Heart Rate Monitors

jniece55
jniece55 Posts: 181 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
What is a good starter one? I don't need the top of the line but i'd like one that is accurate and does the job. Also, what are your thoughts about Heart Rate Monitors? Are the uncomfortable?

Need all the 411 :)
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Replies

  • jniece55
    jniece55 Posts: 181 Member
    bump
  • Crazibaker
    Crazibaker Posts: 130 Member
    I was wondering this also
  • iAMsmiling
    iAMsmiling Posts: 2,394 Member
    Do you have an iPhone or recent Android phone?

    Polar makes a blue tooth HRM transmitter that can be used with smart phones and compatible apps.
    I use Digifit on my iPhone.

    $80 for the transmitter. The app is free.
  • srhershey
    srhershey Posts: 181 Member
    I have a Sportline HRM watch that I bought at Walmart for $30. It works great, easy to use, and doesn't get in the way.
  • Sheila_Ann
    Sheila_Ann Posts: 365 Member
    I love my polar ft4! Been using it for a long time and have never had any issues.

    *edited to say: Make sure you get one with a chest strap.
  • eemorton
    eemorton Posts: 23 Member
    Polar FT4 is the one I use. It's pretty basic, easy to use, very comfortable.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    Polar FT4. $60 on Amazon.

    Be sure that whatever you choose it comes with a chest strap. The cheapo watch only style are not going to be very accurate.
  • Tracy_03311981
    Tracy_03311981 Posts: 80
    I bought the Polar FT7, it tracks your Heart Rate and calories burned, it's a little on the expensive side, I paid around $75 for mine, but it's worth every single penny :)
  • sunshinesquared
    sunshinesquared Posts: 2,733 Member
    Ditto on the Polar FT4! Love it!
  • lauren3382
    lauren3382 Posts: 372 Member
    I have a Polar FT40 and I really like it. No HRM will be 100% accurate. The chest strap is comfortable (don't even realize it is on once I'm in the zone and focused on my workout). Polar is a great brand and I don't think you can go wrong with a more basic model like the FT4 or FT7.
  • rdlangy1
    rdlangy1 Posts: 16 Member
    polar FT4 all the way

    sigma are not bad either - but polar better
  • Brent_J
    Brent_J Posts: 54
    Polar FT7 - Works great. The chest strap doesn't bother me at all. I totally forget I'm wearing it. Although I did have to order the larger chest strap. The one that shipped with it was too small (for now).

    I really enjoy mine.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    What is a good starter one? I don't need the top of the line but i'd like one that is accurate and does the job. Also, what are your thoughts about Heart Rate Monitors? Are the uncomfortable?

    Need all the 411 :)

    Accurate for what?

    Reading HR, their main purpose, anything with a chest strap will work great, as accurate as EKG basically.

    Estimating calories based on HR, then Garmin and Suunto using Firstbeat algorithms first, Polar second, for accuracy.

    Others can be tweaked for accuracy as long as you can enter age, weight, and HRmax stats.
    This tweaking would take some testing walking on treadmill at known pace, incline, time to nail the HRM changes.
  • AnnyaSB
    AnnyaSB Posts: 233 Member
    Sigma Omega - has a chest strap and is very comfy. The only criticism I would have is that if you are a larger bosomed lady like myself and wear an underwired bra the wires sometimes cause the chest strap to move and lose connection with the watch mid-workout which is VERY frustrating when you realise at the end of a sweat-fest that you didn't record the whole session :mad:

    This is nothing to do with the HRM itself though - I had the same problem with the Polar I had before the Sigma!
  • vmerie
    vmerie Posts: 36
    Polar FT4 all the way!!
  • reneelee
    reneelee Posts: 877 Member
    I bought the Polar FT7, it tracks your Heart Rate and calories burned, it's a little on the expensive side, I paid around $75 for mine, but it's worth every single penny :)

    Bought mine on line at bodytronics.com coupon code is POPO saves you 5%
  • jniece55
    jniece55 Posts: 181 Member
    Thank you all for the info!! Amazon had the Polar FT4 for 62 which I didn't think was bad so I ordered it. Hope it gives me more accurate reading than MFP or the machines :)
  • brendaj39
    brendaj39 Posts: 375 Member
    Polar FT4 is the one I use. It's pretty basic, easy to use, very comfortable.




