HRM what do you use and why?

LittleonebeforethethroneofGod

Hi,

I thought of getting a fitbit one, but I don't see that it can monitor my heart and want to record calories burned accurately. So I am deciding to get a heart rate monitor.

I've been reading reviews from Amazon.com for the last couple of days. Anyone out there have a favorite heart rate monitor? Can you share with me what you are using if you are using a heart rate monitor and what you like/dislike about your heart rate monitor. Thanks everyone.

God bless.

_Zardoz_

A heart rate monitor will only record accurately the calories for steady sate cardio. If you want to record all day calories then you need to look at a fitbit

I use a polar FT7 but the primary use isn't for calories my main use is for pacing and monitoring my HR and exertion for Running. The calorie feature is just a useful add on to me

susie3g

Following. ..

bwogilvie

I use Garmin GPS devices (an Edge 800 for cycling, a Forerunner 620 for running and Nordic skiing) because I want to track where and how far I have gone as well as heart rate. Those products, and a few others from Garmin and Suunto, use a method developed by the Finnish company Firstbeat to estimate energy expenditure (calories burned); it's supposedly more accurate than the method used by most HRMs.

If you want to analyze daily activity, though, an HRM is not ideal. It's best for steady-state cardio that is at least moderate in intensity, and fairly useless for other activities. Plus you have to wear the strap all the time if you want to record your heart rate. For ordinary activity, a Fitbit etc. is better.

caitconquersweight

I just bought a pink Polar FT4 yesterday. A blogger friend has used one for like a year and has lost a ton of weight. Obviously the HRM isn't the only reason why she lost the weight lol. But I asked her about it yesterday and she said she still LOVES it. It was really cheap compared to other ones, and it has great reviews.

loubidy

I have asked for the polar ft7 for my birthday on Friday after researching it seemed to suit my needs for price.

popo312

I bought the Polar H7 because it links to my iPhone and using an app will sync with MFP after each workout so I don't have to log anything.

CharlotteAnneUK

It is all about when you want to use it and what you want to use it for. I dont monitor the full day, only the exercise activity.

A long time ago a bought a cheap tesco HRM, but not understanding what I was looking at and how I was setting it up, I started getting annoyed because it kept beeping at me telling me my heart was going to fast. I threw it away, not realising that it was working fine, it was me that wasnt.

When I started looking into things properly and understanding what it was all about, I considerd the fitbit, the polar (my sister has one) and the Garmin, but It really is an individual thing, a Garmin wouldnt suit my sister as she does classes and indoor activity rather than outdoor so there is no need for the GPS, but as I go outdoors and indoors I wanted the GPS.

I now use the Garmin 220 with strap. When outside running, walking or cycling it provides a map, steps cadence, pace and heartrate including zones. If I am on the treadmill it still works as though I am outside but without GPS (so no need for a map) and if I'm doing other indoor activity such as the stationary bike, eliptical trainer, rowing marchine or just weights, I put it on training and still get my calories burned based on heartrate and can adjust my workout based on what zone I am looking to train in.

jim180155

I just bought a pink Polar FT4 yesterday. A blogger friend has used one for like a year and has lost a ton of weight. Obviously the HRM isn't the only reason why she lost the weight lol. But I asked her about it yesterday and she said she still LOVES it. It was really cheap compared to other ones, and it has great reviews.

I just bought one yesterday (gray, not pink) to replace a cheaper model. It's exactly what I needed. It allows me to enter my personal max HR rather than using a generic formula, it calculates average HR, and it tracks total calories for a workout. Overall it's motivating me to keep my HR up and it's giving me some confidence that I'm getting a reasonable estimate of calories burned.

shinkalork

I was using a cheap one before (always with chest strap) stopping to take your pulse takes so much away so it's pointless to me...chest strap's a must here.... But cheap ones have the strap in thick rubber (oh god! so not fun to wear).

So I got myself the Polar FT4 (silver-grey one). It does EVERYTHING i need. The chest strap is in fabric, so so much more fun to wear. Easy to use too. (only thing was the beep sound but you can shut it off in the settings so lol).

It's very accurate too and not too expensive. (My opinion... Polar,Garmin and Suunto are the best ones). I have friends using all these different brand and they are all happy. But some are very high tech and expensive...which i don't need.

Shelle58704

I have a Polar FT7. I love that I can upload my stuff to my computer and see progress over time. I had to buy a special USB thingy for that.

geebusuk

I use my my phone to monitor the HRM at the moment.

Did have a motoactv and tempted to get one again.

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craigheon

Polar FT7 user here too. I love it. It allows you to put in your age/weight/sex etc so it gives you a more accurate calorie burn when exercising. You do have to wear the chest strap with the module, because that is how it communicates to the watch. Unlike a FitBit, where you just wear it on your wrist.

I liked the FT7 because it had calorie tracking, a "heart rate zone", which tells you if you are in fat burning mode, or fitness mode. That was helpful to me. The only thing I wish it did have was a distance meter, so if I'm walking or jogging etc, I could know how far I have traveled. That to me is the only downside though. It's a fantastic tool for the price.

jim180155

I liked the FT7 because it had calorie tracking, a "heart rate zone", which tells you if you are in fat burning mode, or fitness mode. That was helpful to me. The only thing I wish it did have was a distance meter, so if I'm walking or jogging etc, I could know how far I have traveled. That to me is the only downside though. It's a fantastic tool for the price.

