Recommendations on Heart Rate Monitors?

I use a Sportline I bought at ****'s Sporting Goods. Works great and the chest strap is comfortable (I forget I have it on sometimes.) Downside: It's not the easiest thing to navigate through the features and once I clear a workout, I haven't figured out how to save it.

I have a Proform TX 300. It's not the fanciest monitor, but it's only about $40 on Amazon. I like it so far, it works with or without the chest strap, which I like. I also like it because unlike other HRM I have used, it works pretty well when taking your heart rate while you are running. With other monitors I've used, it's been difficult to get them to read your heart rate while in motion, and since I use it when I'm jogging, that kind of defeated the purpose. lol Overall, I like it. It seems pretty accurate, gives me around the same amount of calories burned when compared to the preset exercises on here. Like I said, nothing fancy, and it's not the coolest looking HRM, but I don't mind it. For the price I paid, I'm very happy with it.

Hi,

I am a big fan of Polar (one of their Ambassadors) and they have a wonderful line of HRM's. I have been using their products for about a year and a half.

I started with the FT7 - about $90 to $105, but after 8 months, I graduated to the FT80, which gave me GPS, Fitness Tests (VO2max), a visual display of my HR, Strength Training detail (add you entire lifting routine into the watch) and a great online community that supports me through challenges (uploading through a Flow Link accessory). I use it for the elliptical, tennis and weight lifting.

Online the FT80 lists at $349. I have seen it as low as $250 (with a Flow Link) at heartratemonitorusa.com.

See the results:

http://www.polar.fi/en/polar_community/polar_people/Andrew

A great basic HR monitor is the FT4 (about $70 online). When you step up to the FT 7, FT40 FT60 & FT80 they can all upload results to polarpersonaltrainer.com...each adds a feature up the line and you should select a monitor that matches your lifestyle/budget.

See their website:

http://www.polar.fi/en/

I have a Polar FT7 and love it!

Stay away from the TImex Unisex Zone Trainer... way overestimates on the calorie burn.

I have a Proform TX 300. It's not the fanciest monitor, but it's only about $40 on Amazon. It seems pretty accurate, gives me around the same amount of calories burned when compared to the preset exercises on here.

You have to be careful...most of the preset exercises on here are pretty optimistic.

Hi,

I am a big fan of Polar (one of their Ambassadors) and they have a wonderful line of HRM's. I have been using their products for about a year and a half.

I started with the FT7 - about $90 to $105, but after 8 months, I graduated to the FT80, which gave me GPS, Fitness Tests (VO2max), a visual display of my HR, Strength Training detail (add you entire lifting routine into the watch) and a great online community that supports me through challenges (uploading through a Flow Link accessory). I use it for the elliptical, tennis and weight lifting.

Online the FT80 lists at $349. I have seen it as low as $250 (with a Flow Link) at heartratemonitorusa.com.

See the results:

http://www.polar.fi/en/polar_community/polar_people/Andrew

A great basic HR monitor is the FT4 (about $70 online). When you step up to the FT 7, FT40 FT60 & FT80 they can all upload results to polarpersonaltrainer.com...each adds a feature up the line and you should select a monitor that matches your lifestyle/budget.

See their website:

http://www.polar.fi/en/

I just ordered a FT7 on Amazon for $73 shipped. Can't WAIT to get it...but it looks like it'll be Friday =(.


To the original poster...do not for any reason buy anything offered at Wal Mart lol...it's just a waste of money. And most certainly don't buy anything without a chest strap. I highly recommend the FT4 or FT7 from Polar, based on my own research here, and on other forums. I chose the FT7 because it was only $10 more, and offered some serious upgrades to the FT4...the primary one being that the battery is replaceable at home, rather than having to send the unit back to Polar as is required by the FT4.

Hope that helps!

Cris

Ok, so I went to the web site and feel totally overwhelmed. Part of the problem is that I can't spend hundreds of dollars. Is there anything in, say, the $50 range? I didn't see prices on the site. What I'm looking for is something to accurately tell me how many calories I'm burning when I work out, and to easily let me know if I need to kick it up a notch or not, while I'm in the middle of a work out. Thanks in advance for whatever advise you can offer!

There are some in the 50 dollars price range with a chest strap, but how good they are, I don't really know.

I know the cheapest Polar is the FT4 and can be found for around 80 dollars.. I also know that some people have found it on E-bay for cheaper. So you may want to hunt around on there...

My hubby bought me a Sportline for my birthday. Someone else mentioned it... I also don't notice the chest strap. And it works well with the equipment at the gym.