Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor
Take the next step toward a healthy lifestyle with the Polar® FT4 Heart Rate Monitor. Precisely counting calories and displaying your heart rate, the FT4 also lets you train safely by determining your heart-rate zone limits through age-based maximum heart rate. A backlight provides 24-hour use in a Polar® watch that is water resistant to 30M for training on land and in the water. Product includes Polar® H1 heart rate sensor
FEATURES:
• Displays your improved fitness level based on heart rate
• Fabric transmitter, coded heart rate transmission
• Manual target zone lets you define your target training zone and reach it
• Polar OwnCode® locks in a code to transmit your heart rate to the training computer
• Polar Smart Calories calorie counter precisely tracks the number of calories burned based on your height, weight, age, gender and intensity
• HR-based target zones with audible and visual alarms lets you know when you’re out of your intensity level via audio and visual alarm
• Average and maximum heart rate of training
• Age-based target zone bpm lets you train safely by determining your heart-rate zone limits through your age-based max heart rate
• Stores training data from your previous 10 workouts
• HeartTouch button-free wrist unit
• Graphical target zone indicator graphically displays your intensity zone during a workout
• Backlight for 24-hour use
• Date and weekday indicator
• Displays text in English, German, Finnish, Swedish, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian
• Dual time zone
• Button lock
• Low battery indicator
• Shows time of day with alarm and snooze functions
• User replaceable battery
• Water resistant to 30M for off-land training
• Included: Polar FT4 training computer, Polar H1 heart rate sensor, FT4 getting started guide
• Style: 90048884, 90047624, 90042870, 90038070
• Polar
Polar watches FT7
Easily monitor your heart rate and calories burned with this Polar FT7 90048889 watch that records up to 99 training files with summaries for thorough fitness tracking. A time-of-day clock with alarm and snooze functions keeps you apprised of the time.
Product Features
Measures heart rate and calories burned
With upper limit bpm manual target zone, user-set HRmax, bpm and percentage heart rate and average and maximum heart rate tracking, so you can easily monitor your fitness progress.
Records up to 99 training files with summaries
Plus totals and weekly history to help you keep track of your workouts.
EnergyPointer
Helps you get in shape quickly and lets you know if the effect of your training is fitness improvement or fat burning.
OwnCode 5kHz coded transmission
Along with OwnCal smart calories, ZonePointer and ZoneLock enables versatile use.
HeartTouch feature
Enables button-free operation of the wrist unit.
Time-of-day clock
With alarm and snooze functions, 12- and 24-hour options, dual time zones and date and weekday indicators allows you to monitor the time. A backlight ensures a clear view, and button lock helps prevent accidental use.
Water-resistant design
Enables you to safely submerge the watch in up to 98.4′ of water for reliable protection.
Fabric transmitter and coded heart-rate transmission
Help you avoid cross-talk.
Low-battery indicator
Shows you when the battery needs to be replaced.
Optional FlowLink (not included)
Lets you transfer data to your compatible PC or Mac or Polar personal trainer Web site, so you can enjoy training load, training diary, training programs and training analyzing features.
polar watches ft4 vs ft7
Polar FT4 vs Polar FT7: A Comparison
Heart Rate
There is no shortage of heart rate monitors on the market. New models are coming out over year, some have chest straps while others are wrist watch style, and still others slip over a finger to measure your heart rate. This website and blog could go on for a while reviewing each of these. However, I wanted to tackle a basic comparison, staying within the Polar family, and within the same product series (the FT series). Below you’ll find a comparison between the Polar FT4 and the Polar FT7 based on the features and compiled information from several sites.
Smart Coaching Features
It goes without saying that the FT7 is going to have a few more features to it that the FT 4, especially in regards to intuitive calculations. These calculations take your personal body and fitness metrics into consideration. These smart coaching features include:
• Energy Pointer: Are you trying to burn away the fat or trying to improve your overall fitness? The energy pointer will tell you which of these two zones you’re in and what your result will be when exercising in these zones.
• Smart Calories: Using the OwnCal application, this feature is one of the most accurate calorie counters on the market. This calorie counter takes your gender, age, body weight, maximum heart rate and height into account as it measures how hard you’re training.
