Who Here Likes to Wear a Heart Rate Monitor?

furylabs

Hi everybody!

Just wanted to see who likes to work out with a heart rate monitor and who doesn't. I like to wear one because it pushes me to reach a certain goal I set for myself (sometimes it's the calorie count, other times it's the heart rate itself - keeping it in a certain range, etc). I think... if I didn't have a heart rate monitor... I think my workout results would vary greatly. My boyfriend doesn't like to use a HRM and says he trusts his ability to keep track of everything in his mind, however, he recently went to weigh himself and the number had not moved since he last checked in. So, I feel a HRM is a good investment for that reason alone.

Would love to hear what others do.

P.S. / Side Question: Anyone use the Polar FT4 and notice that the transmitter stops working intermittently? Not sure if mine is a dud or not

malibu927

I had an FT7 for a while and found it was giving me erratic readings, so I stopped using it. Now I have a Fitbit Charge HR, but haven't done anything other than walking to really see how it handles.

Hornsby

I wear one when I run or cycle and need to watch my heart rate for training purposes. I don't wear one for anything else.

ScoobaChick

I have a Polar H7 and love it.

furylabs

I know Polar has a good reputation and the one I owned several years ago worked really well... so it sucks to think they may not be as quality manufactured anymore. I can't really afford anything else, I'm afraid.

Will have to send it in for a replacement if it keeps acting funny (always fun to have your HRM stop working mid workout :-p)

Thanks for your feedback!

malibu927 wrote: »

I had an FT7 for a while and found it was giving me erratic readings, so I stopped using it. Now I have a Fitbit Charge HR, but haven't done anything other than walking to really see how it handles.

furylabs

ScoobaChick wrote: »

I have a Polar H7 and love it.

That's awesome! I love mine is just a bit of a dud.

LessthanKris

I have a polar that is about six years old and love it. I have used it for my circuit training and running and it seems pretty accurate based on the rate of my loss.

furylabs

Hi Hornsby. Do you mind my asking the reason for watching your heart rate in specific?
Sometimes I find if I push too hard I start getting very uncomfortable heart palpitations, mostly when I am underslept, but I don't like to push it. I find my preferred zone just under that.

Hornsby wrote: »

I wear one when I run or cycle and need to watch my heart rate for training purposes. I don't wear one for anything else.

furylabs

Hi! Any chance you know the exact number/model of yours? Maybe I should have bought a gently used older Polar HRM?!

LessthanKris wrote: »

I have a polar that is about six years old and love it. I have used it for my circuit training and running and it seems pretty accurate based on the rate of my loss.

47Jacqueline

I wear a polar f4. I usually use it when I do a new workout, to get a general reading.

VintageFeline

I have a Vivoactive and wear a HRM when I workout using a gym specific app called GymTimer. So far so accurate (had it since end of December and was an upgrade). I use it to track improving fitness seeing my heart rate not shoot up to max immediately and for the duration like when I started. And the calorie burns seem to be pretty accurate, much more accurate than with my previous device (Vivofit, again paring with a strap).

With the reading drop outs, I have found with it being winter and therefore starting when cold I need to dab a little water on the sensors before I start as there's no moisture on my skin as yet to help things along.

I honestly couldn't imagine not working out with it, I've become quite the data geek!

furylabs

Thanks! I will try to add more water then... I don't sweat until midway with my workouts and I do only notice it at the start.

I will check out GymTimer, sounds useful.

Lastly, I totally agree with the data geek thing In fact... I wish I had even more gizmos for collecting even MORE data! :-p

VintageFeline wrote: »

I have a Vivoactive and wear a HRM when I workout using a gym specific app called GymTimer. So far so accurate (had it since end of December and was an upgrade). I use it to track improving fitness seeing my heart rate not shoot up to max immediately and for the duration like when I started. And the calorie burns seem to be pretty accurate, much more accurate than with my previous device (Vivofit, again paring with a strap).

With the reading drop outs, I have found with it being winter and therefore starting when cold I need to dab a little water on the sensors before I start as there's no moisture on my skin as yet to help things along.

I honestly couldn't imagine not working out with it, I've become quite the data geek!

RoseTheWarrior

I have a Polar A360; started out with the Polar FT7. I like both but I'm more partial now to the wrist based HRM even though it's not as accurate. I like knowing where my heart rate is at while I'm working out.

furylabs

Wrist based? I've never used one. I only have experience with the chest strap style. But if it works for you - awesome! They are a useful tool, no doubt

RoseTheWarrior wrote: »

I have a Polar A360; started out with the Polar FT7. I like both but I'm more partial now to the wrist based HRM even though it's not as accurate. I like knowing where my heart rate is at while I'm working out.

Sued0nim

My polar ft4 is never intermittent - you maybe have a dud or are not positioning it well

I like to use my HRM for training

Hornsby

furylabs wrote: »

Hi Hornsby. Do you mind my asking the reason for watching your heart rate in specific?
Sometimes I find if I push too hard I start getting very uncomfortable heart palpitations, mostly when I am underslept, but I don't like to push it. I find my preferred zone just under that.

Hornsby wrote: »

I wear one when I run or cycle and need to watch my heart rate for training purposes. I don't wear one for anything else.

I do endurance cycling. Rides can be anywhere from 2 hours to 6 hours long for me. I can only maintain certain heart rates for so long. It's a pretty common training tool.

