Polar Grit X Pro review: a fitness watch that matches your fit

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While modern watches have made health tracking a priority, there are still watches that are all about fitness. You have seen them. They are the hulking monstrosities worn by your really outdoorsy friend who is always posting pics of their latest hike, ski trip, or running route. These fitness-first watches have battery life measured in days instead of hours, superior navigation features, and in-depth metrics at the expense of features like cellular and payments. This describes the $499.95 Polar Grit X Pro to a T, and hey, it's not an ugly thing!

Usually, it's all about the metrics and the accuracy of the gps device. It's a big deal that the Grit X Pro looks as nice as it does. A lot of that comes from the small design flourishes. The Pro comes in black, copper, and gold, and it was the same color as the Grit X. There is also a premium version called the Grit X Pro Titan. You get a lighter titanium case and a leather band for $599.95. You can see the entire lineup here, but each option looks more sophisticated than the others. The gold version of my review unit doesn't look as bad as other rugged watches I've tested over the years. The etchings on the bezel give it a sleeker look. The textured fluoroelastomer strap is a nice touch. You get the look of a woven fabric strap, but it is still sweat and waterproof.

The stylishness of the Grit X Pro as well as its more recent watches is a step forward for the company. I remember the days of the M600, it definitely put style second. For a long time, it wasn't worth commenting on Polar's Wearables. The brand put effort into flipping the script.

It's not style that comes at the expense of durability. The Grit X Pro is water resistant to over 300 feet. It can operate between -4 and 122 degrees. It's too much for my daily life. In my three weeks of testing, I did not go to the Saharan desert, go deep into the Atlantic, or brave theAntarctic tundra. I wore the Grit X Pro in the shower and ran in the cold. The Grit X Pro is in good shape.

The Grit X Pro is not the most comfortable watch for smaller people. It looks a bit smaller on the wrist than you would expect from a 13mm thick watch. Don't be deceived. It was still getting on too many sleeves and jacket cuffs. The Apple Watch Series 7 is heavier than the Rugged watches like the Pro. The Pro is larger than my wrist at 39 grams. It is on par with other fitness watches. The same size and weight can be found in the 47mm Garmin Fenix 7. I expected the big size, but it presents challenges. I have to strap big watches tighter to get accurate readings. If I wore the Grit X Pro for sleep tracking, it left marks on my skin. If I wanted this to be my daily driver, I would have to take it off periodically.

Thomas Ricker was able to test the copper-colored version for a few weeks back when it was announced. He likes the color and weight of vintage dive watches and is willing to overlook the large bezel, which is often seen as a status symbol in his circle of multisport fanatics. Like me, he still has to wear the same watches as he does for the Garmin Fenix 6 to ensure accurate heart rate and blood oxygen readings.

Although we both liked the design, our differing experiences with comfort show why Polar and other fitness watchmakers should make their products available in multiple sizes.

I have a few gripes with the display. The screen is too dim for indoors. I don't have good eyesight. While running on a shady day, I had to squint to see my statistics. It was easier to read on the side-by-side screen of the Fenix 7S. The backlight of the Grit X Pro helps, but not as much as I would like. You would think it was an Android Wear watch because of the laggy touchscreen. Thankfully, you can use the five physical buttons.

The Apple Watch has a long battery life compared to a watch with no screen or always-on display. I got about a week on a single charge, with roughly 60 minutes of activity per day and a low backlight at all times. It wasn't worth the decreased visibility if you switched the backlight brightness to C with a light button only. The battery was drained by about 3% in my testing.

The Grit X Pro is still a good sports watch, even though I have complained a fair amount. It isn't the best watch. There is no voice assistant to set your timers, and you won't get any of the above. You need to carry your phone with you because you don't have onboard music storage or headphones. Push notifications are basic, but you can decline calls. If you want a watch that has more smarts, you should look at the Venu 2 Plus. The Pro doesn't have smart features, but it does have the ability to switch between Galileo and GLONASS. You can see where the priorities are.