• Training Load: This smart coaching feature will be your favorite as it tells you when you need to be training and when you need to be resting. At a glance, you can see if you’re over or under-training and how you can improve your work out and results.
Of these smart coaching features, only the Smart Calories feature is available on the FT4. The other two are available on the FT7.
Body Measurement Features
There are several features in this area that the FT4 and the FT7 have in common, and there is probably more overlap between the two here than in any other section. Let’s look at the similarities:
• Display your average and maximum heart rates during your training periods.
• Indicate your training percentage zone (Current HR divided by your Max HR), which will let you know if you’re burning fat, improving aerobic capacity, etc.
• Maximum heart rate indication.
• Polar OwnCal, allowing you to calculate your kcals burnt during workout.
• Polar OwnCode, a specific and unique code between the heart rate monitor strap and the wrist unit, so as not to mix up the two signals.
The FT4 will also automatically calculate your target heart rate zone based on your age. You are also able to enter your manual target heart rate zone as a bpm percentage. Conversely, with the FT7, you can enter a manual target heart rate zone yourself as the upper limit of the bpm.
Data Transfer and PolarPersonalTrainer.com
It should be noted at this point that only the FT7 has a data transfer and PolarPersonalTrainer.com options. The FT4 is not quite so technologically astute. These programs are compatible with Mac or PC, and the transfer happens via the Polar FlowLink, which is an extra accessory that you’ll need to purchase.
There are several advantages to being able to utilize the PolarPersonalTrainer.com feature on the FT7:
• It will help you to analyze your training through the tracking program.
• There is a training diary as well, and you can follow your training schedule, tracking what you’ve done. You can also use the diary to plan your future work outs as well.
• The training load feature will help you to monitor how heavy or light you are training. This is what helps you to know if you are under or over-training. The training load feature will help you to better know your limits and adjust your training intensity.
• There is a feature to vary your training programs following cycling, running, and most other outdoor sports. Training targets can be created for you in this program as well, and you can customize this according to your fitness level.
Recording and Training Features
There are only a couple of training recording features available on the FT4 (and FT7 for that matter). The FT4 allows you to track only your last 10 training sessions. In contrast, the FT7 allows you to track up to 99 training sessions before data is overwritten. You will also be able to sort through all of your training data by weekly summary as well as daily summaries on the FT7 (but not on the FT4).
Training and Watch Features
Of course, these heart rate monitors can also double as watches. These watches have several standard features, and both the FT4 and FT7 have the same watch features, including:
• Time of the day (obviously)
• Date and weekday/weekend indicators
• Two time zones
• Backlight
• Low battery indicator
• Alarm/snooze functions
• User replaceable battery
• Water resistant up to 30 meters.
The Bottom Line
Both the FT4 and the FT7 are popular Polar heart rate monitors and both give you great data and superb quality for the price. If all you are looking for is simple tracking week to week and you can store your data somewhere else, the FT4 might be the right heart rate monitor for you. However, if you’d like some more flexibility, more intuitive tracking and a few more advanced option, the FT7 is the heart rate monitor to go with. Neither will break your bank, and you’ll be well on your way to better health and fitness tracking.
Polar watches Review
For more than three decades, Polar heart rate monitors have been in the forefront of fitness monitor watches. The extensive range of devices made by Polar will help you to train, compete and perform your best. These heart rate monitors adapt to your training plans to keep up with your evolving fitness needs. Key data collected are precise so you will be able to customize your training plans easily.
Here are some of the best Polar heart rate monitors.
Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor
First Impressions
I will admit that I was a little worried about being able to use all of the features that the Polar FT4 has to offer. I consider myself to be reasonably tech savvy, but for some reason I have a hard time with watches. A heart rate monitor is like a watch on steroids, so I was expecting to be a little confused at first 😉 I was pleasantly surprised by how simple it is to use! I read to instructions, but I honestly think I could have figured it out without them. It’s VERY user friendly.
