Need female advice on wearing Polar F6 HRM

Mely

I just got a Polar F6 HRM. I was very excited to try it out today so I put it on according to the instructions and went for a walk/jog. However, it didn't seem to consistantly monitor my heart rate. I would start to run and it would stay at the same heart rate for a minute or so b/f changing. If I stopped runnig but kept walking it sometimes went to 0

Clearly I mustn't have had it on correctly. It was positioned directly below my bra. When I got home I played with it and think it may work properly underneath my bra ie. with the bottom of my bra directly on top of the transmitter (under my boobs :blushing: )

If you're a gal, can you explain to me how you wear this thing??
Also - how tight should it be?

Mely

I just got a Polar F6 HRM. I was very excited to try it out today so I put it on according to the instructions and went for a walk/jog. However, it didn't seem to consistantly monitor my heart rate. I would start to run and it would stay at the same heart rate for a minute or so b/f changing. If I stopped runnig but kept walking it sometimes went to 0

Clearly I mustn't have had it on correctly. It was positioned directly below my bra. When I got home I played with it and think it may work properly underneath my bra ie. with the bottom of my bra directly on top of the transmitter (under my boobs :blushing: )

If you're a gal, can you explain to me how you wear this thing??
Also - how tight should it be?

kistinbee

Make sure you dampen the pads...I have noticed it varies when those are completely dry. I think it just gives it better contact to the skin. I don't wear mine too tight...just so it doesn't slip down. But directly under my bra is where I wear mine also!

Good luck!

Mely

transmitter was properly dampned. I'm pretty sure the problem was due to the position.

SherryRH

I agree with Kristin. Make sure you put water on it before you put it on. I also put it right under my sports bra. I think that holds it up better. I noticed one day it was sliding down my chest and giving me all kinds of funky readings when I did not put it under my sports bra. It was also very distracting.

kistinbee

Really? Weird. I've had no problems with mine. Did you buy yours new or used?

MFS27

Hi Mely,

Congrats on your new Polar! It should be worn under your boobs (under or beneath bra strap - either way - I prefer it below my bra, myself). It should be fairly tight - not cutting off circulation, but firmly in place. I generally wear mine about as tight as I wear my bra.

Did you wet the electrodes before you put on the chest strap? They need to be moist in order to transmit your HR accurately.

Mely

when you gals say "under" your bra do you mean "underneath" i.e. "your bra is underneath your shirt" or do you mean "below", i.e "your pants are below your shirt."

SherryRH

mine was new. I think the slippage was because I lost some inches in my chest/back area and it was too loose. :laugh: I found if I wear under my bra I have no problems. Plus I adjusted the strap.

SherryRH

when you gals say "under" your bra do you mean "underneath" like your bra is underneath your shirt or do you mean "below", like your pants are below your shirt.

Under as in my bra is underneath my shirt. My bra actually covers the strap.

kistinbee

I've worn it both ways...under the bra and below it

Phoenix_Rising

I run my strap briefly under water, tighten the chest strap up nice and snug, and place it as high up as my boobs will allow. Mine is up under my sports bra, right above the sports bra bottom. I also push mine ever so slightly left, to where the heart is.

"Up under my bra" as in my bra sits on top of it, hiding the chest strap from sight.

If I noticed it doesn't appear to be reading right, I push the chest monitor closer to my chest with my hand. I'm sure I look like a weirdo in the gym, pushing on my chest below my boobs, but it seems to push the monitor back in place and get a better read. I usually only have the problem right at the beginning of my workout, when I'm not sweaty. Once I sweat, the thing suctions to me!! :laugh: :sick: :laugh:

MFS27

when you gals say "under" your bra do you mean "underneath" like your bra is underneath your shirt or do you mean "below", like your pants are below your shirt.

For me - under means inside the sports bra, and below/beneath means below the sports bra.

The positioning of the chest strap below/under should not make a difference unless you are wearing an underwire bra, maybe? I've never tried my HRM with an underwire bra (all my sports bras/swimsuits are nylon/spandex.) I imagine the metal in the bra could interfer with the HRM - but maybe not.

Mely

thanks for the "under" explanation.

I guess everyone's shape is different. I think that when it's sitting below my bra, it's on top of that bone at the top of your ribs - can't remember it's proper name). I guess underneath my bra is closer to my heart.

