Polar FT7 vs FT40

I have an FT40, don't know much about the FT7....but I LOVE my FT40 a bunch So easy to use and I lost more once I had an accurate count...that being said my only count before was what MFP told me I burned (which especially for hiking was up to 2X too much.)

I just have the FT2. Its simple, it synchs with the machines at the gym so i dont have to look at the watch and it was cheap. I use MFP exercise predictions and halve everything they say. I'd rather underestimate and bank that little bit extra.

Vo2max calc is only really needed f you are a high perf athlete trying to change your power, etc....
FT7 is fine.

(I have an old 325 with Vo2max and several other devices including the FT7)

Vo2max calc is only really needed f you are a high perf athlete trying to change your power, etc....
FT7 is fine.

(I have an old 325 with Vo2max and several other devices including the FT7)

Not really, it is THE main stat used for estimating calorie burn. All the other stats are used to estimate that if not known.

If it's not a stat available to change manually, then the HRM is estimating it based on usually age, BMI and HRmax, which itself is an estimate, so you can start to get really iffy.

Especially at the beginning where your fitness level really increases, but your weight isn't dropping that fast.

Your HR will slow down because of being more aerobically fit, to supply the exact same amount of oxygen it was supplying 3 months ago, in order to supply the same amount of energy, to burn the exact same amount of calories it always had.

But purely by HR, with no change to VO2max stat - the HRM will only assume you are doing less effort. Which for all the folks starting to exercise and really improving fitness at the beginning, just is not the case.

But as far as having that stat to workout too, correct, when you've reached the upper levels of fitness and not much more improvement, than having workouts to improve it would be needed.