My other concern when I ordered the Polar FT4 was whether or not it would fit. I have tiny wrists…like super tiny…freakishly tiny…I used to call them bird wrists, but then I realized that birds don’t have wrists. I guess I could say that I have bird ankles for wrists…but that just sounds weird. Again I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the entire band of the Polar FT4 has notches so that it can be tightened even further than what I need for my tiny freakish bird ankle wrists.
My last concern was with the chest band. I was hoping it would be comfortable, and that it would fit properly. It’s very soft and comfortable to wear. It’s no more noticeable than the band of a sports bra (and you wear it about the same place). It wasn’t hard to get used to wearing it at all. The band it also very adjustable and should fit a wide range of sizes.
The Features
-Automatic age based target zone: There’s a quick set up process that involves entering your age into the Polar FT4. The training computer (the part that looks like a watch) will generate a target heart rate zone for you. No need to pull out the calculator 😉
-Tracks your average and maximum heart rate of training: At the end of each training session you can see what your average heart rate and maximum heart rate were during your training session. You can also see how much time you spent in your target zone. The last data from the last ten training sessions is saved and can easily be accessed.
-Heart rate display: With the press of a button you can change the display on the Polar FT4 so that you can see what your heart rate is in real time.
-Heart rate based target zones with visual and audible alarm: When you are not in your target heart rate zone the Polar FT4 has a visual cue to let you know, and there’s also an audible alarm. It’s easy to go into the settings and turn the sound off. I love that I can have the sound on while I’m doing my cardio, but I can also shut it off if I wear my Polar FT4 to yoga class or Pilates.
-Manual target zone: You can override the automatic target zone and set your own. My trainer has me working in at 75-90% of my max rate, so it was nice to be able to quickly/easily change the target zone to fit my current training plan. This feature is also great if you have a health issue and need to adjust accordingly.
-Polar OwnCal: The Polar FT4 calculates the number of calories expended during each training session. This feature allows you to track the calories expended during one training session and cumulative calories expended during several training sessions. You can go back and look look at past data to see how your latest workout compares to your past workouts.
-Training Files: The Polar FT4 can store ten training files (with training summary…max heart rate, average heart rate, total time, total calories burned). I love being able to look back at my previous workouts to compare my average heart rate, max heart rate and total calories burned.
-Totals: The Polar FT4 also tracks your total cumulative training time and calories burned (from initial start up or your last reset). It’s pretty neat to be able to look back and see just how much work you’ve put in.
Trouble Shooting
I’ve had two “why the heck isn’t this thing working” moments, but I am pretty sure they were both caused by user error. Once I put lotion on before putting the heart rate monitor on. This is a no no. The sensors couldn’t make contact properly and wouldn’t pick up my heart rate. I was able to use some rubbing alcohol to remove the lotion from my skin where the heart rate sensors go. Then it worked perfectly. The second time I didn’t tighten the band properly before starting my workout. It still stayed in place and worked during the cardio portion of my workout, but when I moved on to some core work it shifted around and wouldn’t pick up my heart rate. So the only malfunctions I’ve experienced were my own 😉
Conclusion:
I decided to purchase a heart rate monitor because it’s a great way to make sure that you are getting the most out of your cardio workouts. We all have a target heart rate range based on our age, and knowing whether you’re in this range or not is key to maximizing your calorie burn during cardio sessions. I’m a big believer in making the most out of each and every workout. Using the Polar FT4 has helped me to make the most of my cardio workouts. I love how easy it is to set up and use. Changing the display mid workout doesn’t slow me down. Being able to track my previous workouts helps me to push myself harder so that I can beat my previous calorie burn. After almost a month of use (five to six days each week) I am very pleased with this purchase. Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor Watch
What are the Special Features of the Polar FT7?
Once we started looking at these features, it was hard to figure out what to tell you about the most so we don’t overwhelm you too much. So, what we’ve tried to do is pull out some key points for explanation and list the other main features. Our goal is to make sure we give you a good Polar FT7 review, but not do it with overkill. So here we go.
