Polar M200 GPS watch review
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Polar M200 GPS watch review

Well priced GPS watch for mountain biking with plenty of features

Our rating

4

Navigating the simple menu is intuitive and the large face is easy to read.

Steve Behr

Robin Weaver

Published: May 15, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Our review
Easy to use and keeps tabs on all of your ride data, at a good price, but GPS tracking can be slow to start

Pros:

Loads of features and info with the Polar Flow app; easy-to-read screen; light, comfortable and durable

Cons:

GPS takes time to locate signal; heart rate monitor isn’t super-accurate

Polar’s cheapest wearable unit, the M200, covers all the data any mountain biker needs, in conjunction with its Flow app.

It includes built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor and daily activity tracker, plus it can display notifications from your phone — not bad considering the price.

Navigating the simple menu is intuitive enough (there are only two buttons) and the large face is easy to read.

The M200 can take time to locate the GPS signal, so it missed tracking the first few minutes of some rides, but once going it works fine.

The heart rate monitor is a little hit-and-miss too compared to a bar-mounted unit with chest strap, but you can pair it with a chest strap, sold separately.

Features-wise, the M200 packs a real punch. Post-ride, it’s easy to view data on the watch, including heart rate, calories burned and max/average speed. Head into the app for plenty more info, such as a map of your ride (with elevation and so on) and a breakdown of how much time you spent in each heart rate zone.

Battery life is seriously impressive, especially if you remove the watch at night, and it charges quickly too. It’s waterproof and has handled its fair share of rough and tumble to date, although the rubber strap is getting a bit baggy around the watch face now.

Polar M200 GPS watch specifications

  • Weight: 44g
  • Thickness: 12mm
  • Display size: 26mm, 1,342px
  • GPS: Yes
  • Heart rate monitor: Yes
  • Activity tracker: Yes
  • Connectivity: USB-A for data sync to Mac or PC, Bluetooth
  • App: Polar Flow, FlowSync
  • Price: £130 / US$150 / AU$199

Robin Weaver

Technical editor-in-chief

Rob is BikeRadar and MBUK’s technical editor-in-chief. Our resident tech nerd has lived and breathed mountain bikes since the age of nine. After a couple of years ripping around his local woods, he raced cross-country through the early 90s. A shift to downhill better suited his skillset and he soon became a regular on the national circuit before having a crack at some UCI Downhill World Cups. Rob always had an eye for tech and was keen to glean any kind of mechanical advantage possible. Whether that was through geometry changes, suspension tuning or adapting parts, he learned quickly that an open mind is key. He began working as a freelance writer for MBUK over 20 years ago, while he finished his degree in sports technology. He landed his dream role as technical editor 15 years ago. Rob’s passion for bikes encompasses just about anything with two wheels, including fast and efficient cross-country bikes and long-travel enduro rigs or downhill machines. He rides on the road and gravel, too. He’s tested hundreds of bikes, piles of components and mountains of kit, so understands what does and doesn’t work.

  • Height: 172cm
  • Bike size: Medium/450-460mm reach
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