Heart Rate Monitor-what do you recommend??

jamielynn1981
jamielynn1981 Posts: 232 Member
edited September 29 in Fitness and Exercise
I am going to purchase a heart rate monitor soon and was wondering what everyone else recommends. A few things that I would like in one:
*I am doing Turbofire/ChaLEAN Extreme dvds right now, so I want an accurate calorie burn.
*Comfortable to wear all day to see a calorie burn for the entire day.
*Syncs with your computer and maybe comes with a program that you can enter calories in vs. calories burned.
Thanks!!

Replies

  • acaudill042106
    acaudill042106 Posts: 108 Member
    bump
  • kje2011
    kje2011 Posts: 502 Member
    bump
    I am interested in getting one also. I heard polar and timex are good ones and pretty good prices too.
  • healthwealth101
    healthwealth101 Posts: 2
    I have a garmin. I like it because it has a computer program like you mentioned (although I don't think it does calories in--it just tracks your goals and progress). Also, it works with a tanita scale that gives you weight/fat percentage/water percentage and the computer program tracks that too. It also comes with a foot pod so it can tell you, if you're a runner (or even a walker, I suppose), your mileage and pace. I had a Polar before and I prefer this one (although Polar might have similar models now). It's not cheap, though, from what I remember. An investment, but I love it. I've run through the batteries already and replaced them and it continued to work just as before. Gl.
  • tmontgomery69
    tmontgomery69 Posts: 180 Member
    I LOVE my Polar F6. :smile:
  • shonniegrl
    shonniegrl Posts: 22 Member
    I have the Polar FT7 and I LOVE it!!
  • kellyscomeback
    kellyscomeback Posts: 1,369 Member
    No complaints with my New Balance N4.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    bump
    I am interested in getting one also. I heard polar and timex are good ones and pretty good prices too.

    Do not get a Timex, esp the Timex Unisex Trainer that runs around 40-50 dollars.. its absolute crap and the calorie count is way off!

    I have a Polar FT7 and I love it! So easy to use and set up. there is an attachment that you can download the information from the watch to your computer but it's an extra 50 dollars. It also counts calories, shows you how long you worked out for, your heart rate, and what "zone" you're in.

    You're also not supposed to wear the HRM all day. It's really made for just tracking when your heart rate is elevated, and not when your at rest.

    Most important thing your looking for is one that has a chest strap, and lets you input your age, height, gender, weight.
  • cdpm
    cdpm Posts: 297 Member
    I have a basic and very easy to use Beurer PM45. It was a present from my parents at Christmas and it does the job. Though I think that on the odd occasion the calories are wrong.
    I'm happy with it, but wouldn't mind an upgrade!
  • kje2011
    kje2011 Posts: 502 Member
    bump
    I am interested in getting one also. I heard polar and timex are good ones and pretty good prices too.

    Do not get a Timex, esp the Timex Unisex Trainer that runs around 40-50 dollars.. its absolute crap and the calorie count is way off!

    I have a Polar FT7 and I love it! So easy to use and set up. there is an attachment that you can download the information from the watch to your computer but it's an extra 50 dollars. It also counts calories, shows you how long you worked out for, your heart rate, and what "zone" you're in.

    You're also not supposed to wear the HRM all day. It's really made for just tracking when your heart rate is elevated, and not when your at rest.

    Most important thing your looking for is one that has a chest strap, and lets you input your age, height, gender, weight.

    thanks for the info.
    Is it necessary to get a chest strap? or is there just ones for the wrist? i do like to get one that does count your calories..
    so many questions...
    kje
  • babydull
    babydull Posts: 727 Member
    I'm in the UK and I'm just looking for something cheap, with an accurate calorie counter. Any advice?
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    bump
    I am interested in getting one also. I heard polar and timex are good ones and pretty good prices too.

    Do not get a Timex, esp the Timex Unisex Trainer that runs around 40-50 dollars.. its absolute crap and the calorie count is way off!

    I have a Polar FT7 and I love it! So easy to use and set up. there is an attachment that you can download the information from the watch to your computer but it's an extra 50 dollars. It also counts calories, shows you how long you worked out for, your heart rate, and what "zone" you're in.

    You're also not supposed to wear the HRM all day. It's really made for just tracking when your heart rate is elevated, and not when your at rest.

    Most important thing your looking for is one that has a chest strap, and lets you input your age, height, gender, weight.

    thanks for the info.
    Is it necessary to get a chest strap? or is there just ones for the wrist? i do like to get one that does count your calories..
    so many questions...
    kje

    Yes the chest strap is necessary. Without it you will not have an accurate heart rate or calorie count. You can get ones for the just the wrist but how they work is you have to place a finger or two on a sensor thats on the watch.. and really how many times are you going to stop during exercise to do that? With a chest strap, its constantly monitoring your heart rate and feeding your watch the information.. thus giving you a more accurate read and calorie burn.
  • jamielynn1981
    jamielynn1981 Posts: 232 Member
    Thanks so much for all of your advice.
    How about the Body Bugg?? I always see a lot of people in the Turbofire videos wearing these, and I know Chalene Johnson recommends these.
  • Whatnow50
    Whatnow50 Posts: 93
    just looking for more info... saw this on another post... Timex came in 1st and 2nd! So.... what problems did some have with Timex? these models? really thinking of looking for one tomorrow if I can figure out what I should try. :) Thanks for your help!

