Recommendations for a HRM?

navajoon

I'm tired of relying on the treadmill/elliptical machine telling me what I've burned. I don't quite trust it. Any recommendations for a good HRM that counts calories?

Thanks!

Minnie_Moo

Don't know if this will help you any but...........Here is a link that was posted in another thread with a lot of information on HRM's. Also, I would suggest getting one with a chest strap as they are better to calculate an accurate HR.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472


I know a lot of members on here have the FT7 and say that they like it alot. It runs around $109.95 and if you find online coupon codes you may be able to save more off the price of the HRM.

I just purchased a Polar FT40 last week with free shipping and it arrived overnight from heartratemonitors dot com (I have used them in the past for my older HRM and a pedometer) and also found an $10.00 off total online code as well to help with the price of the HRM.......

The FT-40 has the Polar Fitness test which measures your aerobic fitness at rest and tells you your progress. It also lets you program in your age, weight, height, and sex which I believe helps the readings be more accurate.


My treadmill has ifit live workouts and according to that program it said I burned 219 calories yesterday but my new heart rate monitor said I burned 169 calories :huh:

I'm thinking that the heart rate montior is more accurate than the treadmill since the HRM has a chest strap that I wear and the treadmill may be based on average numbers ??

Huffdogg

I have recently discovered (after buying one) that unless you are willing to drop >$100, you are going to end up with something just as problematic as the machines at the gym in terms of calorie counting accuracy. If you do decide to pick one up, spring for something that takes as many of your vital statistics into account as possible (age, height, weight, gender, etc.). That should help dial in its estimates as close as you can reasonably expect to get them.

navajoon

Minnie Moo, thanks for that link. is the little chest strap imposing?

Minnie_Moo

I have an older Polar HRM (FS3) and that chest strap was comfortable and adjustable.

My new FT40 chest strap is adjustable as well so you can make it as tight as you need so that it doesn't slip off or stop taking the readings.

jrbb0309

Minnie Moo, thanks for that link. is the little chest strap imposing?

Not Minnie Moo but I just bought a Polar FT4 and I'm surprised by how comfortable the chest strap is. I've worn it for circuit training and for fitness walking and hiking and not had any problems.

dad106

My personal trainer is really pushing the Polar FT7 cause apparently its better then the FT4 but I can't really find a difference in the two.

I bought a TImex one from best buy a few weeks ago and it was awful.. totally over estimated my calories and I wound up returning it.