HRM Advice: what do you like and why?

RecliningFigure

I think I'm going to reward myself with my first 5 lbs lost (not there yet) with a Heart Rate Monitor. I'm curious with what the community uses. What do you like and why? Here is what I tend to do: treadmill jogging (at different rates), various areobic type classes (Butts and Guts, Cardiio Kickboxing), all kinds of weight machines, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Tango. I want something that will not get in the way of exercising (small and unobtrusive). I need at least the Heart monitor, and a calorie counter. Beyond that, I'm not sure what's available and what I would use/like. So if you have some advice, I would love to hear it. I read about the Polar F6, but a reviewer said she found it unreliable. But there was only one review. So what do you all use and like? Or, what should I stay away from?

Shanta1983

I was going to post this Im glad you did I can just read your thead:laugh: .. Im planning on getting one friday

gc2052

I have a polar that I started using several weeks ago. I like it and have not had any trouble. It is easy to keep my heart rate in the fat burning zone. It keep up with my heart rate and calories. On sunday it has the totals for the week. It is possible to down load to the computer but I have not done that.
Problem is that the chest monitor(belt) bothers some people. I have had no problem.

familygirl37167

I have a polar f4 it has a chest strap and the chest strap does not bother me either I love mine, I had one from walmart that was about 38.00 dollars but it didnt work as well as my polar f4, just to give you a view I wore my walmart HRM to work one day when I worked 12 hours as a server, it said I burned 1200 calories I was like wow thats great. But the other day I wore my new HRM to work and worked 9 hours at the same place as a server and the new one said I burned 1555 calories which is a big difference. Hope this helps. I love my HRM

ma9321

I have a Polar F7 that I use all the time... I feel naked without it!!! lol
It's awesome!!!!

Shanta1983

I have a polar f4 it has a chest strap and the chest strap does not bother me either I love mine, I had one from walmart that was about 38.00 dollars but it didnt work as well as my polar f4, just to give you a view I wore my walmart HRM to work one day when I worked 12 hours as a server, it said I burned 1200 calories I was like wow thats great. But the other day I wore my new HRM to work and worked 9 hours at the same place as a server and the new one said I burned 1555 calories which is a big difference. Hope this helps. I love my HRM

Its sounds like to me the one from walmart is more accurate 1555 calories for 9 hours??? versus 12hrs 1200

Bretto

I have a Garmin Forerunner 305. I love it. I use it when I run & cycling. It tracks speed, distance, Heart rate calories etc. The only thing is that sometimes indoors it doen't pick up the satelite that is used for distance (but you shouldn't need that indoors). You can download it to the computer & track your routes etc. These cost around $250-$300. The Garmin also has a new one that is also swim proof, it is the Forerunner 310XT it costs about $350. I really want one of these. I also just have a simple HRM by Timex. It is a watch & HRM, but it does not track calories. It was only about $60 on Timex website. I have a friend who has a polar HRM (not sure of the model), & she really likes it. One last tip. I always buy my stuff like this at REI because they have such a great return policy. If anything happens to it, they will replace it for free no questions asked. Hope this helps.

angievill

I have a Polar F6 that I got a couple weeks ago for about 100 dollars. I love it! It's so easy to use.

XFitMojoMom

Everyone told me to get the polar F6 - I went to get it and they had the F7 only. It wasn't a question of price, but after talking with the salesperson about the pro's & con's for each, I decided to get the Nikey IMARA HRM. She said a lot of her clients get interference with their polars when they are working out in the gym next to someone else who may be wearing one.

Now - I find it not so easy to set up - but I love that it beeps at me when I fall below my low HR zone. So I decided to run up and down my stairs to get it back up and keep it in the zone.
The other nice thing about the Imara is if you are interval training, you can set the times and it will prompt you when your next interval is starting.

The Imara was 169$ Canadian, marked down to 99$
The Polar F7 was 159$ Canadian

familygirl37167

I have a polar f4 it has a chest strap and the chest strap does not bother me either I love mine, I had one from walmart that was about 38.00 dollars but it didnt work as well as my polar f4, just to give you a view I wore my walmart HRM to work one day when I worked 12 hours as a server, it said I burned 1200 calories I was like wow thats great. But the other day I wore my new HRM to work and worked 9 hours at the same place as a server and the new one said I burned 1555 calories which is a big difference. Hope this helps. I love my HRM

Its sounds like to me the one from walmart is more accurate 1555 calories for 9 hours??? versus 12hrs 1200

Yes I burn a lot of calories during work I am a server at a very busy resturant and I dont get a break ever we usually are on a hour wait, so I know I burn around 1555 calories in just a 9 hour day I keep moving always, so its accurate I have a chest strap that actually monitors how many times my heart is beating per hour, the faster my heart beats the more calories I burn, it makes sense..

RecliningFigure

I'm very interested in the Polar F6 but I've read that replacing batteries is a problem. Those of you who use a version of the Polar HRM, how long before you have to replace? Do you have to send them your monitor to have it professionally replaced? Do you get your HRM back, or do you get a different replacement, or do you have to simply buy a new one?

CasperO

My wife has a polar F4 that she loves. I have a cheapie wristwatch thing called a "Sportline" that seems accurate and I really like it.

