Polar Loop Review + giveaway time!
Hi friends! Hope you’re enjoying the long weekend <3 We’re driving back to Tucson after a fun and crazy weekend of house hunting and Disneyland. I’ll be back with my normal(ish) posting in the morning!
In the meantime, how ’bout a giveaway??
(Bella, wishing the loop came in her size, even though 19 hours of the day are spent lounging in between sprinting)
[The remainder of this post is sponsored by Polar through a compensated campaign with Fitfluential. As always, all opinions are my own. I’m always happy to share the word about new fitness products, especially when they include a fun giveaway opportunity. Click through for the details and your chance to enter!]
Quite a while ago, I was contacted about reviewing a Polar Loop. I was really stoked because it was something I’d been wanting to try, and even more exciting because it included a giveaway opportunity. In the meantime, I had already ordered another fitness tracker that was on the way. For the purposes of this post, I’m not able to do a side by side comparison, but hopefully my feedback will help you make the best decision for your lifestyle. There are pros and cons to the various types out there; it’s really about determining the best model for your needs.
I didn’t really become intrigued with fitness trackers until I started teaching at the resort. A TON of guests would walk into class with their respective gadgets, and as a techie curious person (not capable, just curious haha) I was definitely interested in the various types. When I stopped teaching at the resort, I was looking for ways to gauge my activity since I spent a lot more time seated throughout the day. I quickly noticed that it can be extremely challenging to get in the daily recommended 10,000 steps, especially when you don’t live in a walking-friendly city. (This is even when you’re chasing around a very active toddler!) Fitness trackers are a nice reminder to add some bursts of activity throughout the day, and can also provide some insightful data about habits and patterns.
One thing that excited me the most about the Polar Loop is that it’s compatible with Polar heart rate straps. I’d been a heart rate monitor fans for many years -especially while I was pregnant- and I knew I’d love the ability to sync the tracker during my workouts. My other fitness tracker counted “steps” via arm movements, so even when I was working out (especially with yoga, spinning and strength training) I knew my previous tracker was inaccurate. I’d be waving my arm around on the spin bike to get in my steps for the day 😉 The Loop seems to be more accurate, especially for workouts.
The first thing that alarmed me about the Loop was the size.
Thankfully, the Pilot was able to snip and reattach it. After that, it fit like a charm. I plugged it into my computer to charge and downloaded the app on my computer and phone.
Some things I noticed after a week or so of wearing:
Cons:
-No alarm! If this had an alarm of some type, it would be my perfect fitness tracker.
-The size. Even after fitting the band to my wrist, it’s still pretty thick. The simple band isn’t too much of an eyesore, but I’d love a daintier band.
-Basic sleep data. I wish it provided more info on my sleep patterns throughout the night. It gives me the duration but that’s pretty much it.
Pros:
-Longer battery life. I was pleasantly surprised with how long the Loop lasted without needing to be charged.
-Display. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it, but I LOVE being able to see steps, calories, time and activity right there on the wristband. For this reason, I didn’t drain the battery by synching it to my phone throughout the day.
-Heart rate monitor! I feel like this tracker is one of the most accurate versions if you’re going to be wearing it for everyday + workouts. It tells you your workout duration, time in the fat burning zone and fitness zone, and is extremely easy to use. It’s like the best of both worlds for heart rate monitors and fitness trackers. Also, because it’s a Polar brand, many cardio machines will sync and display your heart rate on the screen. Since it had been a while (since I was preg!) from the last time I’d used a HRM, I found that I was totally slacking on some of my workouts and could up the intensity. (cough, watching Downton Abbey on the spin bike, cough)
All in all, I’m really happy with the Loop. I’ll be wearing it from now on, especially on the days I work out.
Want to win one?
Here’s how to enter:
You have until Tuesday night (midnight EST) to enter! I’ll announce the lucky winner Wednesday, 2/19 in the am post.
xoxo
Gina
This post was sponsored by Polar Loop through a compensated campaign with Fitfluential. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting this blog and the companies that help support our family <3
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Walking my puppy!
I love that this connects to a strap for workouts! I have been resistant to purchase any of these options because I didn’t trust them to be accurate enough for recording my workouts. I am so glad to hear about the Polar Loop! Thanks!
I want to get better about going for mid-day or afternoon walks to get away from my desk.
I have a three yr old and her new thing is riding her bike so after dinner we go for a family walk/ride. We are trying to teach her more about healthy eating and exercise and it’s great family time.
I’ve been looking at the fit bit. I would love to give this a try. I will walk to co workers offices to talk to them even if it means going upstairs.
I’ve had my eye on one of these for a while! I sneak in some extra activity with 1 mile fast-walks 2 to 3 times a day with my (very active) pup. Great giveaway Gina!
that looks awesome! Ive been looking to get something similiar!
Whenever I can, I take a walk to ask someone at the office a question in person instead of email. Even if they’re not at their desk and I end up having to email anyway, I still got in a nice little movement – better than nothing!
