HEART RATE MONITOR QUESTIONS...

mimiteh35

I have the Polar FT4 and have been using it for about two weeks now. I highly recommend it!

Thanks, that's the second vote for this particular one.

mimiteh35

Polar FT80 here. Love it. But I do a lot of cycling so I wish I'd gotten a polar rc5. Oh, well.

Thanks! Is that rc5 made more for cycling somehow? That makes me wonder with starting a jogging program versus doing workout DVDs like I've been doing, will that make a difference too? Or just the cycling?

RaggedyPond

Mine sits under the breasts and yes the jumping moves it and messes it up. I just have to move it down further so the bra doesnt push on it. Remember to subtract your resting calories from the estimate at the end.

mimiteh35

Anything Polar makes is going to be awesome. I use a Polar FT4, and I think it is well worth the money spent. If you do get one of these off Amazon or another website, I would just be sure to get the newest chest strap and transmitter. Some older (cheaper) version of the transmitter are very hard to change out the battery.

Thanks, and thanks for the tip about the chest strap.

mimiteh35

I have a Polar FT7. It can upload your data to a website where you can track your workouts....it's so cool. It can beep if you go over, but I have that feature disabled. The chest band goes right under your sports bra. It's comfy, don't worry.

Thanks, it being uncomfortable was one of my two biggest worries!

mimiteh35

I use a Garmin and to answer your question, the chest strap is adjustable and stretches too. And I also have big girls but it doesn't affect it in any way .

Definitely great to know!!

mimiteh35

I use a Polar FT60 and love it.... Not that I ever use it but it as the beep sensor you speak of which can be turned on or off... The Ft4 and Ft7 are both good as well not sure on all there functions though.. They all come with the chest strap... Best of Luck

Thanks!!

mimiteh35

I also have the Polar FT4 and I love it. I completely used one up and had to replace after about 2 years, but it was well worth it. Very easy to use and it monitors your heart rate, calories etc.

Thanks! I started reading the comments from the bottom up, lol, and this FT4 seems to be a popular one with great reviews! Thanks!!

mimiteh35

I endorse the recommendation for the Polar FT4, and you can use the PolarFitness.com site to calculate your workloads and recovery times too

apparently this one is great! Thanks!

mimiteh35

I've heard mostly good things about polar, and they are certainly reasonably priced. Definitely avoid any active HRM that does not have a chest strap.

I use a TomTom Multiposrt GPS/HRM watch and I love the thing. It's not cheap, but it has helped me a ton. Well worth the expense, IMO.

Yes, the two I had were just wrist ones and I hate having to stop every so often to push the button and get my heart rate, and heard they aren't as accurate!

Thanks, I've read the chest ones are the best and more accurate and worth the money, so I'm diving in on the purchase of one! Thanks so much!

mimiteh35

https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/sports/running/forerunner-110/prod63511.html

Hi, I use this garmin. I have a large chest (36 HH UK size) and the heart rate strap fits fine under my bra. I went into a running shop and tried it on in the changing room.

Good luck! I love my garmin!

Yay, that was one of my biggest fears about getting the chest strap ones! Thanks for the link, too!

mimiteh35

The chest strap is definitely the way to go - I have one which sits just below my breasts and when I work out, I cannot actually feel it although some people complain that they feel claustrophobic... You won't know unless you try.

True, its just such an expensive purchase to try, so I asked lol. I would assume it would feel like a bra, but worried it would be bulky or be moved by "the girls". I'm definitely on the chest strap bandwagon now after all the great reviews on the chest strap ones! Thanks!

mimiteh35

I use the Polar FT4. They made chest bands in several sizes, and each size is adjustable too. The band itself doesn't go around your boobs, so it doesn't matter if you are big-chested or not. The band wraps around your torso, just under where your bra sits.

Speaking of which, the girls should not be flopping around AT ALL, no matter how big you are. You MUST get a great bra. I love the Playtex 18 Hour. It gives fantastic support, and I'm a runner. I've also heard of women who wear 2 bras while working out. Run a search for bra help here. You'll see a bunch of posts with all kinds of bra suggestions. Follow them!

