Timex vs. Polar HRM, experiences?

MysteriousWays
MysteriousWays Posts: 40 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
My Polar of two years has been dying a slow death for the last few months. Finally, it gasped its last breath last weekend. I would go get another one, but for the last year, I was having issues with the strap. Now, I had 2 straps. I replaced batteries. I wet the sensors and even bought the gel. Sometimes, it wouldn't read my HR for 5 to 10 minutes into my workout. Or it would drop to 90 (not possible while running) and jump to 220. Also not possible.

So I was thinking of changing brands. I've heard people complain that Timex seems to double the calorie burn, but at least it always connects and never has wild jumps.

So, I'm stuck between one of the Timex Ironman watches and the FT7. I've read reviews on both on Amazon - and still cannot make a decision. What have your experiences been with both? Did you spring for the Data or Flowlink, and how did it work for you?

Any insight you can offer would be great and helpful.

Replies

  • bjfrezell
    bjfrezell Posts: 241
    i've had my Polar FT7 for two years and its still going strong.
  • MysteriousWays
    MysteriousWays Posts: 40 Member
    Do you have issues with it losing your HR?
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    I had a Timex HRM(not the ironman, but one that was supposedly rated the best by Consumer Reports)... and it was absolute crap. Did not take any of the necessary info needed for figuring out calorie burn, and told me that for 30 minutes of walking on a treadmill, speed around 3.0, incline at 10, that I burned 580 calories. I did that same thing with my FT7 and I burned maybe 300 or a little less.. so you tell me which one is more accurate.

    When I had my FT7, I had no issues with it. The strap worked perfectly as did the watch. Changed the transmitter battery once, and it's still going strong. I now have an FT60 which I love a lot... and it strap has been giving me issues too, but so far they have been fixable.

    As far as straps for the Polars go, make sure that you wash them in a machine or by hand once a week or so. Also make sure that it is tight enough and wet enough.. those seem to be the three most common problems with the strap.

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