Heart Rate Monitors

lmkelly679

I'm looking for a good HRM. I would like to get the nike + ones but i don't have the sneakers and i just bought a pair so I'm not planning on buying new ones again. Ive seen a few with chest straps, which i don't want. I know this site promotes fitbit but that doesn't monitor a heart rate. Can anyone suggest one?

MeliciousGibson

I looked into HRMs a WHOLE lot before settling on my FitBit (which I'm completely in love with, btw). The best for what I was looking for in traditional HRMs was the Polaris FT4. It's a reasonable price for everything that it offers, and there is no chest strap. I HATE the chest straps! I had one about 6 years ago (another Polaris), and the chest strap was SO annoying to me. I sweat like an absolute PIG, and i was so afraid of damaging it during cleaning.
For me, I was more interested in knowing how many calories I burned, rather than my actual heart rate I am a fitnss geek and know when I'm pushing too hard or not hard enough, and the FitBit was of a comparable price to the Polaris FT4. That's the ONLY reason I didn't get it
BEST OF LUCK to you!

katiebythebay

bump

trudemeanor

I know you are not interested in one with a chest strap. I have to admit that is how I felt unto I purchased the Polar ft4. You actually dont feel the chest strap at all. Purchasing a hrm was the best investment.

dad106

I looked into HRMs a WHOLE lot before settling on my FitBit (which I'm completely in love with, btw). The best for what I was looking for in traditional HRMs was the Polaris FT4. It's a reasonable price for everything that it offers, and there is no chest strap. I HATE the chest straps! I had one about 6 years ago (another Polaris), and the chest strap was SO annoying to me. I sweat like an absolute PIG, and i was so afraid of damaging it during cleaning.
For me, I was more interested in knowing how many calories I burned, rather than my actual heart rate I am a fitnss geek and know when I'm pushing too hard or not hard enough, and the FitBit was of a comparable price to the Polaris FT4. That's the ONLY reason I didn't get it
BEST OF LUCK to you!

A. It's Polar
B. Yes the FT4 does come with a chest strap... All Polars do.
C. You will not damage the strap as long as you follow the directions for washing. The strap is designed with the idea that people sweat.. Thats actually how it keeps a connection while working out.

To OP:
If you are looking for an HRM, Polar is best. FT4, FT7, FT40 and FT60. Each have their own perks and you need to decide what is best for you. You can go to their website and compare the different models, and then look on Amazon once you decide which one.. they tend to have the best prices.

You also need one with a chest strap if you want any sort of accuracy. The ones that don't have a chest strap are not accurate in the slightest because they only take heart rate when you touch it.. and unless you plan on standing with your finger on the sensor the entire time, it's useless.

textlikekisses

sorry i can't help much - i'm in love with my fitbit. bumping though.

99cherrypie99

Accurate ones use the chest strap. IMO if you won't get one with a chest strap, don't waste your money and forget getting one...

jenschnack

really like my polar ft4. it even talks to some of the ellipticals at my gym

Olive32214

I started here not knowing much about HRM's and after some digging because Wii, Xbox etc were
giving way OFF cals invested in the Polar ft4 and it does come with a chest strap, You have to get one with
a chest strap to get a true cal burn, I bought a cheap one previously and I would of been better off giving
the money to charity..It is the best Pressie I ever got and I wash the strap in a wash bag every second day,

LatinaGordita

I got my Polar FT 7 for $73m from bodytronics website. Best investment I made for my health. It has a chest strap. I was also afraid of the chest strap "will it bother me" "will it fit my big frame" etc. I do not even notice it-- sometimes I forget to take it off when coming home from the gym. You will get a more accurate reading with a chest strap! Good luck!

bigd65

Have the ft7 polar and love it. Sister in law has the ft4 polar and says it is awesome.I think the ft4 is the women's version of the mens ft7 not that women couldn't wear the ft7.

