Heart Rate Monitor with Calories Burned

Polar FT4 is really simple and easy to use. I got mine off of Amazon with free shipping. I love it! I just wanted it for when I do zumba, kettle bell workout, bike riding etc. Activities that Fitbit doesn't accurately measure. I wish I had gotten it sooner.

Do a google search for prices and double check eBay.

love my polar ft4, got it off amazon for $70 but you could also keep an eye out on ebay

bump!

Polar, Garmin, and Suunto are about the only ones that have paid for studies and use good formula's for best you can get estimates.
Garmin and Suunto also license algorithms from Firstbeat for even better estimates.

They all ask for stats of age, weight, height, maxHR calced but can correct, VO2max calced and hidden or can correct, ect.

You can also get cheaper watch and then just plug your avg HR for the workout into a formula from a study that Polar sponsored.
Now they advanced past this formula, or added to it, but it's a great start.

http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

And for best use of that, you need estimated VO2max stat, which you can do here, don't mind the title, the formula is in there:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/577664-garmin-hrm-setup-improved-calorie-estimates

I just bought a Bowflex watch HRM from Groupon yesterday for $10! Score!

I saw that deal! I almost snagged one even though I have a Polar FT4, but then saw it doesnt tell you calories burned :grumble:

It doesn't tell you the calories burned??? What's the point then? I hope my sister didn't buy it...

There are websites that calculate your cals burned based off of weight, avg HR during activity and duration of activity. Like I stated before, if an HRM doesn't allow you to plug in your body stats, the cals burned isn't going to be accurate anyway. And the Bowflex one has no chest strap, so that's definitely not accurate.

Cals by Avg HR, weight and activity duration - http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx

I just bought a Bowflex watch HRM from Groupon yesterday for $10! Score!

I saw that deal! I almost snagged one even though I have a Polar FT4, but then saw it doesnt tell you calories burned :grumble:

It doesn't tell you the calories burned??? What's the point then? I hope my sister didn't buy it...

I cross referenced it with several websites to make sure - and it definitely does not tell calories burned. It's strictly for telling you where your heart rate is while working out. I hope she didnt either! :noway:

I have a Polar FT4. I picked it up from ****'s Sporting Goods for about $80-90. I love it and think it's definitely worth it. I had trouble deciding on the FT4, 7, 80, 40, 60, etc. I finally picked the FT4 because it is in my price range and I didn't need all the fancy stuff that comes with the newer models.

OP - I would also recommend the Polar FT4. You may have to spend a bit more but it does what you want and is reliable. Look around for deals online or at your local sport supply stores. A friend of mine got one for around $50 with a coupon and a sale.

"btw: the ft4 has to be sent in/taken in to an authorized Polar facility to change the batteries, where the ft7's batteries can be changed by the user; that's worth the extra money, IMO. "

Really? I actually just changed the batteries on my ft4 myself with no problems... Maybe I have a newer model or something?

FrugalMomsRoc has now corrected herself. She may have been thinking of the F6 or F4 - older models didn't allow you to change the batteries yourself in the chest strap as it was one solid unit that couldn't be opened. You had to either send it back to Polar or bring it to an authorized jeweler. You could change the battery in the watch part yourself but it compromised water resistance - not a problem for most folks since this only applied if you used it swimming.

I have a New Balance one, not sure of the model. It works good enough, and I'm happy I got it because my actual calorie burn according to the HRM is less than what MFP estimates. My only complaint is the chest strap, i have to put it on like 15-20 mins before I start working out in order for it to really start reading my heart rate, which is fine, and maybe even normal, it's the only HRM monitor I've ever worn so maybe this is normal.

I use a Zephyr Bluetooth HRM chest strap which pairs up with my cell phone and an app call Endomondo (from there I can track calories, avg heart rate over the workout, or get specific. If using the gps on the phone and am outdoors it will track my route, elevation etc). The HRM is also rechargeable.

HRM itself retails for about 75$ and the company itself from its site deals with military and pro sports teams.

I've only been using for a little while but from what I have seen and experienced, I am liking it very much.

The other thing to mention is I believe this is only for android phones... does not work with apple, windows from what I can tell.

I just bought a Bowflex watch HRM from Groupon yesterday for $10! Score!

I saw that deal! I almost snagged one even though I have a Polar FT4, but then saw it doesnt tell you calories burned :grumble:

It doesn't tell you the calories burned??? What's the point then? I hope my sister didn't buy it...

There are websites that calculate your cals burned based off of weight, avg HR during activity and duration of activity. Like I stated before, if an HRM doesn't allow you to plug in your body stats, the cals burned isn't going to be accurate anyway. And the Bowflex one has no chest strap, so that's definitely not accurate.

Cals by Avg HR, weight and activity duration - http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx

I know the Bowflex one without a chest strap isn't that accurate. Please see my previous comment on that...

As for that site, it isn't all that accurate, either. I input my info from some of my workouts logged on my ft7, and it over estimated by about 100 calories.

I used to use this one before I got my HRM: http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm I realized it was overestimating a bit too (by just about the same as the one you linked).

mfp overestimates on some of my exercises, is dead on with some, and underestimates on others...

It's still all just a crap shoot.

I always just take 10% off the cals it spits out, just as a conservative approach. Kind of overestimate what I eat too.

For strictly a HRM, Polar has been awesome. I switched to a Garmin (FR60, I think?) so I could also track my runs. It was a bit more expensive, but also allows me to track other items.