Wrist-based heart rate measurement
PROS / The To-Go feature tells you how long you need to walk or jog to reach your goal. This is a great way to get practical guidance and gives you exact times and activities.
CONS / Fresh out of the box, the Polar Loop bracelet is huge, so you have to measure and cut it down to your own size. Thankfully, Polar will replace the wristband if you cut off too much.
VERDICT / The Polar Loop is great if you're already active and want a little extra info about your activity. It's also waterproof for swimming and surfing.
Polar specializes in heart rate monitors, so health and fitness is already the company's cup of tea. The Polar Loop is Polar's first attempt at a bracelet pedometer. The sturdy, rubberized wristband features an LED screen bright enough to check in direct sunlight. The tri-axis accelerometer counts your steps, distance and calories. This activity tracker monitors all types of exercises, and it is waterproof, so you can bring it swimming or surfing, too. Polar also makes a heart rate monitor that is designed to work in conjunction with the Loop, but it is something you’ll have to purchase separately. Get the results you want with Polar! Free shipping on orders $100+.Shop now!
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24/7 Activity Tracking
Tracks your daily activity at five intensity levels for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides a complete picture of all of your activity. It counts your active time, daily burnt calories, steps, distance from steps and sleep.
It’s based on the analyses of the frequency, intensity and regularity of your movements together with your physical information.
It’s based on the analyses of the frequency, intensity and regularity of your movements together with your physical information.
Everyone's body is different, so when you set up the Polar Loop, the Smart Calories feature uses your weight, height, age, gender and physical intensity to calculate your burned calorie count. The memory on this digital pedometer lasts 12 days without syncing. The mobile app provides in-depth information on your long-term activity with different types of graphs. Syncing this pedometer to the mobile app works best for iOS 6 devices. This is good news if you have an iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5s or iPod Touch, but it is bad news if you're an Android user. However, there is also a web-based platform – Polar Flow – you can use to check your status and activity data if you don’t have a compatible mobile device. The Polar Loop uses a USB cord and Bluetooth Smart to sync information to the mobile app or web platform.
The app categorizes your activity with five intensity levels: resting, sitting, low, medium and high. The higher the intensity, the sooner you meet your goal. The bracelet displays different commands to get you moving at different intensities. Up means you should stop sitting and do low intensity activity. Walk means medium intensity and Jog means high intensity. We love the To Go feature because it gives you practical guidance on what you need to do. Notifications tell you to walk or jog for an allotted amount of time help you reach your daily goal.
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The Polar Loop does have some disadvantages. It does not have an altimeter, so doesn't measure how many flights of stairs you climb daily. Also, be aware that the display on the Loop doesn't count steps immediately, but it has a 30-60 second delay before displaying new steps. To fit the wristband to your size, you need to cut it based on the provided measuring strip. To fit the wristband to your size, measure your wrist and cut the band. We're not a big fan of this because there's such a large margin for error, but the good news is Polar will replace the band if you cut too much.
The Bluetooth tech does take up a considerable amount of battery power. The Polar Loop's battery life typically lasts about five days. The USB port on the inside of the bracelet connects to your computer for charging.
Summary
The Polar Loop isn't perfect, but we like the style and bright LED display. The To Go feature is a great way to get practical guidance from the pedometer on reaching your activity goals. The app is easy to use and makes activity fun and motivating. We would like to see an altimeter to count stairs, but love the step-counting accuracy of the Polar Loop. Learn to love the burn! The new Polar helps you workout at the right intensity and get results. Free shipping on orders $100+.Shop now!
