What heart rate monitor do you use?

turtlez23
turtlez23 Posts: 156 Member
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
I am looking to buy a heart rate monitor and there are so many out there, not sure which one to get. I was also looking into getting the new Fitbit ChargeHR when that comes out or the JawboneUP3 since they both include a heart rate monitor plus sleep/steps/calories burned tracking.

Thanks!
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Replies

  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    I use activity-specific HRMs: a Garmin Edge 800 bike computer/HRM for cycling, and a Garmin Forerunner 620 watch/HRM for running (and hiking, canoeing, and other outdoor activities, but it's really optimized for running). They both use Firstbeat, Inc.'s proprietary technology for estimating energy consumption, which is allegedly a lot more accurate (and therefore, lower :( ) than the typical HRM. My old Sigma HRM estimated that I burned 50-60 calories per mile cycling; my Edge 800 gives a more realistic, if more depressing, 25-40 depending on terrain and speed.

    I read a detailed, fairly positive review of the Garmin Vivofit tracker on Ray Maker's blog today. It works with a HRM strap, so if you'd like an all-in-one tracker, you might consider it, especially since the battery supposedly lasts a year.
  • Catsheep
    Catsheep Posts: 16
    Waiting for the Fitbit Charge HR!
  • FaylinaMeir
    FaylinaMeir Posts: 661 Member
    Catsheep wrote: »
    Waiting for the Fitbit Charge HR!

    same here and hopefully it's better than the fitbit flex
  • laystarr
    laystarr Posts: 7 Member
    Polar FT7 for the last 2 years, but would recommend one with a gps sensor.
  • IamMCM
    IamMCM Posts: 122
    I liked my Polar but got sick of the chest strap. I've always been a Fitbit fan but got tired of waiting for the new one and just got a Basis Peak. Loving it so far.
  • Aust1967
    Aust1967 Posts: 68 Member
    In for learning more!
  • thenk83
    thenk83 Posts: 22 Member
    Wahoo Tickr... waiting for a Fitbit Surge. Looking to replace my Fitbit Flex and Wahoo Tickr for just the Fitbit Surge. I've been thinking about the Apple Watch but I honestly love my little Fitbit community of friends. We have work challenges and cheer each other on. It's fun. I haven't seen anything announced for that and the Apple Watch.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Polar ft4 for workouts

    Plus a fitbit for daily activity - used to wear a flex but changed to a zip so I could wear my bracelets again
  • turtlez23
    turtlez23 Posts: 156 Member
    bwogilvie wrote: »
    I use activity-specific HRMs: a Garmin Edge 800 bike computer/HRM for cycling, and a Garmin Forerunner 620 watch/HRM for running (and hiking, canoeing, and other outdoor activities, but it's really optimized for running). They both use Firstbeat, Inc.'s proprietary technology for estimating energy consumption, which is allegedly a lot more accurate (and therefore, lower :( ) than the typical HRM. My old Sigma HRM estimated that I burned 50-60 calories per mile cycling; my Edge 800 gives a more realistic, if more depressing, 25-40 depending on terrain and speed.

    I read a detailed, fairly positive review of the Garmin Vivofit tracker on Ray Maker's blog today. It works with a HRM strap, so if you'd like an all-in-one tracker, you might consider it, especially since the battery supposedly lasts a year.

    That is depressing, but the more accurate the better! You're really active and I am so not at that level yet. I was planing on buying a bike soon since I despise running I'll check out that Garmin. Thanks! :smile:
  • turtlez23
    turtlez23 Posts: 156 Member
    laystarr wrote: »
    Polar FT7 for the last 2 years, but would recommend one with a gps sensor.

    Thanks! Ill check it out!
  • turtlez23
    turtlez23 Posts: 156 Member
    It seems like everyone is pro fitbit. Have not heard anything about the Jawbone yet.
  • KayBallin
    KayBallin Posts: 111 Member
    I have a polar ft4. It's great. I use the fitbit app on my phone to track daily activity (there's a motion sensor on the iphone 5s).
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    Started with New Balance N4. Then got a Polar FT4. The N4 was way overestimating.
  • Lalalindaloo
    Lalalindaloo Posts: 204 Member
    xTHENKx wrote: »
    Wahoo Tickr... waiting for a Fitbit Surge. Looking to replace my Fitbit Flex and Wahoo Tickr for just the Fitbit Surge. I've been thinking about the Apple Watch but I honestly love my little Fitbit community of friends. We have work challenges and cheer each other on. It's fun. I haven't seen anything announced for that and the Apple Watch.

    I use the Wahoo Tickr as well. I wonder sometimes about the accuracy of it, so I try not to eat back more than 1/2 to 2/3 of my calories from it (if I eat them back at all, this week post-holiday there is NONE OF THAT ALLOWED).

    I love being able to see it. it motivates me to work harder and longer.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited December 2014
    Honestly the best one is the one you will use. Decide on what you want to spend and go from there. I am partial to Garmin, but never had anything else. I like the app interaction and im a bit of a data nerd. You could make a list of the options/features you want one to have so when you are looking you dont get sucked in to just a little bit more and more.
  • turtlez23
    turtlez23 Posts: 156 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Honestly the best one is the one you will use. Decide on what you want to spend and go from there. I am partial to Garmin, but never had anything else. I like the app interaction and im a bit of a data nerd. You could make a list of the options/features you want one to have so when you are looking you dont get sucked in to just a little bit more and more.

    I also like to see all that data but I also want accurate data. I know not everything will be to the T but I would hope I could choose something that is accurate as possible.

    Making a list of what I want is a good idea too!

