Help with choosing a Heart Rate Monitor

bexxgirl
bexxgirl Posts: 260 Member
edited October 5 in Fitness and Exercise
AAARHGH!

I have spent probably a total of 5 hours looking up different heart rate monitors from Garmin, Omron, Polar, Timex, etc.

I don't know what to get - there are good and bad reviews of all of them. I don't really want to spend more than $120-$150 dollars NZ (that's $75- $110 USD).

Can I get a decent one for that price and, to preserve my sanity, can anyone make a good suggestion? Help!!

Basically, I want one that will tell me the calories I have burned when doing things like taking an hour long walk, cleaning, doing a 30 Day Shred workout - most of the moderately active stuff.

(Also, is it possible to wear one all day and see how many calories you typically burn?)

Replies

  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    The Polar FT4 is the cheapest/most accurate of the less than $100 HRMs... cancelled my Timex one and gonna order this one soon. The Timex has good features but the FT4 is way more accurate for calorie estimating.
  • paulwgun
    paulwgun Posts: 439 Member
    Ive got a Polar FT4 which I bought off ebay for £40 gives calories burned time in heart rate zone average heart bpm and max bpm
    it hasnt got the bells and whistles of the £100 plus HRM but does what i want it to and I thoroughly recommend it
  • MissHellsing
    MissHellsing Posts: 133 Member
    I need a good Waterproof one for when I go swimming. =/
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    The FT4 is waterproof
    I need a good Waterproof one for when I go swimming. =/
  • MissHellsing
    MissHellsing Posts: 133 Member
    The FT4 is waterproof
    I need a good Waterproof one for when I go swimming. =/

    Thank you very much
  • bexxgirl
    bexxgirl Posts: 260 Member
    Great - thanks for your help! I've ordered one and it is ON THE WAY!
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    New Balance N4 for women. bought mines for 45dollars off ebay, but maybe about 55 at target. works great, shows calories burned, and keeps your records stored on the watch, comes with a cloth chest strap
  • navyw1fe
    navyw1fe Posts: 313 Member
    LOVE my Polar FT4!! I bought mine from a sporting goods store for $89 but u can get them cheaper on amazon,,i couldnt wait! LOL I wear it all day long and you cant even feel the chest strap..a friend of mine just got one too and she wondered why she didnt get it sooner!
  • highgear
    highgear Posts: 30 Member
    I had a Timex Road Trainer and it worked well, but I have since learned the calories burned is waaaayyyy off. I am now using a Garmin 310XT with the most recent algorithem and it is much more accurate. It shows calories burned at approx 60% of what the Timex showed, plus it maps my runs. I would highly reccomend the product.
  • bexxgirl
    bexxgirl Posts: 260 Member
    LOVE my Polar FT4!! I bought mine from a sporting goods store for $89 but u can get them cheaper on amazon,,i couldnt wait! LOL I wear it all day long and you cant even feel the chest strap..a friend of mine just got one too and she wondered why she didnt get it sooner!

    Hi - when you you say you wear it all day long, does that mean you can get to the end of the day and see how many calories you've burned, in total?
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    LOVE my Polar FT4!! I bought mine from a sporting goods store for $89 but u can get them cheaper on amazon,,i couldnt wait! LOL I wear it all day long and you cant even feel the chest strap..a friend of mine just got one too and she wondered why she didnt get it sooner!

    Hi - when you you say you wear it all day long, does that mean you can get to the end of the day and see how many calories you've burned, in total?

    Yes you will see calories burned in total if you wear it all day long, but they won't be accurate.

    You are not supposed to wear HRM's all day as the equation used to estimate calories burned, needs your heart rate to be elevated for it to estimate properly.

    If you want something to wear all day, then you need a bodybugg or a body media fit.
  • JayByrd107
    JayByrd107 Posts: 282 Member
    If you're looking to use a HRM to estimate calories burned doing anything but cardio with an elevated heart rate, you'll be disappointed. They don't work like that and aren't meant for that.
  • pinkita
    pinkita Posts: 779 Member
    Well I HATE my Polar FT4. I just bought it in June 2011 and have already had to send it to Polar TWICE for service. I hope that doesn't happen to you because once you start working out with a HRM, it feels like someone cut off your arm when you workout without one!

    I just bought a Bodybugg as they're on sale right now. And that one you can wear all day.
  • mochalovies
    mochalovies Posts: 192 Member
    Yup, I am a polar girl. I wear mine pretty much every day - no complaints here
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