HRM suggestions Pros vs Cons?

Based on recommendations found on the forums I went with the Polar FT7. The FT4 was my other option, but the FT7 allows free access to Polar's training website where you can upload your saved sessions from the HRM, track your progress and look at stats. I think most of Polar's products use the chest strap, and from what I have read the chest strap models are more accurate than one's without. The FT7 also comes with a watch you wear that displays the data from the sensor on the chest strap. The watch displays calories burned, heart rate, and duration of training session etc. There are some other featured I am still learning to use too.

After a few days use I like it. Easy to figure out and pretty comfortable. I purchased the optional FlowLink accessory so I can automatically sync the HRM to my PC. Total cost was $75 (HRM) + $40 (FlowLink) = $115

A few months ago I used a BodyMedia BodyBugg device which was cool too. It was a watch display unit as well as the HRM sensor that you wore around your upper arm. The one I used was even simpler that my FT7 but had the additional benefit of being able to be worn all day and track all calories (whereas the FT7 is made to track burned calories during actual exercise only). The benefit of this is that you can wear the BodyBugg for 24 hours and get a good idea of what your TDEE is. It also had a cool feature where it would tell me how many hours of REM sleep I was getting.

The major downside to the BodyBugg platform is that in addition to the high cost of the product, you also need to pay a monthly subscription fee to use their website. While the website is cool and helpful, the graphs and tracking they offer is fairly basic and IMO not worth the cost. Additionally, on the one I used there was no display on the HRM, so the watch was a neccessary purchase unless you wanted to wear the HRM sensor all day and wait to see your calorie burns once you plugged it into the website at a later time.

I love my polar, not sure which model, but it has the chest strap, and it's pretty comfy! Plus it works with my phones gps tracking app, so you get your heart rate, your miles, elevation increases, best times, slow times and a log of your map on where you go. I like it a lot!

and, with the tracking program, I feel a lot safer, as there's a log of where I am whenever it's on, so if I'm out alone, my hubby can just log on to the site and C where I am!

Most of the wrist watch-only HRM units are "on demand" meaning they will only sense your heart rate when you hold your other hand on it. The benefit of something like the FT4 (which I have) or FT7 is they are *constantly* monitoring your heart rate and thus are able to give you an accurate reading of your entire workout.

Sorry I don't know what material they are made from.

another question, perhaps a silly one but it's important to me *lol* if I use a sensor against my wrist, what is the sensor made of? I'm highly allergic to Nickel , I get blisters and rash from even a brief 10 mins contact with it. Is it better to go with one that uses my finger? But then I'd have to stop. *lol* I feel like such a doofus for worrying about all this.

I wish I knew the answer to this one as my daughter is also highly allergic to metals.

NON chest strap pros:

cheaper, exchangeable battery, as accurate as any other HRM out there

NON chest strap cons:

u have to stop for a few seconds to take HRM reading, some feature like calorie counting (in MIO watches) not relevant as u have to manual key in the data


chest strap HRM pros:

more features on high end mode - GPS, training record, data upload, more choices (suunto, polar, casio, timex)

chest strap HRM cons:

chest straps may not comfortable, cannot change battery, erratic /irregular HR reading (check amazon review on some popular model), more expensive

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/heart+rate+monitor.html