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Heart Rate & Calories Monitor

fasyle
fasyle Posts: 11
in Fitness and Exercise
I'd like to more accurately track my calories burned during a workout.
I'm especially interested in a monitor that actively tracks your heart rate.
Has anyone had success with a specific model they might recommend?
The reviews online are so mixed that it's difficult to gauge which ones are really any good... I won't pay more than $70 and prefer to stay below $50. Thanks!

Replies

  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Depends what kind of training you do.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Depends what kind of training you do.

    This^

    HRMs are pretty decent for steady state cardio. That's what their designed for. Look for a HRM with a chest strap. Wrist only models can have issues......arm movements can throw things off, sometimes you need to stop to take a pulse, it won't measure constantly, etc.

    I like my Polar FT4....close to your price range. It's a basic Polar, if you workout at a gym and have other HRMs in the area....this won't be the best option (interference).
  • fasyle
    fasyle Posts: 11
    Depends what kind of training you do.

    This^

    HRMs are pretty decent for steady state cardio. That's what their designed for. Look for a HRM with a chest strap. Wrist only models can have issues......arm movements can throw things off, sometimes you need to stop to take a pulse, it won't measure constantly, etc.

    I like my Polar FT4....close to your price range. It's a basic Polar, if you workout at a gym and have other HRMs in the area....this won't be the best option (interference).

    Well, let's see.
    I've started the T25, which I do at home every morning. So it's a lot of different stuff - squants, lunges, push-ups and other stuff that make you feel like you want to die cram-packed into 25 minutes of nonestop cardio action.

    Would the Polar FT4 work there?

    Any other suggestions?
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Depends what kind of training you do.

    This^

    HRMs are pretty decent for steady state cardio. That's what their designed for. Look for a HRM with a chest strap. Wrist only models can have issues......arm movements can throw things off, sometimes you need to stop to take a pulse, it won't measure constantly, etc.

    I like my Polar FT4....close to your price range. It's a basic Polar, if you workout at a gym and have other HRMs in the area....this won't be the best option (interference).

    Well, let's see.
    I've started the T25, which I do at home every morning. So it's a lot of different stuff - squants, lunges, push-ups and other stuff that make you feel like you want to die cram-packed into 25 minutes of nonestop cardio action.

    Would the Polar FT4 work there?

    Any other suggestions?

    Steady state cardio is running, brisk walking, cycling. Up/down heart rate stuff of circuit training....not accurate. HRMs are good for tracking progress though. When you see the calorie burn estimates go down, you are getting more fit. Time to step things up. But short of being in a lab....a $75 gadget won't get you accurate number.

    Maybe Beach Body has estimates.

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