HRM...Need one...Help!

NICOLED73
NICOLED73 Posts: 183
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
So I see a lot of people talking about their HRM in here and I'm looking around online. I see y'all talking about chest straps and then online I see wristwatch type?

What is best?? What am I looking for?

Replies

  • jonski1968
    jonski1968 Posts: 4,490 Member
    Most HMR`s have a watch and a chest strap...Which reads your heart rate and transmits it to the watch..
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    All HRM's will generally come with the wristwatch so you can see the info it's getting, certain models have a chest strap for you to wear and others require you to 'touch' a sensor every now and then to get your heartrate. The kinds with the chest strap are generally considered more accurate since they are reading your heartrate continuously. I have a Polar FT4 and love it, you can find it for around $65 on Amazon.com, usually with free shipping. A lot of people on the site love the Polar brand. :-)
  • jonski1968
    jonski1968 Posts: 4,490 Member
    I`ve just yesterday ordered the FT7M. Do you recomend them?
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    You want a HRM with a chest strap. Most of the others are completely useless. I had one before and the only thing it did well was time my workout. I now own a Polar FT40F (female version of FT40, though not really smaller...) and it has been a huge help! I love being able to run and not need to hold the stupid handles on the treadmill to check my heart rate. It also allows for a more accurate accounting of all my burned exercise calories.

    The only drawback to the chest strap, is that I can't wear it with a regular bra. I have a hard enough time finding a comfortable bra as it is, and the strap only gets in the way. However, I'm rather well endowed in that area, others have not had problems.

    Worth every penny to invest in a GOOD heart rate monitor with a chest strap.
  • willidewbaby
    willidewbaby Posts: 26 Member
    I just got the polar FT60 and did a ton of research before. It is replacing mt garmin 305 which the the button broke. If you don't need or want GPS I would look at POLAR
  • I use a Polar HRM, can't remember which one, but it's great. Any Polar HRM will be great, just read the instructions. And exercise away! It's very motivating to see how much you've burned. And very interesting to see how hard you're working. Sometimes I feel like I'm working really hard, but I'm not, so I push harder. Good luck and enjoy using the new toy!
  • AlissaPT
    AlissaPT Posts: 65 Member
    I love my Polar FT40. Definitely get one with a chest strap. If you want more accurate and can afford a little more, the ones that calculate your VO2 max are even more accurate (it does a resting heart rate "test" to calculate it). Polar has a great reputation and the website has a way to track your heart rate and stuff, too. (mypolar.com, I believe)
  • KellyKAG
    KellyKAG Posts: 418
    You want a HRM with a chest strap. Most of the others are completely useless. I had one before and the only thing it did well was time my workout. I now own a Polar FT40F (female version of FT40, though not really smaller...) and it has been a huge help! I love being able to run and not need to hold the stupid handles on the treadmill to check my heart rate. It also allows for a more accurate accounting of all my burned exercise calories.

    The only drawback to the chest strap, is that I can't wear it with a regular bra. I have a hard enough time finding a comfortable bra as it is, and the strap only gets in the way. However, I'm rather well endowed in that area, others have not had problems.

    Worth every penny to invest in a GOOD heart rate monitor with a chest strap.

    I have the same problem with the chest strap and a sports bra. If I put it too low it doesnt read well and yesterday I put it too high and now i have an angry spot on the bottom of my breast - ouch! - I still use it cause seeing the calories burned is so motivating.
  • abnerner
    abnerner Posts: 452 Member
    I had a New Balance Duo Sport and liked it but than a piece on the chest strap broke so I needed a replacement.

    I got the Polar FT4 for women and it is much more user friendly and seems to work just great! I'd certainly suggest one with a chest strap, as they read your heart rate better and you don't have to worry about touching the sensor every so often.
  • sculley
    sculley Posts: 2,012 Member
    I have a FT4 I didn't get the 7 cause I couldnt afford it. I think most of the FT's are awesome
  • KimH313
    KimH313 Posts: 162
    http://www.bodytronics.com/c/polar_ft_series_heart_rate_monitors

    this is where i got my polar ft4 and i love it and use it daily. its the cheapest website i have found it on and there is no tax or shipping fee.
  • NICOLED73
    NICOLED73 Posts: 183
    Thanks everyone! Birthday present to myself. I've got one more year left in my 30's.
    Bring it on 40! :)
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    So I see a lot of people talking about their HRM in here and I'm looking around online. I see y'all talking about chest straps and then online I see wristwatch type?

    What is best?? What am I looking for?
    This is the one I keep being drawn back to as I think of purchasing one. Locally this one runs $110 but offer only 2 ugly colors:laugh: There are a couple more colors on the site below.

    http://www.bodytronics.com/p/polar_heart_rate_monitors/POFT7
    FT7 SALE PRICE: $76.11
    Use the code POPO and get 5% off.

    This is the one I think I'll get as the F4 is only a bit cheaper but this one (FT7) stores more workouts. 99 workouts for the FT7 vs. 9-10 for the FT4. The FT7 is down-loadable for your computer if that's important to you but you'll need to buy the piece to use for that which runs around $50. It's not something I plan on getting for now (the computer download deal)

    This comes with everything you need in regards to watch/sensor.
  • NICOLED73
    NICOLED73 Posts: 183
    You want a HRM with a chest strap. Most of the others are completely useless. I had one before and the only thing it did well was time my workout. I now own a Polar FT40F (female version of FT40, though not really smaller...) and it has been a huge help! I love being able to run and not need to hold the stupid handles on the treadmill to check my heart rate. It also allows for a more accurate accounting of all my burned exercise calories.

    The only drawback to the chest strap, is that I can't wear it with a regular bra. I have a hard enough time finding a comfortable bra as it is, and the strap only gets in the way. However, I'm rather well endowed in that area, others have not had problems.

    Worth every penny to invest in a GOOD heart rate monitor with a chest strap.

    I have the same problem with the chest strap and a sports bra. If I put it too low it doesnt read well and yesterday I put it too high and now i have an angry spot on the bottom of my breast - ouch! - I still use it cause seeing the calories burned is so motivating.

    I'm a small C. Not much to worry about getting in the way... :)
  • I just want to point out that you can actually get sports bras designed to include a mount point for the polar brand HRM. http://www.numetrex.com/ a link to a site that specifically has these kind of products, though you can google others.
  • Bump
  • KellyKAG
    KellyKAG Posts: 418
    I just want to point out that you can actually get sports bras designed to include a mount point for the polar brand HRM. http://www.numetrex.com/ a link to a site that specifically has these kind of products, though you can google others.

    I never even thought to look into that. Thanks for the info! :smile:
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