HRM

I use the Polar it works great. I bought a used bodybugg that I'm testing for 30 days. So far I don't like it as much but it's only been a day. We'll see. The Polar is easy to read and works great with this site.

I bought a cheap one from Walmart and so far I have really liked it. I've never tried anything else so I can't compare.

Hi guys!

I was hoping for a few opinions on heart rate monitors.

I know that my exercise calories are educated guesses at best as far as the amount burned goes, and I am planning on getting an HRM as soon as payday rolls around, My question is, would it be a total waste of money if I went for a cheaper one? My boyfriend works at Best Buy and I have seen them there for as low as $29.99 (we get a discount, so I'm probably buying from there). Does anyone have experience with the cheaper ones? I am not exactly made of money, but if I will be wasting my $30, I might as well splurge for a better one, right??

Thanks guys, I would love to hear anything you have to say on the matter!

Don't go cheap. A Polar F6 is what I would recommend (or F7--they seem to be about the same). There is technology that companies like Polar and Suunto use that is not apparent to the average person, but which is superior to the cheapos. Just because an HRM has a "calories burned" display, doesn't mean the calculation is remotely accurate. It's not that hard to just show a number, and the cheapos know that's a popular feature, so they just stick it on there and assume no one will be able to tell the difference. There is still some accuracy issues even w/Polar HRMs, but that's true for HRMs in general--Polar/Suunto are still more accurate than anything else out there.

Yeah, the up front cost is greater, but you'll forget all about that in a couple of months and enjoy the benefit of a qualify HRM for years. It's a no-brainer IMO. (And I have NO connection with PolarUSA--quite frankly, I don't even like them all that much, but they make good products).