HRM watches........I have questions

mamagooskie
mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay so up until 2-3 weeks ago I wasn't even entirely sure what a HRM is/was/does. So I obviously had no intention of buying one however recently I have decided I would like one. There have been so many times that I do an activity not part of my usual routine but something that def burned calories and had no way to calculate and this upcoming week I will have 2 more such occasions.....plus with summer with me being just more active I'd like to be able to record some of this "bonus" exercise.

anyway today I was in walmart and happened to see 3 different HRM watches. They all seemed to be around the 60$ mark. One was really nice, looked like a ladies sport watch (the others were more manly) but anyway I'm wondering if they are worth the money, if they work? or if there are other HRM suggestions out there you can give me.

I would really rather not spend more than 100$ and of course the less the better. Waterproof is a bonus, I will be doing some "swimming" aka chasing the kids through the water at the lake.....not really doing any actual swimming/laps etc.

SPAM ME please with links to good HRM, or give me suggestions.....or if someone has a HRM watch let me know if you like it, what brand it is etc.

thanks so much.
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Replies

  • sjd2010
    sjd2010 Posts: 106
    Bump - I don't have an anwer for you, but am interested in the answer.
  • Mary_Burris
    Mary_Burris Posts: 120
    I have Polar F6 and I would definatly reccomend it! I Love mine and got it for around 80 dollars. I would sugest one definatly with a cheast strap it is more accurate.
  • Mary_Burris
    Mary_Burris Posts: 120
    I have Polar F6 and I would definatly reccomend it! I Love mine and got it for around 80 dollars. I would sugest one definatly with a cheast strap it is more accurate.
  • sjcply
    sjcply Posts: 817 Member
    I have polar f6 and really like it. The watch is pink and small for a womens wrist. It is usually around $110, but sears had them on sale. I use it alot, and it works great!
    whichever one you get make sure it has chest strap, cuz it is more accurate!
  • Edestiny7
    Edestiny7 Posts: 730 Member
    I have a Polar FT4 and paid $100 through my gym. I love it.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    I LOVE my polar! And yes, get one with a chest strap, the ones that are just a watch are not accurate.
  • lilchino4af
    lilchino4af Posts: 1,292 Member
    I'm the odd one out in that I don't have a polar HRM (I got mine as a gift). I got an Oregon Scientific that my husband got on amazon. Right now it's $63 and has TONS of features; many of which I haven't used yet, but I will so it's great to know they're available to me. It's waterproof for swimming in pools, etc, but it's not for diving or deep water. The link to amazon is below and the specs with all the features it has is below for your viewing pleasure. I absolutely love it and it's like the swiss army knife of HRMs!

    Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Oregon-Scientific-SE300-Heart-Monitor/dp/B000MB1UWY
    Review/features: http://www.heart-rate-monitor-watches.com/oregon-scientific-se300-heart-rate-monitor.html
  • spookydolly76
    spookydolly76 Posts: 5
    I too have a polar heart rate monitor with a chest strap, it's the F7, it cost $260.00 NZD, I would be lost without it, I feel secure in knowing that I am being more accurate with my exercise calories.
  • KeriD
    KeriD Posts: 324
    I have a polar FT7 and love it! Not all models calculate calories burned....so be sure to look for that!
  • capturethemoments3
    capturethemoments3 Posts: 99
    I have a polar f6 and have had zero problems to date! I don't know how much they are right now but when I got mine it was on sale at sears for $55.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    Is the chest strap uncomfortable, hot, bulky, etc?

    Oh and I should I g looking for one at big box stores, or sports stores in general or actual running stores?
  • angelae39
    angelae39 Posts: 90 Member
    I have the Polar FT7 and it is waterproof. It was about $100, but worth. One thing I noticed about the cheaper ones at WalMart is that you have to stop moving and put your fingers on the watch. This is not very convenient if you are running or doing aerobics. If you plan on working out regularly, I would invest a little extra and get a Polar.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    can a HRM just be worn all day with no "exercize" being done and tell you how many calories you burned that day? or do you have to get into your actual zones for it to record anything?
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    I got mine at Foot Locker, but I didn't research, and later found out that Amazon is cheaper.
    The chest strap is very comfortable, it hides under your sports bra and you don't even know it's there. I sometimes have it on for an hour after exercise and forget it's there!
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    It's not "supposed" to be worn all day, because it is only INTENDED to calculate calories DURING exercise, but I wore it all day once just to see, and it gave me a total burn for the day VERY close to what MFP gives me for maintainence calories.
  • JBennis1013
    JBennis1013 Posts: 377 Member
    I have a question about the HRM watches with the chest strap...For the people that have one...what is it calculating for say 30 minutes of working out for you? My sister bought a timex one and it said that she burned 584 calories for 35 minutes of doing the elliptical. That is absolutely not right, so she sent it back.
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    I have a polar (F6) with the waist band, it is nothing more than bra strap there is a little device in the center but i can never feel it and it doesn't even show through my work out cloths let alone real cloths. It is a lot more accurate than just the watches. I ABSOLUTELY love it, it was about 100 dollars (with a 1 year extended warranty so 2 years total). It was a breeze to set up and use, it saves all of my work outs so if I'm to tired to log it right away no biggie,
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    oh okay.....is the chest strap water proof? I would sometimes need to wear it during a 8 hour walk.....like zoo all day or something since I'm not sure my pedometer is 100% accurate. Or if I play badminton with the kids aka bending over 1 billion times to pick up the birdie I'd like to be able to record that as well.

    I just phoned a local place about HRM and he told me waterproof ones for swimming are hundreds of $$???
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    I have a question about the HRM watches with the chest strap...For the people that have one...what is it calculating for say 30 minutes of working out for you? My sister bought a timex one and it said that she burned 584 calories for 35 minutes of doing the elliptical. That is absolutely not right, so she sent it back.

