HRM - Calorie tracking & other queries

harrydresden

Sorry if this has been asked a thousand times, but I can't find the precise info I need, here or anywhere else online, as there's simply too much slush to wade through.

I'm hankering after a HRM, one that counts estimated calorie burn. I've never used one before, never even looked into one before, and so searching is a minefield. I don't want to pay much, but I do want one that works. I'm not interested in bells and whistles: I just want estimated calories burned during a workout.

So:
a) Any advice as to which one to buy? I'm UK-based, and therefore would really, really rather not order from abroad. Amazon is ideal (esp. as I have giftcard money!), but any high-street stores are okay too. I'm not really looking to go over about £25, honestly. Though up to £30 on Amazon is reasonable.
b) Are they reliable and are they worth paying for?
c) Do calorie counters exist in standalone, or is a HRM always also a calorie counter?

Thanks in advance.

harrydresden

Some help would be appreciated, and browsing for these things is a minefield!

katkins3

The most popular that I have seen is the HRMs made by Polar. If you check their website you can see they have some really basic models. My first HRM was a Polar F7. It served me well for years and I sold it when I got a Garmin as a gift. The Garmin is overkill for me and I miss my Polar.
Good Luck!

erincampbell9

Search the message boards and you will find a lot of discussion. Hope this helps.

Kirsty_UK

The polar website lets you do comparisons of the different models. I think unless you can search out a bargain on ebay, you're looking at an FT1 or FT2 for that price, but just check the website and see what features they have.

I've got an ft60 coming soon so I dont have any first hand experience of using them just yet.

harrydresden

Search the message boards and you will find a lot of discussion. Hope this helps.

I don't really have a lot of time to spend sifting through discussion to find something, but thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Thanks for the initial suggestions, guys, I'll check out the Polar website and see what comes of it. Mainly I want something to track calorie burn, so I'm hoping something basic will be fine.

Thanks again.

Elle_Jamaicangirl81

i just got (last night) the Polar FT4... for about $60 on amazon. Check the colour... that's the deciding factor on the price. Getting a male one vs a female doesnt matter except for the choice in strap colour.
places like heartratemonitorsusa has them as well... do a google search.

It comes highly recommended by people on here and the reviews on Amazon

Looking forward to using it.

I see you mention you dont have much time to sift thru discussions... it would behoove you to do your research so as not to overspend on a HRM with all kinds of fandangles you dont neccesarily need

Elle_Jamaicangirl81

PS Check the polar website JUST to see the features... they are expensive on their website.

Di3012

The polar website lets you do comparisons of the different models. I think unless you can search out a bargain on ebay, you're looking at an FT1 or FT2 for that price, but just check the website and see what features they have.

I've got an ft60 coming soon so I dont have any first hand experience of using them just yet.

Originally, I was going to purchase a Polar FT2 but did not because it does not have the calorie counting facility on it. The Polar FT4f does (I know this because I bought this one lol), however, it was £54 on Amazon.

I am not sure if you would find a good one for under £25.

I will say, however, that the FT4f is so easy to set up and use, seriously, it is a piece of cake. It does, of course, depend on whether you want to spend double the money you have stated though.

LD6686

I got given a bog standard one from Argos for xmas. Has a chest strap (more accurate) and allows you to put your age and weight in so counts calories properly. Also has average, low and high heart rates recorded. Can allow you to set an alarm if you go above your goal heart rate, or below your lowest goal heart rate.

It's a Kinect and cost about £20. If you want the product code it is 935/2687.

Hope that helps!

harrydresden

Thanks for the help. I went ahead and bought a Polar FT4 from Amazon in the end -- the giftcard helped there. Waiting on it to be delivered to see how well I get on with it.

Thanks again, guys.