Polar Vantage M3
You want something smart but sporty, compact but powerful, stylish but strong. You want to train harder but recover faster; sleep better but explore more. You want pro-level sports tracking but everyday lifestyle features. You want a Polar Vantage M3: the multi-sport watch for multi-sport athletes.
Polar Grit X2 Pro Titan
Polar Grit X2 Pro Titan is a rough and rugged outdoor sports watch crafted for adventure with sapphire glass AMOLED display in titanium casing, and a hi-tech toolkit of navigation and performance features for exploring the wonders of the world, and the body.
Polar Grit X2 Pro
Polar Grit X2 Pro is a rough and rugged outdoor sports watch crafted for adventure with sapphire crystal glass AMOLED display, and a hi-tech toolkit of navigation and performance features for exploring the wonders of the world, and the body.
Polar Vantage V3
An ensemble of biosensing instruments, AMOLED display, dual-frequency GPS, maps, and the most comprehensive suite of training and recovery tools on the market. The stage is set, and the Polar Vantage V3 smart sports watch is ready to put in the performance of a lifetime.
Polar Ignite 3
Polar Ignite 3 is a stylish fitness & wellness watch that helps you live a more energized life. It tracks your sleep, activity, and heart rate to provide guidance that’s tailored to your body and lifestyle.
Polar Pacer Pro
Polar Pacer Pro is an ultra-light, new-generation sports watch with integrated barometer that equips athletes with advanced tools to improve running economy, training sessions, and sports performance.
Polar Pacer
Sport is play – why complicate it? Polar Pacer is a no-nonsense sports watch that gives new athletes all the essentials, plus the specialized training tools they need to train better.
Polar Vantage V2
A powerful convergence of minimalist design, innovative technology, and intelligent training and recovery tools makes the Polar Vantage V2 a formidable sports watch.
Polar Grit X Pro
Built for military-level durability with sapphire glass and ultra-long battery, equipping you with new navigation tools, always-on outdoor features and Polar's ultimate training solutions.
Polar Vantage M2
Designed for function, the Polar Vantage M2 works as hard as you do. Our industry-leading technology is here to help you reach your goals and come back stronger. For that athlete attitude.
Polar Ignite 2
A fitness watch that’s sleek, simple and smart? Polar Ignite 2 is a true triple threat. Versatile and full of great features, it’s the perfect companion for any sport and any lifestyle.
Polar Ignite
A waterproof fitness watch with advanced wrist-based heart rate and integrated GPS, Polar Ignite offers you a full view of your day and guides you towards a more balanced life.
Polar Unite
A beautifully simple watch with personalized daily workout guidance, 24/7 heart rate and activity tracking, plus automatic sleep and recovery applications.
Polar Vantage V
Polar Vantage M
An all-round multisport & running GPS watch for anyone who loves setting new records. Polar Vantage M is a slim, lightweight training companion that gives you all the data you need to improve your performance.
Polar Grit X
An outdoor multisport watch with rugged yet lightweight design, ultra-long battery life and military-standard durability for anyone who prefers the trails over the roads.
Polar M430
A GPS running watch with wrist-based heart rate, advanced running features and Polar Running Program, Polar M430 is a top-level watch for runners who want more.
Polar Verity Sense
When freedom of movement is important to you, Polar Verity Sense is your go-to choice for any sport.
Polar H10
Widely regarded as the gold standard in wireless heart rate monitoring, this is the most accurate sensor in Polar’s history.
Polar H9
A reliable, high-quality heart rate chest strap for all your everyday sports with Bluetooth® and ANT+ connectivity. Get connected and get going.
Polar OH1+
Polar OH1+ is an optical heart rate monitor that combines versatility, comfort and simplicity. You can use it both as a standalone device and pair it with various fitness apps, sports watches and smart watches, thanks to Bluetooth® and ANT+ connectivity.
Wristbands
Personalize any watch for any style and any need.
Straps
Replace or upgrade your Polar Sensor chest straps or arm bands.
Power & Cables
For charging your products and data transfer.
Mounts & Adapters
Adapt your product for any situation.
[menu_title:HOVER_PANEL_WHO_WE_ARE]
[menu_copy:HOVER_PANEL_WHO_WE_ARE]
[menu_title:HOVER_PANEL_SCIENCE]
[menu_copy:HOVER_PANEL_SCIENCE]
Polar Grit X Outdoor Series
Made for outdoor sports and built to handle any environment nature can throw at you, Grit X watches are designed to help you explore the world and gear up for adventure.
