HRM Ideas?

ace175

I'm looking into purchasing a HRM, but I have no clue where to start looking...someone has suggested Polar, but there are so many options, I want to get the right one! Or if anyone has any other suggestions....it'd be greatly appreciated!

Nataliethin81

I have the Polar FT4, it's a great HRM. Super accurate, I got it on sale at Best Buy for $89. I highly recommend it!

polo571

body media they have them at costco 149.99 they are made by same company with body bugg. Same ones biggest lose contestants use

skingszoo

I wanted a simple one and I got the Polar FT4 as well. Super easy to work for what I want it to do (count calories burned) and is really accurate. I got it on-line at buy.com for $79.99.

ace175

I was just looking at the FT4! It seems like the easiest to use!

mallorybriann

After doing research on here and online, I went with Polar. They seemed like a trusted brand and had great reviews. I got the FT4, shows calories burned. I didn't need anything with a buncha bells and whistles. Some can go for $200+!!
I got mine for 79$ at Sports Authority last week (on sale).
Just make sure they calculate calories burned if that is what you want, some other models do not. It will usually say it right on the package/features.
I would also recommend getting one with a chest strap, more accurate readings. You really don't even notice it's there when wearing it.
It is a greattttt investment Those machines and MFP's calories burned are so off

iamhealingmyself

I too have been looking into one. My main things are I'd like it to be able to tell me how many calories I'm burning as well as my heart rate. I've reviewed the bodybug and fit bit and the others mentioned here and looked at the timex version but I still can't make up my mind. Some of them they say are accurate but others say not so much. I just know the machines I use are probably not reliable especially if they don't ask for my weight and age at least. I don't have a lot of money to spend on this (some range over 300 and require an online subscription just to see your data-ridiculous since I'm using MFP)

I like the idea of the one that measures the quality your sleep (I forget the name, one of the ones I mentioned above I believe) as well as calories and heart rate. I'm curious to see what others have to say too. Since I have trouble exercising with my back, I need to know what I'm actually burning during the course of my normal day.

ace175

After doing research on here and online, I went with Polar. They seemed like a trusted brand and had great reviews. I got the FT4, shows calories burned. I didn't need anything with a buncha bells and whistles. Some can go for $200+!!
I got mine for 79$ at Sports Authority last week (on sale).
Just make sure they calculate calories burned if that is what you want, some other models do not. It will usually say it right on the package/features.
I would also recommend getting one with a chest strap, more accurate readings. You really don't even notice it's there when wearing it.
It is a greattttt investment Those machines and MFP's calories burned are so off

Is there one for men and one for women? I was just on the Polar website but it seems that they don't specify (not sure if gender matters), and then I was looking at Best Buy, and they have one for men and one for women.

CakeFit21

I LOVE my Polar FT7! Love love love!

mallorybriann

The womens is bronze and the mens is black and silver (for the FT4). Size is the only difference with them. When you set it up, it asks for your gender

After doing research on here and online, I went with Polar. They seemed like a trusted brand and had great reviews. I got the FT4, shows calories burned. I didn't need anything with a buncha bells and whistles. Some can go for $200+!!
I got mine for 79$ at Sports Authority last week (on sale).
Just make sure they calculate calories burned if that is what you want, some other models do not. It will usually say it right on the package/features.
I would also recommend getting one with a chest strap, more accurate readings. You really don't even notice it's there when wearing it.
It is a greattttt investment Those machines and MFP's calories burned are so off

Is there one for men and one for women? I was just on the Polar website but it seems that they don't specify (not sure if gender matters), and then I was looking at Best Buy, and they have one for men and one for women.

iamhealingmyself

I would also recommend getting one with a chest strap, more accurate readings. You really don't even notice it's there when wearing it.

does the polar have the chest monitor? How do you get your data, on screen, software for your computer or online? (with/without subscription) Does this one allow you to set your age, weight etc so that it's custom for each person?

mallorybriann

Some Polars do and some dont, The FT4 does, you'll see it in the package under the watch. Lil black thing that say Polar on it.
The data is all on screen. Shows cals burned, time, heart rate, if youre in the zone or not too, it also reads to the machine if you are on one at the gym. So you dont have to hold onto those things lol
And it's coded so it wont pick up someone elses readings
And yes, you enter gender, height, weight and age at set up!

