Polar Heart Rate Monitors

brownchristian
brownchristian Posts: 58 Member
edited September 20 in Fitness and Exercise
I am in the market for a Polar HRM. At the LA Fitness I work out at they have Life Fitness machines that drive me crazy as they ask for you to hold on to these awkward handles to check your heart rate. Seems like it asks every 30 seconds. The machines are compatible with Polar telemetry products. I can't determine if just a watch will suffice or if I will need a chest strap also. Does anyone know what I need and can you recommend a basic watch?

Replies

  • vhuber
    vhuber Posts: 8,779 Member
    I am in the market for a Polar HRM. At the LA Fitness I work out at they have Life Fitness machines that drive me crazy as they ask for you to hold on to these awkward handles to check your heart rate. Seems like it asks every 30 seconds. The machines are compatible with Polar telemetry products. I can't determine if just a watch will suffice or if I will need a chest strap also. Does anyone know what I need and can you recommend a basic watch?
    Go into the fitness post history and you will find quite few topics about Polar, I read alot about the polar F6 and I think its F11. I asked my son to buy me a F6 for Christmas, hopfully I can wait that long!! Good luck!!
  • JasonERA
    JasonERA Posts: 6
    I used this link to help me decide. I ended up buying a Polar F6 from Academy Sports for $90.

    http://exercise.about.com/od/cardiomachinesresources/tp/HRM.htm
  • JasonERA
    JasonERA Posts: 6
    I also read in one of the reviews that Polar doesn't make HRM's without a chest strap due to the inaccuracy of just a watch.
  • twilight1542
    twilight1542 Posts: 403
    The chest strap is what sends the signal to the watch & the machine. I have an F6 & despite what I read before buying it the chest strap that comes w/F6 is not at all uncomfortable...it just takes a little getting used to--but is awkward if wearing an underwire bra. At my gym I have not found any machines that it doesn't talk to which is awesome b/c I had the same problem as you. Since you workout at a gym the F6 is best b/c the chest strap is coded so you won't get interference from other other HRM users even if they're standing right next to you :)
  • brownchristian
    brownchristian Posts: 58 Member
    Thanks for the help everyone. Went to my local Academy and they had an F11 that the box was opened so they gave me 10% off and it rang up $109.88 so I got an F11 for less than $100. Now I have to figure out how to work it.
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