Heart Rate Monitor Question

Hemis_mom
Hemis_mom Posts: 193 Member
edited September 19 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi my b-day is coming up and I really want a heart rate monitor so my hubby said he would get one for me--Could someone recommend one that is good but not too expensive--I also want to know if you need one with a chest strap or if they make wrist ones that work just as well--I would like to use it for all my work outs from running to using the wii!!
Thanks for your help in advance

Replies

  • Hemis_mom
    Hemis_mom Posts: 193 Member
    Hi my b-day is coming up and I really want a heart rate monitor so my hubby said he would get one for me--Could someone recommend one that is good but not too expensive--I also want to know if you need one with a chest strap or if they make wrist ones that work just as well--I would like to use it for all my work outs from running to using the wii!!
    Thanks for your help in advance
  • AJCM
    AJCM Posts: 2,169 Member
    I did my research last year when I bought one, and the Polar (lowest priced model) won out. Lots of great basic features, and all for under $100.

    Enjoy it! It has CHANGED my workouts!
    :flowerforyou:
  • fiddlechic
    fiddlechic Posts: 196
    I have the polar F6 but I hear the polar F4 is just as good. the F6 can be used in the pool and at the gym and not get inference from the other machines measuring heart rate.
  • ktthegr8
    ktthegr8 Posts: 479
    I did my research last year when I bought one, and the Polar (lowest priced model) won out. Lots of great basic features, and all for under $100.

    Enjoy it! It has CHANGED my workouts!
    :flowerforyou:
    I agree on all counts! And yes, from everything I've read, the ones with the chest strap are more accurate. I also read here that it is better to buy them online, they are better quality than the ones in the store.
  • mrsyac2
    mrsyac2 Posts: 2,784 Member
    I got a polar F4 with a chest strap (don't even know its there) and I love love love it- I got mine at Target.com for 89.00 -- Best purchase by far for my workouts- and it has helped me in reaching my goals because I know exactly where my heart rate is and how many calories I am really burning in my workouts
  • ktthegr8
    ktthegr8 Posts: 479
    I have the polar F6 but I hear the polar F4 is just as good. the F6 can be used in the pool and at the gym and not get inference from the other machines measuring heart rate.

    I have the F4 and it is also waterproof and I haven't had any problems at the gym. Except that occasionally my heart rate will show up on the treadmill next to me.
  • get_fit2009
    get_fit2009 Posts: 827 Member
    I got the Polar F6 for around $100. (Actually, my hubby and boys bought it FOR me for around $100 :smile: .) I love it - it keeps me honest. I may FEEL like I burned 1,000 calories - but it was really 450:laugh: . It also has helped me run more. I H.A.T.E. running, but I like to see how many calories I can burn when I run around the lake by my house. (Ooooh, look at the numbers go up on the pretty pink wristwatch - let's run some more!!! :laugh: )
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    I'd had the Timex first, but found out that it wasn't much better than the gym machine, and didn't give me calories, anyway. Bought the Polar F6 and love it.

    BUT, I hear the F11 is slightly better in that you don't have to send in the chest strap for battery replacement - you can do it yourself. That's a factor to consider if you're not into having to send stuff off. If I'd known that, I'd have got the F11.
  • artschoolgirl
    artschoolgirl Posts: 598 Member
    This is perfect information! I was just going to post a new topic & found this in perfect timing! I just about bought a Polar F4 today but decided i should get some feedback. Good to know! Thanks ladies!
  • Brandiann
    Brandiann Posts: 905 Member
    I purchased a Reebok Precision Trainer XT HRM for $29.99 with free shipping and it comes with a watch, chest strap and a bike mount bracket... Love it! :heart: :bigsmile: It has a personal profile which asks, age, weight, height, gender, MHR (maximum heart rate), and activity level... You can't beat the price and it works just fine... Good luck on your decision....
  • shutter_bug7783
    shutter_bug7783 Posts: 34
    I too wanted a HRM to keep a better more accurate track of calories I burn during my workouts. After reading several posts on MFP about recommendations regarding HRM's I went and bought the light pink (I love pink!) Polar F6 from Sports Authority. It did come with a chest strap, which I can barely feel when I wear it.

