Polar FT7 Review

LucyR7
LucyR7 Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
I scored a Polar FT7 at Target on clearance for $33 from $105, so I wanted to get some feedback from users with this heart rate monitor. I've been wanting one for a long time but they're usually in the $100's. I'm sure I got a good deal but I just want it to be a good monitor. TIA!
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Replies

  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    I loveeeee mine!! The only thing i hate is it is hard to get the battery out. I was told that the sweat build up around it will cause it to lock so I have been making an effort to open it once a week and clean around it but it is still extremely hard to open.
  • justlistening
    justlistening Posts: 249 Member
    You really scored!! I love mine but it took a little while to figure out the buttons.
  • jenndymond
    jenndymond Posts: 117 Member
    Have had mine for a few months now. Love it. Helps so much when im tracking calories and is much more specific then mfp or the sensors on the treadmill and such. Has all the basics and none of the other crap that I didnt want and is really easy to use.

    I read some people get frustrated setting it up. Just read the book and when in doubt google it!

    Have fun!!
  • LesleeBeAlive
    LesleeBeAlive Posts: 504
    I scored a Polar FT7 at Target on clearance for $33 from $105, so I wanted to get some feedback from users with this heart rate monitor. I've been wanting one for a long time but they're usually in the $100's. I'm sure I got a good deal but I just want it to be a good monitor. TIA!

    Holy cow! *runs to nearest Target*
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Since it is still missing the important stat of VO2max, as you get more fit it will start underestimating calories burned.

    It has 1 zone feature for training, upper zone warning, not enough.

    It has no display to show stop watch and HR, annoying.

    Works underwater, great.

    Sends dual digital and analog signals so little interference with watch reading signal, but still can be read by most machines.
  • TubbsMcGee
    TubbsMcGee Posts: 1,058 Member
    YOU BOUGHT AN FT7 for only $33?!?!?
    Score of a century!

    In Canada, the one I was looking at was $207, I ended up going to NY and picked one up for $78 and I though *I* was the bargain hunter!

    I've had mine for a full year now. I can't imagine a workout without it. Super simple to use, very accurate, and it synchs with most gym equipment. I love how you can keep track of all your workouts through its data function.

    It also makes a cute watch!

    ...I'm tempted to buy a back-up HRM for your price, just so that I'm not lost when I forget it at the gym
  • porcelain_doll
    porcelain_doll Posts: 1,005 Member
    Wow, I paid $75 for mine back in May! Dang, you did get a good deal! I really like mine a lot. It was also my first HRM. I like how I can wear it doing everything at the gym, including going in the pool. If you wear yours in the pool, don't push any buttons on the watch while it is under water (it will tell you that in the instructions anyway).
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I loveeeee mine!! The only thing i hate is it is hard to get the battery out. I was told that the sweat build up around it will cause it to lock so I have been making an effort to open it once a week and clean around it but it is still extremely hard to open.

    Since it is waterproof, you are merely increasing the chances of ruining that seal.

    I'd stop if I was you, or you will cause a real problem.
  • AnnaVee84
    AnnaVee84 Posts: 345 Member
    Wow, I paid $75 for mine back in May! Dang, you did get a good deal! I really like mine a lot. It was also my first HRM. I like how I can wear it doing everything at the gym, including going in the pool. If you wear yours in the pool, don't push any buttons on the watch while it is under water (it will tell you that in the instructions anyway).

    Holy wow, you both got good deals on it!! I love using the FT7 for workouts and hikes, it's so easy to use!

    But I have not been able to use mine for swimming - it always says "check HRM" and won't connect with the chest transmitter =(
    I don't know if it's the chlorine content in the pool, but even if I'm just standing in the water with my arm up, it won't connect... I really wish mine worked for swimming!!
  • alasin1derland
    alasin1derland Posts: 575 Member
    wow what a great deal, mine was just shy of $200 at a sporting goods store, I love it, easy to set up and the calories burned must be pretty accurate because I eat my exercise calories and consistently lose 2 lbs a week. I can check my average and max heart rate for each session. Shows how many minutes you burn calories at fitness and fat level.
  • blasian603
    blasian603 Posts: 28 Member
    I've had mine for a couple of months. I love it...well, used to love it. Last week I noticed that the monitor on the chest strap is rubbing against my skin (under my chest) and it's chafing it. Anyone else have this problem? Maybe it's positioned wrong??? Or maybe my boobs are too big?? LOL.

