Heart Rate Monitor Question

[Kathy B]

So Dh is ready to start shopping, and I need to give him exact info if I request a HRM. Several people have recommended the Polar brand, so I found THIS ONE at Dick's Sporting Goods website. I am not clear, though....does it come with a chest strap, or do you have to buy that separately?

Because I keep seeing THESE which look like the chest strap, but they are sold as a separate item.

Seems like if you HAVE to have both pieces they would be sold as one kit, but maybe I'm wrong. Help????

[LakeMartinGal]

Boy, they make it clear as mud, don't they? I think they come with a strap, but it really doesn't say! No help here, as ours came with DH's treadmill a long time ago, though the watch and straps are serviced separately! Sorry... not really any help, am I? Just commiserating...

[Miss Giggles]

It should come with the strap. You can buy replacement transmitters from polar which is why it is pictured on the web page

I would look at the watch in the store though, if you have a small wrist then you might consider the "women's version" of the polar hrm monitors,like the f4 and f11 because they are slightly smaller. Plus they have pink and blue some other colors, if that matters.

I have a Polar hrm and it's about two years old and everybody keeps complaining that it is too big on my wrist - which I don't care but just be aware of it. So if I replace it I might get the women's version so it won't keep twisting around on my wrist

The one I was looking at:



"Men's version" of the same one

[Robyn1007]

That's funny as I am just about to walk out the door to buy one during my lunch hour. I've decided on the Polar F6 and buy at REI because they have a $20 off purchases of $100 or more so it's the same price as the F4 with more features. Here's a great feature comparison chart. It looks to me that the jump from the one you are considering to the F4 is huge feature wise with memory/recall and pc compatible. Jumping to the F6 will give me more file storage and backlight.

It appears that the ones from REI at least have the chest strap so maybe the Dick's site just isn't good.

[AliKat11]

I just purchased this one from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G37H0M

It doesn't give continuous feedback (you have to push down on two buttons each time you want to check) but I gladly gave that up not to have to deal with the chest strap.

[SusanMac]

Kathy - your 2nd link is not a HRM. It's just the chest strap and won't work by itself.

I'm not positive about the first link you posted. That's partially b/c I've never heard of a HRM that was only the wrist-watch part until I saw AliKat's link above!

I would definitely look into that, though, b/c I'd be wary of it's accuracy. I mean, how does that device know your HR? In a typical setup, the chest strap actually captures your HR & transmits it to the watch, which is a receiver. (btw, the chest strap doesn't bug me at all. You really get used to it, esp if you wear a jog bra. The strap just slips right underneath)

Right now, it may seem like you don't want/need many features. But, I have found that once you have one, you'll kick yourself if it doesn't do some basic functions like give you the average HR after your entire run. I have one w/memory which I absolutely love. Whereas DH has to write down his HR immediately after a workout b/c it won't be saved (not major, but kind of a pain) I also really love that it tracks calories burned.

[Robyn1007]

From what I've seen the wrist only versions are not very accurate. I believe the first one Kathy posted is one with a chest strap, it's just not shown in the picture.

[Miss Giggles]

The wrist only ones aren't as accurate. Plus if you have to keep stopping to press the button, that would irritate me to slow down for a sec or two whenever I needed the heart rate.

Well I am a gadget person, so I buy the more advanced ones, but I would definitely get one that has:

Calories (polar calls it own cal, its more accurate because it takes into consideration more factors like age and activity level)

Avg Heart Rate

Programmable Heart Rate zones

Interval feature/lap feature if you run

You don't need the fitness tests but they are easy to use and motivating.

[Kathy B]

Thanks everyone! Your comments all helped a lot!

DH and I read through this thread, and then looked at the monitors at Dick's and REI, and I think he was pretty clear on all the pros and cons of lower vs. higher model as well as coupon info. We have a $20 coupon for Dick's as well, so he can order from either website and get the same deal.

Miss Giggles, special thanks for pointing out that there were women's models. I do have a small wrist, and I think I would prefer the better fit.

I'll let you know what I end up with (after Christmas of course)!

[buffygirl]

Alikat, thanks for pointing out the HRM with no chest strap. Although I know they are known to be more accurate, I really do hate the chest strap. Added it to my Christmas list.