If you have a smartphone, check out MapMyRun or one of the similar apps that use GPS. You'll find some minor inaccuracies but they're fairly close at estimating distance and speed. And they're free.

ForeverCharlie

I have the Polar FT60. Works great.

PHS7

I'm a Polar FT7 user. I've had it for a couple of years. Everything I've read is that the chest strap is a real plus for accuracy since you wear it so much closer to your heart. I really like having one HRM so no matter what exercise or machine I'm on, I have consistent readings and am not relying on every machine to be accurate.

Buddhasmiracle

I have a polar FT6 that I wear while cycling and when I am on an elliptical trainer. It is not perfect, but it is more accurate than the MFP database for me. It averages 150 -175 calories less than the database, and about 50 cals less than the elliptical trainer.

karenh

I have a very inexpensive Pyle HRM with chest strap just to use while working out and I enter the calories on MFP. It cost under $30. It kind of seems to be high on calories burned, but maybe it's accurate and as I have adjusted my weight down and my workouts have become easier it is reducing the calories burned for the same workout. I just don't eat back most of the calories and it's working out well for me. I feel very accomplished seeing the calories burned #. Here is the link..

http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PHRM34-Monitor-Running-Walking/dp/B004RQR54C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393244510&sr=8-1&keywords=heart+rate+monitor

shadowkitty22

I'm another Polar FT7 user and flip flopped back and forth about getting one for at least 18 months (mainly due to price and the fact that we live in a constant state of broke) but then my mom finally got me one as an early valentines day present and I love it. It's so simple to set up and use and the calorie counts are so much lower than what MFP has been telling me for years that it's no wonder I've been stalled for awhile, I've been eating too damn much! However, I do still want a fitbit or Nike fuel band to help me better track overall daily movement to help remind me to not be so lazy the rest of here day.

glassgallm

I have a Garmin FR60. There is a newer model out now, but I've been using mine for over 2 years and have replaced the battery twice. It has a chest strap. I am a runner so it shows me calories burned, but I also use it when I do an indoor bootcamp-like workout, I also use it if I am doing snow shoveling or heavy gardening. I want to justify every calorie burned! I can upload the info to my computer.

Bry_Fitness70

I use a Mio Alpha wristwatch HRM (I don’t like messing with the chest strap), linked through Bluetooth to the Digifit app. I have been happy with it so far (it was a Christmas present so I haven’t had it long).

I use it for all exercise, even non-steady state. It is less reliable for things like strength training, but it does give me roughly the same calories per minute burn rate as tables I’ve found online, so it is as good a method as any for figuring out my calorie burn.

a_de_jong

Hi!

I use the Polar H7, because it connects to my iPhone via Bluetooth to:

1. My Runtastic app, which then feeds into MFP automatically
2. My Polar Beat app (free on the app store and fun to connect with on the Polar Flow website)

It also hooks up with my Polar Loop :-) and I don't need a super duper Polar wristwatch :-)

Hope that helps. If not, just yell.

scubasuenc

I have both a FitBit One for daily activity and a Polar FT4 for cardio. Most of my cardio is indoors - swimming, stationary bike, etc so I didn't need one with a GPS. When I do walk outside I use MapMyWalk on my phone. It uses the phone GPS to map where I'm going and calculate pace, etc.

My MFP activity level is set to sedentary because I have a desk job. However I'm making an effort to be more active by taking the stairs, parking further away, etc. The FitBit tracks that extra activity, and when appropriate gives me extra calories in MFP.

I have found the MFP calorie burns for cardio to be much higher than either the FitBit (for walking) or the HRM. The HRM still may not be perfect, but I think it is closer than the default MFP numbers. I use the HRM for activities like biking or swimming where the FitBit isn't any good.

geebusuk

Forgot the why: Phone because I have it with me anyway and doesn't cost anything extra.
I have a phone which does ant+, but you can always get a bluetooth or bluetooth lite heart rate strap for other phones.

Motoactv - because it was the most comprehensive device I could find.
It works as a pedometer, so also does running cadence without a foot pod. Presents you with a total burnt calories at the end of the day including *everything* and so on.

Murph1908

For the Polar FT4, do you need to wear the watch, or is all of the biometric sensing done by the chest strap?

I am looking to get a monitor, but I want to use it for my boxing workouts, and fear the watch will be too uncomfortable under the boxing glove.

Thanks

970Mikaela1

I don't use my polar anymore, I know from the mileage now. I don't log weight training. I do use map my run for mileage .

Amandawith3kids

For the Polar FT4, do you need to wear the watch, or is all of the biometric sensing done by the chest strap?

I am looking to get a monitor, but I want to use it for my boxing workouts, and fear the watch will be too uncomfortable under the boxing glove.

Thanks

clip it to your belt

Murph1908

clip it to your belt

Which would be something I would do if none of the biometrics sensing is done through the watch. That was my question.

jjking54

I bought the Polar H7 because it links to my iPhone and using an app will sync with MFP after each workout so I don't have to log anything.

Same but I use mine with my Galaxy S3. It's fantastic.

dixiewhiskey

Polar FT40.. initially got it because of the colour but after having it for a year (and having a chance to use the Polar FT4), I definitely prefer it. The features on the watch meet my needs. I could careless about how much I'm burning daily and just want to know approx how much I'm burning during cardio.