At a Glance: Quick Summary
Heart Rate Functions
Fitness / Sport Features
Ease of Use
Battery Life
Where To Get It
A Deep Dive Into Polar Loop 2
The Polar Loop 2 replaces the original Polar Loop activity bracelet with the addition of SMARTPHONE notifications and vibration alerts.
The Loop 2 is a stylish fitness tracker designed to look smart and discrete. Just as at home on your wrist doing CardioZone training as it is while you are sitting at your desk or complimenting your Saturday night out designer outfit.
Designed in various colours including black, pink and white and in several sizes to accommodate wrists from approximately 14cm to 22cm plus. In other words, there is a version for everyone. Polar Loop 2 activity tracker has been tested & reviewed by Tristan Haskins aka CardioCritic
Video Review
Comparison
Whether male or female, gym goer, mountain biker, walker, jogger, Olympic athlete or anything in between, the Polar Loop 2 could help you keep active and stay healthy by promoting frequent activity sessions and monitoring everything from daily steps walked, calories burnt and time active to the quality of your sleep and your heart rate while working out (requires the use of the Polar H7 HR belt, optional extra). Polar started selling heart rate monitors in 1976. CardioCritic have tested the majority of Polar fitness trackers – using them for the first time in 1996
So.. who’s it for? Just like the original Loop it’s for anyone who wants to increase their activity and stop sitting too long.
If you think you might benefit from a subtle reminder after an hour or so of inactivity then then this could be for you. We all like to think we fit in as much activity as we possibly can, owning this activity tracker may well prove that you are… or it might show that you are NOT.
I sit for over 9 hours most days. This new Loop 2 really did motivate me to get up from my desk and take a short walk around the block… less time than it would take a smoker to suck out a cigarette. So, who’s the Loop 2 for? YOU ! 🙂
Who are you calling FAT?!
Oh… Fat Burning ….
Just like the Polar A300, the Loop 2 will tell you when you are working in a FAT BURNING zone and when you are in an IMPROVING FITNESS zone (when used with the Polar H7 HRM belt). This handy feature is great for those who don’t want to be fussed calculating their optimal heart rate zones and just want to either – burn fat, or improve fitness.
Related Article: Polar M400 Review, for the exerciser who wants the benefits of an activity tracker?
Main Features and Functions
The Loop 2 is one of many activity trackers in a very competitive market. With brands like Garmin and Fitbit offering some really attractive alternatives, it’s a cut throat arena.
This model does NOT have built in heart rate sensors like the Polar A360, Mio Fuse, Fitbit Charge HR and Garmin Vivosmart HR. That’s NOT a criticism as it’s cheaper than all those models, it’s just highlighting a major difference.
This model, the Loop 2 is more fairly compared to the FitBit Charge and Garmin Vivosmart. So let’s look at some of the Loop 2’s best features.
Features
- Smartphone Notifications – works with iOs (Apple) and Android smartphones
- Vibrate – a gentle vibration to alert for calls/texts & inactivity
- Choice of Colours & Sizes – get precisely the model that suits your style and wrist size
- Long Battery life – will give you up to 8 days with an hour of HRM training per day
- Polar EnergyPointer – gives you clear guidance on how to get into shape faster
- Polar OwnCal® – lets you know exactly how many calories you’ve burned.
- Waterproof – suitable for swimming. The loop 2 is water resistant up to WR20.
- Activity Guide – helping you to stay active all day long.
- Activity Benefit – gives feedback about your daily, weekly and monthly activity.
Related Content: Polar m200, wrist based heart rate watch!
Top Alternative
The next model up from the Loop 2 is the Polar A360. The A360 is currently the top of the range in Polar’s line of activity trackers.
The BIGGEST difference between this model and the A360 is that the A360 features Polar’s own BUILT IN heart rate sensor (no belt required) and also comes with a full color, permanently on display. For more info, read the full Polar A360 review.
Review Summary
The need to CUT the strap to fit your wrist is both a BLESSING (as it gives a perfect fit once done) but also a bit of a worry for some people.
I think having to chop of the excess strap does scare some customers. HOWEVER, it’s VERY WELL documented and, as long as you measure your wrist carefully, it’s NOT a problem. Unless you lose/gain weight ??
Just like the Loop before it, I would like an option to keep the time of day on all the time.
Maybe a button sequence that could be pressed to LOCK the display ON. This would be useful when you need to keep track of the time, but don’t want to have to press the buttons every time one wants to check the time of day…..
Estimation of DISTANCE during TRAINING. Most of the competitor’s alternative incorporate digital accelerometers that will give a pretty accurate estimation of the DISTANCE you have jogged/walked when the unit is in training mode.
The Mio Fuse for example gives DAILY total distance (from general activity) and also TRAINING distance from your actual training sessions. The Loop 2 gives an estimation of TOTAL distance throughout the day, but NOT a summary of distance walked during an ACTIVITY/TRAINING session.
Want something different? Read more about the Polar A370 or the Polar M600 price here!