    There were other suggestions for HRM's, but the majority of people seemed very happy with Polar. I've only used mine once so far. I burned 200 calories washing my car! But I'm looking forward to going to the gym on Monday to compare what my new HRM says versus what the Tread Climber says. According to the Tread Climber (it does ask for weight and age when doing intervals) I burn about 950-1020 calories in an hour. How accurate that is... have to wait and see.

    Good luck with picking the HRM that works best for you!
  • Iceprincessk25
    Iceprincessk25 Posts: 1,888 Member
    I purchased a Reebok Precision Trainer XT HRM for $29.99 with free shipping and it comes with a watch, chest strap and a bike mount bracket... Love it! :heart: :bigsmile: It has a personal profile which asks, age, weight, height, gender, MHR (maximum heart rate), and activity level... You can't beat the price and it works just fine... Good luck on your decision....

    I have this one as well and I think it's AWESOME. I was debating between this and a polar and this one won out. Has all the same features but it was only $40.00 on Ebay.

    Knowing my calories burnt has make such a huge difference.
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    But I'm looking forward to going to the gym on Monday to compare what my new HRM says versus what the Tread Climber says. According to the Tread Climber (it does ask for weight and age when doing intervals) I burn about 950-1020 calories in an hour. How accurate that is... have to wait and see.

    Good luck with picking the HRM that works best for you!

    If it asks for weight AND age, it'll be more accurate than those that just ask for weight. Still, I prefer my F6, which asks for just about everything. :smile:
  • mrsyac2
    mrsyac2 Posts: 2,784 Member
    I have the polar F6 but I hear the polar F4 is just as good. the F6 can be used in the pool and at the gym and not get inference from the other machines measuring heart rate.

    I have the F4 and it is also waterproof and I haven't had any problems at the gym. Except that occasionally my heart rate will show up on the treadmill next to me.

    HAHA I love when that happens the person thinks they are the one that is woofing it and when I walk away it goes away I laugh inside all the time lol
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    I have the polar F6 but I hear the polar F4 is just as good. the F6 can be used in the pool and at the gym and not get inference from the other machines measuring heart rate.

    I have the F4 and it is also waterproof and I haven't had any problems at the gym. Except that occasionally my heart rate will show up on the treadmill next to me.

    this happens to me ALL.THE.TIME!

    I will have my hands on the sensors, and my HR is consistent, then someone (who has on their HRM) walks by, and the numbers start going crazy. 160-45-92-180-50. AAAARGH!
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member

    this happens to me ALL.THE.TIME!

    I will have my hands on the sensors, and my HR is consistent, then someone (who has on their HRM) walks by, and the numbers start going crazy. 160-45-92-180-50. AAAARGH!

    Same here. Does your machine go nuts, too? I mean, sometimes the elliptical will start changing resistance on its own when the numbers go nuts. It drives ME nuts!
  • queenmina
    queenmina Posts: 84 Member
    Hi all!

    I have two Polar products. One is the FA20, which is an activity computer. It's not a heart rate monitor, but it measures your activity throughout the day. It's basically a glorified pedometer. I wear it throughout the day to remind myself to hit my target of 90 minutes of activity (which means, walking, climbing stairs, etc excluding workouts).

    The other one is a FT40, which is a pretty great heart rate monitor. I've been using it for a couple of days now and I'm really happy with how it works. Plus the transmitter is coded so when I work out at the gym, I don't pick up other people's readings.

    Both models are slightly more expensive, but that's because both can use the Flowlink to upload data to a PC - this was the main reason why I bought into this series. Then supposedly I can keep track of my progress. The only bummer is it doesn't work with mac. :( So I'll have to wait for software to be created or buy a PC. HA!
  • Hemis_mom
    Hemis_mom Posts: 193 Member
    Thank you for all of your help I went today and bought a f6 in PINK I haven't had a chance to try it out yet I will keep you posted on how it changes my workouts--I am really excited to try it and I even got it on sale!!!
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