Polar Grit X2 Pro watch review

Polar continues to innovate its flag-ship watch with the Grit X2 Pro, but is this slick and stylish device robust enough for all multisport training conditions? James Witts puts it to the test…

Polar’s following a trend. Release a new Vantage – we’re up to the third incarnation now. Soon after, release a new Grit, taking near enough all of the features from the Vantage with you but adding a slightly gnarlier exterior that screams ‘outdoor adventure’.

First impressions of the Polar Grit X2 Pro

That’s certainly the case with the Grit X2 Pro, which is the Vantage V3 plus a bulletproof stainless-steel outer.

That’s arguably no bad thing as, firstly, that means a crystal-clear AMOLED display that’s beacon-like in all conditions, which’ll pay off if you use this watch as nature, and Polar intended, which is well off the beaten path.

Do so and, in this environment and all others experienced during the test period – urban, rural… – you can’t be anything other than impressed with the GPS, whose design is one of the significant changes to the V3.

It picks up and maintains signal superbly for the bike and run.

Performance in water

For open-water swimming, it’s not as sharp, though is water resistant to 100m, which is another minor upgrade to the V3 and its 50m limit.

GPS reliability’s needed as, if you’re spending this money, you want navigation and mapping to be spot on. Which it is, though not without flaws, starting with place names. Or lack of them.

Yes, it features the trail and even contours but spend this money and you’re right to ask for a little more detail.

• Best running watches for women
• Best triathlon watches reviewed
• Best cheap running watches

Accuracy and performance

The calibration feature’s a pain, too. On the majority of watches, you’re asked to pre-calibrate for greater accuracy. But here, it’s a frequent request, resulting in a strange contortion act until fully calibrated.

There are over 150 sport profiles to tap into via the Polar Flow app, with a maximum 20 to choose from at any one time. With that, you’re given a huge amount of features to track and analyse your triathlon training.

For pool swimming, that means strokes per minute or per length, pace, distance and SWOLF, which is an indirect measure of efficiency.

Usefully, it also recognises your ‘swim style’ (aka, backstroke, breaststroke, front crawl and butterfly) and calculates metrics off the back of that.

It’s a shame that this feature doesn’t transcend to open water, as every outdoor session isn’t always about the front crawl. Heart rate’s measured, too, albeit optical sensors and swimming aren’t accurate bedfellows.

Cycling data

For cycling, you have standouts like VAM, or vertical speed, which measures the rate at which you climb or descend, taking both vertical and horizontal data into account.

FuelWise is a particularly useful feature on long rides to optimise your nutrition, while Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity means it seamlessly syncs to your power meter.

It’s the same when using Zwift. As for the run, you have wrist-based power, plus your personalised run programme if needed.

You’re also given your recovery status, training load status, sleep status… in fact, everything you’d expect of a premium sports watch.

But strangely there’s no TrainingPeaks integration to display workouts, which does seem an oversight for a watch of this ilk. Hopefully, updates down the line will iron that out.

It’s touchscreen and button, and, finally, battery life’s a claimed 140hrs in eco GPS and 40hrs in full GPS. Both of those are in the ballpark of the top watches.

Conclusion – should you buy it?

All in all, it’s an impressive watch. But not perfect. And if you’re paying a whisker under £650, that’s near enough what you’ll be demanding.

With its competition from Garmin, Suunto and Coros all under that price point – the impressive Suunto Race is £389, for instance – there’s an argument this is £100 too much.

Polar’s endured financial difficulties of recent times, which may have resulted in this RRP. How many they’ll shift at that price to alleviate their fiscal issues remains to be seen.

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch specs

Price:	£649 / $749.95
Weight:	79g (including wristband)
Display size:	35.3mm (1.39in) diameter
Battery life:	Up to 10 days smartwatch mode, up to 43 hours in performance training mode
Display type:	AMOLED