Polar makes watches for people who care about heart-rate data, and that makes band choice slightly more consequential here than on most brands. A band that lets the watch shift gives you worse numbers, which is the whole reason you bought a Polar.
Which Polar models take which band
Polar bands are matched by watch family and lug width. Several models take ordinary quick-release bands with standard spring bars, while some use Polar's own fitting.
Our range covers the Vantage, Grit X, Ignite and Pacer families. As a general rule the slimmer models take 20mm and the larger outdoor models take 22mm.
The reliable check is to take the current band off and measure the gap between the lugs with a ruler. Measure the gap rather than the band itself, since bands are usually cut a fraction narrower than the space they sit in.
If your model uses Polar's own fitting rather than standard spring bars, the product page will say so. Check the fit list before ordering rather than assuming.
Choosing a material
Silicone is the default for training. It handles sweat, rain and swimming, rinses clean, and is comfortable enough to sleep in, which matters if you use Polar's recovery and sleep tracking.
Woven nylon is lighter and more breathable, and better for long sessions in heat. It holds water in the weave, so it is the weaker choice if you swim regularly.
Leather dresses the watch up for work. Keep it dry, since leather stiffens and cracks with repeated wetting.
Stainless steel and magnetic mesh give the most formal finish. Mesh adjusts to any position along the band, which is the practical advantage over a link bracelet.
Why fit matters more on a Polar
Polar built its reputation on heart-rate accuracy, and wrist optical sensors depend entirely on steady skin contact.
The watch should sit snug about a finger's width above the wrist bone. Too loose and the sensor reads motion instead of pulse, which shows up as a heart rate that lags behind your effort or locks onto your cadence. Too tight restricts blood flow in the capillaries the sensor is reading, which suppresses the signal and gives you numbers that are lower than reality.
For hard sessions, move the watch a little higher up the forearm and go one notch tighter, then loosen it afterwards. There is more tissue and better blood flow further up the arm.
This is the argument for a band with closely spaced holes, or better still one that adjusts continuously. A silicone band with widely spaced holes often leaves you choosing between slightly loose and slightly tight, and neither gives you clean data.
Changing a Polar band
On models with standard spring bars, slide the small lever on the bar toward the centre of the band and lift that end away from the watch. Fit the new band by seating one side of the pin first, then sliding the lever so it drops into the opposite lug hole.
On models with Polar's own fitting, the band releases from the back of the case instead. The product page explains which applies to your watch.
Either way, tug each half gently afterwards. A half-seated band holds long enough to fool you and then lets go.
Care
Rinse silicone and nylon with fresh water after pool or ocean use. Chlorine and salt shorten the life of both, and the residue trapped between band and wrist causes most of the skin irritation people blame on the band itself.
Let nylon dry fully before wearing it again.
Shop Polar watch bands.
