I still have old dependable Polar 625x to bring on trips and forest runs. But mainly it has now become my swimming watch.

I was also scared because all the negative comments about its durability, but Garmin 305 has the same number of unsatisfied users, so it is not a big deal. It’s just luck or lack of it

I do have a older Garmin 301 that I use regularly too. For long runs, rides or races, I usually make use of it too so I get the best of all worlds. I will admit that I have an eye on the Garmin 405. Its slimmer style to previous versions of the Garmin is a huge plus, and there are a ton a cool features that are too plentiful to mention here. And I agree they have to improve their chest straps. Since my 625x is mostly sitting there and collecting dust, I’ll likely sell it along with the Garmin 301 and pick up a 405. But I will still use the RS 800 as my main device.

Good luck with your choice. I think you will be happy with either the RS 800 or the Garmin. You just have to make your selection based on all of the features that you are looking for. ie: run cadence.

I got the 200sd and that soured me on Polar. It was a defective design that would lock up and reset often. I went through 4 of them. Plus if you search, many had this happen. Polar always replaced them, but never admitted there was an issue. I did not want something that died on a run or race.

I then went to Garmin 305 and have used it ever since. Love it.

But part of me wants the 800. For the following reasons:
The footpod gives MUCH more accurate real time pace info than GPS and I miss that.
The 800 shows cadence, which is very cool. I work on keeping near 90 and I use a metronome MP3 file on my ipod. I would like to be able to look.
Polar HRM chest straps are light years ahead of Garmin.

However, reading some durability issues with the 800 scares me right away.

I also have the Garmin 301and it has a Mulitsport mode. Everytime you hit the lap button you get splits for that segment, and records your T1 and T2 as well. I was thinking of getting the G3 sensor to use with my RS800 for races so I can get info for everything but the cost may dictate that I stick with the garmin (which I’ve used for longer races).

I’ve mentioned the idea to some “Polar people” the idea of developing a “mulitsport” to give data in each sport. I can only hope that they are going to come out with one. Maybe if we all keep bombarding them with this they will get one out soon.

Example. As we all know about the S625X, you have to stop the watch to switch to another sport to collect and use the appropriate data (i.e. biking vs. running). I have yet to remember to do this in all the triathlons that I’ve been in. Basically, I just end up using the basic heart rate setting and hit the big red button for simulating lap times of each segment of a race.

I would love to see a customizable watch that allows you to program or select which sports you are getting ready to perform, and toggle between them at the press of a button (including T1 & T2). Have a racing mode and training mode would be awesome. Wouldn’t it be great if the watch helped you out with your racing strategy or switched automatically based on the gear it was synching with (swiming, biking or running)? Tell you to reduce exertion to prepare for the next stage (i.e. Swim & T1to bike), increase cadence on the bike before T2 to the run to get your legs ready.

I know this is a tall order, but it looks like I’ll compromise what I already have to get a new model or just switch to the basic models that are sport spacific in order to be more cost effective. Hasn’t any of the elites worked with a watch sponsor yet to make things real easy and useful?

For the IT engineering geeks designing these watches, have you heard of service oriented architecure yet?

Here’s a summary of feedback on my S625X set.
GENERAL USAGE:
+ Very rugged and last forever
+ Good for sport specific training
- Requires recalibrating of altitude
- Temp sensor gets you in the ball park, but tends to rise due to your body temp rising

SWIM:
+ Last in the pools even though Polar doesn’t recommend it
- HR only measurable when using a wet suit
- Nothing for distance, pace or stroke counts

T1 & T2:
+ easy to push big red button going into over the timing mats
- have to stop watch to switch to biking
- have to stop watch to switch to running
- returning on bike to T2 ends up being kind of futile; hit red button, but am still in biking mode
- can’t really leave watch on wrist if bike was set up for real wheel trainers. Sensors don’t have far ranges.
- can easily forget to hit big red button leaving T1 to bike course

BIKE:
+ love having a HRM matched to biking data
+ Altitude data is good to compare to speed and HR
- Typically, I have to calibrate/offset the altitude curve (via the software) to have equal start and finish readings
- not sure how or if I can program different HRM zones for biking vs. running
- biking data is not as convenient as regular bike computer.
- I usually end up leaving the watch on my wrist and just use my basic Cat Eye bike computer during a race or on brick work-outs
- doesn’t seem to remember the last settings i’ve used and i end up toggling through the reading types (could be user training need)

RUN:
+ Great HRM watch for run training
+ No need to worry about trees or bad weather to get distance / pace readings from pod
+ don’t really notice or feel pod on shoe
+ love the heart touch for reading watch during early morning or late evening runs
+ easy to read
+ nice lap time flash readings during mile pacing
- I’m convinced that Polar has the manual calibration adjustment pocedure wrong. I found that the adjustments would swing the error 200% in the other direction. I cut the adjustments in half to get more accurate readings.
- Foot pod uses a lot of batteries
- foot pod needs continuous calibrations to get distance correct. This may be due to a change in your being in shape (i.e. longer and stronger strides)
- tend to see difference in distance data depending on how snug the pod is on your shoe

Thanks again! Anyone with an insite to Service Oriented Triathlon Watches, let us know!
Chris

Great review. I have the RS800G3 and picked up the foot pod as well. It is a really good watch and agree with all of what you say about it. I have found that I tend to use the foot pod over the GPS as it is much more convenient. I kept my 720 and use it now as my bike computer. Given to do it over I would have probably just gone with the running version.

David I also am having problems with the durability of the watch. I just sent mine back because it was fogging up on the inside of the face. Hopefully when I get it back it will be good to go.

Even with my recent issues I absolutely love this watch.