Heart Rate Monitors BESIDES POLAR

puggleperson
puggleperson Posts: 740 Member
edited September 25 in Fitness and Exercise
I refuse to buy something over priced just for the name so I am looking for some suggestions besides Polar. Please share with me the Heart rate monitor that use preferably one with a chest strap and easy to set up. My main goal is to do time and calories burned...

Thank you :flowerforyou:

Replies

  • thkelly
    thkelly Posts: 466 Member
    I refuse to buy something over priced just for the name so I am looking for some suggestions besides Polar. Please share with me the Heart rate monitor that use preferably one with a chest strap and easy to set up. My main goal is to do time and calories burned...

    Thank you :flowerforyou:

    it's not overpriced if you get what you want from it.
  • puggleperson
    puggleperson Posts: 740 Member
    it's overpriced.. You must have one.. thanks for not helping :)

    Why would I buy something for 50+ bucks if I can get something cheaper that does the same thing???
  • bbb84
    bbb84 Posts: 418 Member
    Here is my advice, and before you ask yes I do have a polar but that doesn't change my suggestion. This is what I did when I was looking into purchasing one. I walked into 3 different sporting goods stores and asked for assitance. I explained what I wanted from my HRM and why I wanted one. The associate gave me feedback on what they had to offer. I then went home and researched the different brands offered and checked amazon an ebay for pricing. Walmart has one for about 30 bucks with a chest strap, it's the cheapest that I have seen on the market with a chest strap(a must) , however I don't know how trustworthy the product is, I believe sportsline is the manufacturer.
  • julie4760
    julie4760 Posts: 125
    here in blighty we have argos and they do a cheap range. just type hrm into your search engine and maybe if you buy abroad you can get it minus the tax which will make it cheaper still, best of luck with that one.
  • canaussie
    canaussie Posts: 168 Member
    Garmin FR60... I love it.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    I've seen really bad reviews of that cheap Walmart one. Both online and from people here. I did a lot of research before I bought my HRM. I was convinced that I could find one that was accurate and did everything that I really wanted it to consistently, for $50 or less.

    After wasting about two months reading reviews, visiting websites, reading posts here, reading posts on other fitness boards, comparing products, comparing prices, deal shopping and general research trying to find something in the price range I had in my head, I sucked it up and chose the Polar FT4 and got it off of Amazon at the time for about $65.

    I really, really, really wish that I hadn't wasted those months doing all that research and just trusted all of the awesome reviews and information out there for Polar and just bought the FT4 right from the start. IMO, even at $80 it would be worth the price for the value that it added to my weight loss journey and being much more knowledgable about my exercise burn. Especially when I saw the real numbers day over day on the HRM vs. the variable and too high numbers that the manchines were giving me.
  • bbb84
    bbb84 Posts: 418 Member
    I've seen really bad reviews of that cheap Walmart one. Both online and from people here. I did a lot of research before I bought my HRM. I was convinced that I could find one that was accurate and did everything that I really wanted it to consistently, for $50 or less.

    After wasting about two months reading reviews, visiting websites, reading posts here, reading posts on other fitness boards, comparing products, comparing prices, deal shopping and general research trying to find something in the price range I had in my head, I sucked it up and chose the Polar FT4 and got it off of Amazon at the time for about $65.

    I really, really, really wish that I hadn't wasted those months doing all that research and just trusted all of the awesome reviews and information out there for Polar and just bought the FT4 right from the start. IMO, even at $80 it would be worth the price for the value that it added to my weight loss journey and being much more knowledgable about my exercise burn. Especially when I saw the real numbers day over day on the HRM vs. the variable and too high numbers that the manchines were giving me.

    Agreed, I too have the FT4 and it's the best decision I have made....I got mine on sale at sports authority. And its amazing the difference in the numbers, MFP number and my HRM differ by a few HUNDRED, and the treadmill (even with the info entered) is usually a good amount off too. The only time the TM matches is when its syncs with my HRM. This is the most successful attempt at a lifestyle change I have made yet, especially compared to weight watchers(epic fail) and my approach is all about the numbers. Being all about the numbers, the polar FT4 was a smart investment (i know nothing is 100% but i feel confident in trusting the numbers which will keep me consistent)
  • thkelly
    thkelly Posts: 466 Member
    it's overpriced.. You must have one.. thanks for not helping :)

    Why would I buy something for 50+ bucks if I can get something cheaper that does the same thing???