    It is based on your heart rate, so who ever does 35 min on the elliptical but is going 2mph then calories are low, you do 35 min and doing more like 6mph then heart rates gonna be higher there for more cals. It is very possible the one she had was deffictive, i've been doing work outs all week with my polar and the other day it calculated after 1 hr on the treadmil 871 cals, i pushed myself harder today after a "bad" day yesterday and it got 1021
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    oh okay.....is the chest strap water proof? I would sometimes need to wear it during a 8 hour walk.....like zoo all day or something since I'm not sure my pedometer is 100% accurate. Or if I play badminton with the kids aka bending over 1 billion times to pick up the birdie I'd like to be able to record that as well.

    I just phoned a local place about HRM and he told me waterproof ones for swimming are hundreds of $$???

    i dont' think there water proof, i.e. go swimming in them, but i sweat a mess load at the gym and its fine, it also tells you to put the straps in water to clean it, the heart monitor itself is in a small plastic casing so i would think as long as your aren't submersed in water it should be fine, but check on the one you are buying it may be different depending on the brand.
  • curlygirl71
    curlygirl71 Posts: 15 Member
    I started out with a "Sportline" (without a strap) that I got at a sporting good store for $100.00. It does a lot more than I really need for it to. I was trying to stay away from the strap kind because I thought it woul be uncomfortable.

    A friend of mine upgraded her HRM and sold me her old one, a Polar F4. I LOVE it!!!! Not only am I looking for my calories burned I like seeing what percentage of my workout time was spent in my target heart range (this helps me to know to kick my butt into gear or relax a little via my range alert). This model has the chest strap and HIGHLY suggest you get one with a chest strap.....first it's not any more uncomfortable than my sportsbra and secondly it is so much more accurate. I found that I'm burning MORE calories than I realized.

    Polar seems to be a very good brand to go with and trust us on the strap; it's a good thing! Shop around for a good price. I know Sears had some on sale not too long ago. Don't feel that you have to buy it from a sporting goods store (I think they tend to inflate prices). Good luck and enjoy!
  • curlygirl71
    curlygirl71 Posts: 15 Member
    Also, mine says it is water resistant to 30meters.
  • JBennis1013
    JBennis1013 Posts: 377 Member
    I have a question about the HRM watches with the chest strap...For the people that have one...what is it calculating for say 30 minutes of working out for you? My sister bought a timex one and it said that she burned 584 calories for 35 minutes of doing the elliptical. That is absolutely not right, so she sent it back.

    It is based on your heart rate, so who ever does 35 min on the elliptical but is going 2mph then calories are low, you do 35 min and doing more like 6mph then heart rates gonna be higher there for more cals. It is very possible the one she had was deffictive, i've been doing work outs all week with my polar and the other day it calculated after 1 hr on the treadmil 871 cals, i pushed myself harder today after a "bad" day yesterday and it got 1021


    I know its based on heart rate and how hard you push yourself...she just found it confusing that the elliptical said she burned in the 300s(she imput her weight age and target heart rate,etc) and the watch said 584. She was just concerned with how much of a difference there was between the two.
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    mine records when I tell it to, I actually have to manually start it, it tells me when I'm in a zone, when I'm out and how long on each and records the whole thing....i love my polar...i couldn't be happier really...
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    I have the Polar FT7 and it is waterproof. It was about $100, but worth. One thing I noticed about the cheaper ones at WalMart is that you have to stop moving and put your fingers on the watch. This is not very convenient if you are running or doing aerobics. If you plan on working out regularly, I would invest a little extra and get a Polar.

    COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY AGREE!!!
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    Also, mine says it is water resistant to 30meters.

    so I'd take that to mean you could go under water up to 30 meters deep and it would work/be okay?
  • curlygirl71
    curlygirl71 Posts: 15 Member
    Also...you can take off the elasticized part of the strap and wash it with your bras. The portion that goes under your chest can be cleaned with Chlorox wipes or the like.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    Also...you can take off the elasticized part of the strap and wash it with your bras. The portion that goes under your chest can be cleaned with Chlorox wipes or the like.

    oh okay.....well I'm gonna have to go shopping this weekend. I'm gonna see what sears has and then check out a few sporting goods stores too.
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    I have a question about the HRM watches with the chest strap...For the people that have one...what is it calculating for say 30 minutes of working out for you? My sister bought a timex one and it said that she burned 584 calories for 35 minutes of doing the elliptical. That is absolutely not right, so she sent it back.

    It is based on your heart rate, so who ever does 35 min on the elliptical but is going 2mph then calories are low, you do 35 min and doing more like 6mph then heart rates gonna be higher there for more cals. It is very possible the one she had was deffictive, i've been doing work outs all week with my polar and the other day it calculated after 1 hr on the treadmil 871 cals, i pushed myself harder today after a "bad" day yesterday and it got 1021


    I know its based on heart rate and how hard you push yourself...she just found it confusing that the elliptical said she burned in the 300s(she imput her weight age and target heart rate,etc) and the watch said 584. She was just concerned with how much of a difference there was between the two.

    so the watch said she burned more?? mine says I burn more all the time 100-200 cals more... for the tradmil and elliptical they are meausreing from your hands where the hrm is right there by your heart much more accurate, plus on the treadmil and ellpitcals, at least i don't keep my hands on the sensors the entire time.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    I have a Polar F6. Please don't buy anything but Polar 'cause the other ones SUCK. I got mine on Amazon for $83 before shipping. I paid total $91 for it and it got here in about 3 days! :happy: Oh, and I love it.
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