Polar Loop ZDNET's key takeaways The Polar Loop is available in three colors for $199.99.
The band is very comfortable, the heart rate readings are accurate, and the sleep tracking is useful
The app doesn't align well with this type of wearable, there is no alarm, and automatic tracking may be a bit delayed. View now at Polar
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It seems that in the world of 24/7 activity tracking, what's old is new again, as we see a resurgence in the availability of fitness bands that have no display and offer a distraction-free approach to measuring key health and wellness metrics. Polar has long set the standard for optical heart rate monitoring, and it brings its latest heart rate technology to a simple tracker with the new Polar Loop.
Also: I swapped my Apple Watch Ultra for this big-screen Garmin that's easier to read
Smart rings have dominated the distraction-free fitness sector for the past couple of years, and now we have major fitness brands offering alternatives to the Whoop band but without subscription fees. Amazfit's recent Helio Strap is very popular, and Garmin has a new band focused on measuring your sleep in a more comfortable form factor than a smartwatch.
Works with Polar watch
Like the Amazfit Helio Strap, the Polar Loop works in conjunction with your Polar smartwatch, so if you have focused activities where you want to capture your location via GPS, measure details such as laps, or connect to other sensors such as bike cadence sensors, you can use your Polar watch for advanced activity tracking.
I've been running, walking, working in the yard, sleeping, working, and more with the Polar Loop for a couple of weeks. September was a crazy month for me with many family matters to deal with, so it was a breath of fresh air to wear the Polar Loop and focus on life instead of my wrist.
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