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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Polar M430 Review}}
I rather like the M430, but I fear it's not enough of an improvement over the M400 to justify the extra cost, nor is it good enough for me to recommend it over the equivalent Garmin watches. The main a change from the M400 is the addition of an [[Optical Heart Rate Monitor]], which would be a truly wonderful invention if it worked. Sadly, I don't see this replacing the traditional ECG-based heart rate monitor anytime soon, as much as I hate the inconvenience and chafing of the chest strap. I've tested the M430 over about 700 miles of running, and I've found it a fairly solid running watch, but I've found that by comparison with the [[Connect IQ]] enabled Garmin watches, the M430 seems a little dated and limited.
=The Big Questions=
I use four simple questions that I think cut to the heart of want most runners are looking for in a running watch. There's obviously a lot of nuance and detail that you can dig into, and I try to provide that as well, but hopefully these questions and their answers will give you an idea of whether or not it's worth reading further.
* Buy the [[Garmin Vivoactive HR]]. [[Optical Heart Rate Monitor]]s don't work well enough for real world usage, but if you want one anyway, then consider the [[Garmin Vivoactive HR]]. Like the non-OHRM Vivoactive above, it can't record the GPS track whilst getting pace and distance from a [[Stryd]] Footpod. If you really want the GPS track and accurate pace/distance, then look to the [[Polar M400]].
* Buy the [[Polar M400]]. With the release of the M430, the [[Polar M400]] has dropped in price, and I think in most cases I'd go for the previous generation, or the. The main change to the M430 from the M400 is the addition of its [[Optical Heart Rate Monitor]] (OHRM), but like most similar systems, it doesn't work well enough for real world usage, so the M400 is a good option.
* Spend more. If you have a larger budget, I'd recommend taking a look at the [[Garmin Fenix 3]], or check out the decision guide at [[Best Running WatchesWatch]]es.
=Polar M430 Pros=
* The user interface is nicely designed and intuitive; the buttons, display, and the menu system combine aesthetics with usability. The M430 has five hard buttons, which I much prefer over a touchscreen interface, especially when wearing gloves or in the rain.