• -Body measurement – measure average and max heart rate. You can set target zones for your own personal training based on:
o -Beats per minute
o -Percentage of max heart rate
o -Percentage of heart rate reserve
o -Polar EnergyPointer – This is a fascinating Smart Feature because it will tell you whether you are using more of your training time on calorie burning or fat burning. You can use this as a tool to help you increase, decrease, and adjust your aerobic and fat burning activity. Not available on the FT4.
o -Polar OwnCal – counts your kcals (calories) across each session and cumulatively across many session as well
o -Polar OwnCode – A special Smart code transmission just from Polar. This locks in a specialized code so only your heart rate can be transmitted to your training computer.
o -Data transfer is available via Mac, PCs, or with polarpersonaltrainer.com FT7 only.
o -Polarpersonaltrainer.com has its own set of features including. This is truly your own personalized, computerized trainer at your disposal. FT7 only
-Training analysis
-Training diary –track by the session, the day, the week, or the month
-Training load – a Polar software that helps you to figure out if you are doing enough or too much, the training load can help you in adjusting your degree of intensity and either shorten or lengthen your sessions as applicable.
-Training programs – Of course the trainer could not be complete without optional training programs for everything from running to outdoor sports to general fitness tips and tricks.
-Record keeping – Allow up to 99 training files to be stored along with a weekly history. FT4 holds only 10.
-Special Training features
-A hands-free button-free operation feature
-When you have the HeartTouch on without pushing any buttons you can bring your training computer up close to the transmitter and information will transmi
-Graphical target indicator – you can see graphically where your training falls into your zones
Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor
In the last few years or so, we have seen many fitness-related smartphone apps. Although they are great, they can’t monitor your heart rate. So, Polar has come up with the H7 to be used with your smartphone (compatible with both iPhone and Android). You can also use it with your gym equipment that supports Polar’s 5kHZ WearLink standard. It is easy to pair the heart rate sensor with your phone or gym equipment so you will not need to invest in expensive fitness computers.
The chest strap sits comfortably and securely around your chest while exercising. The device accurately records your heart rate, without any incidents of spiking or dropouts. The device is also waterproof so you can use it in water.
Polar fitness watches
Polar fitness watches are designed for those who already take fitness seriously and are committed to a regular regime. Under the Improve Fitness umbrella, you’ll find improvement tracking features so you can keep an eye on your development week by week, helping you get fitter faster than ever before.
• Designed for the next level of fitness and cross training, the FT60 male and FT60 female feature extensive Smart Coaching features
• OwnZone shows you whether you have maintained your optimal heart rate throughout your workout, while the STAR Training Program helps keep you motivated by telling you when you’ve reached your weekly targets, reviewing how close you are to achieving your goals and providing written feedback on the outcomes of your training sessions
• The FT60 also boasts Fitness Test, Smart Calories and Training Load functions
• For recreational runners, the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor and S3+ Stride Sensor bundle helps you to train at an intensity that is best for you, improving the outcome of each workout
• The Smart Coaching features that this model offers include Fitness Test, OwnCal, Running Index, Training Benefits, Training Load and ZoneOptimiser
• One of the most appealing features of these Polar fitness watches to runners will be the Running Index, which allows you to regularly view how efficient your running technique is, using your heart rate, speed and distance as measured by the RCX3 and S3+ Stride Sensor
• The S3+ sits on your shoe to help you track your pace and distance. It is shock and water resistant, as well as being small and lightweight
Polar FT60 Heart Rate Monitor
The Polar FT60 heart rate monitor has been designed for people who are committed to their regular training sessions and love the satisfaction of knowing their fitness levels are constantly improving. Polar’s Smart Coaching offers you a trainer with five coaching features. Available in the following colours: black or purple for women and black for men.*
This range is designed for those who already take fitness seriously and are committed to a regular regime. Under the Improve Fitness umbrella, you’ll find improvement tracking features so you can keep an eye on your development week by week, helping you get fitter faster than ever before.
