Polar S725x Carbon Tour Edition Heart Rate Monitor

Here in the Bike Cycling Reviews Office, we all use different Polar Heart Rate Monitors can’t ride our bikes without one. So when we had the chance to review The Polar S725x there was a fight. Well I opened the mail first, so I get the pleasure of testing this new bit of electrical wizardry!

The Polar S725X LOOK

Firstly they look much the same until you have a closer look, then you see that outwardly they are quite different. The Polar S725 has a Carbon effect upper case, which is very cool. Along with the “Tour Edition” motif on the side, this makes it a much smarter looking Monitor.

We’re not saying the Polar S720i is drab and boring, but it is dull compared to the S725 with its smart shiny Carbon look.

What Technology Do They Both Have

OK, both have much the same functions. Both have ECG wireless, 5 exercise sets, OwnCal, OwnIndex, OwnCode, heart rate max based on fitness test and age, Interval timers, maximum heart rate of total exercise, average and maximum heart rate of each lap, recovery measurement.

The connections between your PC and the two monitors are two way infrared and UpLink; both also have Polar Precision Performance and can be used with an optional IR interface to a USB or serial port.

The recording feature on both has 99 exercise files, calorie expenditure, last OwnIndex, average heart rate, target zone limits, target zone times, and total time. The basic features on both are heart rate (% of max/bpm), adjustable/automatic heart rate limits, large digits, and a backlight.

The watch features are what you would expect with time and dual time zones, date, stopwatch, exercise reminder, and low battery indicator, all the things you need for a normal life.

So What’s Special About the S725 Then?

There are quite a few advantages to the Polar S725. The first is the target zones. Both have three audible and visual zone alarms. On the S725 they are expressed as a percentage of maximum bpm, which is a much easier way to set than having to work it out then setting the zones. It is water-resistant to 30 meters as opposed to 20 for the S720i; also, the S725 has Mobile connectivity so that you can send exercise info via your mobile phone, Nokia 5140, and 5140i. Also it can connect to your PC with the SonicLink.

Where the S725 comes into its own are the running features options. With the S725 you can have running speed and distance. Running speed can be displayed in pace or kph or mph and also it has a distance-based interval trainer. You need the Polar S1 Foot Pod for the running feature, just like the power and cadence fitting for the bike. These running features, combined with the cycling features, make this a perfect all-round pulse monitor for triathlon use, which is great for me!

What Do We Think?

The Polar S725 is a step up from the Polar S720i; it has more handy functions, mostly the running features and has kept all the top class uses of the S720i. The display is clear with all the information you need at your fingertips, telling you all you need to know at a glance.

The biggest difference we think is the WearLink Transmitter. It has electrodes built into the strap for comfort, and the most significant advantage is you can charge the battery. With the older strap, this was not possible. The strap is made of machine washable, replaceable fabric, and it’s water-resistant. The strap is more comfortable and will fit any body shape and will allow full freedom of movement. It’s a big step forward in strap technology, and you don’t feel you are wearing it, it’s that comfortable.

At under $400 you are getting the best possible training aid on the market. You can’t help to improve with a Polar S725 Carbon Tour Edition Heart Rate Monitor.

The Main Functions

• Wireless ECG accurate heart rate
• Exercise Set (5 extended exercise profiles)
• Polar OwnCal
• Polar Fitness Test
• Polar own code
• 3 Target Zones (% of max or bpm) with a visual and audible alarm
• HR max (Polar fitness test-based)
• HR max (age-based)
• Interval timers
• Max HR of total exercise
• Avg HR of each lap
• Max HR of each lap
• Recovery measurement (HR/Time)
• Exercise Date
• Two-way infrared data communication
• Polar Precision Software included
• Backlight
• Polar WearLink 31 coded transmitter

Bike Functions

• Trip
• Speed average and max
• Distance-based interval
• Distance-based recovery measurement
• Wheel size settings for two bicycles
• Bike Mount
• Wireless Speed Sensor
• Temperature and Altitude

A while back we reviewed the Polar S720i Heart Rate Monitor,  which we loved. It had all the functions we wanted and probably more than we needed! So what are the differences between the two?