What is the best HRM to get?

AmesLee78

Which heart rate monitor should I get and while I'm at it, how do I calculate calories burned with it?

SandersWifey

Bump.

ladylu11

bump

AmesLee78

Why are we bumping? LOL

crisanderson27

I just ordered a Polar FT7...$70 off Amazon with free shipping. Supposed to be one of the top ones out there for under $100.

Don't buy one without a chest strap...period...as they're the only ones that do continuous readings...which is what you need for accurate calories burned numbers.

Cris

Tracy184

I LOVE my polar FT4! Definitely get one with a chest band though. The beauty of HRMs is that they take all of the guesswork out. You enter your personal info (weight, etc), start the HRM when you start working out, stop it when you're finished, and it just tells you how many calories you burned. It also beeps during the workout if you're not in your ideal fatburning zone.

RDH0513

Don't know about the best, but I have polar ft4 and i LOVE it!! I think polar is definitely the brand to go with...

Spayrroe

I have a Polar F7 and so far I love it! It's not super high tech, so it pretty much just tracks heart rate, calories burned, and time spent exercising (you tell it when you're starting your work out and when you finish it) and it will keep a log of your work outs for up to like a week I think.

The trainer I've been seeing at the gym recommended it, because I was in the same position as you. Mine was just under $90 from Amazon.com, and if you're willing to wait (I was), you can get the free super saver shipping that just takes a couple days longer. It seems very accurate for bpm count (I can't say on the cals burned because I really have no way to verify it, but I would assume since the heart rate seems rather accurate and you tell it your height, weight, and age that is accurate as well), and really comfortable to wear. I am at a very high bmi, so my concern with chest straps was that if I could get one around me it would be really tight and uncomfortable. I don't have that problem at all. The only issue I had to figure out was getting the placement of my bra and chest monitor straps sitting right so that they didn't squeeze skin between them. The watch is comfortable for a watch (I don't usually wear them, so I'm hyper aware of it while I'm training, but it doesn't seem any more uncomfortable than any other watch I've tried to wear), and has a really big display screen. Only draw back of the screen is, I haven't figured out how to (or if there is a way to) switch to the clock while you're in a work out. I can get it show me my heart rate, my calories burned, or my amount of time since starting the workout, but not the actual time of day without closing out of the training session. Not a huge deal for me since I set an alarm on my phone and carry it with me so I know when I have to head to the locker room to pick the kids up from gym day care on time, but I could see how it could be an issue for others.

Anyway, that's my two cents. I'd be happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability if you would like to know something specific that I didn't mention.

Good luck!
Spayrroe

tmontgomery69

I LOVE the brand Polar!

Lauriee2014

I have a Polar FT4 and LOVE it. It was my reward for going to the gym faithfully for one year. [Though it would have been great to have during the year! Live n learn!]

Once you enter your weight, age, etc. into the monitor it tracks the calories, etc. for you. You turn it on and go.

Polar is a well trusted brand, often recommended by personal trainers. Get one *** with a chest strap **** though, bc they are the most accurate.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

szimba

bump

Lauriee2014

Hi

Try moving your watch close to the hrm monitor. Some have a feature where the clock will show when you bring your wrist/watch near the sensor.

tturley

My wife and I both have Timex and have been happy with them. Be careful with some of less expensive Polar units(T31 Transmitter). The battery in the chest strap is not user replaceable. Be sure to get one that uses a chest strap, the strappless ones are not accurate.

BTW... The calorie calculator on most watches is not accurate. Use http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

Kanzaki3

I have a Polar FT7. It's awesome!

kayleeblue

I just ordered a Polar HRM..Can't wait to try it out..$90 with free shipping..Good Luck.

foreverloved

I just ordered a Polar FT7...$70 off Amazon with free shipping. Supposed to be one of the top ones out there for under $100.

Don't buy one without a chest strap...period...as they're the only ones that do continuous readings...which is what you need for accurate calories burned numbers.

Cris

I also just ordered this one, seems like the best deal for the money with a chest strap!