Polar vs. Timex HRMs???

abby459

Has anyone actually done a side by side comparison of a Polar HRM vs a Timex one. I got the Timex Ironman Road Trainer about a month ago. Then I read some posts on here were people randomly said that Timex HRMs are not accurate in calories. So I was wondering if anyone has thoughts on this. This is a newer model....I dont know if that makes a difference. But I want to be accurate since I am supposed to be eating back my calories. Any advice or comparisons that people have done??

javaruck

I've had a couple of different Polar models as well as a Timex Ironman HRM. I felt that the Timex calorie calculations were pretty close to what I got with my Polar's so I went with the Timex numbers with no problems. I'd still be using my Timex if it really was waterproof like they claimed. I found out the hard way that it wasn't so now I've moved onto a Garmin...

abby459

thanks I am hoping its right....I really dont want to have to spend the money for yet another HRM....but then again I want to be accurate so I dont overeat exercise cals!

anubis609

Both are pretty accurate to their specifications. I use a Polar FT7 and my lady uses a Timex. Doing the same routine, we both burn the appropriate number of calories given age, weight, gender, HR and whatnot.

abby459

thanks...for now I am subtracting 50 cals from what it gives me for every 30mins of working out....just to be sure I am not overeating my workout cals

sam0820

I have the same Timex and I think my calories are too high too, even though I am above my target HR during my whole workout, I still find it high! I may try a polar, this is my 2nd HRM, I had a GSI which I find reads too low! Annoying to say the least!

dad106

I think Timex is crap at calories burned.. ESP for women. I once walked on a treadmill at an incline with a Timex, for 30 minutes speed around 3.0, it said I burned 580 calories. Um no.

I do a similar workout with my Polar (first FT7 and now FT60) and only burn 200-300 calories.

Bottom line, ditch the Timex as soon as you can.

MHunte

you could burn 500 cals in 30 mins easy! i used to do it all the time walking on a 15 incline at 3.0-3.5 mph. i stop doint that because i would over train.....my HR would be up in the 160-180 range. I would never get a Timex..... I use a Polar RS100 And LOVE the damn thing!! hands down!

rileysowner

I don't have a Timex, but in messages on here it has been mentioned that you cannot enter sex in it and it is by default set for male. I would suggest for men it would probably not be that bad, but for women it will overestimate calories.

abby459

thanks for the replies....I actually got a Garmin for christmas, which I hear is the most accurate out there, so I am set now!