    I'm thinking of getting a HRM that I can just strap around my arm or leg to avoid this problem.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    I've used an FT7 for more 15 months. Great HRM, though without a V02 max the calorie count remains an estimation. That said, I rely on the feedback of knowing my HR far more than the calorie burn. It's been a very useful tool for improving my fitness.

    I don't think you can get a better HRM for the $80 I paid for it, let alone the $33 you paid for it. Excellent score!
  • mrandolph69
    mrandolph69 Posts: 197 Member
    I've had mine for over a year and love it. I have never owned a different HRM so I have nothing to compare it with, though.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    I loveeeee mine!! The only thing i hate is it is hard to get the battery out. I was told that the sweat build up around it will cause it to lock so I have been making an effort to open it once a week and clean around it but it is still extremely hard to open.

    Since it is waterproof, you are merely increasing the chances of ruining that seal.

    I'd stop if I was you, or you will cause a real problem.

    Thanks for the advice. I can't get it open anyway now.

    I've had Polars for the last 10 yrs. and whether I don't open it or open it the battery is always hard to remove. This year I had to get a new strap set becuase the battery died and they couldnt get it open. They use a quarter but it was so tight it ruined the slot and then nothing would fit.

    That is my only complaint other than that it works perfectly!!
  • smpreston
    smpreston Posts: 262 Member
    I love my FT7. That is a great price.
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714
    Wow, I paid $75 for mine back in May! Dang, you did get a good deal! I really like mine a lot. It was also my first HRM. I like how I can wear it doing everything at the gym, including going in the pool. If you wear yours in the pool, don't push any buttons on the watch while it is under water (it will tell you that in the instructions anyway).

    Holy wow, you both got good deals on it!! I love using the FT7 for workouts and hikes, it's so easy to use!

    But I have not been able to use mine for swimming - it always says "check HRM" and won't connect with the chest transmitter =(
    I don't know if it's the chlorine content in the pool, but even if I'm just standing in the water with my arm up, it won't connect... I really wish mine worked for swimming!!

    Mine worked great for swimming. Make sure that it's on tight enough. The first time I tried it, it kept slipping around in the water. Once I tightened it, there was no problem at all. Just make sure you don't press any buttons while in the water. You might also want to check the battery in it and see if it needs replaced.

    I love my HRM but I have the sneaky suspicion that it is underestimating my calories as well. However at $35, you got an awesome deal. I'm going to check Target out the next time I'm in town. Maybe I'll get lucky and get a spare one. :-)
  • jensweighingin
    jensweighingin Posts: 168 Member
    Love mine. It's not super-slick, but it has what I feel the 'average' exerciser needs. I personally had it away for a while (long story, it really does push me), just took it out and had to change both batteries. They're different, the one in the strap and the one in the watch, which I found out after buying 5 batteries on line. I did not find the batteries hard to change, but used a nickle to open them up as the dime and penny were too thin. I am OK with the strap while I'm working out, but it really bothers me if I don't get it off quick. It's just annoying, doesn't itch or anything.

    Just re-read your post. My target doesn't have them. :(
  • jrich1
    jrich1 Posts: 2,408 Member
    I have used mine for a couple years and love it.
  • bigtwagner
    bigtwagner Posts: 113
    I had one in the past, but the strap annoyed me too much. If i ever used one again, i would certainly go back to it. it was very accurate
  • dynamicwon
    dynamicwon Posts: 175 Member
    Great price I wonder if Target has any more! I have an older Polar but Im addicted to it. If I leave home to workout and forget it I go back home and get it if time permits. The watch takes you to a new level of fitness. Its like having a personal trainer without paying the price because if you are under your target heart rate it really pushes you to try harder or if you get to the end of a workout and you have burned say 359 calories it will push you to go to workput a little longer to make it an even 400 or 500. Also you burn way less calories than what MFP and other sites say you do. I cant say enough about how great it is to use an HRM.
  • barwwd
    barwwd Posts: 63 Member
    I loveeeee mine!! The only thing i hate is it is hard to get the battery out. I was told that the sweat build up around it will cause it to lock so I have been making an effort to open it once a week and clean around it but it is still extremely hard to open.

