The Polar Grit X is a versatile multisport GPS watch built to compete with the likes of the Garmin Fenix 6 and the Coros Vertix. It’s basically a Polar Vantage V, with a more rugged design and military grade durability.
The Fenix 6 Pro is arguably the best watch in Garmin’s product line-up, if looking at the combination of price, value and features. It also boasts triathlon capabilities and military grade construction. But, unlike the Polar Grit X which is primarily a sports watch, the Fenix 6 also boasts powerful smart watch technology and impressive navigation capabilities.
The goal of this post is to help you decide which watch is better suited to your needs. Now let’s dive into the details.
Side note – We also have a complete review of the Polar Grit X here.
Table of Contents
Summary of main differences between the Polar Grit X and the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
- The Polar Grit X Is Much Lighter: To be more specific, the Grit X is 64 grams, whereas the Fenix 6 Pro is 93 grams.
- The Grit X Supports Running Power from the Wrist: No Garmin product currently offers this feature. You need to purchase a Garmin accessory to unlock native running power on the Fenix 6 Pro.
- Advanced Running Dynamics: The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro gives you access to 6 advanced running stats, including real time cadence and vertical oscillation.
- Proper Golf Mode: The Grit X has a basic golf mode. The Fenix 6 Pro has super advanced golf tracking technology.
- Music Storage: The Fenix 6 Pro can store up to 2000 songs and it’s compatible with popular music apps. The Polar Grit X doesn’t have music storage capabilities.
- ANT+ Connectivity: The Fenix 6 Pro is compatible with a lot more cycling accessories because it offers support for ANT+ connectivity, which lots of these accessories depend on to work properly.
- Powerful Navigation Capabilities: The Fenix 6 Pro has built-in navigation technology that is similar to what you would find in one of Garmin’s vehicle GPS units. The Polar Grit X has some navigation features, but they’re not comparable to the TOPO maps found in the Fenix 6 Pro.
- Super Long Battery Life Modes: The longest GPS battery mode on the Fenix 6 Pro is 46 days! Fortunately, the Polar Grit X has a great standard GPS battery life (40 hours) and the ability to extend that to 100 hours. Most people will be perfectly served by both watches in terms of battery life.
- Touchscreen – The Polar Grit X has a touchscreen + button interface. The Fenix 6 relies exclusively on buttons.
Side note – It’s worth mentioning that there are quite a few variations of the Garmin Fenix 6. This comparison chart explains the differences between the Fenix 6, the Fenix 6 Pro and the Fenix 6 Sapphire.
Key Similarities - Polar Grit X vs Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
Polar Grit X
Fenix 6 Pro
Key Differences - Polar Grit X vs Fenix 6 Pro
Polar Grit X
Fenix 6 Pro
Comparison of Sports Modes
| Polar Grit X Sports Modes | Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Sports Modes |
|---|---|
| 01) Strength Training | 01) Strength Training |
| 02) Circuit Training | 02) Cardio Training |
| 03) Cross Trainer | 03) Elliptical Training |
| 04) Indoor Climbing | 04) Stair Stepping |
| 05) Functional Training | 05) Floor Climbing |
| 06) Indoor Rowing | 06) Indoor Rowing |
| 07) Pilates | 07) Pilates |
| 08) Yoga | 08) Yoga |
| 09) Running | 09) Running |
| 10) Treadmill Running | 10) Treadmill Running |
| 11) Track and Field Running | 11) Indoor Track Running |
| 12) Trail Running | 12) Trail Running |
| 13) Hiking | 13) Hiking |
| 14) Orienteering | 14) Climbing |
| 15) Mountain Biking | 15) Mountain Biking |
| 16) Skiing | 16) Skiing |
| 16) Snowboarding | 16) Snowboarding |
| 17) XC Skiing | 17) XC Skiing |
| 18) Windsurfing | 18) Stand Up Paddleboarding |
| 19) Rowing | 19) Rowing |
| 20) Kayaking | 20) Kayaking |
| 21) Kitesurfing | 21) Jumpmaster |
| 22) Surfing | 22) Tactical |
| 23) Cycling | 23) Cycling |
| 24) Indoor Cycling | 24) Indoor Cycling |
| 25) Mountain Biking | 25) Mountain Biking |
| 26) Triathlon | 26) Triathlon |
| 27) Pool Swimming | 27) Pool Swimming |
| 28) Open Water Swimming | 28) Open Water Swimming |
| 29) Duathlon | 29) Swimming/Running |
| 30) Basic Golf Mode | 30) Advanced Golf Mode |
| 31) View All Grit X Sports Modes |
Main Reasons To Choose the Polar Grit X
Running Power From The Wrist
Before the release of the Grit X, the Polar Vantage V was the only GPS watch to offer running power from the wrist. Now the Grit X can be added to that exclusive list.
