If you head to the pool, you can expect to enjoy stroke recognition, pace data and SWOLF scores. So for runs, you'll see data like average pace, cadence, ascent and descent information and altitude climbed. Polar covers over 140 sports profiles, with the core modes like running (indoor and outdoor), cycling (indoor and outdoor) and pool swimming offering the richer, more activity-specific metrics. Polar Ignite 2: Sports and fitness trackingР”Р„ll the good tracking and training stuff we got on the Ignite is here in the Ignite 2 and it's hard to see what's hugely different at first glance. It's light, offers a nice, clean look and it's one that's been fine to wear day and night and during exercise. What Polar has sought to do with the Ignite 2 is evolve the design to make it feel a little more fashionable and that bezel change and nicer looking display albeit technically the same as before, does seem to do the trick. We've taken it into a swimming pool and can confirm it lived after a few swims with it. It has a water resistant rating that makes it safe for dunking in water up to 30 metres depth. It's a minor gripe but it's one that did irritate us during use.Р”Р„nother thing that hasn't changed is that this is one you can take swimming. Once it's on, moving the secondary buckle to keep the strap secure and from flapping about is really stiff and makes it hard to move.

The strap has been comfortable on the whole, but we did have one issue with it. The raise to wake gesture support though is nicely responsive and if you want to have the screen always-on during workouts to peer down at your data, you do have that option. It still lags when you try to quickly swipe through screens like the original Ignite.

It's still not the best quality touchscreen you're going to find on a watch at this price for colours, sharpness and overall quality. In the screen department, it's the same IPS TFT color touchscreen display offering the same 240x204 resolution, but it feels a little brighter this time. Polar Ignite 2 (left) and Polar Ignite (right) That textured bezel does a nice enough job of slightly elevating its look beyond another predominantly plastic sports watch. There's good options here for both men and women. There's now gold and champagne, storm blue, the on trend rose gold and pink looks for something a little more colorful to wear. We had the more understated black pearl with black silicone strap that comes in small and large sizes. Polar has been a bit more adventurous with the color options. You're also still getting a solitary physical button with the emphasis on making most use of the touchscreen display. The case is made from glass reinforced polymer with a stainless steel bezel once again, but this time it has a nicer, more textured finish to it. It's got the same 43mm sized case that measures in at 8.5mm thick and weighs the same 35g. The first Ignite was undeniably sporty looking, but the Ignite 2 (and the Vantage M2 that launched alongside it), Polar is trying to put a more stylish slant on its more affordable watches. The first Ignite impressed us, so it could the Ignite 2 do the same? We've been living with it to find out.

Ignite fitness