Thanks, the girls don't move much, but they do move, and I do the two bra thing. I've actually asked a question a while back about bra issues and someone suggested doubling up the sports bras, which has helped tremendously, but they still move up and down a little. I'm a DD so its hard to just go into a store and try one on in my size, and I'm on a budget which makes it even harder. This heart rate monitor is my very early b-day present from my fiance to me because he said he knows I want a better one. I already have to buy better running shoes, too, so its just a lot of cost I don't have, so doubled up the bra and it helps a ton, but they do move a little.

DanIsACyclingFool

Polar FT80 here. Love it. But I do a lot of cycling so I wish I'd gotten a polar rc5. Oh, well.

Thanks! Is that rc5 made more for cycling somehow? That makes me wonder with starting a jogging program versus doing workout DVDs like I've been doing, will that make a difference too? Or just the cycling?

If you go on polar's website they have a tool that helps you match your needs to their products. My ft80 is like an ft60 only a bit fancier, and it has extra features intended for people doing strength training. The ft4 is a very good all around hrm, that's why it's so popular. And the rc5 or rcx5 or whatever its called is geared towards cycling, it has a better gps interface than mine and calculates cadence, etc that is of interest to cyclists. If you are primarily a jogger they will have one with joggers needs in mind also.

The take home point is that polar makes very accurate, reliable, quality hrms at several budget levels. Btw I bought mine brand new on ebay for substantially less than what you pay elsewhere. There are several dealers who specialize in hrms, take one with good feedback and save a few dozen bucks!

mimiteh35

Mine sits under the breasts and yes the jumping moves it and messes it up. I just have to move it down further so the bra doesnt push on it. Remember to subtract your resting calories from the estimate at the end.

Resting calories? Good to know about having to move the position some.

mimiteh35

Polar FT80 here. Love it. But I do a lot of cycling so I wish I'd gotten a polar rc5. Oh, well.

Thanks! Is that rc5 made more for cycling somehow? That makes me wonder with starting a jogging program versus doing workout DVDs like I've been doing, will that make a difference too? Or just the cycling?

If you go on polar's website they have a tool that helps you match your needs to their products. My ft80 is like an ft60 only a bit fancier, and it has extra features intended for people doing strength training. The ft4 is a very good all around hrm, that's why it's so popular. And the rc5 or rcx5 or whatever its called is geared towards cycling, it has a better gps interface than mine and calculates cadence, etc that is of interest to cyclists. If you are primarily a jogger they will have one with joggers needs in mind also.

The take home point is that polar makes very accurate, reliable, quality hrms at several budget levels. Btw I bought mine brand new on ebay for substantially less than what you pay elsewhere. There are several dealers who specialize in hrms, take one with good feedback and save a few dozen bucks!

THANK YOU! And yes, saving a few dozen bucks is definitely up my alley!! I appreciate your feedback!

Nicolee_2014

I have a Polar FT60 & I love it. I'm wide & big busted - have no problems with the chest strap. The past 2 weeks it has been beeping at me because it's been losing my heart rate signal but I think that is because I need to tighten it as I've lost a few lbs. Other than that, no problems with it at all.

joshdann

I'm a 6'6" man... former football player... I can pretty much guarantee I have a larger circumference on my chest than you do. and mine fit me, even at 320 lbs

The strap goes right under your pecs/breasts. Pretty much where the bottom band of a sports bra fits most women. It'll fit, just get one!

mimiteh35

I'm a 6'6" man... former football player... I can pretty much guarantee I have a larger circumference on my chest than you do. and mine fit me, even at 320 lbs

The strap goes right under your pecs/breasts. Pretty much where the bottom band of a sports bra fits most women. It'll fit, just get one!

Yes sir! Thanks!!

_EndGame_

I use the Polar FT4, that comes with a chest strap, so you get a far more accurate HR reading than the pulse ones. It transmits directly back to the watch your HR, records calories (based on weight, height, age and gender) and it's waterproof, I use mine in the swimming pool all the time.

As far as the strap goes, I think you'll be safe. It goes under (that area) not over it or above it, so you should be OK. In the unlikely event it doesn't fit, you can buy an XXXL strap from Amazon or eBay. I have a big chest (probably size 48) and it fits perfectly OK around me, plus I can extend it even further, so I doubt you'll need the bigger one.

Hope this helps!