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Polar RC3 GPS with Heart Rate Monitor, Black
Polar RC3
View your route map and analyze your workout
in polarpersonaltrainer.com
Click here for a larger image
RC3 GPS – A Smarter All-In-One
The RC3 GPS is the smarter all-in-one. It’s packed with unique Smart Coaching training features that will help maximize your performance.
Slim and Lightweight
The RC3 GPS has a super slim profile, built-in GPS and rechargeable battery with up to 12 hours of usage time.
GPS-based Altitude and More
In addition to speed and distance, the RC3 GPS shows altitude while training. After your workout, download your data into polarpersonaltrainer.com to see your route map along with altitude, pace and heart rate curves. Your total ascent and descent will also be shown here.
Stay Motivated
After each workout the RC3 GPS will display your Training Benefit- a short summary of what you just accomplished in your workout. This helpful feedback will keep you motivated to reach your goals.
Plan, Review and Track Workouts
Connect to polarpersonaltrainer.com, our free online training diary. Here you can create personalized running and cycling training programs and upload them into the RC3 GPS. After your training, download your data into polarpersonaltrainer.com where you can analyze your workout and review your Training Load to prevent over training.
Optimize Training
Includes Running Index, a unique training feature that will help you improve your running performance. Based on your heart rate and speed data, your Running Index score is calculated automatically after every run. A higher reading indicates that you can run faster with less effort. Regular use over time lets you to see how efficiently you’re running.
Key Features
• Tracks your route, speed and distance using built-in GPS
• Shows GPS-based altitude during and after training
• Training Benefit gives you instant feedback after your session
• Running Index scores your performance
• Improves performance with endurance training programs, downloadable for free from polarpersonaltrainer.com
• Back to start GPS-based feature guides you back to your starting point
• Large display shows up to 3 rows of data
• Compatible with Polar running and cycling sensors
• Measures stride length and running cadence when used with the s3+ stride sensor
• Rechargeable battery, 12h in continuous use with GPS on
• 99 memory files
• Lets you share your training data via polarpersonaltrainer.com
Includes comfortable fabric chest strap
for accurate, continuous heart rate.
For best results, thoroughly moisten
the chest strap with water prior to workout.
Click here for a larger image
In The Box
RC3 GPS training computer
H3 heart rate sensor
USB cable
Getting Started Guide
Easy to Use
1) Enter basic settings
2) If you are using the H3 heart rate sensor, thoroughly moisten the strap with water, snap on the transmitter and wrap around your chest
3) Start your workout
4) After your training, download your data into polarpersonaltrainer.com using the included USB cable to analyze your workout.
5) To extend the battery life of your chest strap transmitter be sure to detach the sensor from the chest strap and rinse after each use.
Smarter Training Starts Here
Polar invented the world’s first heart rate monitor and pioneered the Smart Coaching training approach that delivers faster progress and better results. Each Polar product includes unique Smart Coaching features that listen to your heart and interpret the data for you so you can train smarter.
RC3 GPS with heart rate Smart Coaching features:
Training Benefit
Motivating feedback right after exercise.
Training Load
Helps you find the perfect balance between rest and training.
Fitness Test
Tells you exactly how your fitness is developing.
Smart Calories
Lets you know exactly how many calories you’ve burned.
ZoneOptimizer
Ensures you always train at the right intensity.
Running Index
Illustrates how your running performance is developing.
Endurance Programs
Guides you to improve your running and cycling performance. Lets you create personalized training sessions that adapt to your progress, including warm up and cool down phases.
How Heart Rate Training Works
Click here for a larger image
When you train, you don’t always have to go faster or harder to get the best results. To reach your goals you just need to listen to your heart rate and train at the right intensity.
During training, there are specific intensity zones, each with a benefit. These zones are based on a percentage of your maximum heart rate- a number calculated by most Polar heart rate monitors. While training you can use your max heart rate to calculate and follow the recommended zones below. Training in the right zone will help you stay on track to reach your goals.
Zone 1 “Very Light” 50-60%: Improves overall health and helps recovery. Recommended for weight management and active recovery.
Zone 2 “Light” 60-70%: Improves basic endurance and fat burning. Recommended for everybody for longer and frequently repeated short exercises.
Zone 3 “Moderate” 70-80%: Improves aerobic fitness. Recommended for everybody for moderately long exercises.
Zone 4 “Hard” 80-90%: Increases maximum performance capacity. Recommended for everybody for shorter exercises.
Zone 5 “Maximum” 90-100%: Develops maximum performance and speed. Recommended for fit people and athletic training.
