Self walk test; calorie counter and goal management
24-hour clock with day/week indicator and stopwatch
Large easy-to-read, backlit display with split screen; water resistant to 30 meters
Displays heart rate, exercise time, and average heart rate
Personal target heart rate zones; heart rate Zone Pointer with alarm function

Offering a step up in features from the A3, the Polar A5 heart rate monitor adds a number of valuable feedback features to help you set-up and monitor your exercise program, including a self walk test and a calorie counter. You can use the A5 monitor to conveniently view your heart rate while walking, swimming, cross-country skiing, or any other exercise without disturbing your exercise rhythm. It comes with the A5 wrist unit (which resembles a watch), a transmitter that's worn comfortably around your chest, and an elastic strap to hold the transmitter in place.

Start using the A5 with the built-in self walk test, which measures aerobic/cardiovascular fitness with a brisk 1.24-mile (2-kilometer) walk on a hard, even surface. The result of the test, the WalkIndex, predicts a person's maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). The OwnCal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. It also allows you to set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure.

The A5's visible and audible Zone Pointer feature on the monitor's display shows your target heart rate zone and where your current heart rate is within that zone. The Fitness Bullets feature shows a bullet on the monitor's display for every 10 minutes spent exercising/training in your target heart rate zone. The Time in Target Zone feature calculates the amount of total exercise time spent in your personal target zone. You can use this feature together with the Total Exercise Time to determine the effectiveness of your exercise program.