Which Polar heart rate monitor to buy?

Roz2889
Roz2889 Posts: 71 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm going to buy my first HRM and deciding between the Polar FT4 or FT7. The Ft7 is £20 more expensive but is it worth it? This is the one I think I'll get but just want to know the difference between the two.

Also I read in one review that the FT7's watch strap is quite big and might not be suitable for slim females, any other ladies out there found it too big? The FT4 I can get the pink one which I assume is a better size for ladies.

Please let me know, thanks!

Replies

  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    I have the FT4, it's cheap and reliable, but you can get better more expensive models.

    I use mine for swimming mostly. The Ft4 (like the others) comes with the watch, chest strap and transmitter. I compared it to the expensive gym ones and it was spot on most of the time. Sometimes the BPM would differ slightly, but not to the point it would give inaccurate calorie burn readings.

    I got my Ft4 from Amazon, it cost £49.99, but I think it was on offer. Usually they're around £54.

    Hope this helps!
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,995 Member
    I have the FT4 because it is cheap. If I had to do it again, I would buy a more expensive model where you can set your V02Max using a fitness test. Apparenlty more accurate for calorie burn. The FT4 just estimates V02Max it based on your age and weight.
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    I have the FT4 because it is cheap. If I had to do it again, I would buy a more expensive model where you can set your V02Max using a fitness test. Apparenlty more accurate for calorie burn. The FT4 just estimates V02Max it based on your age and weight.

    You have to fully exhaust yourself to get an accurate VO2. I have a friend with the updated model, and he dismisses the VO2 part of it.

    The FT4 bases it's calorie burn estimate on your age, weight, height, gender and BPM.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,995 Member
    I have the FT4 because it is cheap. If I had to do it again, I would buy a more expensive model where you can set your V02Max using a fitness test. Apparenlty more accurate for calorie burn. The FT4 just estimates V02Max it based on your age and weight.

    You have to fully exhaust yourself to get an accurate VO2. I have a friend with the updated model, and he dismisses the VO2 part of it.

    The FT4 bases it's calorie burn estimate on your age, weight, height, gender and BPM.

    In that case I am glad I didn't spend the money.
  • hofi2010
    hofi2010 Posts: 15
    I would look into the Polar H7, the bluetooth one. I bought it a few month ago and find the bluetooth a very good addition. This can be used with most gym equipment and additionally it is now supported by a lot of iPhone apps, like Runkeeper etc. It comes with an iPhone and Android app as well. So it will give you best of both worlds.

    the technology behind this hear rate sensor is called Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which will be the feature for most wearable sensors as it integrates seamlessly with smartphones and are open for developers. This will drive the development of a lot of app that will be able to use this sensor, as mentioned above Runkeeper, PowerIT to name a few.
  • Butrovich
    Butrovich Posts: 410 Member
    Khofenblitzerbeat me to the punch. Research which monitor is compatible with the iPhone or Android. There are fitness apps that can link with the monitors and provide heart rate info on a graph. I am wishing I had done that now.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    My Wife has the FT7 (in Pink) and has never complained about it being to bulky, I myself have the FT60 and have been using it for the past 3 years and love it..... Best of Luck
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    My Wife has the FT7 (in Pink) and has never complained about it being to bulky, I myself have the FT60 and have been using it for the past 3 years and love it..... Best of Luck

    What is the FT60 like? What does it do that the others don't?

    I have heard quite a few people praise the FT60, but I'm not entirely sure what it does that the others don't.
  • Roz2889
    Roz2889 Posts: 71 Member
    My Wife has the FT7 (in Pink) and has never complained about it being to bulky, I myself have the FT60 and have been using it for the past 3 years and love it..... Best of Luck

    How did you find a pink FT7? I can only find the female one is red/black or red/white. Both totally un-feminine and not really what I'd want. Even the men's ones are much nicer colours!

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