Polar has publicly denied Whoop’s claims of Trade Dress infringement, as detailed in a statement to this site.
Polar firmly denies any allegations of intellectual property infringement. Our products are the result of decades of innovation and rigorous design processes, and we remain confident in the originality and integrity of the appearance and design of our products. [Polar, 20 October 2025]
Background & Context
There appears to be an unusual number of IP cases between sports and wearables companies at the moment, Whoop vs. Polar is the latest. All involve infringement of intellectual property rights to some degree. Normally, this is due to patent infringement related to inventions. Whoop’s two cases cover a different area of IP law—Trade Dress. This is where an established product’s ‘distinctive look’ is broadly copied by a competitor, either intentionally or otherwise.
Thoughts
There are differing degrees of merit in all cases. None of the defendants have backed down.
These are potentially consequential cases. Think back to the widely reported Apple vs. Massimo patent case. That was ‘only’ for the SpO2 sensors part of the Watch, a relatively unimportant component. However, the court ruling stopped Apple Watch imports for a while and required Apple to disable the feature, with knock-on effects on other algorithms. Apple eventually designed a fix that ran the same algorithm on the smartphone rather than the Watch!.
Other than financial damages, the worst case scenario for Polar is that it has to stop selling Polar LOOP in the USA.
For the complete guide to Polar watches, sensors and training science, see the Polar hub on this site.
For context on the Polar Loop’s position in the screenless recovery band category, including how it compares to Whoop, Amazfit and the Fitbit Air, see our complete category guide.
In the Strava vs. Garmin case, there is the (unlikely) potential for Strava to go out of business should Garmin restrict access to its APIs, even though it is Strava bringing the case. If the case goes the other way, Strava seeks to stop Garmin sales with devices that use heatmap/segment features, but I would say that outcome is impossible.
The Suunto/Garmin case has hardly been reported, yet it is perhaps the most significant. Suunto is claiming fundamental infringement of 5 areas of its IP. If Garmin had to stop using the features in question, the outcome would be catastrophic but unlikley – more likely would be financial damages and the requirement to pay a licencing fee, which Garmin could afford.
- Whoop vs Polar, the details on the 3 aspects of Trade Dress in question
- Suunto vs. Garmin, the details on the 5 core features in question
- Strava vs. Garmin, the details on the heatmaps, segments and breach of contract
- Whoop vs. Shenzhen Lexqi Electronic Technology, court filing
- Whoop vs. Lexqi, the details on Trade Dress Infringement
Last Updated on 3 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