(Calculate your Maximum Heart Rate: 200 – Your Age= Maximum Heart Rate.)
Recommended accessories
CS cadence sensor W.I.N.D.
Add the CS cadence sensor W.I.N.D. to measure your real-time and average pedaling rate of your ride.
s3+ stride sensor
Attach the small s3+ stride sensor onto your shoe to get your speed and distance as well as your Running Index to measure your running performance. This gives you the flexibility to measure your speed and distance inside or out.
Compare Polar Running & Multisport Models
RCX3 
RC3 GPS 
RCX5 Continuous Heart Rate Yes Yes (w/ heart rate sensor) Yes Fitness Test Yes Yes Yes ZoneOptimizer Yes Yes Yes Integrated GPS No Yes No Training Plan Compatible Yes Yes Yes Interval Programming Yes Yes Yes Sport Specific Profiles Yes Yes Yes Altitude In Download Yes In Download Download to Polarpersonaltrainer.com Yes (w/Datalink) Yes (included USB cable) Yes (w/Datalink) Compatible with Polar running and cycling sensors Yes Yes Yes Heart rate in water No No Yes Customizable Displays No No Yes Race Pace No No Yes Multisport Mode (Triathlon) No No Yes Battery Type User Changeable
(Coin Cell) Rechargeable
(12 hours in continuous use with GPS on) User Changeable
(Coin Cell)
Polar Customer Care
Purchasing a Polar product is only the start of your experience with us. We’ll be there to provide training advice and assistance and help you get the most out of your new product.
Product Features
- All in one GPS heart rate monitor tracks your speed, distance and route using the latest GPS technology (SiRFstar IV)
- Slim and lightweight design with rechargeable battery (12 hours in continuous use with GPS on)
- Unique Polar Smart Coaching features such as Running Index and Training Benefit analyze your training
- Shows GPS – based altitude during and after training
- Compatible with running and cycling sensors plus polarpersonaltrainer.com, our free training diary where you can download endurance training programs
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You’re stuck with the display fields Polar picks for you, not the fields you’d like to see I purchased the Polar RC3 GPS with Heart Rate Monitor after several futile attempts to extend the life of my Garmin Forerunner 305 by purchasing replacement Garmin heart-monitoring belts, none of which ever worked. Disgusted with Garmin and the returned-product mailing costs I was being forced to pay by its vendor, HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com, I decided to give the Polar RC3 GPS with Heart Rate Monitor a try, via Amazon.My early reaction to the Polar device — which I am using for running, hiking, exercise machines, and rowing — follows:Pros——* Excellent connectivity to GPS and heart rate monitor;* Excellent find-your-way-back-home screen (in contrast to Garmin’s hard-to-use equivalent).Cons——-* Inability to customize the watch-face display screens to display the data one wishes (in contrast to Garmin);* Inability to display more than three data fields on Polar’s preconfigured, unmodifiable screens;*…
Best running watch I’ve ever owned I’ve been a runner for over 20 years and I’ve used my fair share of running watches. Most had those awful foot “pods” that were terribly inaccurate most of the time. I finally decided to upgrade to a GPS watch like the RC3 in an attempt to get the most accurate data from my workouts. I’ve been using the RC3GPS for a year now so I’ve had a lot of time to get used to the pros and cons.I find the battery life to be very suitable for my purposes. I only run about 20 miles a week so the battery seems to last forever between charges for me. If you’re a long distance runner I can see that if you have to charge it after every workout or two that it would get pretty annoying. My battery has run dead before, but your previous data is safe and is still there when you charge it. The charging port is underneath which does seem counter intuitive and it sounds like it’s caused issues for other reviewers as far as water resistance. I can only say from my experience that I…
positive experience I’ve had the watch for about a month now and I’m pretty happy with it. DCRainmaker has the authoritative review of the watch on his website, so you’ll want to look at that before buying. I’m very impressed by the battery life — after running a half marathon I charged the watch and went nearly two weeks (including a long run of over 1 1/2 hours, with most runs being about an hour long) with charging it again except for the thirty seconds or so that it charges while downloading the data.So far, the only cons I see are: 1) the heart rate monitor is subject to spikes — I’ll start runs and see a heart rate of 170 or higher (what I normally see at the end of a hard 5k or tempo run) at the beginning of an easy run. It’s done this a few times (same as an earlier Polar watch I had), but so far it’s always returned to a normal range before too long (the longest these readings have lasted is about .75 miles); 2) as you should know, you can’t customize the data screens. Fortunately…