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So it transpires that a fitness watch rated as Water Resistant to 100m, isn't water resistant at all if you press a button when in water, so I now have a water filled and dead 6 month old watch.
Which pairs nicely with a 5 month old reconditioned M460 cycle computer that the battery has failed on, that Polar are also dragging their heels doing anything about, as apparently they've closed their UK service centre.
I'm currently back using a 4 year old Vantage V watch, which still just works, despite allegedly being less water resistant, and being rather *****d of at Polar.
Which is a major change given how smoothly and quickly they processed the M460 repair earlier this year (I well and truly smashed myself and it in to the ground, and had the replacement unit in 3 days).
The things I loved about Polar, was their Flow online metrics were nice and clear, and the watch and bike computer (I don't like riding with a watch on) worked seamlessly together with all the data fed back into Flow.
So what are equivalent options?
I've already established Garmin have a plethora of options, but more importantly also still do decent cycle computers, but are there any other options to look?
There is new Polar Vantage V3 (has maps), new Suunto Race (maps and more navigation features than Polar), Coros models and about million different Garmin units.
Standard answer is to head out to www.dcrainmaker.com and get overdose of information and then pick up something which on offer. Black Friday is still a month away but I guess some other campaigns will be announced soon.
For the watch... I've gone back to a Garmin (Forerunner 955) after a Vantage M. It reminded my how shoiite Garmin is for software updates, wirh updates constantly making more new problems than they solve. Just their own worst enemy.
The bike computers (had an Edge 800 for years and years, now an edge 1030) and those have been good.
I agree that the Flow web site and app is miles better than Garmin Connect.
I like the idea of the new Suunto watch, if the swim functionality is up to the job.
I very much doubt it'll be another Polar, as the new V3 still has the same limitation that you're not meant to press buttons when in water, which to me defeats the whole point of being able to use it in a swimming pool -Â Water resistance of Polar products | Polar USA
Suunto watches do look good, but they don't do cycle computers, and I'd rather stick to one ecosystem.
I'm currently lost in Garmin watches, and increasing decision paralysis on DC Rainmaker :/
I think Most Garmin watches won't like button presses underwater, that's a pretty common caveat for water resistance TBH. Happy for someone to advise otherwise
Interesting, I need to send my Vantage M watch back for it's annual replacement of the HR LED modules which die every year...
They normally turn it round in 3 days.