Recommend a Heart Rate Monitor?

AJCM

It's time for a new one...

Can anyone recommend a great heart rate monitor that will do all the basics, plus count my calories burned?

Polar? Models? Mio - without the chest strap?

Thanks!
:flowerforyou:

AJCM

It's time for a new one...

Can anyone recommend a great heart rate monitor that will do all the basics, plus count my calories burned?

Polar? Models? Mio - without the chest strap?

Thanks!
:flowerforyou:

timisw

I have had my Mio Ultimate for over 1.5 month now. I really like it! It has all the basic features for under $100 on Amazon or eBay! If you have any specific questions about it, let me know!

Tim

pam0206

Hi!

I have a Polar f4 and it does everything that I want. It does come with a telemetry strap. It shows a constant heart rate as well as calories burned, but you can change it to show heart rate range or time of day. I found it here at a sporting goods store, but have seen them online, too. GL. It was well worth the $90 that I spent on it. :flowerforyou:

AJCM

I have had my Mio Ultimate for over 1.5 month now. I really like it! It has all the basic features for under $100 on Amazon or eBay! If you have any specific questions about it, let me know!

Tim

Thanks Tim... so, it doesn't have a chest strap? I'm used to a chest strap, however I up for not having to wear it! Does it give you a continuous read? Could I wear it all day to find out how many calories, exactly, that I'm burning in a day?

Thanks!
Amanda

AJCM

Hi!

I have a Polar f4 and it does everything that I want. It does come with a telemetry strap. It shows a constant heart rate as well as calories burned, but you can change it to show heart rate range or time of day. I found it here at a sporting goods store, but have seen them online, too. GL. It was well worth the $90 that I spent on it. :flowerforyou:

Thanks Pam!

Is this the one where you enter your weight, and then you can wear it all day to find out what you burn in a day?

Thanks!
Amanda
:flowerforyou:

lotusfromthemud

I've heard great things about all the Polars, but I adore (in a practically unnatural way) my F11. It was pricey, but I consider it money well spent. They're considerably more here (Canada) than they are in the states.

ohthatbambi

I have Polar f6. I like it a lot. It has a strap. I ebayed it for 82.00 (with shipping). It retails for 110.00

timisw

You have to have the chest strap on for continous reading.

However, you can get an ECG accurate (I compared it at the medical on base) heart rate in about 2 to 5 seconds by touching your fingers on two places of the watch. This can be used in liu of the strap during workouts, by taking readings at different times. However, I am sure it doesnt come close to comparing to continuous readings (I have not tried that yet).

The watch is great though to get an idea of what your heart rate is just waking up, sitting at a desk, recovery, etc... and its nice not having the strap on for those!

timisw

As per finding the calories used in a day.... As long as the stop watch is on, its counting. If you are doing the same activity (siting in a desk), you wouldnt need the stop watch cause you could just touch the two point every 15 to 20 minutes. However, if your job is full of ups and downs (movement), you would need the chest strap for any accuracy.

AJCM

As per finding the calories used in a day.... As long as the stop watch is on, its counting. If you are doing the same activity (siting in a desk), you wouldnt need the stop watch cause you could just touch the two point every 15 to 20 minutes. However, if your job is full of ups and downs (movement), you would need the chest strap for any accuracy.

Thanks - I appreciate it! You've answered my question - I HAVE to get one with a chest strap! My old one had one, but didn't do calories, just heart rate.

Thanks again :flowerforyou:

wanderinglight

I had a Polar F6 but returned it for a Suunto T3, which I LOOOOVE.

I didn't like that the Polar wouldn't let you do intervals that counted down, and I didn't care for the look of the Polars (they looked a bit cheap and cheesy to me).

I found the Suunto has a bit more of a learning curve but it's worth it.

pam0206

Hi!

I have a Polar f4 and it does everything that I want. It does come with a telemetry strap. It shows a constant heart rate as well as calories burned, but you can change it to show heart rate range or time of day. I found it here at a sporting goods store, but have seen them online, too. GL. It was well worth the $90 that I spent on it. :flowerforyou:

Thanks Pam!

Is this the one where you enter your weight, and then you can wear it all day to find out what you burn in a day?