Polar Vantage Performance Series
Our flagship series is tailored for high-performance and endurance sports and training. Every aspect of our Vantage watches are designed with one particular person in mind – the athlete.
Polar Pacer Multisport Series
The Pacer Series gives athletes all the essentials such as accurate GPS and precise heart rate tracking, plus the specialized training, sleep, and recovery tools they need to train better.
Polar Ignite Fitness & Wellness Series
Sleek, simple, and smart – Ignite watches are the perfect partner for any fitness goals and any lifestyle.
Sole Searching
Author(s): Eduardo Alonso
The evolution of running shoes is a testament to human innovation and our relentless pursuit of athletic excellence. Designer Richard Kuchinsky walks us through 100 years of running shoe progression, from the minimal leather flats of the early 20th century to today's high-tech marvels incorporating aerospace-grade foams and carbon fiber plates.
For the uninitiated, they’re just sneakers—simply comfortable shoes that come in a variety of quirky colors. But for those who lace them up day after, mile after mile, running shoes are so much more. They’re our silent partners in pain and triumph, the thin—and lately, not so thin—layer of innovation separating us from the unforgiving pavement, absorbing the punishing impact of each stride. They propel us forward, both literally and metaphorically, toward new personal bests and unforeseen horizons.
A runner’s relationship with their shoes is intimate, bordering on scared. Beyond their practical function, these carefully engineered pieces of gear often become a statement of identity—a reflection of our aspirations, our training philosophy, and sometimes our willingness to embrace the cutting edge of sports technology with the hope of shaving precious seconds off our personal bests.
Years ago, a pair of clunky sneakers was all amateur runners needed whether they were racing a 10k or tackling the marathon. Today, the closets of the truly dedicated resemble a specialized armory. There are the reliable workhorses – those daily trainers that shoulder the burden of easy miles and recovery runs. Nestled beside them, you might find a pair of lightweight speed demons, reserved for interval sessions on the track. And then, treated with near-reverence, sit the latest "super shoes”. Each pair has a purpose.
“As a runner and a shoe designer, what I try to think about first is the runner’s experience. How will the shoes feel after many miles? For example, a pair of shoes will feel very different at the beginning of a marathon than how it feels after 20 miles. It's easy to get caught up in technology, materials, or how a shoe feels in the store. But for me, a shoe's success is determined by how it performs over many long runs and miles. Every little change or choice of material can affect how the shoe feels, so it’s important to always keep the running experience in mind.”
"As a runner and a shoe designer, what I try to think about first is the runner’s experience. How will the shoes feel after many miles?" — Richard Kuchinsky, Running Shoe Designer
In this world where every ounce and millimeter of foam can make a difference, few figures loom larger than the running shoe designer. And perhaps none embodies this role more fully than Richard Kuchinsky, a man boasting two decades of shoe design experience and more than 100 unique models and many more concepts. His personal journey from couch to sub-3 marathoner and Boston qualifier has revolutionized his approach to crafting the perfect running shoe.
At 46, Kuchinsky is a living testament to the products he creates. His bushy, salt-and-pepper beard lends him an air of seasoned wisdom, while his body speaks to a lifetime dedicated to the sport he loves. On his social media feed, he shares a carefully curated blend of professional insights, as founder of The Directive Collective design studio, and inspiring training sessions breakdowns. Currently chasing a sub 2:50 personal marathon, this fusion of personal passion and professional expertise has become Kuchinsky's signature.
From leather shoes to carbon plates
More than fashion and style, the evolution of the running shoe is marked by technical innovation and the development of new synthetic materials. Each innovation has not only aimed to improve comfort, but also to push the boundaries of what’s possible in running performance.
"The first shoes made for running, back at the end of the 19th century, were made of leather," explains Kuchinsky. “Pioneers like J.W. Foster crafted the first running shoes, which essentially looked like dress shoes with little metal spikes on the bottom. But, as it happens today, they used the best material available at the time, and that was leather."
In the early 1900s, running shoes began to diverge from their dress shoe-like predecessors. Manufacturers started using softer, more flexible leather and experimenting with rubber soles for better traction and durability and the first major innovation arrived. The advent of vulcanized rubber in the 1920s allowed for softer, more comfortable, and resilient shoes.