• Designed for the next level of fitness and cross training, the FT60 male and FT60 female feature extensive Smart Coaching features
• OwnZone shows you whether you have maintained your optimal heart rate throughout your workout, while the STAR Training Program helps keep you motivated by telling you when you’ve reached your weekly targets, reviewing how close you are to achieving your goals and providing written feedback on the outcomes of your training sessions
• The FT60 also boasts Fitness Test, Smart Calories and Training Load functions
• For recreational runners, the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor and S3+ Stride Sensor bundle helps you to train at an intensity that is best for you, improving the outcome of each workout
• The Smart Coaching features that this model offers include Fitness Test, OwnCal, Running Index, Training Benefits, Training Load and ZoneOptimiser
• One of the most appealing features to runners will be the Running Index, which allows you to regularly view how efficient your running technique is, using your heart rate, speed and distance as measured by the RCX3 and S3+ Stride Sensor
• The S3+ sits on your shoe to help you track your pace and distance. It is shock and water resistant, as well as being small and lightweight
Easy-to-Use
With button controls set around a large and easy-to-read screen, the FT60 heart rate monitor from Polar is simple-to-use. You can view the progress of each workout that the FT60 has planned for you based on the user information you have keyed in, including: weight, age, height, gender, fitness level, the intensity of each activity and your fitness goal. The OwnCal feature also uses this information to display the number of calories burnt during each session.
While You Train
A user-manual is included with the Polar FT60 heart rate monitor so you can get started as soon as possible. As you train, the following can be viewed: current heart rate, calories burnt and the duration and zone (1, 2 or 3) that your heart rate accelerated to as you exercised. The OwnZone feature uses a smiley face to show that you maintained your optimal heart rate while the words “Not in Zone” are displayed when you have been unsuccessful.
Goal-Directed
Polar offers you a personal trainer right in your FT60! The Smart Coaching function offers you the following features: Fitness Test, OwnZone, Smart Calories, STAR Training Program and Training Load. Fitness Test allows you to compare your test results and analyse your aerobic fitness so you can review what areas of your exercise program are working and how you are improving. OwnZone monitors your body’s current physical condition to let you know if you’re training at the right intensity to enhance your aerobic fitness.
Personal Guidance
With the STAR Training Program, you can stay motivated by reviewing how much closer you are to reaching your goals as well as receive written feedback on the outcomes of your training sessions. Training Load can help you understand and find the perfect balance between resting and training so you can always perform at your best. Head to the www.polarpersonaltrainer.com website to use Training Load.**
Push Yourself
Having a visual reminder effectively keeps you motivated to train. With the FT60 heart rate monitor, Polar’s STAR Training Program allows you to view your weekly target for each heart rate zone, the actual training times and personal guidance regarding how much closer you are to reaching your fitness goals. When your body is at rest, you can also rely on the FT60 to tell you the time and measure your aerobic fitness to determine your progress.
Post Training Benefits
Other than splurging on some new outfits, the Polar FT60 heart rate monitor provides you with feedback after each workout. You can see if you have reached your weekly targets and the effect of the training: the FT60 might read “Training is primarily improving your body’s ability to burn fat, but it also improves your fitness.” With such helpful comments, the FT60 heart rate monitor helps maintain your motivation and dedication to living a healthier lifestyle.
Polar RCX3 Heart Rate Monitor
Recreational runners will appreciate the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor which offers six Smart Coaching features to help you train at the optimal intensity for improving the outcome of each workout. Available in the following colours: black and white.*
Comfortable and Easy-to-Use
Make every day count with the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor! It offers an easy-to-use design with buttons around a large display screen. Before you get started, simply button-in your personal body measurements, including: time, date, units (metric or imperial), weight, height, date of birth and gender. With the OwnCal Smart Coaching feature, these details are then used to provide an accurate calculation of how many calories you have burnt while training.
Smart Coaching
Benefit from a range of Polar Smart Coaching functions built-in to the RCX3 heart rate monitor, including: Fitness Test, OwnCal, Running Index, Training Benefits, Training Load and ZoneOptimiser. Each function complements your entire workout to help you stay motivated. Fitness Test allows you to view your test results to monitor the successful and unsuccessful aspects of your workouts so you can analyse the progress of your fitness levels.
