HRM?!

ElenaYan
ElenaYan Posts: 81 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
no idea where to post this, so i decided in here... well anyways, i was wondering if anyone knows of or has an HRM that isn't too pricey, works well, and is accurate? $$$$$$????? i take fitness classes and i have no idea how much i'm really burning...

Replies

  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    My only suggestions are 1) Make sure whatever HRM you get has a chest strap if you are using it to estimate calories. The ones that only do HR when you touch them to get it are completely useless for calorie estimates. 2) Avoid Timex as from what I know it does not allow users to set their sex, and that is a killer when it comes to calorie estimates.
  • ElenaYan
    ElenaYan Posts: 81 Member
    My only suggestions are 1) Make sure whatever HRM you get has a chest strap if you are using it to estimate calories. The ones that only do HR when you touch them to get it are completely useless for calorie estimates. 2) Avoid Timex as from what I know it does not allow users to set their sex, and that is a killer when it comes to calorie estimates.

    thanks, thats a big help.
  • Andrew_peter
    Andrew_peter Posts: 94 Member
    I've had excellent success with my Polar FT4 and seems accurate with the chest strap. Polar makes other models up and down too, but the FT4 is their best-selling model and the only big difference I've found is it lacks data uplinking capability of higher end models(which requires additional accessories anyways to work).
  • Jill_with_a_G
    Jill_with_a_G Posts: 58 Member
    I just got a Polar Ft4 with the chest strap. VERY comfortable and appears to be accurate. I got tired of the discrepancies between the stationary bike and what MFP would calculate. I can also use it outside the gym. Under $100. Worth it to me and I have a watch now when I'm not calculating calories and heart rate. Another plus is that the treadmill and bike at the gym pick up the transmission from my chest strap so I can see my heart rate on the machine without hanging onto the dang metal grips. Not easy to run when holding those things!
  • mommy_her3guys918
    mommy_her3guys918 Posts: 35
    I have a N4 New Balance HRM that works great! I love it because it'snot bulky :)

    http://www.target.com/p/new-balance-pearl-fitness-heart-rate-monitor/-/A-12903488
  • Hadabetter
    Hadabetter Posts: 942 Member
    They are great at measuring heart rate, but estimating calories burned as a function of one's heart rate is a messy process. It's based on certain assumptions for an "average" person, and is only accurate for that person, and even then the accuracy may change from day to day depending on that person's circumstances.

    My point is don't get too hung up on the actual number of calories your HRM says you are burning. It's more useful for telling you "am I working as hard as yesterday, or am I slacking off", or "am I getting better over time".
  • Rogsman
    Rogsman Posts: 106 Member
    Polar FT4 seems to be the most popular model on MFP and rather inexpensive.

    It's very comfortable.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I have a New Balance N4 - works great, and I've had it for 2-3 years I think? I would have also gone for a Polar. My budget sent me to eBay for these items, and I put auctions for new items of both models on my watchlist. The New Balance came up first and I scored it for $26. :bigsmile:
  • mommy_her3guys918
    mommy_her3guys918 Posts: 35
    Meee too! I paid 20$ for mine off ebay and was stoked to find it that cheap!
  • mommy_her3guys918
    mommy_her3guys918 Posts: 35
    I have a New Balance N4 - works great, and I've had it for 2-3 years I think? I would have also gone for a Polar. My budget sent me to eBay for these items, and I put auctions for new items of both models on my watchlist. The New Balance came up first and I scored it for $26. :bigsmile:

    Mee too! I paid 20$ for mine on ebay and was stoked to find it for that cheap!
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    no idea where to post this, so i decided in here... well anyways, i was wondering if anyone knows of or has an HRM that isn't too pricey, works well, and is accurate? $$$$$$????? i take fitness classes and i have no idea how much i'm really burning...

    Any name brand HRM is going to give you accurate heart rate data. But if what you want is "accurate" calorie burn, this isn't the answer, for most people, most of the time.

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