Polar

Problem with Polar Flow's Cardio Load Report

I got Polar Vantage M few weeks ago. I have generally been happy with it. Even more after last update which fixed some issues and made it measure activity like M430 and other models did. But there is still one thing I have problems with. It is Cardio Load Report. It is either bug or way it is counted which makes it work weirdly sometimes. I assume bug because I had years ago similarly calculated report which didn’t have this problem.

I know I don’t train that much.

I know I don’t train that much.

Cardio Load Status sometimes go up for no good reason. Cardio Load Buildup shows I haven’t trained today. Yet. But Cardio Load Status goes to overreaching. After three days of not training I shouldn’t be overreaching. This report is calculated comparing short period of training data to long period of training data. Long period gives you tolerance and short short gives you strain. This could be because at first Vantage M counted lower activity levels than M430 and now Tolerance calculation doesn’t use M430 data any more. But I this isn’t first time this has happened.

I had similarly calculated report years ago. I could trust it perfectly. If I went to train when strain/tolerance level was at certain point or above it I got ill. But this time I am pretty sure I have no problem going training even when graph shows I am already overreaching. What makes me even more sure is another graph I still have in Polar Flow.

Older superior report.

Older superior report.

You don’t get Recovery Status report with Vantage M. I have it because I still have M430. When I open this Flow wants me to use Cardio Load Report. It should give better data but it doesn’t. I have used this for years and at this point it still seems to be superior. Here time brings bars down and activity brings them up. This report changes status levels based on you previous training. I am not sure how it is calculated but it does that.

I can see how Cardio Load Report should be better and more informative report. Similar report I had in other program years ago was that. But this doesn’t show changes in tolerance levels very well and it works weirdly. Like I would go to overreaching without doing anything and then to detraining in one day if I don’t train today or tomorrow.