In our opinion, this was a great call from Polar. It helps to justify the selling price of the Grit X. It’s also a feature that Garmin users can only access by purchasing a compatible accessory.
Ultimately, the ability to record running power without any accessories is arguably the number one selling point of the Polar Grit X. It’s basically a better looking, more durable version of the Polar Vantage V.
Military Grade Construction
By introducing military grade construction to the Grit X, Polar are essentially taking their cues from the Garmin Instinct and the Garmin Fenix 6,which are both built in accordance with military standard.
The primary benefit is that the Polar Grit X is literally the most durable GPS watch that Polar has ever made. It smashes the Polar Vantage V and the Vantage M in this respect.
The Polar Grit X is much lighter than the Fenix 6 Pro
In most comparison articles we don’t really focus on the weight of the watch all that much. However, there is a substantial difference between the Polar Grit X and the Fenix 6 Pro in terms of weight. To be more precise:
- Polar Grit X Weight – 64 Grams
- Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Weight – 93 Grams
As you can see, the Grit X is about 30% lighter than the Fenix 6. Lighter watches tend to be more comfortable during everyday use, and when exercising, so this is a small win for the Polar unit.
130+ Sports Modes
If there’s one area where Polar is truly dominant in the world of sports watches, it’s the total number of supported sports modes.
The Polar Grit X can literally go toe-to-toe with pretty much every sports mode that the Fenix 6 Pro has. And then it adds an extra 100 modes on top of that.
- Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Sports Modes – 30
- Polar Grit X Sports Modes – 130
You can see the full list of Polar Grit X sports modes here.
More Advanced Sleep Tracking
Polar’s sleep tracking technology is a notch above Garmin’s. With the Fenix 6 Pro you get total sleep, periods of moment and periods of restful sleep. But by opting for the Grit X, you gain access to Polar’s Sleep Plus Stages Technology. The quote below explains this in greater detail:
When you sleep, your body goes through sleep cycles that consist of three sleep stages: light, deep and REM sleep. Sleep Plus Stages shows how long you spent in each sleep stage and counts your sleep cycles.
FuelWise & Energy Sources
FuelWise In A Nutshell: When you’re doing a long training session or race, it’s crucial to maintain adequate energy and hydration levels. FuelWise™ is a smart fueling assistant that helps you find the optimal way to refuel your body during a longer session so you’ll be able to keep going and perform at your best (sourced from Polar.com).
Energy Sources In A Nutshell: See how your body uses different energy sources during a training session. Polar Grit X divides your energy usage into carbs, proteins and fats (sourced from Polar.com).
FuelWise and Energy Sources are new additions to Polar’s ecosystem. The main benefit is ultimately for ultra long distance runners and trail runners, who need to keep a close eye on physical energy levels to perform optimally on race day. It’s might not be relevant to all users, but if you participate in ultra marathons (on the road or on the trail), FuelWise could be helpful when training and racing.
Hill Splitter
The whole point of hill splitter is to get detailed data about your performance on the uphill and downhill sections of your session.
Right now, the Polar Grit X is the only watch in their line-up which includes this feature. The main benefit here is for trail runners and mountain bikers that tackle challenging vertical terrain. It’s nice info to have when you are training, and it’s also great for post run analysis.
With that being said, Polar Hill Splitter is no match for the combination of Garmins PacePro, ClimbPro and Topo Map technology, which can all be leveraged to provide similar data, more conveniently.
Main Reasons To Choose the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
Advanced Running Dynamics
If you choose the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, you open up an array of advanced running stats that aren’t compatible with lower end Garmin watches. The bullet points below explain these stats in greater detail.
- Ground Contact Time – The amount of time your foot spends on the ground with each stride.
- Ground Contact Balance – The symmetry between your left and right foot when running.
- Vertical Oscillation – The degree of upward ‘bounce’ in your running motion. Lowering this stat can increase running efficiency.
- Vertical Ratio – The cost-benefit ratio with stride length. This allows you to discover the ideal stride length for chasing down a new PB.
- Cadence – Real time cadence stats displayed on the Fenix 6.
- Stride Length – Real time stride length stats displayed directly on the Fenix 6 Pro.
There is just one thing you need to keep in mind. In order to unlock advanced running dynamics on the Fenix 6, you need to invest in one of the following 3 accessories.
Much Better Navigation Technology
The Polar Grit X does include a few navigation features. However, it simply can’t compete with the full spec TOPO maps that you gain access to with the Fenix 6 Pro.
