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 Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
---|---|---|---|
Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated November 17th, 2022 @ 10:06 am New Window | |||
Price | $349 | $279 | $499 |
Product Announcement Date | May 11th, 2016 | Sept 13th, 2018 | Jan 4th, 2017 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | May 11th, 2016 | November 2018 | Mar 31st, 2017 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Data Transfer | USB/Bluetooth Smart | USB, BLUETOOTH SMART | USB & Bluetooth Smart |
Waterproofing | Yes - 50m | Yes - 30m | Yes - 100m |
Battery Life (GPS) | 14 hours in GPS-on | Up to 30 hours | Up to 50 hours |
Recording Interval | 1S OR SMART | 1s | Variable |
Alerts | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Visual | Sound/Visual/Vibrate |
Backlight Greatness | Good | Great | Great |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | Yes | No | No |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | Steps only (not distance/sleep) | Music | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Can control phone music | Yes | No | No |
Has music storage and playback | No | No | No |
Streaming Services | No | Payments | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Contactless-NFC Payments | No | Connectivity | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | YEs | Feb 2019 | Yes |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | No | No |
Group tracking | No | No | |
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No | No |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No | Cycling | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | YEs | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | Yes | No | No |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Strava segments live on device | Yes | Future Update (Date TBD) | No |
Crash detection | No | No | No | Running | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | YEs | No | No |
Running Power | Yes with 3rd party devices (not built-in like Vantage V) | ||
VO2Max Estimation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Race Predictor | YEs | No | No |
Recovery Advisor | Yes | No | Yes |
Run/Walk Mode | YEs | No | No | Swimming | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Designed for swimming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Openwater swimming mode | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Record HR underwater | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM | Yes | Yes |
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Drill Mode | Yes | No | No |
Indoor auto-pause feature | No | Yes | No |
Change pool size | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M | 20M/Y to 250 m/y | 15m/y to 1,200m/y |
Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Captures per length data - indoors | YEs | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Alerts | Yes | N/A | No | Triathlon | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Designed for triathlon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Multisport mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Workouts | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Create/Follow custom workouts | Yes | Yes | No |
On-unit interval Feature | Yes | No | Yes |
Training Calendar Functionality | Yes | No | Yes | Functions | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Auto Start/Stop | YEs | Yes | |
Virtual Partner Feature | Yes | No (but can give out of zone alerts) | No |
Virtual Racer Feature | Yes | No | No |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | No | No |
Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No | No |
Weather Display (live data) | Yes | No | no | Navigate | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | Yes | No | Yes |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | Saved locations only | No | Yes |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | No | No | No |
Back to start | Yes | Feb 2019 | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | No | No |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | Yes | No | Yes | Sensors | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Altimeter Type | GPS | GPS | GPS |
Compass Type | GPS | N/A | Magnetic |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | Yes | Yes | Yes |
SpO2 (aka Pulse Oximetry) | No | ||
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | Yes | No | No |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | No | No |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | No | No |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | Yes | No | no |
ANT+ Lighting Control | Yes | No | No |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | Yes | No | No |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | No | No |
ANT+ Remote Control | No | No | No |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No | No |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | No | No | |
Shimano Di2 Shifting | Yes | No | No |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | No | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | NO | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | nO | Yes | Yes (+ Stryd Running Power Meter) |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | nO | Yes | Yes |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | No | Yes | Yes |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | Yes | No | No | Software | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
PC Application | Garmin Express | Polar Flowsync - Windows/Mac | PC/Mac |
Web Application | Garmin Connect | Polar Flow | Suunto Movescount |
Phone App | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No | Purchase | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Amazon | Link | Link | Link |
REI | Link | Link | DCRainmaker | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Polar Vantage M | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR |
Review Link | Link | Link | Link |