Watch out, Whoop: Polar joins the fitness band race with a premium option

Image: Polar

Polar launched its first heart rate monitor more than 30 years ago, setting the standard that all others have been measured against. Now, the company is bringing this technology to its line of sports watches with the Polar Loop: a health and fitness tracker with no display like the Whoop band and Amazfit Helio Strap. 

Without a display, the Loop instead relies on a robust smartphone platform called Polar Flow, which integrates with other Polar watches as well. 

Also: The best sports watches you can buy: Expert tested

Similar to the Amazfit Helio Strap, there is no subscription with the Polar Loop, so with a single $199.99 purchase you have lifetime access to the Polar Flow ecosystem. Unlike the Garmin Index Sleep Tracker that only tracks your sleep at night, the Polar Loop tracks steps, active moments with automatic training detection, and of course, all of the details of your nightly sleep sessions.

Image: Polar

Sander Werring, CEO at Polar, stated:

With Polar Loop, we're encouraging people to focus on everyday momentum—those small consistent actions that lead to lasting change. Life itself moves in loops, shaped by our daily routines and choices. By helping people recognize and improve these patterns, we're supporting sustainable progress and healthier habits for everyone.

The physical design of these fitness bands run the gamut, but the Polar Loop flexes a slightly more premium aesthetic with woven fabric bands in a range of outdoorsy colorways.

While the Loop's Precision Prime sensor technology captures and records your heart rate data, the Polar Flow app translates the data into sleep, recovery, activity, and training metrics. In addition to the powerful Polar Flow smartphone app, the Polar Flow website is a fantastic resource to check the trends of your progress, and set up and follow free training plans. 

Also: The best training watch I've ever tried is the first Coros with a modern display

The Polar Loop will be available for pre-order on September 3rd with shipments starting on September 10th. It is priced at $199.99 and available in Greige Sand, Night Black, and Brown Copper. Other bands in various colors will also be available for $19.90 each.

Stay tuned for an upcoming review of the Polar Loop here on ZDNET.