Polar Vantage V

performance IF YOU CHASE PEAK more than you run for fun, this all-rounder has plenty to recommend it. It was the first watch to measure running power from the wrist – an alternative way of measuring the intensity of your runs. It also has a much-improved wrist-based heart-rate sensor that powers a suite of best-inclass training-load, recovery and sleep tools. And it offers 40 hours of continuous runtracking on a single charge.

You get all the tools you’d expect from a top-end watch, and intervals and structured workouts are relatively easy to set up in the Polar Flow app.

Postrun, advanced trainingload insights reveal the strain each workout puts on your body, while smart recovery recommendations tell you when you’re ready to go again. While not infallible, Polar has made the recommendations more digestible than most. Your fitness progress can also be mapped with five-minute fitness tests.

If you’re interested in the finer points of running form, the V’s running dynamics are limited to cadence readouts. Smartwatch features include notifications but there’s no music or contactless payments.