HRM recommendations? (UK)

misstmarie______xo

So, after having discovered a massive difference between what my exercise bike tells me I've burned vs what MFP tells me I've burned, I've been advised to invest in a HRM for more accuracy.
Anybody got any recommendations for me?

Ideabaker

I'm very pleased with my Polar Fit FT4 (I think they have a newer model out now)... it is just a chest strap with a sensor over the heart, and a watch that displays heartrate, calories burned, time, etc. I'm not very tech-savvy, and find it easy to use.

It wasn't too expensive, either. I think I paid around sixty dollars on Amazon.com.

I also like that it accurately shows my level of effort for each workout. Sometimes I do the same workout, but if the intensity differs from another session of the same workout, the heartrate will be lower or higher (and the calories burned). Keeps me on my toes intensity-wise!

And, yeah, I like that it comes in pretty colours, if that matters to you .

Edited for more specifics.

misstmarie______xo

Oooh, sounds good! I'll check it out. Thanks!
And hell yeah pretty colours matter.

Gianfranco_R

Polar is a good brand, but if you want to spend less I would suggest to look at the Geonaute products (Decathlon), they have a good value for money.

isulo_kura

misstmarie______xo wrote: »

So, after having discovered a massive difference between what my exercise bike tells me I've burned vs what MFP tells me I've burned, I've been advised to invest in a HRM for more accuracy.
Anybody got any recommendations for me?

Remember HRMs are still only an estimate. Yes they are an estimate based on a mathematical algorithm using your heart rate but still an estimate and they can have accuracy issues. Just think of when your heart rate increases when you're not exercising for a start. So they will never be perfect and they are only designed for use for steady state cardio. That Caveat I have a Polar FT7 which is OK but I've had quite a few issues with it sticking to my heart rate and the chest strap. As I don't use a HRM for the calorie feature I dug out an very old polar and don't seem to have that problem. Personally with these issues I'm not sure I could recommend the FT7. I wouldn't totally out rule Polar though

In reality you could probably work out your exercise calories via trial and error. Take the MFP figure eat half those calories back if you're still losing weight increase by a % until you maintain then you'll know pretty much what % of exercise calories you can eat back. Cheaper than a HRM to.

Sued0nim

Polar ft4

But only for steady state cardio ...so if you're doing HIIT on your bike you can't really trust the numbers

loubidy

I have the polar ft7 got from Amazon for about £60, I love it! Has a few more features than the ft4.

But if I was to get another one, I will be spending more for probably garmin with gps.

Gianfranco_R

Another thing, if you don't exercise alone, but near to other people using an HRM, it is essential to buy one with a coded signal.

cw106

lidl currently have them on special offer at £15.