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Polar V800

35 bytes added, 21:21, 7 January 2016
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* '''How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and the V800 has outstanding GPS accuracy. If you really want to know how far you've run, this is the best option short of running on a track.
* '''How fast am I running?''' Knowing how fast you're running can be a nice to know, or it can be vital for your training or race performance. Because of the nature of GPS, watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Without the ability to display current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS, the V800 has a poor display of current pace. Even with the outstanding GPS accuracy, the current pace can be a long way out. (This is mostly due to the nature of GPS accuracy errors compared with Footpod errors.)
* '''Where am I? '''The V800 has no limited navigation features. If you're lost, the V800 is probably providing only useful as a reflector "back to signal for helpstart" arrow.
* '''What's my cadence? '''[[Cadence]]''' '''is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of running. If you get your Cadence right, many other things naturally fall into place. The V800 has limited support for a [[Footpod]], no support for Cadence from the internal accelerometer, and no Cadence alerts. It's better than nothing, but it's not pretty grim for a high end watch.
The V800 is rated at 13 hours, but I managed to get nearly 24 hours in testing. To get that life, I didn't press buttons or have Bluetooth connected, but that's still an impressive figure. It also has a rated 50 hour battery life if you activate extended mode which reduces the GPS accuracy. In addition the V800 can be charge on the run. See [[Shoes#Watches for Ultrarunning| Watches for Ultrarunning]] for more details.
=What's Missing=
While I don't consider these missing features as 'cons', it's worth understanding the features that are missing compared with other watches.
* '''Navigation.''' The navigation Navigation capabilities are useful if there is a risk of getting lost, and the better watches will provide a display showing where you have run. I've made good use of this feature when running in an unfamiliar city, or when running remote trails. There is The V800 has a rudimentary "back to start" functionality that gives you an arrow pointing back, but that's a poor substitute.
* '''Downloadable Apps'''. Smart watches have got is used to the idea of a device that can be extended with new functionality, and this concept is being introduced to running watches.
* '''Graphs'''. Instead of simply displaying a numeric value for things like heart rate, some watches will display a graph of the value over time, giving you a sense of how things are progressing.