Your HRM.

TeachTheGirl
TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Which HRM do you own?
What do you/don't you like about it?

I'm looking into getting one, but I really don't know where to start!

Replies

  • jessejames3ball
    jessejames3ball Posts: 268
    I'm in the same boat. Want one, no idea what to get. I looked on Amazon and am just as confused as I was before.
  • Linda_Darlene
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    I have a MIO. It is a little complicated for me. I read a lot of people like their polar 4.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    Polar FT4

    Good reputation for quality
    Easy to use
    Reasonable price
  • Lize11e
    Lize11e Posts: 419
    I have a MIO and I love it. I did have to keep the instruction manual close by for the first few days but now that I have it figured out, I ADORE it. I've heard good things about the Polar brand too.
  • mollykat73
    mollykat73 Posts: 56 Member
    Polar FT7

    Easy to use and affordable
  • UnderConstructionLuis
    UnderConstructionLuis Posts: 331
    I personally own a Polar FT4. I've had it for quite some time now and love it. After entering all your vitals (age, weight, height, etc) you are set to go. It comes with a chest strap which is surprisingly comfortable. No complaints here. You can buy it on bodytronics.com for under $70.
  • AshleysAwesomeness
    AshleysAwesomeness Posts: 42
    I want one too! But I also want it to be able to sync to one of my phones either iPhone or Android.
  • bzmom
    bzmom Posts: 1,332 Member
    I have a polar FT7 got it new from ebay for like $70 shipping included
    Pretty simple for me to use
    waterproof I have a pool and like to wear it when I swim
    Keeps log of your last workouts
    No annoying button to keep pressing during workout to read your heart rate it comes with a chest strap that you can adjust accordingly.
  • mayberry310
    mayberry310 Posts: 146 Member
    Polar FT4

    Good reputation for quality
    Easy to use
    Reasonable price

    This! I'm a newbie to the HRM and just got mine this past weekend. It was awesome on my C25K runs this week. The chest strap I thought would be awkward, but it totally wasn't and I loved seeing on my wrist where my heart rate was, and how many calories I was burning. Excellent choice for a newbie!
  • _Thanatos_
    _Thanatos_ Posts: 166
    Just a cheap generic brand I bought at Academy for 50 bucks.
  • Savemyshannon
    Savemyshannon Posts: 334 Member
    I use the FT60 by Polar. I bought mine from heartratemonitorsusa.com, and that site was FANTASTIC. It has in-depth descriptions and reviews of their HRMs and you can search for the best HRM based on what you want (monitors for weight loss, for cardio training, for swimmers, for runners, for triathletes, with GPS, etc). The prices are pretty good too, and shipping is free.
  • mrscewinters
    mrscewinters Posts: 38 Member
    I like my scosche. Which has no chest strap. Works with my music on my phone. Syncs with my fitbit, which syncs with my fitness pal.

    But I go overboard a little.
  • Rusjo
    Rusjo Posts: 31 Member
    I have a Polar FT60F and I love it. I understood how to use it after just a few minutes, which was very surprising for me. I would recommend it if you're looking for a versatile HRM.
  • jeffremmert
    jeffremmert Posts: 1
    I have a POLAR HRM and it's the low end one...and it's been great for 2+ years FT2 $55 ish. Most cardio equipment will pick up the hr so sometimes I don't even wear the watch. Some people hate the strap but I've just got used to it...it's a matter of preference I suppose. The MIO says it provides ECG accurate hr and it had to 5 star reviews from Walmart.com. At that $35 dollar price point...give it a shot.

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/MIO-Classic-Select-Heart-Rate-Monitor-Watch-with-Calorie-Counter/15657643#Product+Reviews
  • earlyxer
    earlyxer Posts: 240 Member
    Mio and a Bowflex. The Mio is easier to use. Got a Groupon for the BowFlex so for $15 I couldn't resist having a spare.
  • eduardo_d
    eduardo_d Posts: 85 Member
    Polar FT7. Would/will buy another one again if it ever breaks.
  • jessejames3ball
    jessejames3ball Posts: 268
    What's the difference between the FT7 and FT4? Those seem to be the most popular choices so far.
  • Chagama
    Chagama Posts: 543 Member
    I have the Polar FT7. Definitely affordable, simple to use, and has all the basic functionality I want.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Polar FT4, FT7 and FT60 are the best HRM's you can buy.

    They have chest straps(which you need for accuracy) and each tracks calories burned, time spent in each zone, gives you minimum and max heart rate.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I have a New Balance N4 - works great. They run about $70 in stores, less online, or check eBay - I scored a brand new one there for $26.

