Suunto Smart Sensor Vs Polar H10
Both the Suunto Smart Sensor and the Polar H10 are valuable fitness tools that monitor your heart rate during workouts. Whether your goal is losing weight or running a faster mile, knowing your heart rate ensures you are working hard enough and resting appropriately to get the most out of your workouts without overtraining yourself.
During our ongoing search for the best heart rate monitor, we looked for models that consistently delivered accurate readings. So we limited our scope to chest strap monitors, and this is the type widely known to be the most accurate. Of course, the ones vetted had to be waterproof, so you could wear them for any type of fitness activity. They had to be compatible with a wide range of mobile apps and devices that you already own and use. And they had to be comfortable to wear.
Our pursuit led us to these two very unique but different models; the Suunto smart sensor
and the Polar H10. Who comes off the better in this face-off between these two excellent heart monitors?
If you have ever come across these two models, then you know they are worth their salt. But if you have not, then you should know this: If you’re in the market for a heart rate monitor, Polar’s chest straps are considered the best by most people. The heart rate monitors and apps from Suunto are designed to work with Suunto gear. The Polar H10 heart rate monitors have been in the market for years, and I am eager to see how well the Suunto Smart Sensor compares.
Our Winner? The Polar H10 comes out victorious in this epic duel.
However, as these models go head to head, we are going to give you a detailed review of both models and reveal what’s unique about these models, and, of course, which model to go for that suits you.
The Suunto Smart Sensor
The Suunto Smart Sensor is one of the best Heart Rate straps on the market.
It features Bluetooth connectivity along with a number of more advanced features for serious outdoor adventurers and explorers. Some of these features include an altitude profile with ascents and descents during activity, along with detailed weather reports. However, it could also as a more basic heart rate monitor. The watch is specifically designed for running, swimming, and cycling. You can use it to track your running performance as well as recovery. Included also are a Bluetooth Smart bike power support and a 500-hour battery life.
Pros
- Route tracking and altitude profile.
- A 3D map.
- Smartphone connectivity.
- Specifically designed for running, swimming, and cycling.
- Compact and comfortable fit.
- Water-resistant to 30m.
- Very Stylish.
Cons
- Very Pricey
Whatever sport you indulge in, Suunto Smart Sensor measures your heart rate with extraordinary comfort and accuracy. While swimming, the sensor can store your heart rate data and transfers it wirelessly to your compatible Suunto sports watch or Suunto Movescount App.
The Suunto Movescount App allows users to create 3D movies of their training and upload workout photos featuring real-time data overlaid on the picture. In other words, this app is very much involved in social media.
Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor
Polar is a leading brand in consumer heart rate monitors. As stated earlier, they’ve been in the market longer than Suunto, so it’s safe to say that they know a thing or two in regards to this niche.
Their new product, the Polar H10, is a chest strap monitor that has pretty much the entirety of the extravagant accessories you could need in a consumer heart rate monitor. Some of these accessories include a built-in memory so you can capture your workout without a smartphone, extensive compatibility with 3rd party apps, extended battery life (an estimated 400 hours), a new easy-to-remove battery cover and a new, more secure chest strap.
Pros
- Built-in memory to store heart rate data.
- Waterproof.
- Soft and comfortable strap with silicone dots to hold the material in place, preventing it from slipping while you work out.
- Compatible with a range of gym equipment and popular fitness apps.
Cons
- It only stores data for one exercise.
- It doesn’t work with some pieces of gym equipment.
Polar is a well-respected brand name in the world of fitness technology, and this Bluetooth heart rate monitor doesn’t disappoint. The Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor stands out for its improved electrodes, which promotes accurate heart rate monitoring and built-in memory which allows you to store heart rate data from a single training session.
You can also transfer data to the Polar app, as well as other popular fitness apps, gym equipment, and Bluetooth devices.
Just so you know, The Polar H10 can transmit heart rate data in water and you can keep the Polar sensor fresh with software updates.
Suunto Smart Sensor Vs Polar H10: Head-to-Head
| S/no | Feature | Suunto Smart Sensor | Polar H10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mobile Apps | Default app | Range of apps |
| 2. | Connectivity | Bluetooth Smart | Bluetooth Smart |
| 3. | Battery life | 500 hours | 400 hours |
Mobile Apps
Both have independent mobile applications. The Suunto Smart Sensor is only compatible with its default app, unlike the Polar H10 smart sensor that is compatible with a range of popular apps.