    Thanks!
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    I have a Jarv heart rate monitor (chest strap only) that I got for $19.99 from groupon.

    I don't really see the point of an activity monitor. I wanted to know if I was hitting my ideal heart rate while working out without having to count it myself. Most activity monitors seem like fun toys more than anything.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I have the Polar Ft4 but honestly I haven't used it in forever. I'm not really into doing just cardio.
  • 1ahayward
    1ahayward Posts: 9 Member
    Polar Ft4. The monitors with chest straps are more accurate than those without.
  • numinousnymph
    numinousnymph Posts: 249 Member
    Polar FT4 as well. Been using it since June and I've found it to help a LOT in getting more accurate calorie burn (rather than relying on gym machines, or god forbid, MFP's estimates. lol) and helping me lose.
  • sheepotato
    sheepotato Posts: 600 Member
    I have a polar FT4, it was cheap and I can wear it while swimming. It seems to be fairly accurate for most cardio if not a little high when walking.
  • shadesofidaho
    shadesofidaho Posts: 485 Member
    edited December 2014
    I was looking at Fitbit . Am I correct you can only get the information through uploading it to your cell phone and not your computer? I am not good at understanding some of this. I do not use cell phone. GASP I know so old but I just have no one I want to talk to bad enough to carry a fricking phone for. I bought omron step and it seems to be motivating. It is for walking which on my old fat bad knee body is all I m up to. The Omron gives steps ,miles.calories and some thing else, g, no idea what that is. Guess I should try to look it up. I will keep an eye o this thread and save my $$$ Anyway if it is true info had to be uploaded to a phone then I need some thing that does not use a phone for input.

    Chris
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    For gym cardio - Polar FT60. Allows custom setting of my tested VO2 max and HR max. Very pleased with it.

    For cycling I use a Garmin Edge with HRM, cadence monitor and navigation. Works well.

    I liked my old Polar FT7 as a watch but wasn't impressed with its reliability and longevity.
    Even older Polar FT1 was dreadful (really basic) but had a good chest strap.
  • sheepotato
    sheepotato Posts: 600 Member
    edited December 2014
    shadesofidaho wrote: »
    I was looking at Fitbit . Am I correct you can only get the information through uploading it to your cell phone and not your computer? I am not good at understanding some of this. I do not use cell phone. GASP I know so old but I just have no one I want to talk to bad enough to carry a fricking phone for. I bought omron step and it seems to be motivating. It is for walking which on my old fat bad knee body is all I m up to. The Omron gives steps ,miles.calories and some thing else, g, no idea what that is. Guess I should try to look it up. I will keep an eye o this thread and save my $$$ Anyway if it is true info had to be uploaded to a phone then I need some thing that does not use a phone for input.

    Chris

    A fitbit is just a step counter, it doesn't track Heart Rate. You can sync it at your computer with it's charging station. They have a phone app so I guess you can sync it that way, but it's not how the one I have works.

    You may want to get a polar instead if you want a heart rate monitor, they can cost less than a fitbit and you can read right from the watch without syncing it at all. The one I have saves my workouts on the watch, but I have to manually long everything instead of it automatically syncing.
  • shadesofidaho
    shadesofidaho Posts: 485 Member
    Thank you sheepotato. I will look into it. Heart rate would be good to know. The orem does work for steps. Appreciate the computer information.
  • ahoier
    ahoier Posts: 312 Member
    I wear the fitbit DAILY.

    But I use a cheap-o "Crane" brand HRM I picked up from ALDI Market, for like 18 bucks....a couple months ago. lol. It seems to work for me......I'd imagine most of these things all run off similar "technology" anyways.....by now.....provided they are set up and calibrated to your age, weight, gender, etc.....

    Biggest thing is remembering to "recalibrate" them everytime you weigh in lol.


    But yea, I also use the fitbit for day to day activities.....I still log my cardio into MFP....but I've been taking the "average" of the elliptical + HRM + MyFitnessPal value.....divided by 3....and I'll over-ride MyFitnessPal's output (which is usually 100 calories higher....for some reason.....but the HRM is usually 60 calories lower....) lol. So I feel with the "average" of the 3....I get a pretty good picture of what I'm burning during my cardio.

    Weight lifting is a little bit harder.....unless you're doing serious high intensity reps/sets LOL.....obviously, if you take a lot of breaks.....it won't be as accurate...but again, I'll enter it. Add the HRM and MyFitness value, and divide by 2......to get the average. and log it that way.

    But I barely ever "eat" my exercise calories.....just too hard.....when I workout in the evening, I'd be eating like 500+ calories.....within 2 hours of bed.....no bueno lol/
  • Kellyfitness128
    Kellyfitness128 Posts: 194 Member
    I just put the Garmin 920xt on my christmas list :)
  • cowbellsandcoffee
    cowbellsandcoffee Posts: 2,975 Member
    Garmin Edge 500 for cycling. Everything I need. Nothing I don't.
  • turtlez23
    turtlez23 Posts: 156 Member
    I just feel that a chest strap is going to be uncomfortable especially for someone like me who is on the heavier side.
  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    turtlez23 wrote: »
    I just feel that a chest strap is going to be uncomfortable especially for someone like me who is on the heavier side.

    http://www.jabra.com/products/bluetooth/jabra_sport_pulse_wireless/jabra_sport_pulse_wireless

    I've been very curious about these lately. I am not heavy, but I hate wearing a chest strap nonetheless... makes me feel like I'm wearing a bro!

    Anyone used them? I'm curious if they only work with their app or if I could pair them to a polar watch just like any other bluetooth chest strap. Anyone know?
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