Polar HRM, is this the right one?
115perfection
Posts: 109 Member
I've been looking into getting an HRM for a while. After researching quite a bit, it seems that the Polars are the favourites.
I've been looking on the website. I want one that tracks calories, most importantly. The only ones that I found were the Polar FA20 and the Polar FT40.
Does anyone know which one is better? I'd love your advice and comments on your experiences with them!
Also... it appears to be like a wristwatch. I always thought they were supposed to strap to your arm or chest. Is this the right thing?
Thanks so much!!
I've been looking on the website. I want one that tracks calories, most importantly. The only ones that I found were the Polar FA20 and the Polar FT40.
Does anyone know which one is better? I'd love your advice and comments on your experiences with them!
Also... it appears to be like a wristwatch. I always thought they were supposed to strap to your arm or chest. Is this the right thing?
Thanks so much!!
0
Replies
-
I have the Polar FT4 and love it. Sorry I don't know the difference between those two. Mine came with a chest strap - and then the watch thing is where you see the information.0
-
I have the FT40. It has a chest strap with sensors which is where your heart rate is monitored, and then a transmitter sends the info to the wrist watch component for you to read. I can't say which is better as I have no experience with the other one, but mine does what it is supposed to do.
I will admit that I've been a bit frustrated with it recently though as I feel it isn't reporting accurately, but it may be. I've had it for about a month now, and for the 30DS, my average calorie burn has always been mid 200s and up, then this week I can't break out of the 100s even though I feel as though I'm working just as hard. It is saying my heart rate is also lower, which is where the lower cals are coming from. Although my heart rate doesn't get as high as it had, the average is only lower by a few beats, and I haven't changed any settings. And I did Zumba for the first time last night, which everyone says you should burn around 700 cals/hour - my hrm said I burned 330. Granted, it was my first time so I was more or less flailing around, but come on! I was sweating my a*# off.
But like I said, it is doing what it is supposed to, and I can't fault the readings just because they don't match what I think they should, or what they did just one week ago.0 -
The FT4 says "Displays calories burned" at http://www.polar.fi/en/products/get_active/fitness_crosstraining/FT4 as does the FT7
The FT40 seems to offer coaching advice as well http://www.polar.fi/en/products/improve_fitness/fitness_crosstraining/FT40
FA20 seems more aimed at 24h monitoring than exercise sessions0 -
I am searching myself. There are many Polar HRM's that track calories. If you go to the Polar website they have a tool that asks questions about your needs/desires in a HRM then shows you which of their models fit that need. Then you can examine the selections in more detail and make your choice.0
-
I have an basic older model Polar (I've had at least three). I use it to track my heart rate, not to calculate calories, because an accurate calorie burn estimate involves much more than how hard the heart is working and other basic details like height, weight, and age. On this forum I've read that the newer Polars track additional information to estimate calories. You can try them, but I'd still be wary.
It's a great tool for measuring heart effort, and while doing intervals.0 -
FT4 and FT7 both track calories too. I have the 7 and love it.0
-
I have the FT60 and Love it... I went with this one over the FT4 and 7 do to the fact it was the first one in the series ahead of the FT80 that allowed you to set your V02 Max (an added feature that will allow for a more accurate calorie burn) it can be set auto or you can get your V02 Max and set it manually.... I got mine off heartratemonitorusa.com for 130 bucks.... All the Polars are great this one was just my preference for the features I was looking for.... Best of Luck...0
-
I have the ft4. Pretty basic but works great. The main reason I got it is to track my calories! I didn't need any "bells and whistles". I have been very happy with it. A HRM is a very good investment. Before getting my watch I was overestimating the calories I burned - not good.0
-
I also have the FT60 and love it. I had the FT7 first, but returned it because the FT60 has a built in fitness test and training program. Look at Bodytronics.com for cheap prices.. and also entering the code POPO will save you an additional 5%.
Looking at the polar website it would appear that the FA20 tracks calories over a 24 hour period, I don't know how well it would track exercise however, since it doesn't come with the chest strap like FT40 to track heart rate.0 -
Never heard of those, but I have the Polar FT7 and love it! I had one problem with the chest strap, but the customer service was awesome and sent me a new one within days, for free!0
-
I have the Polar FT7 and I love it.
You must remember to reset your user information as you lose weight or the 'calories burned' information will be incorrect.0 -
Well I'm in the minority here. I have a Polar FT4. I bought in February. It worked great for about a month, then it started going all wacky.
Sometimes it says my HR is over 200, and sometimes it says 37 or so. Most of the time it says 00, check transmitter! I have tried all things with the strap, water, rinsing, gel. It frustrates me so much that I don't bother using it anymore.
