HRM Recommendation?

JBG1987
JBG1987 Posts: 71
in Fitness and Exercise
I have been looking for a decent HRM for a few weeks now since I started the C25K program. I guess I really have no idea what I should be looking for. I don't want something with a chest strap that has to be wetted down...I have read about a few of those on Amazon and people don't seem to like them. Is there something out there that is just a wrist watch that gives an accurate rating?

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Replies

  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Uh no. Wrist watch HRM's do not give an accurate reading.. so you need one with chest strap. Surprising that most reviews on Amazon give negative reviews of chest strap HRM's because here, it's all people recommend.

    The preferred brand is Polar.. FT4, FT7, FT40 or FT60. Each has different features depending on what you want to use it for.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    Uh no. Wrist watch HRM's do not give an accurate reading.. so you need one with chest strap. Surprising that most reviews on Amazon give negative reviews of chest strap HRM's because here, it's all people recommend.

    The preferred brand is Polar.. FT4, FT7, FT40 or FT60. Each has different features depending on what you want to use it for.

    This. I have an FT7 and love it.
  • rainunrefined
    rainunrefined Posts: 850 Member
    I have the Polar FT60 - love it. But it has a chest strap.. I don't see how one would be very accurate without the chest strap.
  • Swissmiss
    Swissmiss Posts: 8,754 Member
    You need the strap to get a good reading. I know that it can be a bother and feel odd but you really do need it. I use a Polar F6.
  • CampinGal34
    CampinGal34 Posts: 84 Member
    I have a Polar FT4...with a strap and you honestly can't even tell it's there!! It's totally comfortable! I absolutely LOVE it and I would definitely recommend it. My model is nothing too fancy...just heart rate and calories--that's all I use. Not too expensive either!
  • DisneyMommy
    DisneyMommy Posts: 281 Member
    If you live near a Target, check out the Clearance end caps in the electronics department. I found Polar FT4 (pink ones) on clearance for $65. They may go even lower if no one buys.
  • lyricalLies13
    lyricalLies13 Posts: 151
    After the first few times of wearing the chest strap, you dont even notice it. I have the polar FT4 in pink and i love it =]
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member
    I have polar ft7 and I love it. I saw in the Target ad for this week that they have a New Balance HRM with chest strap for 45 bucks. Maybe a good starter HRM?? I had an MiO HRM for my first and then upgraded to the polar. My MiO is much more accurate when using the chest strap, although it has the ability to be a sensor one where no chest strap is needed (but then it only uses the HR is senses the last time for however long until you do it again-there could be a lot of fluctuations in there that a chest strap would not miss)
  • genuinelyfrans
    genuinelyfrans Posts: 584
    Uh no. Wrist watch HRM's do not give an accurate reading.. so you need one with chest strap. Surprising that most reviews on Amazon give negative reviews of chest strap HRM's because here, it's all people recommend.

    The preferred brand is Polar.. FT4, FT7, FT40 or FT60. Each has different features depending on what you want to use it for.

    This. I have an FT7 and love it.

    ^ This. I have an FT4 and it has been great :)
  • ChristinaBarnhouse
    ChristinaBarnhouse Posts: 274 Member
    BUMP! I'm curious too. :)
  • Phoink
    Phoink Posts: 8
    If you live near a Target, check out the Clearance end caps in the electronics department. I found Polar FT4 (pink ones) on clearance for $65. They may go even lower if no one buys.

    I also have the FT4 and love it! I found mine at www.bodytronics.com for under $65.00 with no shipping and it arrived in about 3 or 4 days. So if you strike out at Target, check this website. :wink:
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    Ditto on the Polar FT7!! I love it. I thought the chest strap would be a pain, but it's really not at all.
  • jujubee233
    jujubee233 Posts: 1
    I have a Polar FT-60 and love it. If you want accurate heart rate, you're going to have to wear a chest strap. It's not bothersome or annoying or anything else bad you may have heard, in my opinion.
  • Fairieluv77
    Fairieluv77 Posts: 95
    Uh no. Wrist watch HRM's do not give an accurate reading.. so you need one with chest strap. Surprising that most reviews on Amazon give negative reviews of chest strap HRM's because here, it's all people recommend.

    The preferred brand is Polar.. FT4, FT7, FT40 or FT60. Each has different features depending on what you want to use it for.

    This. I have an FT7 and love it.

    This! I also have an FT7 and love it.
  • jahall76
    jahall76 Posts: 328 Member
    I recently purchased a Sportsline HRM and love it. It does have a chest strap, and like all the prior posts, you need the chest strap for the most accurate info. After working out with it 3-4 times, I do not notice that I'm even wearing the strap.

    Since I'm a newbie to HRM, I went with the Sportsline because it's very basic, inexpensive, and easy to initially set up. I didn't want something that required reading a 100 page instructional manual. LOL .