I would also recommend getting one with a chest strap, more accurate readings. You really don't even notice it's there when wearing it.

does the polar have the chest monitor? How do you get your data, on screen, software for your computer or online? (with/without subscription) Does this one allow you to set your age, weight etc so that it's custom for each person?

iamhealingmyself

what's the difference between the ft4 and ft7?

iamhealingmyself

Some Polars do and some dont, The FT4 does, you'll see it in the package under the watch. Lil black thing that say Polar on it.
The data is all on screen. Shows cals burned, time, heart rate, if youre in the zone or not too, it also reads to the machine if you are on one at the gym. So you dont have to hold onto those things lol
And it's coded so it wont pick up someone elses readings
And yes, you enter gender, height, weight and age at set up!

Cool thanks! I think I'm getting closer to making a decision guess I know what I'm buying myself for my birthday lol

ace175

Some Polars do and some dont, The FT4 does, you'll see it in the package under the watch. Lil black thing that say Polar on it.
The data is all on screen. Shows cals burned, time, heart rate, if youre in the zone or not too, it also reads to the machine if you are on one at the gym. So you dont have to hold onto those things lol
And it's coded so it wont pick up someone elses readings
And yes, you enter gender, height, weight and age at set up!

Cool thanks! I think I'm getting closer to making a decision guess I know what I'm buying myself for my birthday lol

Mine is my birthday present as well!

mallorybriann

Thanks to tax time I got mine

Some Polars do and some dont, The FT4 does, you'll see it in the package under the watch. Lil black thing that say Polar on it.
The data is all on screen. Shows cals burned, time, heart rate, if youre in the zone or not too, it also reads to the machine if you are on one at the gym. So you dont have to hold onto those things lol
And it's coded so it wont pick up someone elses readings
And yes, you enter gender, height, weight and age at set up!

Cool thanks! I think I'm getting closer to making a decision guess I know what I'm buying myself for my birthday lol

Mine is my birthday present as well!

iamhealingmyself

Has anyone use or heard anything about this model?
Mio - Motiva Petite Heart Rate Watch Model: 0017US-BLK2 | SKU: 1209519 In Charlotte NC it's $79.99 at best buy. It doesn't have a chest strap so does that mean it takes a wrist pulse?
Has anyone had problems with irregular heart beats altering readings? sometimes my BP monitor does detect them (one of it's features) but I'm wondering if that would throw off the HRM's accuracy.

iamhealingmyself

I gave in a bought the polar ft4. It's nice, easy to use and hardly noticeable once you get the strap adjusted right (I had mine a little too tight) Settings are easy to change and user manual (all 13 included pages) was easy to follow. They say the full manual is online and there is a way to download long term data to their web for evaluation, but I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm curious to see how many calories I burn in a normal day.

I was told it also registers on work out equipment as well, regardless of brand, is secure in transmission so you won't cross signals with others using same products in same area. The watch is a little bulky even for my larger than most womens hands but even so, it's not bad so far. The package I got had a $10 mail in rebate from Polar and I bought it at ****'s Sporting Goods ($89.99) even though I was planning on going to Best Buy for it. Same price and I couldn't really find one cheaper locally. I figure it's an investment into my health that I will use for a long time, even after I'm done "dieting". Oh, another selling point for me was ****'s 30 day full money back return with original receipt. So even if I use it and don't like it, I'm not stuck with it like most places.

CMRA

I just ordered a Polar FT40 at Drugstore dot com, they have a good sale on Polar HRMs right now. I started out looking at the FT7, which is still a great HRM, I was swayed ultimately by the color/design on the FT40. I like the "energy pointer" feature, being able to just look at the watch and have it tell me what zone I'm in is a plus for me.

ace175

I gave in a bought the polar ft4. It's nice, easy to use and hardly noticeable once you get the strap adjusted right (I had mine a little too tight) Settings are easy to change and user manual (all 13 included pages) was easy to follow. They say the full manual is online and there is a way to download long term data to their web for evaluation, but I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm curious to see how many calories I burn in a normal day.

