it knows the difference. Pretty cool!
Polar Loop Activity Tracker tracks things like:
- Activity Level
- Steps
- Heart Rate using a HR transmitter
- Sleep time
- Calories burned
Check out the Polar Loop video:
My review:
When I first got the Polar Loop we had to cut the band a few times to fit my wrist. It comes with the tools to do that minus the scissors of course. Kev helped me with the sizing process but I don’t know that I could have sized it without help. It took a few tries to get it right and I just wanted to put the tracker on right out of the box.
Besides that, I really love the look of the Polar Loop. The clasp on the back is nice and sturdy too, it stays on well. I have added a video below on how to make the Polar Loop fit your wrist.
Charging it up via the USB port on my computer is pretty fast and it holds the charge well. The rechargeable battery holds for about 4-5 days of me using it continuously.
To see each setting on the tracker, you have to lightly tap a small button on top of the Polar Loop in just the right spot. It’s not a raised button so at times it’s frustrating to get it in just the right spot. But I love the red LED display on the tracker, it’s easy to read and unlike some trackers you can see your progress in the areas mentioned above.
Sometimes the Loop will calculate calories burned before I have even put the tracker on my wrist. Weird! The step calculations and calories seem to work fine and I like I can watch my activity throughout the day.
I like to see the time to move message that pops up when I have been inactive for too long. I wish it vibrated like I know other trackers do.
A lot of times the syncing has to be started over while connected to the computer for some reason. The one thing I dislike about the Polar Loop is the charging port on the actual tracker. It’s not easy to keep it connected. Although it’s magnetic, the charger doesn’t stay connected all the time, probably because the wrist band is in the way.
I absolutely love the look of the Polar Loop, it really goes with anything you wear. I have the black one but they also offer it in purple (Black Currant) and blue (Misty Blue).
There is a newer model, the Polar Loop 2 that comes in white and pink. Oh and I hear this newer model integrates with MyFitnessPal and a few other fitness platforms. And it now has vibrating inactivity alerts.
If you want an accurate heart rate, you’ll need an additional Bluetooth Smart heart rate sensor which is sold separately. If you are an Andriod user be sure to research to see if your device is compatible.
Read more Polar Loop reviews on Amazon.
Should you decide to buy a Polar Loop activity tracker, here’s a video on how to make the Polar Loop fit your wrist
Polar Flow & Polar Beat (Apps for Android and Apple)
There don’t seem to be any other apps that the Polar Loop integrates with but it’s own. I was hoping for My Fitness Pal or even better would be Spark People. Oh well. But see my message above because the newer version supposedly connects to MFP (MyFitnessPal).
Polar Flow web service lets you see your activity, sleep and training. Train with friends or by yourself. It’s a good way to reach your goals.
The Polar Beat app is best used with the Bluetooth Smart heart rate sensor I mentioned above. Polar Beat is a training and exercise app that can interpret your workout data and works if you are training indoors or out whether going to the gym, cycling, etc. Be sure to read all the info to make sure it’s compatible with the Polar activity tracker you choose.
So there you have it my review of the Polar Loop activity tracker. Overall, I do like the tracker and love the Polar brand in general. I would definitely recommend Polar products. The Polar A300 & M400 monitors are on my Polar wishlist too.
Do you have an activity tracker?
Leave a Reply