Celestia

Everyone told me to get the polar F6 - I went to get it and they had the F7 only. It wasn't a question of price, but after talking with the salesperson about the pro's & con's for each, I decided to get the Nikey IMARA HRM. She said a lot of her clients get interference with their polars when they are working out in the gym next to someone else who may be wearing one.

Now - I find it not so easy to set up - but I love that it beeps at me when I fall below my low HR zone. So I decided to run up and down my stairs to get it back up and keep it in the zone.
The other nice thing about the Imara is if you are interval training, you can set the times and it will prompt you when your next interval is starting.

The Imara was 169$ Canadian, marked down to 99$
The Polar F7 was 159$ Canadian

Wow that is so neat! I wish my HRM had an interval timer! I was just thinking about that yesterday and I wondering if I had to wear two watches, one for calories and HR and the other for interval timing :grumble:

Azdak

I'm very interested in the Polar F6 but I've read that replacing batteries is a problem. Those of you who use a version of the Polar HRM, how long before you have to replace? Do you have to send them your monitor to have it professionally replaced? Do you get your HRM back, or do you get a different replacement, or do you have to simply buy a new one?

With normal use, batteries should last a couple of years. With Polar, it is best to have them replaced by an authorized Polar rep. I use a company called Creative Health Products, out of Michigan. They are an authorized Polar service center. I just sent mine in a couple of months ago and it took 7-10 days to get it back--that was w/regular mail, no expediting. Cost is about $12 per battery (I had to do both chest strap and watch).

And, yes, the monitor/strap you get back is the one you sent in.

I would not really call that a "problem", but YMMV.

Azdak

Choosing an HRM like anything else depends on your needs. I would be careful about going too cheap, or getting too far away from "known" brand names. In my experience, the less familiar the name, the steeper the quality drop off.

Polar is the first name and still the leader in HRMs. As such, they tend to be a little more expensive, but it's like the old saying about IBM.........

Polars are no more prone to interference than any other monitor--it depends on the transmitter. If you get a "coded" transmitter, that should be an issue (and I would be wary of any store or salesperson who did not know that).

It helps to know which model does which features best. In my experience, Polar is by far the best HR monitor, and they have done the most research into calorie recording, so their models are the most accurate (although still with limitations). Polar has also invested a lot in developing watches that provide training and program setup and coaching. OTOH, I think their actual stopwatch and timing features are mediocre. In my younger days, I used to buy the cheapest, simplest Polar HRm just to record HR and then use a separate watch for timing.

Other brands (e.g. Timex), whose background began in timepieces, will most likely have better features in those areas (lap counters, countdown timers, intervals, etc) but are weaker in the accuracy of HR monitoring and calorie counting.

Right now, I am seriously exercising, but not seriously training for performance, so I prefer the Polar. I have an older F11 model (3-4 yrs). Like most guys, I tend to buy more technology than I use. I think I originally got it because (at the time) it was the lowest-priced model that you could download to a computer, I liked the stored workout feature, and maybe even the lowest with the "owncal" feature. In any case, I have never downloaded anything and I don't use any of the training "coaching" features either.

chrissyh

I have a Polar F7 that I use all the time... I feel naked without it!!! lol
It's awesome!!!!

Mine's a Polar F6 but I feel the same way. tHe only thing I've noticed once in a while it stops reading - which has meant I need to tighten the chest strap - otherwise - works like a charm.

chrissyh

I'm very interested in the Polar F6 but I've read that replacing batteries is a problem. Those of you who use a version of the Polar HRM, how long before you have to replace? Do you have to send them your monitor to have it professionally replaced? Do you get your HRM back, or do you get a different replacement, or do you have to simply buy a new one?

Good questions....hoping for some answers......

RecliningFigure

Choosing an HRM like anything else depends on your needs. I would be careful about going too cheap, or getting too far away from "known" brand names. In my experience, the less familiar the name, the steeper the quality drop off.

Polar is the first name and still the leader in HRMs. As such, they tend to be a little more expensive, but it's like the old saying about IBM.........

Polars are no more prone to interference than any other monitor--it depends on the transmitter. If you get a "coded" transmitter, that should be an issue (and I would be wary of any store or salesperson who did not know that).

It helps to know which model does which features best. In my experience, Polar is by far the best HR monitor, and they have done the most research into calorie recording, so their models are the most accurate (although still with limitations). Polar has also invested a lot in developing watches that provide training and program setup and coaching. OTOH, I think their actual stopwatch and timing features are mediocre. In my younger days, I used to buy the cheapest, simplest Polar HRm just to record HR and then use a separate watch for timing.

Other brands (e.g. Timex), whose background began in timepieces, will most likely have better features in those areas (lap counters, countdown timers, intervals, etc) but are weaker in the accuracy of HR monitoring and calorie counting.

Right now, I am seriously exercising, but not seriously training for performance, so I prefer the Polar. I have an older F11 model (3-4 yrs). Like most guys, I tend to buy more technology than I use. I think I originally got it because (at the time) it was the lowest-priced model that you could download to a computer, I liked the stored workout feature, and maybe even the lowest with the "owncal" feature. In any case, I have never downloaded anything and I don't use any of the training "coaching" features either.

Thanks, that's great info. I'm going to go for the Polar. I think the technology beast in me is actually a guy. In our household, it's reversed. My husband doesn't care much about this stuff, but me, I love the technology. I think I get it from my Dad.