Polar Verity Sense Review

I purchased the Polar Verity Sense in the summer of 2022 when I embarked on the low heart rate training journey and I've been thoroughly impressed by its accuracy, simplicity, and comfort. When I began low heart rate training, I noticed that my wrist-based heart rate on my Garmin Vivoactive 4 was severely lacking in accuracy. While chest straps are the gold standard for accuracy, I knew I would be less likely to wear one of them due to discomfort under a sports bra. The arm band seemed like the best route, so I chose the Polar brand since they have made the "best of" lists for quite a while. Now, with over a year of use on it, I can say that the Polar Verity Sense is THE heart rate monitor I will suggest to all of my clients.

Comfort: I was worried about chafing with the armband, but have yet to encounter any issues. Personally, I find it easiest to wear below my bicep, closer to my elbow. I've also seen runners wear the Verity Sense above the bicep and on the upper forearm. The band is easily adjusted and doesn't seem to noticeably stretch out over time and heavy use. 

Battery Life & Features: 

• I use my Verity Sense almost daily. It keeps me accountable on easy days and helps me hit a prescribed heart rate during threshold intervals or tempo workouts. Yet with nearly consistent use of ~2 hrs/day across cardio/cross-training (~10-15 hrs weekly), I only have to charge it once every 8-11 days! To make matters even simpler, the Verity Sense charges quickly, so even if I forget to charge it, I can plug it in for a few minutes before a training session and it's ready to go for a couple of hours. 
• When I received the Verity Sense, it was simple to connect to my watch via Bluetooth. I just purchased a new watch and the heart rate monitor was also easy to pair to the new device. 
• While I've never used the internal memory feature, it seems like it would come in handy for someone who isn't concerned with seeing the data in real time. 
• The device comes with a swim cap clip so that users can have effective, accurate measures of heart rate even in water--hello triathletes! 
• Even in cool, windy conditions, the Verity Sense maintains accuracy as long as the HRM optic sensor remains clean (a simple wipe off between uses does the trick).

Price: the price tag is my only qualm with the Verity Sense, but with the enhanced battery life, internal memory, and range, it makes sense. This monitor might not be the best choice for a beginner who wishes to prioritize spending on other aspects of the sport. If you want a more affordable option, but still want the Polar brand, I suggest checking out the OH1 Armband. You won't get all of the bells and whistles, but it's a reliable, $60 workhorse.