Good heart rate monitor?

[debster913]

Hi, all--

Can anyone recommend a good heart rate monitor I can use during exercise? Where can I find a good one?

Thanks,
Debi (debster913)

 

[Magic8Ball]

I use a polar FS3 which is pretty basic but does what i need well.

It has no 'history' or 'computer download' feature but i basically want to look down, see my heart rate and adjust the exercise if i'm too high.

Once exercise has finished it will show you max rate, average rate etc.

I only chose this one as polar are pretty much the only brand available here and this was a cheap one (i bought it pre surgery to monitor my heart rate before and after surgery and as i wasn't sure there would be an after i didn't want to spend loads... )

Regards.

 

[epstns]

I'm on my second monitor (and still pre-surgery, too!) so far. The first was a Timex "Iron Man" series. About $70 via the Timex web site. I used it for about 2 or 3 years. I changed the battery in the chest strap numerous times -- it didn't seem to last more than about 6 months, but I could buy them at the drug store. When the strap began to fall apart, I decided to try a Polar. The unit seems to be well made and easy to use, and is the basic one. It has no model number on it, so I can't be more specific. My only concern with the Polar is that when the battery in the chest strap wears down, it must be sent back to Polar for replacement. Wonder how long that will take and how much it will cost?

 

[PJmomrunner]

Ditto for me. Polar. Cheapest model.

I've sent back the chest strap for battery change and it is a pain. Seems like it cost about $15 and took about a week to get back. It does last a long time though--five years maybe???

 

[Adrienne]

I have a Polar F11 HR monitor. It's true that it is an expensive model and that I don't use all the fancy stuff you can use on it, but it is "coded" so that if there is someone on a treadmill right next to you with a HR monitor, it will not pick up that person's HR! Also, it has a soft strap with the electrodes, not a hard plastic thing, so it is relatively comfortable. By the way, you can get a "watch" which is for a woman and not as humungously big as the men's.

 

[kodi]

I have two different ones. The HR only is a Polar S610i. Keeps tracks of all kinds of things and can download to the computer.

The other is a Garmin GPS. It's great for running and biking outdoors but just for working out it would be a little too much.

This is my second Polar and I've had good luck with both of them. You can go onto their website www.polarusa.com for info about all the models. Of course best prices are usually from Amazon, Costco, Sam's, etc.

 

[MarkU]

I've got the Timex Ironman with the 100 lap memory. Basic, but suits my needs well. I like the fact that you can change the batteries in the strap yourself.

Mark