    When I was shopping for one, I took all the recommendations from MFP, then read all the reviews for those models on Amazon to help narrow down my choices. I was watching eBay for either the New Balance or the Polar, but the New Balance came up first.
  • netsirk12
    netsirk12 Posts: 220 Member
    Polar is best. It needs to have a chest strap or it is not accurate!!! I have the FT4 and love it!!! only 61 only through HRMUSA.com and that included shipping!!! And its pink <3
  • Apple2jacks
    Apple2jacks Posts: 24
    What's the difference between the FT7 and FT4? Those seem to be the most popular choices so far.


    If you scroll down on this website it has a chart to compare all the Polar ones.

    http://www.pedometersusa.com/polar-ft4.html

    I have the Polar 4 and love it. I wanted the 7 but didnt want to spend the extra money at the time.
  • Apple2jacks
    Apple2jacks Posts: 24
    What's the difference between the FT7 and FT4? Those seem to be the most popular choices so far.


    If you scroll down on this website it has a chart to compare all the Polar ones.

    http://www.pedometersusa.com/polar-ft4.html

    I have the Polar 4 and love it. I wanted the 7 but didnt want to spend the extra money at the time.

    I lied I have the Polar FT4 (not just the 4)
  • Cherryblosm3
    Cherryblosm3 Posts: 106 Member
    Polar FT4, FT7 and FT60 are the best HRM's you can buy.

    They have chest straps(which you need for accuracy) and each tracks calories burned, time spent in each zone, gives you minimum and max heart rate.

    I have the FT60
    Wouldnt trade it for anything!!!
    I love how it shows you zones based on your resting heart rate. MEANING you want to stay in zone 2 during your work out to burn fat.. anything higher than that (for me anyways) would burn muscle. Also shows you what percent of your calories burnt are from fat~

    LOVE IT
  • Nteeter
    Nteeter Posts: 190 Member
    Timex Ironman Road Trainer w/strap. 109 at best buy cheaper on amazon. I needed a watch and the polar ones looked clunky, but I hear only good things about them.
  • PlunderBunneh
    PlunderBunneh Posts: 1,705 Member
    Polar RS300x. Got it back in April for my birthday (just told family to contribute amazon gift cards, win!) and absolutely adore it.
    The chest strap is really comfortable. It syncs with the equipment at the gym automatically. It does training zones. There are three different screens I can set up with different information, so during running, I scroll to the screen that shows my laps, lap time, heart rate, and burn. During lifting, I scroll to the screen that has my hrm, timer, and burn. And so on. Just so many options!
    I went with the fancier model so that in the future, if I wanted to invest in the footpod or the gps unit, I'd have a HRM that worked with them.
    Heart Rate Monitors are so great for encouragement.
  • gxm17
    gxm17 Posts: 374
    I have the Timex personal trainer. I bought it because it was inexpensive and reviewers said that it fit a smaller wrist. I've been very happy with it. It gives 1) total time, 2) time in your target zone, 3) average heart rate, 4) peak heart rate, and 5) calories burned. The only time I've been annoyed with it is once when I took it off before writing my stats down, and I hit the "start" button by mistake and it cleared my "previous" stats. Other than that, it fits my tiny wrist and it gives me the info I need.
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    I have a New Balance N4 - works great. They run about $70 in stores, less online, or check eBay - I scored a brand new one there for $26.

    When I was shopping for one, I took all the recommendations from MFP, then read all the reviews for those models on Amazon to help narrow down my choices. I was watching eBay for either the New Balance or the Polar, but the New Balance came up first.

    ^^^ this ^^. I'd buy it again if it was available here in the UK. But I use a polar nike+ strap thats dedicated to nike+ sport watch
  • lmarshel
    lmarshel Posts: 674 Member
    I have the Polar Bluetooth HRM. It's a chest strap and transmitter only, and you sync it to an app on your smartphone. I love it... when it works properly. Because it's Bluetooth, there are sometimes problems with the signal. That can be really frustrating. But I really like that it syncs to my phone app, no watch receiver required and I get all the functionality of my phone app with heart rate added in. I would be aware of the possible signal problems and also that some apps sync to the HRM but do NOT calculate your cals from your recorded HRM. I was using CardioTrainer before and had to switch to SportsTracker in order to get that functionality.
  • fittertanme
    fittertanme Posts: 259 Member
    I use sports tracker hrm and since getting in to my running this has paid for for itself many times and was the best money spent

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