Looking for a Heart Rate Monitor

cmw72

I'm looking for a HRM that meets the following criteria:
- Is accurate
- Is strapless
- Displays calories
- Looks like a wristwatch
- Tells time
- Is waterproof
- Works underwater (while swimming)
- Can be worn all day
- Can sync / export to my PC
- Doesn't cost an arm and a leg

I know everybody seems to love the Polar ones, but the all seem to have straps, and I really can't see myself wearing a strap all day at work. Do the strapless models work as well? I also considered the Garmin Forerunner, but I've read some negative reviews on here that say they are inaccurate.

Does anybody have any suggestions?

cmw72

I'll bump this once, just to give it one more shot.

If I have to narrow my criteria, that's fine.

TCASMEY

I do not think you will find a very accurate one without a chest strap. The strap gives the watch a continuous reading. With the watch only ones you have to push a button to record your heart rate and you need to do this quite often if you want to get a somewhat accurate reading. I have one with a chest strap and it is not uncomfortable. Hope this a helps a little.

vanzeem

I just bought one off of ebay. I haven't received it yet, so i'm not sure how good it'll be but I think i paid less than $10.00 for it. Ebay has a huge selection so that's where i'd start. You could always find one on there and then look up that specific one online to see reviews and such.

Cathyvil

I wore my polar chest strap all day at work once because I wanted to see how many calories I burned walking to and from work but I was too lazy to take the strap off while I was here I forgot I had it on most of the day. It didn't bother me at all. Everyone said they were comfortable but I never thought the strap would be this comfortable.
And you will definitely get a better reading with the chest strap than just the watch types.

cmw72

Can these be used for swimming?

Cathyvil

I believe my Polar FT7 is good up to 30 meters down in water so yes you can use it for swimming

MTGirl

Just to add my $.02 - the Polar FT7 is good in water - you do have to send it in to have the batteries changed if you are using it in water. I seems to be really accurate. It doesn't sync up with the computer though. I'm not sure if you can get one that does or a program for it. Body Bugg is good, syncs up to the computer, but I don't know if it can be used in the water. Good luck! Oh, and the chest strap for the Polar is really not uncomfortable. I know it is there, but it isn't irritating, to me anyway!