It’s a bit like having Garmin’s Car navigation technology packed into a wrist watch with a beautiful screen. The TOPO maps are particularly useful for urban running in unfamiliar settings, trail running, mountain biking and hiking. You literally gain access to a 3D map telling you where you are. In addition, the Fenix 6 also gives you:
Turn by turn navigation: Follow a route or course with help from turn-by-turn directions, which let you know ahead of time when the next turn is coming.
Round trip routing: Enter a distance you want to travel, and get suggested routes that will bring you back to your starting point. Trendline™ popularity routing helps you find the best local paths.
Garmin ClimbPro: ClimbPro can be used to see real-time information on your current and upcoming climbs, including gradient, distance and elevation gain. It’s a very nice feature for trail runners and mountain bikers.
Music Storage & Music App Compatibility
Simply put, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro can store up to 2000 songs. That should be enough for even the most dedicated long distance runner. Then it’s also worth pointing out that the following music apps are compatible with the Fenix 6 Pro:
- Spotify
- Deezer
- Amazon Music
- iHeart Radio
Advanced Golf Tracking
Polar list golf as one of the sports tracks by the Polar Grit X, but the simple reality is that these two watches aren’t comparable from a golf perspective. The Grit X will basically summarize your movement patterns, calories burned and miles walked during a round of golf.
Conversely, the Fenix 6 Pro will give you all the same fitness stats, and very valuable golf data, including:
- Yardage to the whole
- Yardage to hazards
- Automatic measurement of shot distance
- Digital scorecard
- Round timer
In other words, the Fenix 6 Pro has almost all the same features that you would expect in a dedicated GPS golf watch. The same cannot be said for the Polar Grit X.
ANT+ Connectivity and WiFi Connectivity
ANT+ Connectivity: The main benefit here is that the Fenix 6 Pro is compatible with significantly more 3rd party cycling accessories than the Polar Grit X.
This is a longstanding weakness with Polar products, and something they will have to address at some point. For this reason, the Fenix 6 can be considered a better choice for cyclists that will more than likely encounter a cycling accessory that requires ANT+ connectivity to function optimally.
WiFi Connectivity: This might not seem like such a big deal, but WiFi connectivity is amazingly convenient. Bluetooth can be slow at the best of times. WiFi doesn’t share this affliction. Once everything is connected, data transfer between your watch, your phone and your PC should become pretty seamless. Don’t underestimate how much time you can save and how much hassle you can avoid by using WiFi for data transfer.
Super Long Battery Life & Power Management Features
The battery life settings of the Polar Grit X are impressive.
- Standard GPS Battery Life: Up to 40 Hours
- Extended GPS Battery Life: Up to 100 Hours
However, the battery life options of the Fenix 6 Pro are insane.
- Standard GPS Battery Life: Up to 60 Hours
- Extended GPS Battery Life: Up to 120 Hours
- Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 46 days
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 80 days
Furthermore, you can also customize the battery life settings to better suit your needs. Admittedly most people will be more than covered by the standard GPS battery life, but if you are into adventure racing, mountaineering or ultra long trail running, the power management features of the Fenix 6 Pro could come in handy.
PacePro Race Guidance
Garmin PacePro provides grade-adjusted pace guidance throughout your activity, based on elevation and your personal pacing preferences. Viewing the pace profile on your compatible device shows your target pace for the current split along with a measure of how you compare to the target.
Ultimately, if you want to hit a target race time, Garmin PacePro could be gamechanger. It helps you keep track with your target time, while factoring the likelihood of running slower during uphill sections of the route.
Pre-loaded Ski Maps
If you’re into snow sports, it makes sense to go for the Fenix 6 Pro over the Polar Grit X. The Fenix 6 Pro boasts support for skiining, snowboarding and cross country skiing, and also includes 2000 pre-loaded ski resort maps.
Moreover, you can add additional snow sport tracking features to the Fenix 6 by downloading custom apps through Garmin connect. Admittedly the Polar Grit X also has skiing and snowboarding modes, but it lacks the resort maps and the advanced stats that you can get through certain Garmin connect apps.
Final Buying Tips
We’ve covered the key differences and the key similarities between these two watches. If you’re still undecided, these final buying tips may help:
Go for the Polar Grit X if:
- You want the more affordable option
- Your primary interest is tracking endurance sports effectively
- You aren’t phased by the lack of music storage
- You want built-in running power
Go for the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro if:
- You want powerful navigation technology
- You like training with music
- You play golf regularly
- You want the better smartwatch overall
- You want the ability to customize data fields and download additional apps through Garmin connect
- You’re a cyclist and you are likely to buy 3rd party accessories that require ANT+ connectivity