    Heart-Rate Monitors top 5 models according to consumer reports Feb-2011. All are chest-strap models.
    1. Timex Personal Trainer T5G971 - $50, score: 93%
    2. Timex Zone Trainer T5J031 - $75, score: 92%
    3. New Balance N5 - $72, score: 90%
    4. Sportline Duo 1010 - $60, score: 88%
    5. Omron HR-100C - $40, score: 88%
    6. Acumen Ergo Plus - $70, score: 87%
    7. Ekho E-15 - $72, score: 87%
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    just looking for more info... saw this on another post... Timex came in 1st and 2nd! So.... what problems did some have with Timex? these models? really thinking of looking for one tomorrow if I can figure out what I should try. :) Thanks for your help!

    Heart-Rate Monitors top 5 models according to consumer reports Feb-2011. All are chest-strap models.
    1. Timex Personal Trainer T5G971 - $50, score: 93%
    2. Timex Zone Trainer T5J031 - $75, score: 92%
    3. New Balance N5 - $72, score: 90%
    4. Sportline Duo 1010 - $60, score: 88%
    5. Omron HR-100C - $40, score: 88%
    6. Acumen Ergo Plus - $70, score: 87%
    7. Ekho E-15 - $72, score: 87%

    The very first timex that scored the highest is absolute crap and I'll tell you why.

    When you are looking for an HRM your looking for two things: One that it has a chest strap, and one that lets you input your height, weight, age, gender and VO2 Maxx.

    With the highest rated Timex Personal Trainer, it has a chest strap(yay) But it only lets you in put your weight and max heart rate... and none of the other info. Since its a Unisex HRM, it automatically assumes that your a male, who weighs X, with a max heart rate of X. It does not know what age you are or what height.. and someone who is 50 is going to burn a different amount of calories then 23 yr old me, just like a male will burn different then a female, a 6 ft tall person will burn different then a 5 ft tall person and a 300 pound person will burn different then a 150 pound person.

    So in other words, that HRM is not accurate and you should not buy it in my opinion. I know some people on here do have it, and they say it's wonderful. Personally, I had it and it told me that for 30 min of walking at an incline of 15% at a speed of 3.0, I burned 581 calories. I do the exact same exercise with my Polar, with the exact same heart rate and it tells me I burned around 300 calories.

    I'm not sure about the other HRM's in the list, but from what I've read on here TImex's always have a really high calorie burn.
    I've never even heard of Acumen or Ekho brands. I'd honestly get a Polar, as it is the most recommended brand. Why consumer reports did not include those on it's list is beyond me.

    Also here is a link about HRM's that backs up my claims..
    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
  • Whatnow50
    Whatnow50 Posts: 93
    Thank you for the great link! Hoping to get one today... or at least get it ordered.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Thank you for the great link! Hoping to get one today... or at least get it ordered.

    Good, and you're welcome!

    When I first was buying one, I bought the Timex and thought all HRM's were equal..and boy was I wrong! Now that I have my Polar FT7, I don't think I'd ever get anything but a Polar.
  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
    I got my Polar FT4 off of a website for 73.99. Pretty much love it already! So easy to use and maintain. :)
  • chuckycheez
    chuckycheez Posts: 12
    Garmin Forerunner 305 for me.Calorie count is accurate,counts elapsed time,moving time, avg. and max. heart rate, moving and avg. pace, lap function, etc. Download to Garmins web site and it graphs it all out and stores it for you. I've been using it for a year or so and love it. The price is good on the 305 now, they've just come out with it's replacement, the 310. I still like the 305 better.
  • whodatgrl
    whodatgrl Posts: 111
    Bump
  • jamielynn1981
    jamielynn1981 Posts: 232 Member
    Thanks for the link also!
  • Whatnow50
    Whatnow50 Posts: 93
    Thanks for all the help...
    I ordered Polar FT7F on amazon.com today... $110... at least I feel confident that others have been happy with it and it will have any feature I'm interested in. Should be here Wed.

    Interested to see how it calculates compared to machines at gym.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Thanks for all the help...
    I ordered Polar FT7F on amazon.com today... $110... at least I feel confident that others have been happy with it and it will have any feature I'm interested in. Should be here Wed.

    Interested to see how it calculates compared to machines at gym.

    You'll love the FT7. I find that when I'm doing a treadmill work out, it's pretty close calorie wise. When I'm on the elliptical, the HRM gives me 200 more calories then the machine gives me.
  • marianne_s
    marianne_s Posts: 983 Member
    I am going to purchase a heart rate monitor soon and was wondering what everyone else recommends. A few things that I would like in one:
    *I am doing Turbofire/ChaLEAN Extreme dvds right now, so I want an accurate calorie burn.
    *Comfortable to wear all day to see a calorie burn for the entire day.
    *Syncs with your computer and maybe comes with a program that you can enter calories in vs. calories burned.
    Thanks!!


    Only a Bodymedia Fit, BodyBugg or FitbIt will allow you to see your calorie burn for the whole day.

    HRMs are not designed to accurately calculate your calorie burn - they only work best when you're exercising - heart rate elevated
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