    Since purchasing the HRM, my worksouts have really improved. It's a great tool for heart rate and calories burned. I found the calorie-burned estimator on MFP to be very inaccurate when compared to my HRM.

    Good luck.
  • dogacreek
    dogacreek Posts: 289 Member
    Uh no. Wrist watch HRM's do not give an accurate reading.. so you need one with chest strap. Surprising that most reviews on Amazon give negative reviews of chest strap HRM's because here, it's all people recommend.

    The preferred brand is Polar.. FT4, FT7, FT40 or FT60. Each has different features depending on what you want to use it for.

    This. I have an FT7 and love it.

    ^^^^ THIS. I love, love my FT7 and would buy another one in a second, if needed. After 8 months, I did purchase a second strap to alternate since I workout everyday.
  • ryanpayne4
    ryanpayne4 Posts: 64 Member
    Polar FT7
  • ready2tryagain42
    ready2tryagain42 Posts: 202
    I love my Polar FT4 with chest strap. got it on Amazon.com
  • pbajwally
    pbajwally Posts: 210 Member
    I have a Polar FT7 and LOVE it. It has a chest strap & I don't even notice it when exercising. Having an HRM makes me challenge myself. I owe the inches I've lost to my HRM. Seriously.
  • JBG1987
    JBG1987 Posts: 71
    Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'll be looking into the Polar FT7 and FT4's this week for sure. Do you guys wet the straps for this down too? I read a few reviews online about having to wet them so they are more accurate...
  • mmurelli
    mmurelli Posts: 26
    i've got the polar ft7 and i love it. you do need to wet the strap, but you won't even know it's there when working out. i think the calorie counter is a lot more accurate than MFP. it's real easy to set up and it has a setting for male or female. it also synchs up to the cardio machines at my gym so no more holding on to the handles of the machines.
  • knittingbandmom
    knittingbandmom Posts: 190 Member
    I can second the recommendation for the Sportsline. I totally love mine and the white watch that comes with it is stylish. It does have a strap. I've never wet it. It takes a few seconds after putting the strap on for it to ID your heart rate and communicate with the watch. It's very comfortable - no different that a good bra strap I would say. Super easy to set up, beeps when you are in your training zone (you pick the numbers - I chose 65 - 85%). It does everything the Polar does except I found it for about $30 cheaper (single mom watching $$). It has a 5 year warranty. There have not been that many reviews on it compared to the Polar but what I found were positive. I sort of felt like I was taking a chance buying it instead of the Polar but I'm very happy with it.
  • pigote
    pigote Posts: 615 Member
    I got the Polar FT7 about a week ago, love it and I don't even feel the strap!
  • tacree67
    tacree67 Posts: 5 Member
    You don't have to wet the whole strap, just the 2 spots where it reads your heartrate. Total of about 6 inches you need moisten. If I'm out I just use a little water from my bottle to moisten it and slip it on under my shirt. Btw, I have an FT7.

    Hope this answers your question.

    Tom
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    I had a watch only version first before I did my research. It was wildly inaccurate and frankly more annoying anyway because you have to completely slow down and hold the button down for a bit to get a reading. I tried to hold it down after every lap and it was still very inaccurate--like double what it should be.

    I keep my strap in my purse so it is available when I need it. I do wet my strap but it only has 2 areas to wet--like an inch for each space so you are not having to wet the whole strap.

    I do think it is annoying to have to put the strap on each time I need it but I do not think it is annoying to wear one. I can't really feel it.

    I have the Polar brand. After the disaster of my first choice, I went with what was recommended here a lot.

    I balked at the cost at first. I waffled for a few days but it has turned out to be the single best investment I could have made. I trump this purchase over a scale purchase if money is tight and I'm a daily weigher!

    If money is not tight, I also recommend a digita food scale and I love my fitbit.
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    I tried the watch only type. They are crap. Another vote for the FT7 here. Wetting the contact points on the strap is no big deal, you do it right before putting it on and then your sweat will keep it wet enough to keep the device working properly.
  • chandra38
    chandra38 Posts: 110 Member
    If you live near a Target, check out the Clearance end caps in the electronics department. I found Polar FT4 (pink ones) on clearance for $65. They may go even lower if no one buys.

    Seriously? I need to get to Target!!!
  • feltlikesound
    feltlikesound Posts: 326 Member
    I also LOVE my Polar FT4 -- I looked into the FT7 but only needed the features from the FT4, and liked the price point. I absolutely adore it, so motivating!
  • mom2mozart
    mom2mozart Posts: 307 Member
    Polar F4. Love it. Strap is comfortable. You can wet with a tablespoon of water. Only 2 spots that need to be wet (not a large area). Water bottle will do fine.
  • robert65ferguson
    robert65ferguson Posts: 390 Member
    I suggest you have a look at Azdak's blog on here at MFP. He has an excellent piece on choosing an HRM and how to set it up. Hope this helps.

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