Best, most reliable HRM

I've only had experience with the Garmin HRMs. Similar experience to the OPs, Sometimes they were fine, other times I could have up to 50% error rate. What I found is that some of the dropouts/spikes can be a result of static on your shirt, especially non-cotton technical/running shirts. I found that even running the shirt through a dryer for a few minutes with no heat but with a fabric softener would help. Also, getting some conductive HRM gel helped as well. Either one would help cut down the error percentage during any run, but doing both would typically get me down to under 5% error.

Just a thought. Good luck.

Spray can of Static Guard works great too. Have to use for most bike rides with strong wind flapping poly shirt, spray inside before zip up.
Also during winter gym use on treadmills, so dry, and fan blowing.

Interesting thread... I've recently ordered a Polar FT4, which should be delivered soon. I know that HRMs are most accurate for steady-state cardio, which is fine by me (I jog a lot), and pretty useless for pure resistance/weight stuff. I'm guessing that for mixed circuit training (e.g. Jillian Michaels DVDs) I should view them as "better than the MFP estimates but not entirely correct."

I also know that they log gross calories (i.e. including the calories that would be burnt even if I were just watching TV) -- but, on the other hand, there's a mild afterburn effect from a good workout. Does anyone have a feel for whether these are close enough just to ignore the net/gross difference?

There are studies looking at the 24-36 hr burn post lifting or HIIT workout, and I'm sure they say how much they burned during the workout.

But I don't recall them ever saying "the HRM mistakenly said ...." to compare.

As for the net burn - since in a diet, you don't actually want to remove the resting calories, you want to remove the calories already account for that you were expected to burn.

Which is - your MFP maintenance under My Home - Goals tab.
Divide that by 24, and that's what you are expected to burn every hour that your diet is based on.

So now HRM calories minus that amount (83-110) is what you burned above and beyond what you were planning on.

Love my Garmin 310XT and all it's configuration options. The GF had a Polar FT60 but I thought the display was a bit on the small side. She also had issues getting her pulse with the Polar and switched to my Garmin. Know what we found out? It's not the watch it's her, or something about how she sweats or doesn't. After doing some research I landed on Buh Bump (http://www.amazon.com/Buh-Bump-2-5-Ounce-Heart-Monitor-Electrode/dp/B000HZD2NU) to increase electrode sensitivity and it picked up her pulse right off the bat.

I use Polar and found it priced $20 cheaper on Amazon than in stores. I like it a lot, but my last was a Schosche (which majorly sucked and never worked), so it didn't take much for the Polar to make me happy.

As for the net burn - since in a diet, you don't actually want to remove the resting calories, you want to remove the calories already account for that you were expected to burn.

Which is - your MFP maintenance under My Home - Goals tab.
Divide that by 24, and that's what you are expected to burn every hour that your diet is based on.

So now HRM calories minus that amount (83-110) is what you burned above and beyond what you were planning on.

That makes a lot of sense... got it! Will adjust my HRM figures accordingly. Thanks!

soaking it won't hurt it a bit. You can actually put the strap in the washing machine.

Some HR straps don't have a removable sensor, so you would be putting the entire sensor and battery in the washing machine too. I don't think it's recommended that you wash those type of straps.

Good point. I've only ever had the ones with the removable sensor, so I didn't know that some were not.

I also know that they log gross calories (i.e. including the calories that would be burnt even if I were just watching TV) -- but, on the other hand, there's a mild afterburn effect from a good workout. Does anyone have a feel for whether these are close enough just to ignore the net/gross difference?

I ignored it, as the difference wasn't that big for me. Might be a more significant number for someone who starts out at a higher weight than I did.

Yes, I can see that -- I'm still pretty overweight, and I do quite a lot of cardio, so the numbers all add up over a week!

Ditto, Ditto, Ditto on the Polar FT4. I bought my on Amazon.com around last Christmas for like $48 when they were on sale for Christmas. Basic, easy to use, and Reliable.