RF Training control close to perfection. Without RF measurement there are better alternatives.

Now that I have for many years supported Garmin GPS sports watches, I am currently changed with the appearance of the M400 in the Polar warehouse. My first GPS Running Watch was a Garmin FR205 and FR110 thereafter that I still have.
Reason for the change was less than a compelling need to extend the / curiosity, the training management to a few features option much more. In particular, by the advent of optical RF measurement (million) it was interesting to have again a GPS clock for me, which allows a comfortable HF-based training. The HF-chest straps I personally always so inconvenient that I had largely dispensed with RF measurements. But this only in passing.

Before buying the M400 I looked at the web platform of Polar (here: flow) looked at, because for me a sensible training diary / calendar and specific analysis options are important, so that an unsuitable platform already may affect the value of the clock massively. Flow is still in the beta phase.
Distance and altitude profile are displayed. The training area (preset HR zones) exercise is displayed so that you can see at any time has been spent as much time in each Trainigsbereich. Training times can be displayed on a cumulative weeks / month / year basis.
Polar interpreted every workout based on the provided RF intensities (time in the 5 zones); we get some feedback on how training benefits the TE had (z. B. improving aerobic endurance).
These figures are likely to be understood as an aid and require that you know your aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, and thus can adjust its HR Zones advance meaningful.
There are still polar-specific parameters such. As the "Running Index", which is to give an information about how it is with its own form. This index only works well when the road profile is comparable. I run flat, then I am naturally with identical RF exposure faster than when I run a hilly route. In both cases, the load to be identical, but on the flat stretch I get the better "Running Index".
Furthermore Polar Flow shows in combination with the M400, if the TE sophisticated ("demanding") was or, depending on RF exposure and duration of a statement to the output "personal exposure". Unlike the V800 will however, not shown, the computational regeneration demand is as high (in the form of hours / days of rest).
Currently comes mE Polar Flow not quite to the extent of Garmin Connect zoom, but the platform is on the right track and further evaluation options (reports) are submitted later if necessary.

For M400 itself. The M400 is from the construction form the flattest me now known GPS clock. The display is slightly larger than that of most other products of other manufacturers. The comfort is very good for normal and thick wrists. For small wrists The fit is certainly not ideal. The bracelet itself is simple and could be a bit softer mE. The display is easy to read, the presentation very spectacular (simple graphics, no colors), but the thing properly. The battery life makes a very good impression; especially standby keeps the clock for a long time.
Since you can use the M400 as "Activity Tracker", that must probably be so.
The USB micro port on the back is a cost-effective solution to connect the clock to the PC, but certainly not the most elegant way. For those who always via Bluetooth and smartphone (iOS, Android) to make the data synchronization of the training data, this is probably irrelevant. To me it is noticed (Garmin is here valent).

The functionality of the M400 is a highlight. Especially with the price. Here Competitors can only compete if one lower than EUR 200 in the hand picks (z. B. Garmin FR220).
You can display up to 4 data fields in the display. The data fields can be adjusted depending on the sport website and the sport are some (6-8?) Ads adjustable so that you can change in training between the preset views. The "normal" training always starts with the screen that you last used. Some getting used to is (for me) that I can only select the ads, after I have already started training. This means that I leaf in doubt while running for the right display. I pause to run on the clock, then I can not choose between the ads, but again only when I start the measurement again again. For me, as Garmin-users, a bit strange but not doomsday.
The GPS-based altimetry is otherwise in relation to the previously known GPS watches me very well!
The M400 also offers a virtual partner (distance and target time typing), indicating an how fast you need to run in order to meet its target timing. A nice feature when you run exclusively by Pace in the competition, for example.
Own training (eg. B. intervals) can be entered via Flow, so you can transfer much of their own training schedule directly on the M400 and only the provisions "run" must.
Especially I really liked the feature that the current HF range in which one is "fix" while running can so that you have time just short upper and lower limits and warning tones are obtained when leaving the area. The optical display this (Range indicator) is also very well done.

Summary:

+ Very good P / L ratio
+ Very fast GPS Fixing before the start
+ Very decent GPS altimetry
+ Extensive RF Training control (5 adjustable RF zones)
+ Display fields on the clock (data fields) variable / individually depending sport combined
+ Interval timer and finish time estimate (shows the expected total time on a pre-set distance to)
+ Own training programmable (warmup, task Cooldown - by time, distance, heart rate target zone, Pace Zone)
+ Nice and motivating additional functions ("Activity Tracker")

o Training data can be exported from flow (as TCX, GPX or CSV). Unfortunately, the import of the flow training to Garmin Connect is not working.

- Bracelet somewhat inflexible
- Pace measurement is not possible on an automatic, cumulative round. Display "Rd.-speed / pace" will only work if you manually by pressing a button starts a new round.
- Without consistent RF measurement can during exercise, but also on polar flow not be used many features

Concluding remarks:
Anyone planning no HF-based training, the need to Polar in general, and the M400 / V800 not to look only in particular. Without permanent RF measurement no training control (assessment and evaluation exercise intensity / success) is possible. Who has a very narrow wrist, discerning when it comes to processing has a color display or necessarily wants, the should look also at other manufacturers.

All others can strike without hesitation, as one for the price of less than 150 EUR nowhere (as of today) more (training) gets commanded functions as the M400.

Why I do not 5 star forgive despite the price is, because my impression (in some parts) is that Polar has a few subtleties not yet optimized here in the software. To date, the clock 1x me crashed during training. Automatic Pace calculation (on the current round) is not given. The latter is perhaps no strength of Polar, but you could have the claim here over its competitors to catch up.

Update and supplement (01/11/2015):
Now have about 200km down the M400 continuously back and would again briefly in particular an aspect of my assessment deepen or correct.
It's me again to the average pace in the current, automatic round. As a longtime Garmin users I have the data field "Rd.-speed / pace" than
Tempo interpreted in the current round. The M400 / V800 however does not show so Pace on a current, automatic lap, but the average
Pace on a manual (!), Ie itself by pressing a button specific meantime !! Currently viewing while running on the M400 / V800 thus only the average pace over the entire previous run (if one takes no manual split times) or it is when using the data field "average pace / tempo" the "current" moment tempo like displays, which varies greatly in the case of GPS.
A Aufkummulierung to the current automatic round (mostly: 1km) is currently not available.

Meanwhile, there is a software update (since 12/31/14), it also allows speed zones set and in the Training view (on the clock itself and the flow) in analogy to use to the HR zones.
For an evaluation of the training success simultaneous pulse measurement is erfoderlich. Anyone who carries out a speed endurance (eg., 5 min / km over 10km) without RF measurement which then has an exercise "without training benefits" in the flow diary are ;-).

Here's what I would like to see in the coming updates:
- A data field that the average pace of the current automatic round displays
- In the evaluation (to flow) is a data column that displays the altitude depending automatic round (pos. / Neg.)

The 4-star rating still applies. However, each / r should be the extent to which the indicator of the average pace in the current, automatic (!) Round (Lap) for a superior
Purchase criterion.

Update (15/04/2015):
Today, the software update for the M400 / V800 was published on Version 1.4.
This update additional data fields for sports profiles have been added, including the favorite of my data field for Pace on the current, automatic round.
Through a number of improvements the web platform Flow and the addition of the highly anticipated auto Lap data field there is of me now 5 star in the Overall!
Functions and P / L agree absolutely.
Who still wants to complain at a high level, which may at most comfort for small wrists, the total weight of 60g and the battery power lead as optimization desires.
In all these issues, the M400 is still compared to other GPS sports watches rather average and not at all bad. Therefore, 5 stars from me.