Heart Rate Monitor

mailmilap
mailmilap Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,
I am Madhu, from India. I have been on a weight loss goal for quite some time now, but have fallen off the wagon time and again. I have started afresh and would like to buy a HRM. I wasnt sure which one was good. I have been through amazon pages, but wanted to know your first hand experiences.
My requirements are just basic - it should show the calories burnt as accurately as possible, and it shouldnt be too expensive. I will be using it at home, mainly when i will be working out with Jillian's DVDs or outdoors during my walks.

Thanks!

Replies

  • farewell_friend
    farewell_friend Posts: 41 Member
    Polar Polar Polar! I use the pink Polar one and I *love* it! It was like $80-$90, but still worth it.
  • stuffinmuffin
    stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
    I'd only go near Polar. I have the FT4 and love it - I think it was about £40 on Amazon. :)
  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    Polar Polar Polar! I use the pink Polar one and I *love* it! It was like $80-$90, but still worth it.
    I'd only go near Polar. I have the FT4 and love it - I think it was about £40 on Amazon. :)

    +1
  • DerROK
    DerROK Posts: 14 Member
    I use a polar heart rate band only and chose to get a bluetooth one so that I can use it with my iPhone 5 in my shorts pocket and track the workouts in the iPhone app Endomondo, as well as use it with fitness club equipment as most cardio machines are computable with polar heart rate bands (whether or not bluetooth enabled).

    I used a basic polar heart rate wrist watch (came with a plastic wrist strap) and polar heart rate band before that: again using the band with the fitness club equipment so as not to have an awkward plastic strap wrapped around my sweaty wrist ^^

    Strongly recommend HRM's as they give much more accurate calorie burn readings over self perceived effort, which makes the myfitnesspal calorie burn figures pretty inaccurate in my experience.
  • Spooky_Scully
    Spooky_Scully Posts: 73 Member
    Pink Polar HT4 is where it's at! Simple, but functional! I love mine :smile:
  • Sinisterly
    Sinisterly Posts: 10,913 Member
    Polar is the way to go. Don't get it wet unless it's "WATER PROOF".. Water resistant isn't the same thing.
    I had an FT4, but I got it wet.
    I now have an FT7 and take EXTRA good care of it.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    I have an FT7 - my wife has a nice pink FT4. Both are good. Not worth paying the extra for the FT7 to be honest

    I would like the Bluetooth one to use with my phone but never mind
  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
    I have an FT7 - my wife has a nice pink FT4. Both are good. Not worth paying the extra for the FT7 to be honest

    I would like the Bluetooth one to use with my phone but never mind

    If I'm correct, the FT7 has the VO2max option, which gives it a more accurate reading. If I'd known this, I would have shelled out the extra ten bucks instead of getting the FT4.
  • mailmilap
    mailmilap Posts: 3
    Thanks everyone ! Will buy the Polar FT4 then ! Was just wondering about its batteries. Someone on the amazon said that the user cannot replace the batteries themselves?
  • Vicxie86
    Vicxie86 Posts: 181 Member
    I have an FT7 - my wife has a nice pink FT4. Both are good. Not worth paying the extra for the FT7 to be honest

    I would like the Bluetooth one to use with my phone but never mind

    If I'm correct, the FT7 has the VO2max option, which gives it a more accurate reading. If I'd known this, I would have shelled out the extra ten bucks instead of getting the FT4.

    No, the FT7 does not have vo2max either
  • DerROK
    DerROK Posts: 14 Member
    Thanks everyone ! Will buy the Polar FT4 then ! Was just wondering about its batteries. Someone on the amazon said that the user cannot replace the batteries themselves?

    Some of the polar heart rate bands have to be sent back for battery replacements at a service cost or on youtube you can find DIY videos to do it yourself (but as you cutting into the band it won't be as good as new imho). Some polar hear rate bands are designed to have batteries that can be easily replaced. So, guess it depends on the model and I ain't familiar with the entire range.

    NB I just looked at the FT4 on amazon and it has the 'user changeable battery' listed on the features and the heart rate band looks like the one I have that has the user change battery :smile:
  • Spooky_Scully
    Spooky_Scully Posts: 73 Member
    Thanks everyone ! Will buy the Polar FT4 then ! Was just wondering about its batteries. Someone on the amazon said that the user cannot replace the batteries themselves?

    I have changed the battery myself, and it was really simple! :)
  • 143tobe
    143tobe Posts: 620 Member
    I'm bought this one on Amazon.

    Sigma PC10.11 Heart Rate Monitor

    I went with this one because it was inexpensive and although my brother and sister in-law both have Polars, which they love, I did notice they would often post some really out of whack numbers that their Polars gave them. Like a 220 heart rate from hiking. And it seemed like every week this was happening to them. My brother is a pretty in-.shape guy so I believe these were faulty recordings. I also read the tons of the reviews on Amazon about the Polars and that this seemed to be a problem with some of the watches. That being said, I am completely happy with my watch, have had it for a year, and it has never been anything but accurate and I haven't had any problems. The only downside for me personally is that the Polar watches are a lot cuter. Mine is pretty big and boxy, but it gets the job done.
  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
    I have an FT7 - my wife has a nice pink FT4. Both are good. Not worth paying the extra for the FT7 to be honest

    I would like the Bluetooth one to use with my phone but never mind

    If I'm correct, the FT7 has the VO2max option, which gives it a more accurate reading. If I'd known this, I would have shelled out the extra ten bucks instead of getting the FT4.

    No, the FT7 does not have vo2max either

    I read on another thread that it incorporates vo2max into its calculations but doesn't actually have a test to see what yours is, or something along those lines?
  • farewell_friend
    farewell_friend Posts: 41 Member
    I'm bought this one on Amazon.

    Sigma PC10.11 Heart Rate Monitor

    I went with this one because it was inexpensive and although my brother and sister in-law both have Polars, which they love, I did notice they would often post some really out of whack numbers that their Polars gave them. Like a 220 heart rate from hiking. And it seemed like every week this was happening to them. My brother is a pretty in-.shape guy so I believe these were faulty recordings. I also read the tons of the reviews on Amazon about the Polars and that this seemed to be a problem with some of the watches. That being said, I am completely happy with my watch, have had it for a year, and it has never been anything but accurate and I haven't had any problems. The only downside for me personally is that the Polar watches are a lot cuter. Mine is pretty big and boxy, but it gets the job done.

    While I can't confirm or deny what you said, I will tell you that the only time I hit above 200 on my Polar was when my heart rate suddenly jumped and I physically felt it. After that moment it went back to 160-something.
    It takes a lot of effort on my part to get above 160, and I've never gotten above 180. Maybe it's because I don't do HIIT, but I'm super jelly of anyone who can easily hit 200 and sustain it for any length of time-- give me some of that power! ????
  • Timelordlady85
    Timelordlady85 Posts: 797 Member
    I have the polar FT7 in purple and love it! Very accurate, I cannot even tell the strap is on when wearing it, its that comfortable. I purchased mine on Amazon for about $80 but it was well worth it. I don't like exercising without it. :smile:
  • bozukpusula
    bozukpusula Posts: 16 Member
    I am using wahoo blue hr and its realy okey.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Polar FT7 here and very happy with it so far too.
  • mailmilap
    mailmilap Posts: 3
    Thanks a ton everyone!

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