Heart Rate Monitor Suggestions?

sarahchickfsu · 07-09-2007, 10:23 AM

I am looking into a Heart Rate Monitor to keep my cardio workouts in the fat burning zone. Does anyone know how the chest strap and wrist only ones compare? I dont need it to be perfect just close enough that I stay in the zone.

nithos · 07-09-2007, 10:30 AM

The wrist only ones require you to put your fingers on two(?) contacts on the face of the watch to take your pulse. So you don't get a continuous reading of your heart rate and are kind of a pain when you are doing something intense where it is hard to hold your fingers on the contacts (think sprinting).

Just look at a cheap Polar for your needs, or borrow one if it is an option. It doesn't take long to be able to know what your heart rate is at just based on preceived exhurtion.

EazyE15 · 07-09-2007, 11:15 AM

Dont want to jack the thread but whats the best liquid to use on the chest belt? My HRM gives incorrect readings when im running if the belt is dry. I wet it with water before i do my cardio but there is a gap between when the water dries out and the sweat takes over in which the HRM readings are wrong. So i basically need something which will bridge that gap of dryness so the readings are correct the whole time.
Do i have to buy that special gel stuff?

Sirtitan · 07-09-2007, 11:16 AM

I used to have a Polar eons ago. It was annoying because you had to mail it in to have the special batteries replaced when they ran out. Right now I have the Nike Triax c8. It's just as effective with the advantage that you can change the batteries on your own. I never heard of heart rate monitors without the chest strap.

EazyE15 · 07-09-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtitan

I never heard of heart rate monitors without the chest strap.

They look like this:

Pretty misleading picture actually, as there are no fingser on the sensors but it still magically displays the HR.

anonymous123 · 07-09-2007, 12:12 PM

Polar F6. I swear to god it is the best investment I ever made.

SDTRI619 · 07-19-2007, 06:19 PM

I have been using POLAR for many years now. I have had the same POLAR HR Monitor for over 6 years and the battery has not died on me yet. My is a more complex since I also have it attached to my bike to collect WATTs, speed, cadence as well.

sa-botage · 07-19-2007, 06:51 PM

yah the polar heart rate monitors are pretty good. the good thing about it is if you go to a gym most of the machines work with the heart rate monitor so you don't have to look at the watch cause it'll show it on the display.

julieofarc · 07-19-2007, 07:24 PM

I have a girly Polar F6 (it's pink) that I love! I row with it on the handle of my sweep oar most mornings, and it has take a couple seasons of beatings and the inevitable water splashed.

Polar really is the industry standard, and I think there is really something to be said for that. I would make sure to buy at least the F6 or above- I think that's when they start using frequencies or whatever so you don't get the HR of the guy on the treadmill next to you instead of yours. If you're going to use it in a gym enviro, that is.

NoTimeLikeNow · 07-19-2007, 07:34 PM

I don't like Nike, I own one and it is pretty finnicky. Also its range is less than the length of my arm..... I bought the 90$ one too

lupinecat · 07-19-2007, 07:39 PM

Polar F6! Polar F6! They do everything and more!

tiger09 · 07-19-2007, 08:19 PM

how accurate is the calorie counter and % fat expenditure calculator on the F6?

pga617 · 07-19-2007, 08:40 PM

Another vote for the Polar F6...love mine, even bought my ex-boyfriend one as a gift last year.

I believe the calorie counters and %fat expenditure is about as accurate you can get without being hooked up to a bunch of stuff in a lab.

tiger09 · 07-19-2007, 09:43 PM

well i hope so, i just ordered one off of amazon. for $120... it better be good!!

cute_asian_girl · 07-19-2007, 09:53 PM

I have a polar s810 and a s610. I used the s810 for ages and then I saw that they can up with one that does altitude, running speed, and cycling speed I had to have it. (with added bike mount/equip.) I gave the BF the s810 model. They are both awesome and what I really like is that I can download the info into the computer and see everythng mapped out of graphs, charts, calendars, etc. It gives me long term comparison and it's just plain cool. They were kinda expensive, but I bought them new on EBAY for about 40% less than in stores. I buy all my electronics on EBAY.