JHALLISGETTINGsmall

I recently got an applewatch - I haven't bought lunch since Jan 1 at work - brought my lunch every day as part of my diet plan and I have saved so much money. To reward myself, bought an applewatch. I love the heart rate monitor and the steps/ workout tracking.

stealthq

I like my Scosche Rythym+. It's wrist based. At the moment, I'm just using it to monitor using Runmeter. It's interesting to see what my HR does at different points of my run (especially on runs where I'm already fatigued) and I'd like to eventually use it to assist with distance run training.

GemimaFitzTed

stealthq wrote: »

I like my Scosche Rythym+. It's wrist based. At the moment, I'm just using it to monitor using Runmeter. It's interesting to see what my HR does at different points of my run (especially on runs where I'm already fatigued) and I'd like to eventually use it to assist with distance run training.

+1 on the Scosche Rythym+. I use it when doing my gym workouts and I connect it with with SportsTracker or MapMyFitness. Cannot speak more highly of this HR monitor

blues4miles

I use a chest strap HRM with my Garmin watch when I run.

I like it because it gives me a no BS reading of what I'm doing. Max HR can vary a lot from the age formula so I don't use it to try to stay in any particular zones or anything. But if I feel like I'm working hard and want to stop and walk and look down and see it's really not that high I know I need to push myself. But if I look down and I'm near my max I know it's okay to slow down, that I must be working harder that day. Heat, hydration, training, etc can all have big effects on how hard you have to work to cover the same distance and pace two days in a row. So I think it is useful for that. Also as a measure of progress if the same speed a couple months later produces a lower HR etc.

ConicalFern

I use my Garmin heart rate monitor that came with my cycle computer, but I also use it with my basic running GPS watch, sometimes running, but more often in the gym - I then use this to estimate my calories for the session.

How accurate using HR monitor for a gym session (say on the bike) is I'm not sure yet. Since I have got fitter, I increase the resistance on the bike, thus I use more energy, yet if anything my HR is lower. This means I'm getting lower calorie burn levels for a more vigorous workout, no?

Underestimation isn't a huge issue atm but might be when I get to maintenance..

AmazonMayan

I have polar ft4 and have had no problems with it. I'm not sure what I'll get next if this one stops on me, but I know I don't need/wouldn't use a step counter.

Bob314159

I got a Garmin Vivoactive end of last year - but I hate wearing a chest strap, but don't trust wrist reading devices. I ended up getting a wrist strap that is more reliable and it talks to the garmin watch - love it - Scosche Rhythm+ Arm HRM [same as mentioned in previous posts]

livinfluffy

I wear mine ( polar FT4) for any workout that gets my heart rate up so I can keep watch on my rate and recovery rate. I was having a lot of heart palpitations and racing heart rate. It has helped me to realize what exercises that my body freaks out on and to modify so I don't pass out.

bwogilvie

malibu927 wrote: »

I had an FT7 for a while and found it was giving me erratic readings, so I stopped using it. Now I have a Fitbit Charge HR, but haven't done anything other than walking to really see how it handles.

In cold or dry weather, HRMs can be erratic because there's not enough electrolytes from sweat to get accurate readings of the electrical pulses from your heart. Cardio gel can help. My HRM also gets erratic when the battery in the strap is running low.

OP: I use my HRM when running and cycling to ensure that my easy runs/rides are easy enough and that my hard runs/rides are hard enough. Calorie counting isn't really the purpose. I find that Strava's calorie estimates, based only on my cycling speed, distance, and elevation change (and my weight and bike weight) are very close to my Garmin Edge 800's calculations, which also include heart rate.

Bob314159

Note the Scosche Rhythm+ Arm HRM uses multiple color LEDs and should be immune to electrolytes from sweat.

Also no need to splash water on your arm.

ear1011

I have fitbit HR! I love it, but I am pregnant so haven't lost weight with it haha! I am hoping it will help me drop baby weight when I'm done!

Christine_72

malibu927 wrote: »

I had an FT7 for a while and found it was giving me erratic readings, so I stopped using it. Now I have a Fitbit Charge HR, but haven't done anything other than walking to really see how it handles.

@malibu927 Do you think it's accurate? I've always read that HR Monitors aren't very accurate for walking, they're more geared toward steady state cardio such as biking or running.

AlphaCajun

I use my MZ-3 at the gym, love it.

KettleTO

GemimaFitzTed wrote: »

stealthq wrote: »

I like my Scosche Rythym+. It's wrist based. At the moment, I'm just using it to monitor using Runmeter. It's interesting to see what my HR does at different points of my run (especially on runs where I'm already fatigued) and I'd like to eventually use it to assist with distance run training.

+1 on the Scosche Rythym+. I use it when doing my gym workouts and I connect it with with SportsTracker or MapMyFitness. Cannot speak more highly of this HR monitor

also love this hrm. i had the polar h7 but go so tired of it and my sports bra warring. pair it with polar M400.

previously, i had a polar F6 or something that was good for over 10 years before heart rate went funky.

I got them for the calories but became addicted to numeric feedback about how hard i was working. there was a sad adjustment to how polar changed its calories burned calculations between 2004 and 2015. A spinning class used to be 400 calories now i have to work hard to get into the low 300s with high hr.

ASH_DVM

Always for running. Have Garmin HRM to pair with my 920xt. Definitely helps see progress and fine tune training runs