    Since it is waterproof, you are merely increasing the chances of ruining that seal.

    I'd stop if I was you, or you will cause a real problem.

    Thanks for the advice. I can't get it open anyway now.

    I've had Polars for the last 10 yrs. and whether I don't open it or open it the battery is always hard to remove. This year I had to get a new strap set becuase the battery died and they couldnt get it open. They use a quarter but it was so tight it ruined the slot and then nothing would fit.

    That is my only complaint other than that it works perfectly!!

    LOVE LOVE LOVE my FT7. I'm on my second battery over the course of 2+ years. But be careful, the guy at the specialty battery store said once you open the back, you probably shouldn't submerge the watch because the seal is ruined. So basically now it is water resistent as opposed to water proof. Fine for everything but laps, ect. Grain of salt like with all advice, but just an FYI. Congrats!!
  • happycauseIride
    happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
    I have had mine since Friday. I ordered it on Amazon.com and only paid $69 and was happy about that. You got a heck of a deal.

    So far, I like it. Sees to be going a good job. I have only used it a few times though.
  • thomassd1969
    thomassd1969 Posts: 564 Member
    You really scored!! I love mine but it took a little while to figure out the buttons.

    same
  • ls_66
    ls_66 Posts: 395 Member
    you got a really good deal.... paid $45 for mine... I have had it for 6 months now, I had to call their tech support twice for technical issues with mixed results... I had to ship back the web link accessory cradle that syncs the watch to your polar web account, took them 2 weeks to ship it back, I'm considering a replacement for next year maybe an all in one unit with GPS, chest strap and maybe MP3 player
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    I currently use an FT7 and have used several FT4's, which are basically the same thing. When you need to change the battery, do so with an American nickel. If you use an object that is too small such as a screwdriver or quarter, you'll strip out the slot as the back of both the watch and transmitter is made of soft plastic.

    For those that wonder what's the big improvement with the FT7 over the FT4, there is one main benefit. The FT4 only keeps a summary of your workouts (average/max HR, time etc.). The FT7 actually stores all the readings it has recorded for a workout over time. I'm not sure how often it samples. My guess is once a second. With an optional accessory, you can upload your workout sessions to Polar's free Website where you can see how your heart was performing at any one time during the duration of your exercise.

    For most, this added feature will be overkill but for number crunchers or people who really want to tweak their training with the maximum amount of information it's a cool thing.

    Note that the FT7 will only store the detail for the previous 50 workouts. Thus, you have to upload the data regularly for it to be retained permanently.
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    Fantastic for that price but mine didn't hold up well! Kept not working after a short period of time, around 6 months, been fixed twice still won't work! X
  • LucyR7
    LucyR7 Posts: 2
    YAY! I'm happy to hear that it works well. I was second guessing it because of the price. I just happened to find it in the electronic department where they keep the clearance gadgets not in the fitness isle (for those running to their local Target). I was looking for headphones and saw they they had two of them and the clearance tag said $55. I was going to happily pay $55 for it but when the cashier scanned it it was only $33. I feel like buying the second one and selling it online LOL! Thanks all!
  • tgibbons1935
    tgibbons1935 Posts: 85 Member
    I bought the same watch for about $70 and love it! I did a lot of research before I bought it and it is the best one for just your heart rate and calories burned. The other ones had way too many features that I would have never used. I also bought the FlowLink device so I can download my training sessions to my computer. I like being able to tell if I am in my fat burning zone or fitness zone and this watch is perfect for that. It also links to the elliptical machine when I am at the gym so I can see my heart rate there and don't have to look at my watch. You really got an awesome deal.
  • Perfectdiamonds1
    Perfectdiamonds1 Posts: 347 Member
    A polar for under $100? Wow and for only $33, that was really a giva-a-way. wonderful deal. I have the FT4. I love it
  • ErinBeth7
    ErinBeth7 Posts: 1,625 Member
    You got an AMAZING deal!!!! Mine was $65

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