Inexpensive HRMs???

Ladydi1982

I am on a pretty tight budget for the time being, but have been wanting to purchase a good HRM. Can anyone recommend one that works really well with out costing a fortune? I'm really hoping to get one for $50 or less, but I don't want to waste my money on something that isn't very accurate...

Any feedback is welcome!

Thank you all!!!!!!!!! :flowerforyou:

dad106

Hate to break it too you, but you may want to save up a bit more. An inexpensive HRM is just going to cost you more in the long run because you'll prob. be replacing it faster then a more expensive HRM.

With that being said, a really good HRM is the Polar FT4 and that is running on amazon right now for about 63 dollars shipped.
I have the Polar FT7(which is the next step up from the FT4) and I like mine a lot. It's easy to use and set up. I paid 79 for mine from drugstore.com.

Also anything by Polar is pretty much a good HRM. I've never really seen anyone complain about them or give a bad review.

nburns325

Thanks for the info, I've been looking for one as well!

RTricia

I saw some with a strap at Target that were on sale. (but I have a Polar FT7)

KidP

Be sure to get one with a chest strap. I fell for the trick of buying a strapless one because it was cheaper, but it's not at all useful.

penny5

bump. I would like to invest in one also

Cherilea

I saw some with a strap at Target that were on sale. (but I have a Polar FT7)

That's where I got mine...just got it today! Haven't tried it out yet, but Im very excited to see what the thing does. Mine is a Polar FT7...I got mine through Target online though.

misscfe

I agree with the saving up a little more money. A couple things I would look for are a chest strap and calorie burn. There are many different HRMs and can have different features. They have some that are specific for training, some for iron man training, etc. It is a matter of what all you want. I had a polar that was good but after 3 years I had to get a new one. Now I have a timex one that does a lot more then just calories and heart rate. I can get my recovering heart rate, also do 30 time sessions. For example, if I was running miles and wanted to track each separately I could. It is a matter of what you really want it to do. My new one was $100. There was a polar for about $10 more but it didn't have all the extra features. I didn't need all the extra features but since it was cheaper I figured I might as well have them. You can also probably find them cheaper on line once you know what you want. I just bought mine in the store.

Ladydi1982

Hate to break it too you, but you may want to save up a bit more. An inexpensive HRM is just going to cost you more in the long run because you'll prob. be replacing it faster then a more expensive HRM.

With that being said, a really good HRM is the Polar FT4 and that is running on amazon right now for about 63 dollars shipped.
I have the Polar FT7(which is the next step up from the FT4) and I like mine a lot. It's easy to use and set up. I paid 79 for mine from drugstore.com.

Also anything by Polar is pretty much a good HRM. I've never really seen anyone complain about them or give a bad review.

Thanks for the info! $63 seems pretty reasonable (now to negotiate with the hubby! Ha!) I was just getting worried because the ones that pop up first on google are between $150 and $300 & I thought that was just ridiculous!

kapeluza

The inexpensive HRM are not accurate if you are looking to get accurate calorie burn count
If you find one that has a chest strap and calculates your Vo2max then definitely buy it!
I recommend Polar FT60! Excellent!

Ladydi1982

Be sure to get one with a chest strap. I fell for the trick of buying a strapless one because it was cheaper, but it's not at all useful.

Thanks for the advice! Does it have to have a chest strap? Or are there any good ones that you can wear around your arm or wrist?

Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet

Craigslist...

Edit: Do you want a HRM to monitor your HR or your calories. If calories and 'measured exertion', then check out the BodyMedia FIT. I got it on CL for $50..

KidP

Be sure to get one with a chest strap. I fell for the trick of buying a strapless one because it was cheaper, but it's not at all useful.

Thanks for the advice! Does it have to have a chest strap? Or are there any good ones that you can wear around your arm or wrist?

I don't know about everything that's out there on the market, but my first was a Mio that had no chest strap. The problem was that you had to contact the metal front piece with your thumb & forefinger & push a button at the same time to get a reading. It didn't work half the time. Plus, you had to constantly remember to do this in order to change the reading. Compare that to wearing a chest strap unit where it's CONSTANTLY taking readings for you. It's much more accurate that way.

I've heard people complain about wearing the chest strap, but i'll be honest: i'm a guy & i'm not used to wearing anything with a strap across my chest (!). I worried that this would bother me while working out but it really does not. At all. You forget you're wearing it most of the time. I wear it for biking, kettlebells, hiking, etc and it works just fine.

Once you start using a HRM, you'll wonder how/why you ever managed to use the exercise database on here. It's a nice thought & a nice tool, but not really accurate. I'm not trying to be critical - i appreciate everything the folks at MFP do for us, but really a HRM is the way to go.

Ladydi1982

Be sure to get one with a chest strap. I fell for the trick of buying a strapless one because it was cheaper, but it's not at all useful.

Thanks for the advice! Does it have to have a chest strap? Or are there any good ones that you can wear around your arm or wrist?

Awesome! Looks like I'll be saving up a little longer and will get one with a chest strap. Luckily I'll only be wearing it while working out! :happy:
I don't know about everything that's out there on the market, but my first was a Mio that had no chest strap. The problem was that you had to contact the metal front piece with your thumb & forefinger & push a button at the same time to get a reading. It didn't work half the time. Plus, you had to constantly remember to do this in order to change the reading. Compare that to wearing a chest strap unit where it's CONSTANTLY taking readings for you. It's much more accurate that way.

I've heard people complain about wearing the chest strap, but i'll be honest: i'm a guy & i'm not used to wearing anything with a strap across my chest (!). I worried that this would bother me while working out but it really does not. At all. You forget you're wearing it most of the time. I wear it for biking, kettlebells, hiking, etc and it works just fine.

Once you start using a HRM, you'll wonder how/why you ever managed to use the exercise database on here. It's a nice thought & a nice tool, but not really accurate. I'm not trying to be critical - i appreciate everything the folks at MFP do for us, but really a HRM is the way to go.