I was told it also registers on work out equipment as well, regardless of brand, is secure in transmission so you won't cross signals with others using same products in same area. The watch is a little bulky even for my larger than most womens hands but even so, it's not bad so far. The package I got had a $10 mail in rebate from Polar and I bought it at ****'s Sporting Goods ($89.99) even though I was planning on going to Best Buy for it. Same price and I couldn't really find one cheaper locally. I figure it's an investment into my health that I will use for a long time, even after I'm done "dieting". Oh, another selling point for me was ****'s 30 day full money back return with original receipt. So even if I use it and don't like it, I'm not stuck with it like most places.

Did you get the bronze or silver one? An earlier poster said there was a difference in size (male/female) so I was just wondering!

iamhealingmyself

Did you get the bronze or silver one? An earlier poster said there was a difference in size (male/female) so I was just won dering!

I got the ladies model - the bronze one. Even with my larger wrists, it was still plenty big enough. I opted to go with ****'s Sporting Goods over Best Buy even though they were the same price because of ****'s return policy. The guy I spoke with was really helpful and he has a basic polar model that he was actually wearing. He said he's tried a few models (promotional things they get) and recommended the Polar over others for accuracy.

I found it easy to setup even with the limited user manual (it's big but its' not all directions - there's like 20 languages in it) I've even been in to play with the settings and stuff after I set it up and it's easy to update your weight when you need to. I'm still having problems with my back so I haven't actually used it for exercise but I did wear it around the mall the day I bought it.

Oh, one thing he told me too that some overlook. When you first use it, you will need to wet the band. I didn't do that at the mall, but I did the next day. It did seem to pickup a better signal when it was at least damp vs dry. The band, transmitter and watch are all water resistant up to like 30 meters so you could even use it in a pool.

If you want to go to the website and look at a few videos before you buy it, go to http://www.polar.fi/ if you want to use the website fitness tracking thing, there is apparently a separate unit for transmitting data. Since you can see your current workout and past workout files right on the watch, I didn't get it (didn't actually know about it until I went to the website, but I still don't need it)

Good luck. I think you'll enjoy it but if you have doubts try to find a place with a liberal return policy just in case because it is a bit of an investment.

iamhealingmyself

I wasn't aware that the system was editing out the name of the store... D I C K S Sporting Goods

oh and to help you gauge the size of the band, my wrist (depending on weight) is anywhere from about an 8.5-9 through 10 at my heaviest (which I'm not even close to)

ace175

Did you get the bronze or silver one? An earlier poster said there was a difference in size (male/female) so I was just won dering!

I got the ladies model - the bronze one. Even with my larger wrists, it was still plenty big enough. I opted to go with ****'s Sporting Goods over Best Buy even though they were the same price because of ****'s return policy. The guy I spoke with was really helpful and he has a basic polar model that he was actually wearing. He said he's tried a few models (promotional things they get) and recommended the Polar over others for accuracy.

I found it easy to setup even with the limited user manual (it's big but its' not all directions - there's like 20 languages in it) I've even been in to play with the settings and stuff after I set it up and it's easy to update your weight when you need to. I'm still having problems with my back so I haven't actually used it for exercise but I did wear it around the mall the day I bought it.

Oh, one thing he told me too that some overlook. When you first use it, you will need to wet the band. I didn't do that at the mall, but I did the next day. It did seem to pickup a better signal when it was at least damp vs dry. The band, transmitter and watch are all water resistant up to like 30 meters so you could even use it in a pool.

If you want to go to the website and look at a few videos before you buy it, go to http://www.polar.fi/ if you want to use the website fitness tracking thing, there is apparently a separate unit for transmitting data. Since you can see your current workout and past workout files right on the watch, I didn't get it (didn't actually know about it until I went to the website, but I still don't need it)

Good luck. I think you'll enjoy it but if you have doubts try to find a place with a liberal return policy just in case because it is a bit of an investment.

Awesome! Thanks for the information!! I'm hopefully getting mine tomorrow!!