I’ve had another Polar product & loved it! Would love to try another.
walking the dog helps me get in a little extra fitness! keeps him happy and less rambunctious too 😉
I sneak in a little extra exercise by walking to and from work. I also always try to do stairs over the elevator.
I haven’t heard about the polar loop… I’m going to have to look into it further. I was pretty sure I wanted the fit bit one…. No I’m rethinking.
I walk my new puppy everyday rain or shine! (or snow in my case)
I love that your feedback is balanced even when it’s a compensated post!
I like taking active study breaks to do some bodyweight exercises like squats, push-ups, burpees, and sit-ups!
I try to take the stairs and jam with my kiddo to fit in extra exercise!
Looks pretty awesome! I work at a hospital where run around 4 floors all day and I’m always curious how many steps I’m getting it/calories I’m burning.
I might just need to get me one of these loops 🙂
I was totally unfamiliar with this fitness tracker, it looks pretty freakin’ great! I have been thinking about getting one more and more lately, particularly one that keeps track of heart rate, calories burned, steps, etc. I try to move as much as possible during my day, even if that means volunteering to run errands and grab paperwork in addition to my daily workouts!
oooh! i have a fitbit one and it has been upsetting me lately. i recently switched from working a desk job for 8 hours a day to working the front desk at a gym where i’m standing to 5 to 6 hours at a time. according to my fitbit my activity level/calorie burn has gone waaaaay down, but i refuse to believe that! so i would loooooove to win the polar loop!
to get in extra activity i walk the indoor track on my breaks at work and also play with my 2 pups on a daily basis. if it’s too cold for a walk i just chase them around inside. : )
It’s the little things. Walking to work (about 40 min) instead of bussing. Also, I always make as many trips as possible for the groceries from the car, instead of trying to carry all of the bags at once.
I walk and walk the dog!
Ive been looking in to getting something like this. Thank you for the review! Crossing my fingers to win this one!
I am so intrigued by this fitness tracker. I’ve been wanting one for a while, but I’ve never come across one that I think actually works. I borrowed one of my trainers’ FitBit (I don’t know which model, but it was one of the more expensive ones) for a TRX fusion class (TRX but with lots of cardio blast stuff mixed in) and it was terrible at tracking it. Despite tons of burpees, suicides, jumping jacks, etc. for the hour long class it recorded 6 mins of exercise! I love the idea of a heart rate monitor built in, I just wish this one were a little less bulky.
Since I left NYC I’ve really been struggling with working activity into my normal routine. I’ve been trying to park far away from where I’m going, but it’s so cold and there’s so much snow and ice it makes it hard 🙁
I used to use those apps where you would log in your exercise and all that other tedious stuff, but I quit because it was inaccurate and pointless. This would be great to help me get a better understanding of where I am at fitness-wise AND my activity outside of the gym.
Thanks for this review!! I work with kids all day so I am always chasing them around and hardly ever have a chance to sit down! I would love to have a tracker telling me exactly what I am doing everyday.
I take the stairs instead of the elevator.
at school, i always park in the same spot, even if theres a closer one, and when going out, park a leeettle further away, i sprint to the door since it is so cold anyways 😉
i also walk on the treadmill & read!
I take the stairs at the office – no elevator for this girl!
Love the heart rate compnent!
Love it! I try and take the stairs as much as possible and get off the bus a stop early so I can walk an extra block or 2 each day:)
I like to run up the stairs at work instead of taking the elevator. People at work think I’m nuts, but whatever, I’m more fit than most of them haha.
I walk the pups, walk around the office, always take the stairs, and park far away.
Oh very cool that this syncs with a chest strap! I wear a Fitbit now and always take the stairs to get my steps in at work 🙂
I run around the hospital floor and up and down he stairs all day at work!!
I park far away and shovel extra snow.
I did a big review of fitness trackers before this existed. The main issue with all fitness trackers is their lack of HR inclusion. The bodybugg back in the day was pretty good because it included temperature and perspiration in its calculation of your expenditure on top of being an accelerometer (more advanced than just the pedometer)- so it was accurate…. but it was so bulky!
This looks way more comprehensive and less hideous to wear!
Excited to see what you think longer term. 🙂
I love to fit in extra activity each day by having my client take walking breaks to relax – good for both of us!
Love this review! I’ve been wondering about this one.
I need to get my post partum butt back to yoga!
Ohh I’ve been wanting to try this one!! Hope I win 🙂
I walk the dog and my girls at the park before we hit the playground.
I work out at lunchtime and walk to the further train stop after work.
I park as far as I can from work and I also take the stairs whenever I am faced with that option!
I’ve been debating whether to get the FitBit or Polar Loop, thanks so much for your review!
Always taking the stairs is an excellent way to sneak in more fitness!
Would love to try this out – debating between this, the Jawbone, and Fitbit!
Park farther away, dance party with my toddler, and random pushups (burpees when I’m not preggers!)!
I always try to park far away.
I usually try to take a walk during my lunch break at work and I try to park a block away from work to sneak in some extra exercise.
I work out 5-6 days a week and would love to monitor my steps, heart rate, etc.
I use a stand up desk when I’m on the computer at home. Also, I always park far away so I get in some extra walking.