In the following decades, the athletic footwear industry flourished. Brands like Converse thrived with their basketball shoes, while the Dassler brothers rose to fame by making leather track shoes in the 1930s—most notably the 1936 track spikes worn by Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics. Their later feud led to the creation of two iconic sports brands: Adidas and Puma.
The next major advancement came in the 1960s and 1970s when brands like Nike and Asics began experimenting with synthetic uppers, using materials like nylon and various meshes. This innovation, combined with the introduction of injection-blown rubber, made running shoes lighter and more efficient than ever before.
That was the time when the running boom took off, drawing countless new enthusiasts to the sport and packing marathon starting lines like never before. Simultaneously, the footwear industry was undergoing its own revolution, as cutting-edge materials and innovative manufacturing techniques reshaped the design of running shoes, meeting the growing demands of athletes.
The introduction of advanced foam technologies, such as EVA foam, revolutionized the running shoe midsole, becoming a critical factor in determining overall performance, durability, and comfort. These new foams provide enhanced cushioning and energy return, allowing runners to go longer distances with less fatigue.
Polar Vantage V3
Premium Multisport Watch
An ensemble of biosensing instruments, AMOLED display, dual-frequency GPS, maps, and the most comprehensive suite of training and recovery tools on the market. The stage is set, and the Polar Vantage V3 smart sports watch is ready to put in the performance of a lifetime.
The era of super shoes
Today, the incorporation of carbon plates in running shoes is one of the most talked-about innovations in the industry. These lightweight, rigid plates, often embedded in the midsole, help runners maintain speed and reduce fatigue over long distances.
“There’s more to super shoes than just the carbon plate,” says Kuchinsky. “It’s a combination of many elements. What most people call a super shoe is the combination of a carbon plate with super foam—such as PEBA, TPU, or nitrogen-injected EVA. In reality, the carbon plate is there to support the foam. It’s a chicken-and-egg situation, really.”
This new generation of foams has led to the development of high-stacked designs, characterized by thick midsoles that offer enhanced cushioning. Like running on clouds, the extra cushioning protects the musculoskeletal system from the repetitive impact of running. “More foam saves the legs. My running coach, who was an Olympic marathoner, often tells me that it’s not that the racing flats of 15–20 years ago were necessarily worse, but your legs would be dead after a marathon in them”, the designer continues. “Your legs would hurt. That’s the big difference today—not just that super shoes might make you faster.”
"Often, the best way to begin a design is by looking back at the past." — Richard Kuchinsky, Running Shoe Designer
125 years of running shoe design
For today’s designers, 125 years of running shoe design offer an incredible source of inspiration and insight. The rich history of footwear innovation showcases how trends evolve and how past designs influence modern aesthetics and functionality.
“Often, the best way to begin a design is by looking back at the past. There are likely valuable ideas that, at the time, weren’t feasible due to technological limitations in manufacturing”, explains Kuchinsky. “I have huge bins full of shoes, new and old. I also have a giant bookshelf with magazines, some going back to the 1950s. And my computer has 45,000 photos of running shoes. I look back often.”
The next big thing
Modern running shoes have played a significant role in bringing athletes closer to breaking the unthinkable sub-2-hour marathon barrier and extending the boundaries of human endurance. Such a feat, once thought impossible, is not just a dream, but a realistic goal on the horizon. As a result, we can't help but wonder what innovations lie ahead in running shoe design. What will be the next technological advancement that will elevate our running performance?
“I think the future of running shoe innovation definitely lies in material science. I also believe that significant advancements will come from production processes. This is an intriguing idea to me”, says Kuchinsky.
Though predicting the future is always a challenging endeavor, Kuchinsky envisions a world where running shoes are extremely personalized. "My foot is different from your foot, and my gait is different from your gait, so why should we be wearing the same running shoe?”, he proposes.
The scalability of this idea might still be questionable, but production techniques such as 3D printing already hint at this possibility, potentially bringing the evolution of running shoes full circle. “100 years ago, when running shoes were made of leather, production was small, so they probably measured the foot of each runner and provided a perfect fit. Maybe that's the future,” Kuchinsky concludes.
Enjoying this article? Subscribe to Polar Journal and get notified when a new Polar Journal issue is out.