    this one is great! easy to use and not that expensive...
  • LCFulmer
    LCFulmer Posts: 183 Member
    Polar is what I use... chest strap is under my sports bra so I don't feel the difference. I love it.:smile:
  • chelledawg14
    chelledawg14 Posts: 509 Member
    Polar FT4 (yes it has a chest strap) I've had since February and I love it. Hope you do, too. I paid about the same as you but from a different site. I also bought an extra chest strap so that I could alternate in case the other is in the wash and not dried yet. Make sure you rinse the strap after each use and put it in the wash every five wears or so.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I have a Timex IronMan which I love and have had for a month or so now. I'm going to get a Polar FT4 or Garmin after I either met my goal weight or run a half marathon (whichever happens first). I wasn't sure about the chest strap either but I honestly don't feel it while I'm running-I wouldn't recommend getting one without a strap cause the reading won't be as true. A HRM is a lot better for your calories than anything else since it takes into account you and your heart rate and not just numbers and your sex. Good luck!
  • ppshaffer
    ppshaffer Posts: 8 Member
    Love my Polar Heart Rate Monitor. MFP excercises are designed for the person who put it in the database. I come nowhere near the numbers they have and it's great because it makes me want to work out more to burn more.
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,276 Member
    I have the Sportline Duo for women. Its works great and seems accurate. I agree with buying one with the chest strap. You wont get an accurate calorie reading with just a wrist unit.
  • Eclaire32
    Eclaire32 Posts: 9
    I have had the Polar FT4 and love it. I like that it not only gives me the HR but the estimated calories burned for my workouts. No matter whether I am on the eliptical, doing an Aqua fit class or strength training I can see my kcal estimate to put into the MFP exercise section. I highly recommend this.
  • jniece55
    jniece55 Posts: 181 Member
    I just got mine in, do you all set yours up to go by bpm or by percentage?? I got the FT4, will it sync with my computer?
  • jniece55
    jniece55 Posts: 181 Member
    Also, will I know if my heart rate is too high? Like does it show that it is too high? Or do I need to research this?
  • jniece55
    jniece55 Posts: 181 Member
    bump
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Also, will I know if my heart rate is too high? Like does it show that it is too high? Or do I need to research this?

    I don't believe it will sync with computer, unless it works with their accessory that does that.

    You set the upper zone alarm to decide if too high for what you are trying to accomplish.
    Like the day after weight lifting, maybe you don't want to go over 60% of HRmax, so you can set alarm there.

    But first you gotta set the HRmax stat in your personal stats. It's defaulting to 220-age, which for women, the majority fall 10bpm outside that calculation. You could be more though. You could have a Honda heart, or diesel heart (faster or slower than avg.)

    And HRmax greatly effects decent estimate of calorie burn. So you gotta have it as best as you can get it.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/466973-i-want-to-test-for-my-max-heart-rate-vo2-max
  • jniece55
    jniece55 Posts: 181 Member
    I got mine in and really like it. So far it seems in line with what MFP says for calories. However I do notice I'm not in my zone for a long period of time. Like i'm in my zone for 27 mins out of 50. Is that normal? I'm just trying to figure out what "in the zone" really is doing for me.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I got mine in and really like it. So far it seems in line with what MFP says for calories. However I do notice I'm not in my zone for a long period of time. Like i'm in my zone for 27 mins out of 50. Is that normal? I'm just trying to figure out what "in the zone" really is doing for me.

    Polar on the cheaper models has 2 zones, Fat-burning and Fitness - both poor term choices. And you can't select the line that separates them, Polar adjusts it depending on how much time you spend in upper or lower zones. So you will see that line change. Has nothing to do with getting fit, but time spent.

    You get aerobically fit for endurance activity in the fat-burning zone, and you burn just as much fat during the activity if not more afterwards in the Fitness zone.

    Basically warm-up in lower zone 5-10 min, workout in upper zone, cool-down in lower zone 5-10 min
    Cardio the day after weight lifting, using the same muscles - use lower zone only.

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