Help choosing a heart rate monitor?

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healthyfoxx
healthyfoxx Posts: 104 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello everyone! This is my first post, and I'm hoping you folks can help me out. I just began running a few weeks ago (Couch to 5K program), and I want to continue on this path once I have completed my first 5k. I'm currently running on a treadmill for various reasons,but I want to begin out-door running in the near future. Because of this, I'm looking into a heart-rate monitor. But there are so many options! Chest strap? Wrist-type of monitor? Prices? Brands? I'm new to it all! I tried looking up a few sites about choosing one the "right" one, but they didn't help much.

Any help/suggestions for this total newbie to fitness-tech? :)
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Replies

  • NittanyLion95
    NittanyLion95 Posts: 65
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    I'm looking for suggestions too...too many options!
  • butterflyliz32
    butterflyliz32 Posts: 124 Member
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    Hello everyone! This is my first post, and I'm hoping you folks can help me out. I just began running a few weeks ago (Couch to 5K program), and I want to continue on this path once I have completed my first 5k. I'm currently running on a treadmill for various reasons,but I want to begin out-door running in the near future. Because of this, I'm looking into a heart-rate monitor. But there are so many options! Chest strap? Wrist-type of monitor? Prices? Brands? I'm new to it all! I tried looking up a few sites about choosing one the "right" one, but they didn't help much.

    Any help/suggestions for this total newbie to fitness-tech? :)

    I bought one about a year ago at Academy. I got the watch/wrist typebecause it was what I could afford. I have been very pleased with it. Here is the one I bought: http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_119130_-1?color=Pink&N=619959795
  • Reckabek
    Reckabek Posts: 487 Member
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    Always get one with a chest strap, they say! And i got the Polar brand and love it! Polar seems to HIGHLY recomended on here! Mine was bought at target for 93$ but i believe amazon has them for like 30$ less! Thats the wtg if ur not an impulsive spender like myself
  • healthyfoxx
    healthyfoxx Posts: 104 Member
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    Hello everyone! This is my first post, and I'm hoping you folks can help me out. I just began running a few weeks ago (Couch to 5K program), and I want to continue on this path once I have completed my first 5k. I'm currently running on a treadmill for various reasons,but I want to begin out-door running in the near future. Because of this, I'm looking into a heart-rate monitor. But there are so many options! Chest strap? Wrist-type of monitor? Prices? Brands? I'm new to it all! I tried looking up a few sites about choosing one the "right" one, but they didn't help much.

    Any help/suggestions for this total newbie to fitness-tech? :)

    I bought one about a year ago at Academy. I got the watch/wrist typebecause it was what I could afford. I have been very pleased with it. Here is the one I bought: http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_119130_-1?color=Pink&N=619959795

    Thanks for the link! That is really affordable. I think the non-chest straps one will be more my style, but even those kinds have so many options. Is there anything you don't like about your monitor?
  • fatboypup
    fatboypup Posts: 1,873 Member
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    Go Polar or go home!
  • janjan369
    janjan369 Posts: 98 Member
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    Bump as I am looking for one too.
  • Classalete
    Classalete Posts: 464 Member
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    buydig.com is having a sale on the FR60...Pretty popular model.
  • kaybrose730
    kaybrose730 Posts: 143 Member
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    Bought the Polar FT4, I love it! bought it off Amazon for about $65
  • katiej122
    katiej122 Posts: 125 Member
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    Ones with chest straps are definitely more accurate, I have a Polar f4, and its been really good :) super useful and never any technical problems
  • healthyfoxx
    healthyfoxx Posts: 104 Member
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    Always get one with a chest strap, they say! And i got the Polar brand and love it! Polar seems to HIGHLY recomended on here! Mine was bought at target for 93$ but i believe amazon has them for like 30$ less! Thats the wtg if ur not an impulsive spender like myself

    Are the chest straps comfortable? It seems like it would be a little distracting, but that could just be because I have never worn one before. $30 for one is certainly affordable, but I'm so worried I will hate wearing it.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
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    This may be a stupid question, but do they all track calories lost, or just heart rate? I have been thinking of getting one too.
  • fasttrack27
    fasttrack27 Posts: 324
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    Probably about a million posts in MFP with this same question - might want to search the site for that info.

    You'll see that my opinion is similar to the majority: Get a Polar w/ chest strap.
  • healthyfoxx
    healthyfoxx Posts: 104 Member
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    Probably about a million posts in MFP with this same question - might want to search the site for that info.

    You'll see that my opinion is similar to the majority: Get a Polar w/ chest strap.

    I'll do that as well, thanks!
  • lucycaz
    lucycaz Posts: 191 Member
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    HI

    I would recomend the Garmin Forerunner range..... Mine has GPS and HR moniter (With a chest Strap)

    It is great for running as it measures distance (Tracked via stalite) intervals, pace, HR, training zones and loads of other stuff I have not yet worked out....

    I Love Mine....

    Lucy
  • Danpellizzari
    Danpellizzari Posts: 130
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    I use the Garmin forerunner 110. It is very basic and does exactly what I need. You also can use it to connect with the Garmin Connect website which gives you maps and various other data to help you with your training and it allows you to see improvements.
  • Danpellizzari
    Danpellizzari Posts: 130
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    This may be a stupid question, but do they all track calories lost, or just heart rate? I have been thinking of getting one too.

    Its not stupid. When you set it up you input a profile and it calculates calories burned based on that information.
  • ellybeann
    ellybeann Posts: 122 Member
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    I have the polar, and I love it. From the research I did on them, Polar had the highest rating in quality and customer satisfaction. I found it also said to use one with a chest strap for the most accurate reading. I thought it would be uncomfortable, but its not. Ive even worn it to work ( I pull 12 hrs shifts) and forgot it was there. The one I bought was about $110.00.
  • montana_girl
    montana_girl Posts: 1,403 Member
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    Bought the Polar FT4, I love it! bought it off Amazon for about $65

    Ditto!

    Mine just came last night so I only had a chance to play with it for a few minutes, but I already love it! :happy:
  • healthyfoxx
    healthyfoxx Posts: 104 Member
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    I use the Garmin forerunner 110. It is very basic and does exactly what I need. You also can use it to connect with the Garmin Connect website which gives you maps and various other data to help you with your training and it allows you to see improvements.

    Very cool! I like the idea of getting maps and such to go over and review. Most are around $130 - $150, which isn't *too* bad, if I use it all the time. I'd have to save up for it, though, but I like what I quickly looked up on that model. :)

    Edit: It looks like with the heart rate monitor, it's more like $180 or so... Is that accurate? That's too pricey for me, but maybe someday!
  • chiv123
    chiv123 Posts: 36
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    I got a Garmin Forerunner 110 about a month ago and I love it. I also was making the transition from treadmill to outside. I did a lot of research, and because of the praise on here, I initially set out to get a polar model.

    I ended up with my Garmin mostly because of the GPS function. Yes, the watch is kind of big, but that's because is is also a satellite! GPS is more accurate than a footpod, as your stride can change on varied gradient and terrain. I ran in a biological preserve loaded with trees and had no problem with satellite interference.

    In general, I would say definitely go with a chest strap and consider what your goals are when looking over features. I like that I can upload data from my runs and see information about incline, speed, etc- all on a map. Neat stuff! Its also nice having a watch and chest strap that you don't have to send to the manufacturer to replace the batteries. My watch is chargeable and I can replace the strap battery myself with a coin.

    Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions, and good luck!

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