Just be warned that they do malfunction occasionally. With my luck, maybe I just got a bad one.0 -
hi, i have an ft4 its very good and very simple. Does time, calories, heart rate, perfect for any kind of run ning.
Good luck.0 -
Bump for later0
-
FT4 is what i have and i ♥ it. it's easy to use and doesn't have SOOOO many options that it confuses you.0
-
Well I'm in the minority here. I have a Polar FT4. I bought in February. It worked great for about a month, then it started going all wacky.
Sometimes it says my HR is over 200, and sometimes it says 37 or so. Most of the time it says 00, check transmitter! I have tried all things with the strap, water, rinsing, gel. It frustrates me so much that I don't bother using it anymore.
Just be warned that they do malfunction occasionally. With my luck, maybe I just got a bad one.
make sure you're getting the strap and transmitter thoroughly wet. i run mine under water before putting it on. if it's only damp or too dry, it will often stop reading.0 -
I have the FT7 and I love it! I feel that it calculates the calories accurately. I recommend it!0
-
I just bought the FT4 and love it so far. Simple to use and definitely motivates you to work harder and burn more.0
-
make sure you're getting the strap and transmitter thoroughly wet. i run mine under water before putting it on. if it's only damp or too dry, it will often stop reading.
Um yeah, I have of course tried that per the directions! Thank you for your input though!0 -
I own the FT40 model. it has a fitness test which you can take to give your V02 max.0
-
Your heart being lower is normal, your either getting in better shape which just means you need to push your self harder than before.... or, look into the other variables, like how long your sleeping and how tired you are, that makes a huge difference.
In regard to zumba, I never ever burned 700 cals..the closest I got was 560...
good luck!0 -
If you just want to track calories, as did I, then go with the FT4. Otherwise, you will be paying for bells and whistles you don't need. I love Polar. I had my last one for 14 years and the only reason I replaced it is because I wanted to see calories burned. I have found that the MFP calories burned estimates are grossly overstated and others are grossly understated. If you want accuracy, go with a Polar. Some of the Polar HRMs have a WearLink chest strap that has a detachable coded transmitter. You can purchase a Polar Cardio Sports Bra with a built in strap and you just snap in the transmittter that came with the HRM of your choice. (Cardio Sports Bra only works with the WearLink chest strap transmitter.) Recently, I did 5000m on an indoor row machine... the machine said I burned 225 calories, the Polar (programeed with my stats) said I burned 224. I feel confident in the Polar readings. (If you are considering a strapless HRM, BEWARE, as they only read point-in-time heart rate - not good for continuous monitoring.) Looking back, there are a few features of the FT40 that I wish I had. Notably, the FT40 has a Fitness test to determine your VO2 max, it will tell you whether the main effect of your training is fat burning or improved fitness, and it is compatible with the data transfer into the PolarPersonalTrainer.com site. (The FlowLink accessory is sold separately.) The training effect is based on heart rate though, so all I have to do is calculate at what percentage of my max HR is the fat-burning range.
However, if all you want is continuous HRM and calorie expenditure, then go with the FT4. I love it for that feature. (And I got the pink one - FT40 only comes in white or black.)
FA20 - a glorified step counter
FT40 - compatible with data transfer (accessory sold separately),
FT4 - a basic top-of-the-line HRM with calorie expenditure, more aesthetically pleasing than the FT400 -
Polar....enough said and I have had a few others. Simple and to the point.0
-
I recently bought the Polar RS300x, which tracks calories burned and other information. I am still getting used to it. It is easy to set-up and use. I love it.0
-
I swear by mine.... I have the FT60. The machines at the gym are way off on calorie burn - they are much too high!! Definitely recommend the FT60 :-) :-)0
-
Polar....enough said and I have had a few others. Simple and to the point.
Her question was *which* Polar to get, so actually your response of "Polar" is not enough said. Which Polar do you have? Do you like it?0 -
Which ones have a stopwatch?0
-
Well I'm in the minority here. I have a Polar FT4. I bought in February. It worked great for about a month, then it started going all wacky.
Sometimes it says my HR is over 200, and sometimes it says 37 or so. Most of the time it says 00, check transmitter! I have tried all things with the strap, water, rinsing, gel. It frustrates me so much that I don't bother using it anymore.
Just be warned that they do malfunction occasionally. With my luck, maybe I just got a bad one.
That being said, I have the FT60 because I won it. Had I been spending money, I would go for the FT4. The extra features on the FT60 are cool, but realistically most people use it once, say that's cool, and use the basic calorie counting and heart rate features. I even got the GPS, but am selling it as I now use Endomondo on my iPhone.0 -
I have the ft70
-
I have the ft4 and it is fantastic. I use it all the time and would recommend it.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions