HRM: Polar FT4 or FT7? Advice wanted...

txfamilyof7
txfamilyof7 Posts: 35 Member
edited September 29 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone,

I think the title says it all...I've been trying to research which HRM I should buy, the Polar FT4 or FT7? I have read tons of reviews, but a lot of it is Greek to me, as I really don't know that much about them.

Can anyone who owns either model please offer me some insight? I am looking for something that will help me calculate my calories, and help keep me on the right track to lose weight. It's too hot here to go outside and run/jog/walk, so all of my walking is done on a treadmill. Ahm, not sure what other info you would need to know. Most of the workouts I do are Zumba, Tae Bo, walking, and Pilates.

Another question: do either one of these models allow you to monitor your "everyday" caloric needs if you wear it all day?

TIA,

Replies

  • Jacquelyn913
    Jacquelyn913 Posts: 300 Member
    I have the Polar Ft6, and yes you can wear it all day or just during your workout.
  • BrentGetsFit
    BrentGetsFit Posts: 878 Member
    I use an FT4 and find it meets my needs perfectly. It keeps track of my heart rate, displays a nice graph to let me know where I am in the "zone" and displays my calories burned when I'm done. The FT7 is capable of linking with your PC to store your workout data so you can track your progress over time. IIRC you would need to buy a receiver to plug into your computer in order to use that feature. To answer your other question, standard HRM's are not meant for all day use. You'd need a BodyBugg or a FitBit to do that. Good luck :)

    Edited to fix punctuation error.
  • melliebee
    melliebee Posts: 187 Member
    FT4 is all you really need for keeping on track with calories and staying in your target heart rate during exercise. I love my FT4!
  • amber_hanners
    amber_hanners Posts: 388 Member
    I love my FT4 it is just what i need it monitors my heart rate and lets me know how many calories i burned in so many minutes and thats all i need with mfp helping with everything else
  • Crystalchaos72
    Crystalchaos72 Posts: 531
    I have an FT7 and absolutely love it! It keeps track of calories burned,duration of "fitness" vs "fat burn", and it is very user friendly. I think, not positive though, that you can even wear it while swimming. The battery life averages about a year or so.Good luck!
  • rosadona
    rosadona Posts: 36 Member
    i have an ft7 and i love it! i am sure you could wear it all day and see what your general burn is, however the calculations for basal metabolic rate as well as your activity level/weight do that just fine - and you don't really want to wear out the battery.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,032 Member
    Hi everyone,

    I think the title says it all...I've been trying to research which HRM I should buy, the Polar FT4 or FT7? I have read tons of reviews, but a lot of it is Greek to me, as I really don't know that much about them.

    Can anyone who owns either model please offer me some insight? I am looking for something that will help me calculate my calories, and help keep me on the right track to lose weight. It's too hot here to go outside and run/jog/walk, so all of my walking is done on a treadmill. Ahm, not sure what other info you would need to know. Most of the workouts I do are Zumba, Tae Bo, walking, and Pilates.

    Another question: do either one of these models allow you to monitor your "everyday" caloric needs if you wear it all day?

    TIA,
    Most Polar HRMs are not intended to be worn all day but when you're working out. The other type Fit Bit (??..you can look the name up on the BLoser website) is the one that you would get to wear all day to calculate. It's much more pricey and you'll need a monthly subscription to keep it going so you might want to read up on that type if that's more what you're interested in.

    FT7 can monitor a lot but it's not one you'll keep on after your workouts as that's not it's intended purpose. Personally I vote FT7 for myself.
  • txfamilyof7
    txfamilyof7 Posts: 35 Member
    I have an FT7 and absolutely love it! It keeps track of calories burned,duration of "fitness" vs "fat burn", and it is very user friendly. I think, not positive though, that you can even wear it while swimming. The battery life averages about a year or so.Good luck!

    Could you explain what you mean by "burned duration of 'fitness' vs 'fat burn'"?

    What does the FT7 track that the FT4 does not?

    The battery on the FT7 isn't one that the consumer can replace, is it?
  • cmg2008
    cmg2008 Posts: 139
    Bump
  • luvmybentley
    luvmybentley Posts: 74 Member
    I have an FT7 and absolutely love it! It keeps track of calories burned,duration of "fitness" vs "fat burn", and it is very user friendly. I think, not positive though, that you can even wear it while swimming. The battery life averages about a year or so.Good luck!

    Could you explain what you mean by "burned duration of 'fitness' vs 'fat burn'"?

    What does the FT7 track that the FT4 does not?

    The battery on the FT7 isn't one that the consumer can replace, is it?

    I'm interested in the answers to these questions too :)
  • txfamilyof7
    txfamilyof7 Posts: 35 Member
    bump
  • realme56
    realme56 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I don't know about the batteries but there are different levels of calorie burning. Lower hr for longer periods burns more fat, higher hr improves cardiac fitness and revs up the metabolism more. I have the ft7, the watch fits my wrist but the strap goes down so straight from the watch that it makes my wrist look pinched so I only wear it for exercise.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,032 Member
    I have an FT7 and absolutely love it! It keeps track of calories burned,duration of "fitness" vs "fat burn", and it is very user friendly. I think, not positive though, that you can even wear it while swimming. The battery life averages about a year or so.Good luck!

    Could you explain what you mean by "burned duration of 'fitness' vs 'fat burn'"?

    What does the FT7 track that the FT4 does not?

    The battery on the FT7 isn't one that the consumer can replace, is it?

    Regarding battery change it's easily changed by a watch maker/jewelry store for only a few dollars plus the price of a battery. $9 is what I pay on the rare times I've needed to replace mine.

    FT7 Model says you can change them yourself but if you plan on doing anything that may get the watch wet, swimming, triathlons, yes even sweat as it can get under the watch I'd highly recommend having a jeweler change it for you so the water proof seal gets put back properly. To me? It's definitely worth being safe and keeping it running well over changing it myself. Plus I don't know how much you're really saving as the battery being changed by a watch store is not much more than a new battery.

    I opt for getting it put back securely to keep the warranty intact and be able to depend on my watch.

    Others may have different thoughts on the matter.:flowerforyou:
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    You need 2 things when looking for an HRM:

    One that has a chest strap, and one that lets you input age, sex, weight, height.

    You also cannot wear an HRM all day, as that is not what they are designed for. They are only designed to track you're heart rate when elevated.

    With that being said, I have the FT7 and I love it.. it's very easy to use and set up, plus the strap is really comfortable.

    Differences between the FT4 and FT7:

    FT4:
    Only tracks 10 workout sessions
    Comes in 2 colors
    Does not use Vo2max to determine you're zones
    Does not allow you to upload you're data to a computer

    FT7:
    Tracks 99 workout sessions
    Comes in 4 colors(two for males and two for females)
    Does use Vo2max to determine your zones( I'm not 100% sure, but from what I've read in the manual, it sounds like it does)
    Does allow you to upload your data to a computer, but you ned to buy the optional flow link adapter for 50 dollars.

    All in all, each HRM is very good. Yes the batteries are user replaceable, but I'd take them to a jeweler just to be sure.
  • txfamilyof7
    txfamilyof7 Posts: 35 Member
    Thanks to all of y'all, your advice is much appreciated. Based on what y'all have said and what I've researched, I ordered the FT7. I can't wait til it gets here!!!:bigsmile:
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    Is it worth it to get the extra $50 flow attachment and get the FT7? I can see myself being a data girl but I want to hear feedback. I'm already ordering this and the fitbit and between both of them it is not cheap. :)

    The zones would be enough reason for me to get the FT7. Now just need to know if the flow attachment is worth it.
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    Never mind. I already found it in searches and ordered it.
  • adamb83
    adamb83 Posts: 719 Member
    FT4 is all you really need for keeping on track with calories and staying in your target heart rate during exercise. I love my FT4!

    Ditto!
  • _HeathBar_
    _HeathBar_ Posts: 902 Member
    I have an FT4 and love it. Keep in mind that they are not meant to be worn all day as they are notorious for over/under estimating calories burned while at rest. Only use it for exercise.

    If you want something you can wear all day look into a bodybugg type of device.
  • SuzieMae78
    SuzieMae78 Posts: 52 Member
    Bump
  • prettybrownround
    prettybrownround Posts: 362 Member
    bump
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I have the Polar Ft6, and yes you can wear it all day or just during your workout.

    You can wear it all day, but the calories burned will only be a good estimate for the time that you are doing cardio only. Any other time it will grossly overestimate calories burned, as a part of the calculation assumes a certain % oxygen uptake that does not occur when not performing cardio activities.
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    I have an FT40F.

    It's best to get one (of any brand) that can calculate your VO2 max


    read this! 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
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Is it worth it to get the extra $50 flow attachment and get the FT7? I can see myself being a data girl but I want to hear feedback. I'm already ordering this and the fitbit and between both of them it is not cheap. :)

    The zones would be enough reason for me to get the FT7. Now just need to know if the flow attachment is worth it.

    FYI zones are a crock of S%^T, the zones are a myth, the harder you workout the more cals you burn the faster your results. don't pay any attention to zones. Workout as hard as you can and just stay under your max HR.
  • tsmoo107
    tsmoo107 Posts: 4 Member
    I've had an FT7 for about 18 months and just recently had to replace the battery. Regarding a previous post, after you end a workout it displays how many minutes you were in the fat burning zone (based on heart rate) and how many in the fitness zone, where your heart rate is high enough to effect heart fitness. While you are exercising, it has a little line with a mark on it showing when you cross from fat burning to fitness training...say at 120 BPM or whatever. It gets this # based on your personal stats that you enter in as well as learning from your workouts. You may find that BPM tipping point changes over time.

    Make sure you ordered the kit that provides the chest strap also - you need it plus the watch. What's cool is that if you wear the chest strap on a machine that records your heart rate it'll broadcast to that machine - you don't have to grip handles or anything for it to get the info.
  • StarIsMoving
    StarIsMoving Posts: 437
    I love Polar HRMs!!!! I have the FT40, which I know is not one you put in as option, but it is similar to the 2 you are considering, just more add-on features, plus a Fitness test to better guage your range other than through data of age, weight, height, etc. I have only been using it about a week and LOVE IT! The Polar products are notorious for giving the best estimates to calories burned and mine will store a ton of data too. Either one would work for the needs it sounds like you have, but if you prefer more memory, go with the FT7. If the memory and storage isn't a bit deal and you are on a tight budget, go with the FT4. IF you decide to take it swimming (which wasn't listed on your activities, but ya never know), then just don't push buttons while in the pool - that is how water will get into the watch and ruin. I also got the 2 yr plan on mine - it was fairly inexpensive and covers battery changing for me, and even normal wear and tear. If I get a scratch on the screen in a spot I don't like, I send it back and they will either 1) fix it and send to me, or 2) send me a check so I can replace it with new. Just some food for thought :) Enjoy your new HRM either way you go! You won't regret the investment at all!
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    I kept going back and forth between FT4 and FT7 and ended up with the FT40 in the end before I even read the last few posts. On Amazon, there wasn't much difference in price between the FT7 and FT40 considering the next one is a big jump in price.

    Eric, after reading all day yesterday on various websites, that's basically the same conclusion I came to as well.
  • grahamdl
    grahamdl Posts: 3
    How much was your FT7?
This discussion has been closed.

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