Heart Rate Monitors

knantz
knantz Posts: 68
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm looking for a heart rate monitor that ACCURATELY counts calories, but need one that isn't going to break the bank. I don't need GPS. I don't forsee me getting lost on the treadmill or in my Zumba and Kickboxing classes. I also don't care one way or another about the pedometer. It doesn't matter to me how many steps I take. I just need to know how many calories I'm burning. Again, the emphasis is on ACCURATE calories burned keeping in mind I am doing Zumba and Kickboxing. Any suggestions?

Replies

  • cccathyyy
    cccathyyy Posts: 207 Member
    Curious on what people say too... looking for the same thing.
  • BECav0602
    BECav0602 Posts: 200 Member
    I use the Polar FT4. I also run and do kickboxing. I got mine from overstock.com for about $80 and love it.
  • shaunshaikh
    shaunshaikh Posts: 616 Member
    Just make sure you get one with a chest strap where you can input your gender, weight, height, and VO2Max.
  • julwills
    julwills Posts: 286 Member
    I also have the Polar FT4 and take Zumba 3-4x a week. Gives me a very accurate calorie burn and it's very comfortable. Doesn't slip around during class or anything.
  • Nataliethin81
    Nataliethin81 Posts: 315
    I use the Polar FT4. I also run and do kickboxing. I got mine from overstock.com for about $80 and love it.


    I have the same and love it also. I got it for $89 at Best Buy.
  • NBFIT
    NBFIT Posts: 79
    I second that! Everything she said. I took one back I got at Kmart. Wasn't sure if it was really off on calories, not as sensitive as others, if I didn't have my numbers in there right, etc. Any suggestions that don't cost and arm & a leg would be appreciated!
  • Rebjones612
    Rebjones612 Posts: 408
    I am going to bump because I am looking for the same thing to use in my zumba class.:happy:
  • ErrataCorrige
    ErrataCorrige Posts: 649 Member
    I have the FT7 and I love it for Zumba! Not only does it accurately track my exercise calories, but I can glance at my heart rate and know when I am kicking butt or need to turn it up!

    Polars are super reliable, and coded so that no one elses HRM will interfere with yours. Search for good sales. A lot of department stores you wouldn't suspect carry them online. I got mine on macys.com on sale for $109 with free shipping!
  • Minnie_Moo
    Minnie_Moo Posts: 239 Member
    I have a Polar FS3 from about 4 or 5 years ago and mine does not calculate calories. . It came with the chest strap with I have read is more accurate than just a wristwatch HRM types. I do believe the newer HRM's calculate calories. I'm actually thinking of getting a newer one, which will probably be Polar - just not sure which one.

    Don't know if this will help you any but...........Here is a link that was posted in another thread with a lot of information on HRM's.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472

    I bought my Polar HRM and recently my Omron pedometer at heartratemonitorsusa dot com which usually offers free shipping and other specials which help you out with the total cost :smile: Also if you search online, there are online codes that you may be able to use as well on their site :wink:

    *** For any of you that bought the Polar FT7 - does that one measure the VO2 (maximimal oxygen uptake) which I have read is important for more accurate results ***
  • Mollymmb84
    Mollymmb84 Posts: 24
    Thanks for the great info!
  • nessieslc
    nessieslc Posts: 34
    I got my Polar F6 on Ebay, and it is great! I put in my personal info and it spits out how many calories I burned.
  • knantz
    knantz Posts: 68
    Thanks to everyone who posted info here. I think I am now ready to purchase. I will let you know how it goes.
  • knantz
    knantz Posts: 68
    OK. So over the weekend I bought the Polar FT7. I wanted the FT4, but noone locally had it in stock, and I am a very impatient person. I could have gotten the FT4 on ebay for $84.99 and no shipping, but wanted something RIGHT NOW in order to start my week off with it today. So, I ended up purchasing the FT7. I was able to get them to knock $15 off the purchase price since they did not have the one I truly wanted in stock, so I paid $94.99 for the FT7. Then, when I got it home, I realized there is a $10 rebate coupon stuck to the package. Ultimately, I will end up paying $84.99 for the FT7, the same price as I would have paid for the FT4. I'm counting that as a successful endeavor. :bigsmile:

    I will use the heart rate monitor for the first time today and post back my findings after my workout at lunch. So far I am very pleased with the features. I hope the calorie counting function is accurate as it cannot be returned once the package is opened. I'll let everyone know.
  • knantz
    knantz Posts: 68
    OK all that are following this string and waiting for feedback...the Polar FT7 is AWESOME!!! It not only linked with the chest strap, but the LifeFitness treadmill I was on also picked up the signal, therefore eliminating the need for me to keep hanging onto the hand grips while trying to run so the machine could get an accurate reading. I ended up running (in my best Forrest Gump voice) 15 out of 30 minutes @ 5.5 MPH and burned 289 calories. This is a personal best, and I have been going to the gym pretty regularly for almost 2 1/2 years now. I just wasn't getting the results I desired. Now I know I needed to kick it up.

    The machine registered a little lower on the calorie count, but I chalk that up to it getting an indirect signal from the monitor itself, not directly from the chest strap. Throughout the workout, I kept telling myself to push harder toward that maximum heart rate. During my periods of rest, I found myself really focusing on bringing my heart rate back down quickly so I could start running again as soon as possible.

    I really am excited to see the results this amazing little machine is going to produce just by raising my awareness of the intensity of my workouts. And I absolutely cannot wait to see how many calories I'm actually burning in Zumba and Kickboxing.

    Hope this information is helpful to those searching.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    I ike my polar FT4. Counts calories, keeps track of how long you worked out, your average and highest HR for that workout and is water resistant so you can use it swimming. no other fancy bells and whistles here.

    I paid 130 but I live in Canada, if you live in the US you can probably get it quite a bit cheaper.
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