Polar Grit X is Ready For Any Adventure

If you’re into endurance running at all, you know that the ultra-running and exploration world is on fire right now. Distance is really only a number at this point, and Fastest Known Times are falling at a record rate.

In long and difficult endurance events, one of the most important factors is a reliable GPS watch (if you’ve ever been 2 miles off from the finish in an ultra race, you know how demoralizing it can be).

Enter the Polar Grit X, a lightweight, military-grade outdoor multisport GPS watch at a competitive price point in comparison to models like the COROS APEX Pro and Garmin Fenix 6.

Finland-based Polar has been at the heart rate and running technology game for over 40 years, and they’ve carved out a name for themselves as a company that excels at rock-solid GPS tracking, accurate heart rate monitoring, and incredibly in-depth training metrics.

While their previous GPS offerings favored triathletes, road runners, and cyclists, the Grit X provides an option for ultrarunners and long-distance athletes. Upgrades to this model include 40-hour continuous GPS and up to 100 hours with multiple power save options.

As any ultrarunner (or even marathoner) knows, the brain fog gets real in those later miles, and it’s easy to forget that it’s time to fuel. Polar recognized this and added the FuelWise smart fueling assistant that alerts you at specifically designated times during your run, and can be tailored to suit your specific fueling schedule.

For endurance athletes who obsess over their performance, Polar takes their in-depth training analysis even further with the Hill Splitter feature. When running on varied elevations, Hill Splitter automatically detects climbs and descents and delivers a detailed analysis of both your uphill and downhill stats.

The Polar Grit X also features route planning and turn-by-turn guidance via the Komoot integration. Additionally, the watch provides current and hourly weather straight from the home screen, as well as an extended 2-day forecast (one of my favorite features so far).

Finally, the watch comes in at a competitive $430 (US) price point compared to the Garmin Fenix 6 ($699 w/ 36-hour full-GPS battery life) and COROS APEX Pro ($499 w/ 40-hour full-GPS battery life).

Full in-depth review coming soon.

What else can you expect from the Grit X? See below.

Additional Smart Coaching features

• Polar Precision PrimeTM : Track your heart rate directly from the wrist with Polar’s unique sensor fusion technology
• FitSparkTM Polar Grit X and the FitSparkTM training guide make sure you’re prepared to conquer the trails with ready-made daily workouts that match your recovery, readiness and training history
• Nightly RechargeTM : See how well you recover from your day during the night
• Training Load ProTM : Quantify the strain of your training session and see how your training strains the different parts of your body
• Sleep Plus StagesTM : Follow your sleep stages and get insights to your sleep quality
• Running Power : Get more comprehensive insight into the intensity of your running sessions
• SereneTM : Relax your body and calm down your mind with the help of a guided breathing exercise
• Polar Flow app and web service: Make a training plan for a full season and keep track of your progress with extensive analysis tools

Technical Specs:

• Weight: 64g
• Measurements: 47 mm x 47 mm x 13 mm
• Military-grade standard (MIL-STD-810G)
• Case material: stainless steel
• Display: Always-on color touch display. Laminated Gorilla glass lens with anti-fingerprint coating
• GPS & Barometer: Integrated GPS, GLONASS. Assisted GPS for fast fix times. Barometric altitude, incline, ascent and descent
• Price: $430 (US)