Coaching for Running
The Smart Coaching Running Index feature has been designed for runners. You can regularly view how efficient your running technique is based on the statistics picked up by the Polar RCX3, which track your heart rate as you run. You can also monitor speed data and track your distance with the optional G5 GPS sensor. A higher reading indicates that you can run faster with less effort.
Post Workout Benefits
Enjoy the satisfaction of every training session when you read the post-workout tips and motivational guides from the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor. The Training Benefit feature offers you a quick overview after each session to let you know the effect of different exercises on your body. If you want more details, simply check your training file or head to the www.polarpersonaltrainer.com website.**
Get Fit. Stay Fit.
Benefit from ZoneOptimiser, a Smart Coaching feature that helps you train at the right intensity. This practical function adjusts your heart rate training zones to match your body’s current physiological condition. Now there’s an easier way to see if you’re pushing yourself too much or not enough. You can also find the ideal balance for rest and training using the Training Load feature. The Polar website: www.polarpersonaltrainer.com displays your cumulative training for every day and also advises if and when you require any rest days so you can maintain your performance.**
4. Polar watches Review
Polar FT7
A Polar watches Review must start with an appreciation of the fact that some runners are focused mainly on weight loss or management, while others rely on running to improve their aerobic fitness. No matter why you run, the Polar FT7 heart rate monitor watch is the perfect tool for balancing weight loss and aerobic exercise goals. The watch has a built-in program, EnergyPointer, that shows you whether you are burning fat or improving your fitness levels.
The Polar FT7 includes a wireless transmitter that comfortably tracks your heart rate, earning it good remarks in Polar watches Review. The recorded data is then used to create target heart rate zones and can be uploaded to Polar’s online program to monitor your improvement.
The Polar FT7 has most features you would expect a normal sports watch to have. You can view time and date, and the watch indicates when the battery needs replaced. It can be backlit, and you can set an audible alarm. How the FT7 differs from a run-of-the-mill sports watch is its ability to track your progress and then upload that data to an online fitness program. This program can monitor pace levels, calories burned and more. Unfortunately, it can’t track speed or location because this heart rate monitor watch doesn’t include GPS.
Polar’s website offers an instructional video demonstrating how to use the FT7 posted on the product’s page under media. This video will show you which buttons control which function. We found it very helpful. Polar also backs up its watches with a two-year warranty, FAQs, and a technical support email and phone number.
VERY simple to use, i was shocked to how easy it was to operate. After setting up your personal information on there (Height, weight, sex) It sets up your Heart Rate zone which you can also edit if you need to… then click on the start button and you’re good to go. i recommend looking on Youtube and search for polarusa’s introduction of the HRM. I found i understood the watch right out of the box.
The chest strap is surprisingly comfortable to wear. I thought it would be in the way with my sports bra.. but it wasn’t. It’s adjustable so you can tighten or loosen for your fit. The watch face isnt too big for my hands, i like the design. the male VS female type does not matter.. except in colour so feel free to pick up any one you want. Omly drawback here is the Backlight.. its a funny kind of green which is hard to see when it’s not that dark out.
During your workout, it will beep when you are out of zone so you can adjust your intensity to fit it. you can easily scroll through the views to see Calories burned, zone levels, and heart rate. This one does not track the distance you’ve covered, which now i realize would have been a nice idea… oh well, it’s not that big of a deal. It does what i need it to do, which is track my calories burned during workouts.
It stores your workout files… not sure how many it can keep… i’ve only had it for a couple weeks now and it still has all the entries from the first day. To be honest i dont need it once i’ve written down the information for the workout, but it’s nice to see how much you’ve done over time. (it has a bar graph showing about (could be more) a week’s worth of exercise at a time)
Polar – FT4 Women’s Heart Rate Monitor Watch
The Polar FT4 is a heart rate monitor watch for runners who simply want to run. This monitor isn’t laden with superfluous features that require studying the user manual to use. It tracks your heart rate and calories burned, period. You can also upload data to Polar’s online program for an in-depth review of your workouts.
Surprisingly, this heart rate monitor watch doesn’t have stopwatch features like its competitors do. While we understand Polar wants this watch to have a specific purpose, the addition of a timer can only help that purpose along.
