Overview
The Polar source imports activities from Polar watches and heart rate sensors. Polar devices provide high-quality heart rate data with features like orthostatic test results, running index, and training load metrics. This is a great source for users with Polar Vantage, Grit X, Ignite, or Pacer series watches.
Data Ingested
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Activity name from Polar Flow |
| Activity type | Running, cycling, swimming, and 100+ sport profiles |
| Start time & duration | Full timestamps |
| Distance | GPS-measured distance |
| Calories | Polar's calorie estimate based on HR and user profile |
| Heart rate | Continuous HR stream (chest strap or wrist sensor) |
| GPS data | Route coordinates for outdoor activities |
| Cadence | Running cadence or cycling cadence |
| Speed | Pace and speed data |
What is NOT available
- Power data — Only available with Polar-compatible power meters for cycling.
- Running dynamics — Limited dynamics compared to Garmin.
- Strength exercise details — Not tracked at the set/rep level.
Sync mechanism
Polar uses the Polar Accesslink API with webhook notifications. Activities sync when your device syncs with the Polar Flow app.
Setup
- Connect Polar — See Connecting Polar for the OAuth setup.
- Create a pipeline — Add Polar as the source.
Tier
The Polar source is included in Hobbyist (free tier).
Common Issues
Activities not appearing — Polar activities must first sync from your watch to Polar Flow. Check the Polar Flow app to confirm, then verify your FitGlue connection status.
Heart rate data quality — Polar's wrist-based HR is generally accurate, but can be affected by cold weather, tattoos on the wrist, or a loose band. Polar's chest strap (H10, H9) provides the most accurate readings.
No GPS for indoor activities — Indoor activities will not have GPS data. This is expected behavior for any indoor-based workout.
Delayed sync — Polar Flow can take a few minutes to process activities. If you don't see your activity, wait 5–10 minutes and check again.
Dependencies
- Required integration: Polar connection (OAuth)