How to find the right product for you
This Product Comparison Calculator will allow you to compare products in one of two ways. Choose from the two dropdown menus below to auto-populate the product boxes with results, or click on the product boxes to activate your own personalized choices. Once the product boxes are shaded per your liking, click the “COMPARE NOW” button to retrieve a customized product comparison graph.
Currently there are eight product types:
– Watches (and bike computers!!!!)
– Trainers (for cycling indoors)
– Activity monitors (things like Fitbits and step counters)
– Power meters (for cycling)
– Action Cams (things like GoPro’s and the like)
– Heart Rate Sensors (Straps and Optical sensors that measure HR)
– Trainer Apps (for cycling indoors on trainers)
– Drones (primarily sport focused options)
For trainers, the focus is primarily on computer-integrated trainers that provide resistance control. Additionally, like the watches I only include units that I’ve personally reviewed and/or used.
Select product use/budget for a comparison from the drop down menus:
Note: While many running watches have a basic bike mode, only running units that are multi-sport focused are also included in the bike-only results (in addition to bike-specific units). Hiking units are those that include a Barometric Altimeter, Magnetic Compass and navigational functions.
Or select products for comparison by clicking the product boxes below:
Comparison Results:
Function/Feature | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
---|---|---|
Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated November 27th, 2017 @ 4:31 am New Window | ||
Price | $169 (on sale) | $179 |
Product Announcement Date | January 5th, 2015 | Sept 25th, 2014 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | March 2015 | October 2014 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes |
Data Transfer | USB, BLUETOOTH SMART | USB, BLUETOOTH SMART |
Waterproofing | 50 meters | Yes - 30m |
Battery Life (GPS) | 10 hours GPS on | 8 hours |
Recording Interval | Smart Recording (Variable) | 1-second |
Alerts | Vibrate/Visual | Sound/Visual |
Backlight Greatness | Good | Great |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | Yes | No |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | Music | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Can control phone music | Yes | No |
Has music storage and playback | No | No | Connectivity | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | Yes | Yes |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | No |
Group tracking | No | |
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | Cycling | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | With some Connect IQ apps (but cannot record data) | No |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | No |
Strava segments live on device | No | No |
Crash detection | No | Running | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Designed for running | Yes | Yes |
Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | YES (Also has INTERNAL ACCELEROMETER) | Yes |
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | No | No |
VO2Max Estimation | No | Sorta |
Race Predictor | No | Can estimate finish time during race |
Recovery Advisor | No | No (only if you have V800 too) |
Run/Walk Mode | Yes | No | Swimming | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Designed for swimming | Yes | No |
Openwater swimming mode | No | No |
Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | N/A |
Record HR underwater | No | No |
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | No | N/A |
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | N/A |
Indoor Drill Mode | No | N/A |
Indoor auto-pause feature | No | N/A |
Change pool size | Yes | N/A |
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M | N/A |
Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes |
Captures per length data - indoors | Yes | N/A |
Indoor Alerts | Yes | N/A | Triathlon | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Designed for triathlon | No | No |
Multisport mode | No | No | Workouts | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Create/Follow custom workouts | No | Yes |
On-unit interval Feature | No | Yes |
Training Calendar Functionality | No | Yes | Functions | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Partner Feature | No | Via Race Estimator |
Virtual Racer Feature | No | No |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Only on Garmin Connect | Yes |
Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No |
Weather Display (live data) | Via Connect IQ app | No | Navigate | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | No | No |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | No | No |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | No | No |
Back to start | Yes | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | No |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | No | No | Sensors | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Altimeter Type | GPS | GPS |
Compass Type | GPS | GPS |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | No | No |
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | Yes | No |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | No |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | No |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | No | No |
ANT+ Lighting Control | No | No |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | No | No |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | nO |
ANT+ Remote Control | Yes for Garmin VIRB | No |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | No | No |
Shimano Di2 Shifting | No | No |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | No | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | no | No |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | No | No |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | No | No |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | Yes (Tempe) | No | Software | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
PC Application | Garmin Express | Polar Flowsync |
Web Application | Garmin Connect | Polar Flow |
Phone App | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | Purchase | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Amazon | Link | Link | DCRainmaker | Garmin Vivoactive | Polar M400 |
Review Link | Link | Link |