Tracking Connectivity
There are two kinds of connectivity that are incorporated with heart rate monitors: Bluetooth Smart, which is a low-power sort of Bluetooth additionally found on most smartphones today, and ANT+, a wireless technology that permits monitoring devices, smartphones, gym gear, sports watches and different devices to address one another.
Hence, ANT+ enabled devices can send information to various devices, so, provided your heart rate monitor has this included, then it can send information to your sports watch and smartphone simultaneously.
The Polar H10 uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone. It also uses its proprietary GymLink technology to connect to other Polar devices and most major brands of gym cardio equipment. It does not support ANT+, a wireless technology that allows monitoring devices, smartphones, gym equipment, sports watches, and other devices to speak to one another.
The Suunto Smart Sensor is also Bluetooth SMART compatible meaning that it will work with many smartphones, pieces of gym equipment and Polar’s sports watches/cycling computers. It does not support ANT+, therefore it will not work with any ANT+ only device.
In this case, both have Bluetooth data transfer technology.
Battery life
An immense improvement in the Polar product is the new H10’s battery life. Polar claims that the H10 lasts up to 400 hours compared to the 200 hours of its previous products.
While the Suunto Smart Sensor delivers up to 500 hours of use, making the Suunto Smart Sensor’s battery life about 1.5 times longer than that of the Polar H10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Suunto Smart Sensor Or Polar H10 Pair With Other Sensors?
Yes, Suunto Smart Sensors, Polar H10, and other Bluetooth compatible Heart Rate monitors can be used with other sensors. For example, the Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist Heart Rate monitor pairs with the Suunto Smart Sensor heart rate monitor.
What If My Suunto Smart Sensor And The Polar H10 Suddenly Stops Working?
This is very likely to happen as I’m sure many of us have encountered our fair share of unexpected issues while using the Suunto Smart Sensor or the polar H10. One day it’s working, and the next day, nothing.
Most of the time, we assume that it an issue for repairs, but it isn’t; especially when you have been using it for a long time and you start noticing a few drawbacks like difficulty in pairing with your heart rate monitor sensor, or a lack of heart rate data after an exercise. Trust me, this can be very annoying.
The most likely solution to this problem is to clean your heart rate monitor.
Is it even possible to do this? Yes, it is as a lot of heart rate monitor decline in accuracy and starts having a performance that is unpredictable due to lack of maintenance.
How Do I Properly Clean and Maintain My Heart Rate Monitor?
First of all, sever any connections between your HRM and your watch, phone, gym equipment, computer and any other device you might have connected it to.
Then, place the chest strap into a bowl with warm water and some dish soap. Let it sit overnight.
After soaking, eject the battery from its placement, And then clean the battery with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol, on both sides, do not clean with water and don’t swab directly on the electronics board, this could lead to the damage of your Suunto Smart Sensor.
You can clean any other place asides from these two, howbeit, clean them carefully.
Other key places where you should focus on cleaning are: the connector terminals on the sensor, the receivers on the chest strap where the posts on the sensor snap into place.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of not using water to clean any internal sensitive components. Rather, use the q-tip and alcohol as this has proven very effective.
How To Get The Best Out Of Your Suunto And Polar H10 Smart Sensor?
Heart rate monitors need clean electrical lines, usually situated in the chest straps, to sense the electrical pulses of our heartbeats and these clean lines ensure all that info is sent from the strap to the sensor. If these lines (in the strap) and connections (from strap to sensor) get too dirty from lack of maintenance which is likely to happen when you train daily and jump in a lake often times than not, then they need to get cleaned.
Therefore, we advise soaking your chest strap as this ensures there is enough moisture to conduct electrical pulses from your skin and so your chest strap can easily have something to read and data to relay through the device.
The Bottom Line
The Polar H10 and Suunto Smart Sensor are excellent heart rate monitors. Our winner, however, is the Polar H10. They are comfortable to wear, easy to use and both have compelling apps that provide guidance while working out. A decision between the Polar H10 and the Suunto smart sensor could finally come down to which of these specific features are the most important to you.