Can you Help me pick a Heart Rate Monitor?

BostonPreppy
BostonPreppy Posts: 8
in Getting Started
I read lots of reviews and Ordered a Polar FT7. I set it up and am having some problems.

I have an iphone5 and it wont connect to my phone (I have now heard that it doesn't sync w the iphone 5) I also did spin today (we use Star Trec monitors on the spin bike) and the bike monitors are supposed to sync with the HRM, and mine wouldn't. The spin room is super dark so I keep having to light up my watch to check my HR.

So I'm thinking this isn't the right HRM for me.


I think I would like it to have a watch, so when I do things like Hot Barre and Hot Yoga I don't need my phone, but would like it to sync with my phone.

Do any upload calories to my fitness pal app?

I work out 6-7 days a week and do things like, jog, spin, Les Mills bodypump, body attack, pilates, 321 Shred, Inasnity, P90x, mostly group classes at the gym and some jogging. But never have used a HRM before and I just started tracking my food with MFP about a month ago, if that info makes any difference.


thanks for any help.

Replies

  • BostonPreppy
    BostonPreppy Posts: 8
    also, do any HRM come with a watch and still work with an iphone 5?

    I keep looking on the internet and can't find much.

    know the Polar H7 works w a iphone5 but can't figure out if it works w a watch?
  • sisterlilbunny
    sisterlilbunny Posts: 686 Member
    Tagging in with no help for you (sorry) but because the options out there are seriously overwhelming and I don't know which direction to go in. Darn things. :(
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    I have a polar FT4 and love it. Haven't had a single problem.

    If you want one that syncs with MFP, order a Fitbit.
  • BostonPreppy
    BostonPreppy Posts: 8
    fatfree-
    does yours work with an iphone 5?
  • tcardena
    tcardena Posts: 17
    Polar FT4, easy to use and setup. Doesn't sync with a computer, but how often do you really need to do that? Great HRM, no problems. I have used it for over a year.
  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    I also have the Polar Ft4, I find it fairly accurate and easy to use ( when I remember to bring it with me). IT won't sync with your phone or computer, but if you're are the gym and they are compatible, the treadmill will automatically pick up the signal from the HRM.
  • dan323
    dan323 Posts: 271 Member
    Check out Wahoo .
  • Betty_Rubble
    Betty_Rubble Posts: 117 Member
    In it with using a Polar FT 4! Easy to use, no syncing just checking the readout now and then throughout my workout.
  • jamiesillimandunn
    jamiesillimandunn Posts: 270 Member
    I have the polar ft 40 , it doesn't sync to anything but I can set up an account On polarpersonaltrainer.com to watch progress ...not sure how all that works I mainly use the hrm for fat burns and log directly on here ?..I had a times ironman and it overestimated calories big time , then I purchased boththefitbitflex and force, and found syncing to be difficult and burns inaccurate since there was issues with synching I also didn't like the fact with the fit bit I couldn't see my actual target heart rate which is something I shoot for during exercise and try notto overdo myself . Hope it helps :/
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
    The Polar FT7 doesn't sync with a phone, so whoever told you that was wrong. I have an FT7 and use it witha watch. However I also sometimes use my H7 bluetooth one and sync that with my phone (it also connects to the FT7 so really all I 'm doing is changing HRM straps.
  • prettygirlstorm1
    prettygirlstorm1 Posts: 721 Member
    I have the polar ft7 and I love it. It does come with the watch and tracks heart rate and calories burned. I know that a lot of the other watches track sleep hours and are more sophisticated. Not sure how to sync it with my phone ( I don't have an iphone) but I am not interested in doing that. I also exercise a lot and find it very accurate. Good luck in your search.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    I have the Polar FT4, it's ok. The one thing you should consider about HRM is they are only accurate for steady state cardio. The formula it uses to calculate calorie burns in not accurate for any kind of interval training. So if you are plodding along on the treadmill or the elliptical for 30 mins at the same pace, it will be fine. If you are doing any kind of sprints during that time or doing any kind of class where you're pushing really hard for a certain amount of time then dialing back the effort, it's not going to be accurate. Just wanted to throw that out there if you are looking to buy the HRM for the calorie counts, because it may not be the best thing to give you the information you want. Don't want you to waste your money.
  • jeffininer
    jeffininer Posts: 204 Member
    I have the FT7. You can get the H7 and that will sync with your phone and the FT7. But that's essentially double the price just for having phone sync capabilities. Might be worth it to you, but seems awfully expensive when you can just manually log your exercise into MFP. You will have to do that anyway because I believe the APP for Polar doesn't sync with MFP.

    As far as connectivity to your machine, I can't comment on that. I haven't had an issue with my FT7 connecting to machines I use. But I go to Planet Fitness where they are all the same brand and I've never used a spin bike before, so can't comment on that.
  • foxxyroxy12
    foxxyroxy12 Posts: 25 Member
    I have had two polar FT7's in 5 years and I have never had any issues with mine. It doesn't sync with any phones so I hope that we are talking about the same product. My HRM works with most of the machines at the gym and has been pretty accurate for me even in the pool.

    I wear my HRM on my left wrist and my FItBit Force on my right when I do cardio. I manually log my calories burned and the length of my workouts at the end of each workout. Throughout the rest of the day, my FitBit captures my walking and stairs. It has worked out well for me. I hope that you find the right fit for your workout needs. :-)
  • BostonPreppy
    BostonPreppy Posts: 8
    thank you for all the info.

    I have been researching but having a hard time finding a website that give me info on different brands and types of HRM. I have been on Polar but its not so great for info.

    Like ones that count steps, has a face display you can wear, ect.

    anyone know of any websites?
  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    The Polar FT7 doesn't sync with a phone, so whoever told you that was wrong. I have an FT7 and use it witha watch. However I also sometimes use my H7 bluetooth one and sync that with my phone (it also connects to the FT7 so really all I 'm doing is changing HRM straps.

    this is true. I had the FT4 until I lost the watch, now have the FT7 and is basically a little upgrade (displays) over the FT4 no bluetooth.

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