Mely

For me - under means inside the sports bra, and below/beneath means below the sports bra.

The positioning of the chest strap below/under should not make a difference unless you are wearing an underwire bra, maybe? I've never tried my HRM with an underwire bra (all my sports bras/swimsuits are nylon/spandex.) I imagine the metal in the bra could interfer with the HRM - but maybe not.

Actually, I thought of that. My bra isn't underwire but it does up in the front center and the clasp is metal. The transmitter was positioned directly below it.

heartshapdworld

I wear mine directly below the bra strap and directly above the sport bra band, under the sport bra, with the Polar icon front and centered. I wear mine comfortably tight. You have to moistened the electrodes first otherwise you may not get a correct reading-it says that in the manual.

I haven't had any problems with my Polar that were not operator error.

Good Luck

Phoenix_Rising

thanks for the "under" explanation.

I guess everyone's shape is different. I think that when it's sitting below my bra, it's on top of that bone at the top of your ribs - can't remember it's proper name). I guess underneath my bra is closer to my heart.

Xyphoid process?
LOL, always reminded me a of xylophone

lyla29

I wear mine under the sports bra (with the band of the sports bra over the chest strap), with it snug, and this way it seems to stay in one place better.

ohthatbambi

when you gals say "under" your bra do you mean "underneath" like your bra is underneath your shirt or do you mean "below", like your pants are below your shirt.

Under as in my bra is underneath my shirt. My bra actually covers the strap.

This is how I wear mine as well.

ohthatbambi

For me - under means inside the sports bra, and below/beneath means below the sports bra.

The positioning of the chest strap below/under should not make a difference unless you are wearing an underwire bra, maybe? I've never tried my HRM with an underwire bra (all my sports bras/swimsuits are nylon/spandex.) I imagine the metal in the bra could interfer with the HRM - but maybe not.

Actually, I thought of that. My bra isn't underwire but it does up in the front center and the clasp is metal. The transmitter was positioned directly below it.

I wear an underwire bra and have had no problems with my f6

shorerider

Mely, I wear mine directly underneath the bottom hem of my bra--with the bottom elastric of the bra strap sitting/covering the HRM. Also, use BUH-BUMP cream I got from Amazon instead of water--it's the same stuff they use in EKGS, etc. and is supposed to help keep readings more consistent. AND, make sure the Polor logo is facing up when you put it on. I read something on the Polar site that the logo should be facing up towards your head. Hope this helps! Keep up the good work!

cp005e

I have started having some consistency problems with my F11 HRM. What I have been doing lately to try and address them is:

1. REALLY dampen the electrodes on the strap. I used to just get them a little wet, but lately I have been running each one under the water for 5-10 seconds, and running my finger over each one to get the water to soak in a bit.

2. Tighten it up! I think I have been losing inches around my chest and so the strap isn't getting getting good enough contact. This really seems to help.

I wear mine right below my sports bra usually. I have tried to get it under the bottom elastic of the bra, but it seems to get even more inconsistent when I do that. One of my bras just doesn't get along with my HRM anymore - I'm always struggling to get a good reading when I wear that one. That's the one that has the widest band at the bottom, so it wants to go on top of the HRM strap. The transmitter part of mine usually ends up sitting right where my rib bones come together in the middle - right in between the two ribs that stick out (and my ribs are huge, so they really stick out - maybe that is my problem?).

arewethereyet

might have been said...

under your bra, with the polar name under your left breast as that is where your heart is.

i had a problem until I moved it the the left and bam....it is my bestest friend!:flowerforyou:

Mely

might have been said...

under your bra, with the polar name under your left breast as that is where your heart is.

i had a problem until I moved it the the left and bam....it is my bestest friend!:flowerforyou:

Polar name is supposed to be under my left breast??? :noway: I had the name smack in the middle of my chest and I'm pretty sure that's what the picture in the manual looks like.

MFS27

might have been said...

under your bra, with the polar name under your left breast as that is where your heart is.

i had a problem until I moved it the the left and bam....it is my bestest friend!:flowerforyou:

Polar name is supposed to be under my left breast??? :noway: I had the name smack in the middle of my chest and I'm pretty sure that's what the picture in the manual looks like.

I wear my in the middle as well (most comfty that way for me too) and it works just fine. Experiment and see what works for you (I have the polar F-11, btw).

ohthatbambi

I wear mine in the middle.