HRM Suggestions

brookesready
brookesready Posts: 52 Member
edited September 25 in Fitness and Exercise
I am looking to purchase an HRM and know nothing about them. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Replies

  • fatboypup
    fatboypup Posts: 1,873 Member
    im a fan of the polar brand
  • addman72
    addman72 Posts: 220
    Hi , to get the most accurate reading you will need to get one with a chest strap. I have a Polar FT4 , which I like.

    There are a few threads around discussing the pro's and cons of various models. Try a search of HRM and you should come across them.
    Good luck
  • TiDinzeo
    TiDinzeo Posts: 309
    I like the Polar brand as well. I use an FT4.
  • jamiesgotagun
    jamiesgotagun Posts: 670 Member
    I have the Polar FT4 as well and love it!!!
  • amber_hanners
    amber_hanners Posts: 388 Member
    i like my polar ft4
  • solpwr
    solpwr Posts: 1,039 Member
    I have a Polar S710 which is now obsolete, comparable to Polar RS800CX.
    Many of them have bike computers integrated, also GPS and altitude. Some also have large memories to store interval data that you can download and analyze later.
    If you are training for an event or trying to seriously record your fitness level these features might be important.
    Check Garmin Forerunner line.
  • thkelly
    thkelly Posts: 466 Member
    I like the Polar brand as well. I use an FT4.

    this is what i have. it's a solid choice without too many bells and whistles.
  • milehighcritic
    milehighcritic Posts: 199
    Link to previous discussion on MVP

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/201101-heart-rate-monitors
  • deannarey13
    deannarey13 Posts: 452
    I have the Polar FT4 as well. I love it and definitely agree - you should get one with a chest strap for accuracy.
  • deannarey13
    deannarey13 Posts: 452
    Also wanted to add - after researching and purchasing the wrong ones, I want to share that if you want one for the calorie burned information - you need to specifically look for that. Anything under about $80 only gives you your heart rate and will not include calories burned information. Just be careful when shopping. Be sure that specifically is listed as a fuction of the HRM. This is not an automatic feature on all HRM.
  • brookesready
    brookesready Posts: 52 Member
    Also wanted to add - after researching and purchasing the wrong ones, I want to share that if you want one for the calorie burned information - you need to specifically look for that. Anything under about $80 only gives you your heart rate and will not include calories burned information. Just be careful when shopping. Be sure that specifically is listed as a fuction of the HRM. This is not an automatic feature on all HRM.

    Does the FT4 have calories burned? That seems to have the majority vote.
  • addman72
    addman72 Posts: 220
    Also wanted to add - after researching and purchasing the wrong ones, I want to share that if you want one for the calorie burned information - you need to specifically look for that. Anything under about $80 only gives you your heart rate and will not include calories burned information. Just be careful when shopping. Be sure that specifically is listed as a fuction of the HRM. This is not an automatic feature on all HRM.

    Does the FT4 have calories burned? That seems to have the majority vote.

    Yes , it had cals burned , it also has max HR , average HR , tells you when you are in the In Zone for your HR
  • brookesready
    brookesready Posts: 52 Member
    Thank you!!! :)
  • CatseyeHardcast
    CatseyeHardcast Posts: 224 Member
    Another vote for Polar here too.
  • mandyschalk
    mandyschalk Posts: 93 Member
    My husband and I have ft4 and Love them!! I believe that REI is still running a special that you can get 20% off one item. It bring it to like $74, really good deal!
  • brookesready
    brookesready Posts: 52 Member
    Hi , to get the most accurate reading you will need to get one with a chest strap. I have a Polar FT4 , which I like.

    There are a few threads around discussing the pro's and cons of various models. Try a search of HRM and you should come across them.
    Good luck

    Does the FT4 come with a chest strap?
  • addman72
    addman72 Posts: 220
    Hi , to get the most accurate reading you will need to get one with a chest strap. I have a Polar FT4 , which I like.

    There are a few threads around discussing the pro's and cons of various models. Try a search of HRM and you should come across them.
    Good luck

    Does the FT4 come with a chest strap?

    Yes
  • JJAdamstrom
    JJAdamstrom Posts: 6
    I LOVE MY Polar!!

    Really User Friendly
  • deannarey13
    deannarey13 Posts: 452
    Hi , to get the most accurate reading you will need to get one with a chest strap. I have a Polar FT4 , which I like.

    There are a few threads around discussing the pro's and cons of various models. Try a search of HRM and you should come across them.
    Good luck

    Does the FT4 come with a chest strap?

    Yes, to all of your questions about the FT4. This would be what I would recommend getting. Very user friendly and it has all the information you need. I paid $89 for it, so it's reasonably priced in comparison to many out there too. My opinion - best bang for the buck.
  • FlyEaglesGuy
    FlyEaglesGuy Posts: 436 Member
    Love my polar FT7, i refuse to workout without it. I love to see those calories burned numbers keep rising and rising and rising !!!!
  • knantz
    knantz Posts: 68
    I am looking to purchase an HRM and know nothing about them. Does anyone have any suggestions?

    These are from my same subject from last week and my findings.
    OK. So over the weekend I bought the Polar FT7. I wanted the FT4, but noone locally had it in stock, and I am a very impatient person. I could have gotten the FT4 on ebay for $84.99 and no shipping, but wanted something RIGHT NOW in order to start my week off with it today. So, I ended up purchasing the FT7. I was able to get them to knock $15 off the purchase price since they did not have the one I truly wanted in stock, so I paid $94.99 for the FT7. Then, when I got it home, I realized there is a $10 rebate coupon stuck to the package. Ultimately, I will end up paying $84.99 for the FT7, the same price as I would have paid for the FT4. I'm counting that as a successful endeavor.

    I will use the heart rate monitor for the first time today and post back my findings after my workout at lunch. So far I am very pleased with the features. I hope the calorie counting function is accurate as it cannot be returned once the package is opened. I'll let everyone know.

    OK all that are following this string and waiting for feedback...the Polar FT7 is AWESOME!!! It not only linked with the chest strap, but the LifeFitness treadmill I was on also picked up the signal, therefore eliminating the need for me to keep hanging onto the hand grips while trying to run so the machine could get an accurate reading. I ended up running (in my best Forrest Gump voice) 15 out of 30 minutes @ 5.5 MPH and burned 289 calories. This is a personal best, and I have been going to the gym pretty regularly for almost 2 1/2 years now. I just wasn't getting the results I desired. Now I know I needed to kick it up.

    The machine registered a little lower on the calorie count, but I chalk that up to it getting an indirect signal from the monitor itself, not directly from the chest strap. Throughout the workout, I kept telling myself to push harder toward that maximum heart rate. During my periods of rest, I found myself really focusing on bringing my heart rate back down quickly so I could start running again as soon as possible.

    I really am excited to see the results this amazing little machine is going to produce just by raising my awareness of the intensity of my workouts. And I absolutely cannot wait to see how many calories I'm actually burning in Zumba and Kickboxing.

    Hope this information is helpful to those searching.
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