    go buy a piece of crap then. have fun getting "accurate" readings with it. good luck
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Mine's by Domyos, and I think it cost about £25.
  • gailygail99
    gailygail99 Posts: 582 Member
    I have a New Balance Fit with no chest strap and it was $60. I love it. I guess it's the same price as some of the Polar ones and since it doesnt have a chest strap you have to take the readings yourself but it's pretty accurate and I love it!
  • jenfunfur
    jenfunfur Posts: 263 Member
    Well i did the whole 'why pay for a brand name' thing and i really regret it. My HRM is so buggy i have to reset every few days & gives me totally different reads every time i use it even though i do the same workout! So i'm selling it on ebay & getting myself a lovely Polar FT60 which i found on ebay for less than half price :)
    I think when it comes to sports equiptment you get what you pay for, whether it be trainers, HRM, bike etc
    I personally would prefer to spend the extra money on a quality product. As for alternatives my friend has a Garmin Gps tracker for when he runs and it's great. He's been using it for skiing & cycling too. Seems to be very accurate, gives you some really useful information and apparently very comfy to wear whilst training. I guess it depens what you want your equiptment to do, if you just want heart rate a cheaper one will be fine, if you want the extras then it's worth paying.
    Jen x
  • puggleperson
    puggleperson Posts: 740 Member
    Thank you all for responding to my question. I'm not a cheapo but I just refuse to purchase "name brand" just because. I am not getting caught is a materialistic trap.... I refuse!!! HOWEVER, I have done some research and it really sounds like hands down polar is the best, even though I don't NEED the best at the same time I don't want to be running back and forth returning crap items.. So this time I will give into the hype and get the best! Thanks again!!
  • puggleperson
    puggleperson Posts: 740 Member
    it's overpriced.. You must have one.. thanks for not helping :)

    Why would I buy something for 50+ bucks if I can get something cheaper that does the same thing???

    go buy a piece of crap then. have fun getting "accurate" readings with it. good luck


    Sorry but I wasn't looking for rude answers... I'm not a brand brat so I was looking for alternatives and you didn't give me any so why bother answering my question??? Have a great day I'm going with polar anyways
  • NanoReefDiver
    NanoReefDiver Posts: 153
    Glad to hear you decided on one! My parents still have the same polar they bought I don't know how many years ago and it is still going strong... I only hope mine will last as long :D
  • jenluvs2sing
    jenluvs2sing Posts: 50 Member
    I had a non Polar wrist unit that was awful. I bought the Polar F6 and love it. I know you were looking for a non Polar alternative but problem is most people have them. I know a few people with Garmin units who love them, I just didn't have the money, it was way more expensive than the one I bought. Anyway, good luck.
  • PostingMeals
    PostingMeals Posts: 2
    Let us know how you like the HRM you end up purchasing! When I bought mine last January, it really helped motivate me to get back on the "work-out wagon". That's the reason I think it was some of the best money I spent last year. Also, since it's a Polar I could upload to the Polar Personal Trainer diary, (I'm sure some of the other brands have similar functions and features.) The website isn't always user friendly, but I love the satisfaction I get out of SEEING my exercise sessions fill up the month, as well as the ability to look back to see the level of intensity I was hitting three months ago. I still upload ALL of my results :)

    Hope you fall in love with it!
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    Garmin FR60... I love it.

    I, too, have a Garmin FR60, and I absolutely LOVE it! I think Garmin is actually better simply because you can add features/accessories to it if you want and it has an interactive software that's free. It's more expensive than Polar, though.
  • bloodbank
    bloodbank Posts: 468 Member
    Suunto makes excellent pieces. Most Garmins are quite good, as well. Truly, if you buy a cheap piece it will act like a cheap piece. You wouldn't buy $25 Walmart shoes for running, I wouldn't purchase a "no name" piece of electronics and expect it to work well in any sense of the word.

    That said, I have a Polar FT7 and think it's pretty nifty.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    Check out heartratemonitorsusa.com, too. They had some really good pricing on Garmin products and FREE shipping! I don't know if they carry Polar, but it never hurts to look!
  • PantalaNagaPampa
    PantalaNagaPampa Posts: 1,031 Member
    Well, I don't have a Polar but I did find a really nice one form Nike, chest strap, the watch has to many setting to list and it syncs up with every piece of cardio equipment at my gym. Nike one is not much cheaper than Polar. Again, they both use quality materials and components. Some times, you get what you pay for.
  • Minnie_Moo
    Minnie_Moo Posts: 239 Member
    Thank you all for responding to my question. I'm not a cheapo but I just refuse to purchase "name brand" just because. I am not getting caught is a materialistic trap.... I refuse!!! HOWEVER, I have done some research and it really sounds like hands down polar is the best, even though I don't NEED the best at the same time I don't want to be running back and forth returning crap items.. So this time I will give into the hype and get the best! Thanks again!!

    I have a Polar F3 HRM that I got awhile back, maybe 3 or 4 years ago. It doesn't do everything that the new ones (such as FT7 / FT40 / FT4) do but it works for me. It came with the chest strap which I have read is more accurate than just a wristwatch HRM types. 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: Good Luck !


    *** 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
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