You can record a total of 10 workouts in the Polar FT4’s memory. And because you can upload your workouts to an online tracking program, 10 is plenty of storage. The watch unit is only water resistance to 30 meters, so you won’t be able to track your heart rate well while swimming.
Polar’s HeartTouch feature is beyond cool, making it simple to access training and heart rate information. Instead of pushing a million buttons, simply bring your watch close to the chest transmitter, and it will display your current heart rate. This unit doesn’t have GPS or a power save mode.
Polar does a good job of helping its customers feel connected to the manufacturer. On the website, you’ll find an online contact form and phone number for technical support if help is needed. We contacted them and received an answer to our questions within a day. A two-year warranty is also included with the heart rate monitor for protection against a faulty product.
The price ain’t bad. Though technically it retails for about a hundred bucks, a quick google search will land you figures that are quite a bit less than that. So for less than your next pair of fancy running shoes, you could be set with an HRM that has a good balance between features and ease of use. Polar is one of the biggest names in heart rate monitors with an excellent reputation; not that other ones might not be good too–but you’re not taking any wild chances with this brand.
It’s a nice step up from the low-end hrms. The flexible chest strap is way more comfortable that the stiff kind, plus there are absorbable pads you presoak with water, so you don’t have to wait to get soaked with sweat for the thing to work. The strap is even machine washable! (But don’t be a doof and throw the transmitter and watch in the machine too).
The wrist watch part has a good set of features but is not too complicated to use. Even the Cranky Crab was able to set it up, and toggle the display between time, heart rate, workout duration, calories burned and HRM relative to target range. (This may not seem like an achievement worth bragging about, but I’m someone who’s been walking around in Massachusetts for the last 6 months with a sports watch that’s still set to California time because I couldn’t figure out how to change it).
What’s Better About the FT4 Than I Initially Thought
The Display is Easy To Read I almost chose the lowest-end F1 to test because I was scared off by the above picture. The type looks so tiny! There is a sad trade-off with heart rate monitors if you are an old fogey like me and don’t want to have to take along reading glasses to see tiny type–you are generally restricted to low end models that don’t measure much besides heart rate. However, what I didn’t realize is that the screen displayed above is just one option; you can get big readable numbers when you’re just measuring heart-rate or time, etc. So this is a perfectly good pick for the reading-glasses generation.
You Can Get Bright or Neutral Colors. The Polar people are currently promoting their new louder colors: pink (billed as pink & purple, but trust me, it’s pink) or black and orange (good for Halloween or SF Giants fans). So I didn’t at first realize that nice safe old silver/blacks and goldish/brown are also available. (Not for this giveaway though, I don’t think).
Calories Burned Seemed Fairly Accurate : I tend to be skeptical of the ability of a monitor to count how many calories you burn based solely on your heart rate. But on both low and high intensity days, it seemed to correlate pretty well with what models would predict given my weight and the number of miles I covered.
Accuracy Under Bouncy Conditions: My old hrm would not make good enough contact with my chest to give consistent readings on the elliptical machine, especially at the beginning before I got soaked with sweat. (Don’t know it’s due to bouncing boobage, or my poor elliptical form, but whatever the reason, getting values that pop around randomly from 36 to 243 is not all that helpful).
But Voila: The flexible chest strap of the FT4 totally fixed this problem! Well, ok, one one workout there was a few seconds of skittering around before the numbers settled in, but this chest strap is a vast improvement over the inflexible kind. Much more comfort and accuracy and worth the upgrade.
You Can Turn Off the Godawful Beeping The default setting has an annoying beep whenever the hrm function is working. From the initial set-up guide, it isn’t clear at first how to turn it off. However, after five minutes of whining, stomping, and cursing further investigation, it turns out there is indeed a setting that will turn the beeping off, thank goodness.
What Could be Better About This Heart Rate Monitor
No High-Tech Features. It’s mostly a “get what you pay for” scenario: this is a lower end model, and it doesn’t have GPS or an accelerometer nor will it sing to you in Swedish or talk you through your motivational issues. It doesn’t even seem to have an interval timer– though it does have an alarm, so perhaps there’s something I’m missing that would enable interval timing. If it’s there, they don’t make it obvious.
