Does anyone here use one and if so do they find it helpful? I looked around online for a bit to see if there was a brand or feature, ect that I should be looking for but didn't see anything, anyone have any suggestions. Also, how accurate do you think they are? Thanks

8/24/2009 10:04:54 AM

good morning jen

8/24/2009 10:09:44 AM

I just saw them at Dicks Sporting Goods - they had 10 or so from $40 -$200. Probably a lot of info on their website.

http://www.dicks.com

8/24/2009 10:20:04 AM

i just opened that in class... thanks friend

8/24/2009 10:39:28 AM

I use a Polar heart rate monitor, but I don't use it for anything other than tracking my HR during a workout.

I don't do any data logging or any of that junk, so I couldn't tell you about the advanced features.

It works well. And, the heart strap transmits the HR to the machines at Planet Fitness so it automatically shows up on the display when I'm working out.

8/24/2009 10:55:11 AM

I use the Garmin Forerunner 305, which might be overkill for you. It measures heart rate and lots of other stuff.

I love mine, but I run quite a bit now. I previously had the Suunto t6c, which was also nice.

If you are just a runner who doesn't need distance tracking and speed, a Omron HR-100C will extremely well.

I do not recommend polar watches, b/c you have to send them back (wtf) to have the battery replaced. I do agree that it's neat to have your readout on the treadmills at the gym.

The Garmin is SUPER accurate and it tracks my heart rate, distance, altitude, speed, etc...

The Suunto was a great watch, but lacked gps (which I found I wanted after using it for a while).

What exactly do you want the unit to do? You have to have some idea of what you are looking for.

[Edited on August 24, 2009 at 11:08 AM. Reason : []

8/24/2009 11:05:36 AM

i have a polar f4.......reasonably priced, gets the job done

8/24/2009 11:50:12 AM

The 305 sucks balls for altitude, fyi.

8/24/2009 11:53:06 AM

honestly, i dont have a good idea of what i want. I know that half the time Im using the HR monitors on the machines at the gym it doesn't register, not to mention I can't hold the handles when im running on the treadmill, and i want to know what my hr is during my water aerobics class . So i would like to get something that can monitor my HR when im working out as well as let me see what my resting heart rate is and what my heart rate is when im doing chores, biking to class, ect. Whatever I get I want it to be easy and I highly doubt i would use any advanced features. I do want it to double as a real watch though.


what is up with the strap you can plug into the treadmill?

[Edited on August 24, 2009 at 11:59 AM. Reason : strap]

8/24/2009 11:58:24 AM

I don't have to plug it into the machine. It does it wireless. I was also sick of the little handles not working most of the time, so I bought this polar HRM. It has a chest strap and a wristwatch that displays your HR. Got to the gym and my HR was showing up on the machine even though I wasn't touching the handles. It was a nice little added bonus. I think I did notice a little "Polar" logo somewhere on the machine. It works with the bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills at Planet Fitness.

[Edited on August 24, 2009 at 12:15 PM. Reason : l]

8/24/2009 12:13:36 PM

the F4 is about 80 bucks

the F6 is around 100 and can transmit your workout data to your computer for tracking purposes.


the wristband can function like a watch when its not in excercise mode


you can check the time during excercise mode by holding the wristband near the chest strap.

8/24/2009 8:11:05 PM

this thread is relevant to my interests

8/24/2009 8:48:03 PM

i use the Omron HC-1000 from the cheapest amazon.com retailer I could find

best $30 I've ever spent, all it does is read HR, time, date, stopwatch....none of the tracking stuff, albeit cool, but I don't see as very useful for my goals, so I'm just staying cheap.

8/24/2009 9:01:11 PM

I've liked the 2 or 3 Polar watches I've had.

8/24/2009 9:20:02 PM

Dad loved the F6, he used it to track his workouts. You can download from it and upload a few settings I think. He normally wears a different watch though, so I can't comment on that.

8/24/2009 10:19:00 PM

I've used the same Polar F2 for about 3 years. I changed the battery twice in that time and it has held up in a pretty rigorous work environment. I bang it into practically everything I walk by and its still in great condition. I will likely upgrade to a newer model soon though because the chest strap it came with isn't like their newer ones where they have different signals between the watches so that your heart rate doesn't show up on a training partner's or another persons beside you at the gym.

8/24/2009 11:40:02 PM

If you just wait a while the government is going to issue everyone a heartrate watch so that they can judge you better when you get to the death panel.

8/25/2009 1:17:07 AM

http://www.24hourfitness.com/training/bodybugg/

also sounds like a nifty gadget

8/25/2009 1:34:12 AM

i have a timex...it's good...i like....it'll remember the last workout, display time, avg hr, peak hr, cals burned...helps with the P90X

8/25/2009 2:11:41 AM