This isn't the smartest watch, but it has a nice mix of fitness tests, recovery and training data, and navigation options. There are new watch faces, such as an altimeter, compass, and dusk / dawn times. If you love hiking, these are great. There are new ways to view your route, altitude, and reminders to fuel up right from the Route selection menu. There are 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 You can view elevation, switch routes mid-way, and access alternate ways to get back to where you started. You can either reverse your route or pick the beeline option, which will find the fastest way back. You can link up with Komoot to get turn-by-turn navigation on the wrist.

If you are prone to getting lost, these are appealing. I put up a new route to test the turn-by-turn directions. In real-time, my wrist buzzed with directions. I was off track at one point because I went the wrong way. Beelining the route worked well, though I don't agree that it got me there faster than my usual route. After trying it, I was more interested in exploring new areas. I don't like it because it's a difficult feature to set up. The linking process between the two apps was very time consuming. The bored guy in this video could have been my doppelganger. It took longer to start an activity because you have to navigate to a special Routes menu before you can. I wasn't a fan of the extra time needed or the fact that I need two apps to make the most of this feature.

The fitness tests were neat, but only the hardcore nerds will get the most out of them. The orthostatic test is one of the four tests. The Running performance test is a VO2 Max test to determine your best training zones and measure your progress over time. It takes between 30 and 40 minutes to complete, and you run as hard as you can until you feel like you're dying. The cycling test measures the max power you can maintain for 60 minutes. While I enjoy the occasional spin class, you can't make me cycle for an hour. The leg recovery test requires you to jump up and down three times. The test is easy. You lie down, link up with a chest strap, and measure your readiness based on your heart rate variability. It is part of the Recovery Pro feature, which measures your cardiovascular system's recovery based on the test, training load, and a few questions. If you're into data-based training, these are all in-depth.

The Runkeeper app on my phone and the Apple Watch Series 7 held up well against the Grit X Pro. There is a 5K route planned on Komoot that is 3.01 miles on the Grit X Pro, 3.1 miles on the Fenix 7S, and 3.04 miles on Runkeeper. The results are consistent, and the Fenix 7S recorded some extra distance as I initially failed to finish the workout. The maps were almost identical, with one small section that all four struggled with. The Grit X Pro struggled with its heart rate but not in a major way. There is a 1- to 2-second lag behind the Series 7 and Fenix 7S. The mid-run checks were all within five beats per minute.

I like how Polar gets its data. It's similar to what Garmin offers, but with an extra focus on building baselines, evaluating cumulative training loads, data-based testing, and fueling. The one thing I don't like is the polar flow app. Polar doesn't always think about the presentation when bombarding you with as many data points as possible. A lot of reading is needed to understand charts. You have to do a decent amount of reading to get a Polar metric. I've tested multiple Polar devices over the years, so I'm familiar with the app's quirks, but it will take newbies a while to get used to the mess. You can change which information you see first.

The Grit X Pro is a mixed bag. There is a lot I like about it, but there are also many things I don't like about it. The price is the thing that gives me pause. The steep price tag for the Grit X Pro makes sense in the category, until you consider the $429.95 Grit X. It's not clear what the differences are between the Grit X, Grit X Pro, and $599.95 Grit X Pro Titan. I will save you time. Most people would be happy to save the extra $70 on the Grit X. If you are that person who loves fitness testing and could use a little more help with navigation, then you should. While you crush your fitness goals, the Grit X Pro will make sure you look good.

Victoria Song is a photographer.

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it. It is impossible for us to read and analyze all of these agreements. We're going to start counting how many times you have to use devices when we review them since they are agreements most people don't read.

You need to pair it with an Apple device to use it. The phone's terms of service, privacy policy, and any other permission you grant are included. To use the app, you have to create a polar flow account.

You are agreeing to this by setting up the Polar Grit X Pro.

Permissions for notifications must be granted to the Polar Flow app. You have to agree to individual terms and policies when you integrate with other services.

Whatever your phone requires, plus two mandatory agreements. There are third-party integrations and optional phone permission.