Thanks!
Amanda
:flowerforyou:

Hey Amanda!
Sorry, I've been a little out of it this week. Yes. You can enter your weight on the F4 and you could wear it all day to find out what you burn. I've worn it while cleaning my bathrooms and scrubbing my floors. Let me just say, WOWSA!:noway:

VanessaC

Does anyone have a Nike heart rate monitor. I just ordered one off of ebay but haven't received it yet. Just wondering what you think of yours?

PrincessLaundry

You have to have the chest strap on for continous reading.

However, you can get an ECG accurate (I compared it at the medical on base) heart rate in about 2 to 5 seconds by touching your fingers on two places of the watch. This can be used in liu of the strap during workouts, by taking readings at different times. However, I am sure it doesnt come close to comparing to continuous readings (I have not tried that yet).

The watch is great though to get an idea of what your heart rate is just waking up, sitting at a desk, recovery, etc... and its nice not having the strap on for those!

I bought one without, but wish I had known to buy one which can do both. I'm dumb, didn't listen, now when I'm riding I have to slow down, check my heart and sometimes by the time I get a read, I'm back to slower breathing. I get cheated out of a heart rate, it messes up the pace of my workout, and it reads as if I have burned less calories. And when you're going for a scoop of ice cream with chocolate sauce on top...I do NOT want to be cheated out of calories!!! LOL

alf1163

I have the Polar F4. I bought it for $65 at the military store. I like it. I had the Mio but I did not like the fact that you have to take your heart rate when it increases and decreases in order to get an accurate reading. I returned it after 2 wks of using it. I had bought it at Wal Mart for about $38. Now, the only thing I don't like about my polar is that I cannot save the last workout summary. If I don't write it down or log it in I tend to forget how many calories I burned...but that is old age :laugh: :laugh: :flowerforyou:

AJCM

I have the Polar F4. I bought it for $65 at the military store. I like it. I had the Mio but I did not like the fact that you have to take your heart rate when it increases and decreases in order to get an accurate reading. I returned it after 2 wks of using it. I had bought it at Wal Mart for about $38. Now, the only thing I don't like about my polar is that I cannot save the last workout summary. If I don't write it down or log it in I tend to forget how many calories I burned...but that is old age :laugh: :laugh: :flowerforyou:

Thanks Alf! It looks like the Polar F4 is a good one to go with! I loved my last Polar, although I want one with some more bells and whistles this time!

Thanks to everyone who posted!
:flowerforyou:

studentRN

I have the Polar F4.

Now, the only thing I don't like about my polar is that I cannot save the last workout summary. If I don't write it down or log it in I tend to forget how many calories I burned...

I have the F4 and I really don't like this either. I may take it back and get one that allows me to go back and look at other workouts. Once you start a new workout on the F4, the old info is gone. :grumble:

msarro

I have a polar F11 and I adore it!

studentRN

I have a polar F11 and I adore it!

Does it have the fancy schmancy exercise log?

I was thinking of exchanging the F4 for the F6, I think it does a log too.... :ohwell:

msarro

Its got an exercise log, the ability to upload a profile to the internet, a fitness planner, and some other fancy features. Its like the top of the low-end monitors. If you just need something that will tell you your heart rate and burnt calories you could probably get something cheaper.

I'm a geek, so I like having a ton of functions to play with

studentRN

Its got an exercise log, the ability to upload a profile to the internet, a fitness planner, and some other fancy features. Its like the top of the low-end monitors. If you just need something that will tell you your heart rate and burnt calories you could probably get something cheaper.

I'm a geek, so I like having a ton of functions to play with

Geek here too, might as well wear a pocket protector to the gym... hey... what an excellent idea! Could double as an MP3 holder.... oh.. wait.. yeah that's really dorky!

I want one that monitors HR, as well as calories, but I want to be able to go back and look at previous workouts. The F4 I've discovered doesn't do that!

msarro

Well, the f11 gives you the ability to look at previous workouts. It also has a built in test to approximate your VO2max which is the golden standard of genuine physical fitness that it uses to generate a workout plan. If you meet all of the goals for the workout plan the polar logo turns into a trophy for the week, so you can be proud of yourself, haha.

You can use the weblink function to upload everything to the internet and look at it there, but it also stores it on your watch too.

I think the f6 can do what you're looking for, but I don't think it connects to the interwebs.

wildkitty505

I have a Polar F6 and I absolutely love it. It has made a huge difference in my weight loss!! I got mine on Ebay for ~$80