question about polar heart rate monitors

linzismith

I've read a lot of topics on the forums about the best heart rate monitors and it seems most people endorse the Polar F6. My question has to do with the chest strap. I really need an HRM for working out, but I'd also like one that I can just wear all the time so that I know how many calories i burn every day. It seems like the chest strap would be a little annoying while working out but even worse, very noticeable if i wore it every day under my clothes.

so, is wearing a chest strap the only way for HRMs to work? are there other ways to measure heart rate and are they as effective?

wmchick81

I just ordered the F6, and it came in the mail yesterday. I wore the chest strap around the house for a couple hours just to see how many calories I would burn, and it wasn't uncomfortable. There may be something different out there, but I do like the F6 so far.

Sandeee

The chest strap makes for the most effective monitoring. It is pretty flush and hardly noticeable. Often, I have mine on for 6 hrs or more without any discomfort.

jrich1

With the Polars the F6/F7 and I have the FT7, its a black elastic band that hooks around your chest, its not uncomfortable while working out, you know its there. I dont know about wearing it all the time, I know the body bugg I think is designed for the purpose, but you have an arm strap and a watch. Also keep in mind with teh Polar on the front of the chest strap is a black transmitter module that would stick out and be a little more obvious wearing with normal clothes

balfonso

From what I've gathered from a previous post similar to this is that the chest strap has far more accuracy than one you put on your wrist.
I've got the Polar F11. It's fantastic, my only concern is that I can't transfer my data so easily to my Mac computer and so I have to use a Windows simulator in order to transfer it to the polartrainer.com website. Most Polar products are not Mac friendly but the latest models do.

As for the chest strap for the F11, I find it quite comfortable and doesn't even show underneath my clothes as the strap sits just under the breastbone so I can just about put my sports bra over it. I don't even notice it's there to be honest

pressica

The chest strap on Polar devices are not uncomfortable. Most of the time you don't even notice them nor do they show if you have regular clothing on. They are more accurate than the wrist version of HRM.

However, if money is not a problem for you, I would definitely look into the Body Bugg/ Gowear Fit (same device). You wear it on the back of your arm and it calculates your calories burned all day long. It takes the guess work out of your day. It also measures your sleep efficiency at night. The subscription to use the software is only $7 / month. You plug it in your computer, and it tells you so much more than an HRM would. I am so glad that I bought one. It's a great motivator for me. You can also enter your calories in, and it shows you your total deficit for the day. I just bought the armband though because I heard many bad things about the wristwatch that is supposed to sync with it doesn't really read accurately. :bigsmile:

DrBorkBork

HRMs with chest straps are more accurate than a wrist monitor alone. I had the same concern as you before I got mine, and want to reassure you that the strap is pretty comfortable once you get it adjusted right. The only time I really notice it during my workout is if it's slipping b/c I haven't tightened it in a while. It is very thin, and not at all noticeable under clothing, unless you like very form-fitting clothes.

If you want something that monitors your calories ALL day, save up & invest in a body bugg. HRMs are for monitoring exercise only.

disneyfetishboy

First of all, the Polar chest straps are comfortable, so you have nothing to worry about.

However, I'm not sure that utilizing a HRM to measure your all-day calorie use is what the product is designed for. HRMs measure your heart rate, which can be a proxy to measure actual calories burned during elevated activity levels. In other words, they are good for approximating calorie loss *during exercise*. (Adzak may even question whether they are good at this, I'll just say they are good for what's commonly available).

If you want to know how much you are burning at rest or during your regular activity, you might have better measuring your metabolism using a calorimeter. It's a device you breathe into for about 10 minutes that is supposed to estimate the rate at which you burn calories when at rest. I found a dietician/fitness coach that measured mine. (My results were surprising).