Colbyandsage

I know you are not interested in one with a chest strap. I have to admit that is how I felt unto I purchased the Polar ft4. You actually dont feel the chest strap at all. Purchasing a hrm was the best investment.

This

LessJos

I agree a heart rate monitor needs a chest strap to be accurate. Best thing ever for counting calories burned! You won't notice the chest strap after a couple of minutes. I don't have any problems with cleaning it. Just follow instructions.
Fitbit, Jawbone's Up etc is great for all day tracking. Though I wouldn't rely on the data during workouts. Especially since the doesn't really work when you bike or do weights etc.

katie133

i love my polar ft4 . so easy to use.. and seems pretty accurate to me

Crazyartgrrl

I have the Polar F6 and adore it. I agree that chest straps are infinitely more accurate, and surprisingly comfortable. As an added bonus, their signal is often picked up on gym machinery so you don't even need to wear the wristband it comes with. Unless of course you want to log your calories, or keep track of progress. That being said keep in mind your heart rate may end up on your neighbors machine too.
But I wouldn't change my monitor for the world. So much more accurate than Internet.calculators.

katie133

btw if you want calories to be accurate, u need a chest strap

LessJos

I do not even notice it-- sometimes I forget to take it off when coming home from the gym.

Ha! Happens to me all the time!!! I notice in the shower. Good thing they are water proof!

DamaliAsabyiKioni

I have the Polar FT4 and I love it. The chest strap is very comfortable.. sometimes I forget I have it on.. Until I shower of course .:laugh:

samuraidoctor

I have a Fitbit which I love, but there are exercises it doesn't really calculate well. For instance, Zumba class, circuit training, bicycling, skiing and karate. I estimate calorie counts on the skiing and exercycling, but I find the HRM I also have works much better for the other stuff. It would probably work better for the exercycle as well. My HRM is an Ironman for just regular exercise. I have another strap that works with my Garmin Oregon for bicycling, but haven't yet figured out how to get calorie counts out of it.

Frisky_CoastalNative

I looked into HRMs a WHOLE lot before settling on my FitBit (which I'm completely in love with, btw). The best for what I was looking for in traditional HRMs was the Polaris FT4. It's a reasonable price for everything that it offers, and there is no chest strap. I HATE the chest straps! I had one about 6 years ago (another Polaris), and the chest strap was SO annoying to me. I sweat like an absolute PIG, and i was so afraid of damaging it during cleaning.
For me, I was more interested in knowing how many calories I burned, rather than my actual heart rate I am a fitnss geek and know when I'm pushing too hard or not hard enough, and the FitBit was of a comparable price to the Polaris FT4. That's the ONLY reason I didn't get it
BEST OF LUCK to you!

A. It's Polar
B. Yes the FT4 does come with a chest strap... All Polars do.
C. You will not damage the strap as long as you follow the directions for washing. The strap is designed with the idea that people sweat.. Thats actually how it keeps a connection while working out.

To OP:
If you are looking for an HRM, Polar is best. FT4, FT7, FT40 and FT60. Each have their own perks and you need to decide what is best for you. You can go to their website and compare the different models, and then look on Amazon once you decide which one.. they tend to have the best prices.

You also need one with a chest strap if you want any sort of accuracy. The ones that don't have a chest strap are not accurate in the slightest because they only take heart rate when you touch it.. and unless you plan on standing with your finger on the sensor the entire time, it's useless.

Great information!!

rileysowner

If you don't want a chest strap, save your money. A HRM without a chest strap, assuming you want it for calorie counting, is a waste of money. It cannot give an accurate average heart rate since the only time it has a heart rate to work on is when you touch it to get one. Thus you have to slow down or stop your exercise, it gets that momentary heart rate, then you go back at it. The thing is your Heart Rate is changing all the time during exercise. Going up and down. Only a chest strap can monitor that properly. If you don't want a chest strap, don't get a HRM. Get a fitbit, bodymedia fit or bodybugg instead.