Online Tracking? Polar says in the instruction manual that you can track your data on their website! So at first I thought, really, you can send your workout data wirelessly to your PC? That’s cool! But turns out they mean if you wanna bother to go register with them and manually enter your data, they’ll keep it for you. Big whoop! (FYI, just send Crabby a hundred bucks, she’d be happy to do the same!)
Lack of Sufficient Instructions in Box Also, being the old fashioned type, I wouldn’t have minded a bit more operating information in the package. I had to go online to download the user manual in order to shut off the default hrm sounds–the initial set-up only told you how to silence the button noise, not the constant hrm beeping at you. The hrm system is NOT that complicated for them to include the complete operating instructions in the package.
Overall: If you don’t need gps or complicated programming features, and want a well-designed heart rate monitor from a reliable company that is comfortable and easy to read, this definitely fits the bill. And if you shop this thing rather than paying full retail, it’s seems like a good value for the money.
Generally, all Polar watches are easy to use out of the box, and work well as your basic heart rate monitor. The display is easy to read, and the backlight works well at night or in a dark spinning class. The watch can be programmed to turn on the backlight by bringing the watch close to the chest strap. This is a great feature if you only have one hand free. The only issue we had with the watches were, occasionally, we would not get a reading from the heart rate monitor strap. This is not unique to Polar, and happens occasionally with almost all watches. This is due to the heart rate monitor strap not making a good electrode contact to your skin. Overall, they worked very well. So, if you are into gym cardio or spinning, I would recommend this as a good watch for you. Also, these watches are basic heart rate monitor watches with additional features. If you are a seasoned gym junkie, and are in it for the long haul, spending more money to get a few extra features is ok. For a little more money, you can be into an entry GPS watch. – See more at: http://fitnesselectronicsblog.com/reviews/369-2/#sthash.B8hPSozN.dpuf
5.Polar fitness watches
Polar fitness watches are designed for those who already take fitness seriously and are committed to a regular regime. Under the Improve Fitness umbrella, you’ll find improvement tracking features so you can keep an eye on your development week by week, helping you get fitter faster than ever before.
• Designed for the next level of fitness and cross training, the FT60 male and FT60 female feature extensive Smart Coaching features
• OwnZone shows you whether you have maintained your optimal heart rate throughout your workout, while the STAR Training Program helps keep you motivated by telling you when you’ve reached your weekly targets, reviewing how close you are to achieving your goals and providing written feedback on the outcomes of your training sessions
• The FT60 also boasts Fitness Test, Smart Calories and Training Load functions
• For recreational runners, the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor and S3+ Stride Sensor bundle helps you to train at an intensity that is best for you, improving the outcome of each workout
• The Smart Coaching features that this model offers include Fitness Test, OwnCal, Running Index, Training Benefits, Training Load and ZoneOptimiser
• One of the most appealing features of these Polar fitness watches to runners will be the Running Index, which allows you to regularly view how efficient your running technique is, using your heart rate, speed and distance as measured by the RCX3 and S3+ Stride Sensor
• The S3+ sits on your shoe to help you track your pace and distance. It is shock and water resistant, as well as being small and lightweight
Polar FT60 Heart Rate Monitor
The Polar FT60 heart rate monitor has been designed for people who are committed to their regular training sessions and love the satisfaction of knowing their fitness levels are constantly improving. Polar’s Smart Coaching offers you a trainer with five coaching features. Available in the following colours: black or purple for women and black for men.*
Easy-to-Use
With button controls set around a large and easy-to-read screen, the FT60 heart rate monitor from Polar is simple-to-use. You can view the progress of each workout that the FT60 has planned for you based on the user information you have keyed in, including: weight, age, height, gender, fitness level, the intensity of each activity and your fitness goal. The OwnCal feature also uses this information to display the number of calories burnt during each session.
While You Train
A user-manual is included with the Polar FT60 heart rate monitor so you can get started as soon as possible. As you train, the following can be viewed: current heart rate, calories burnt and the duration and zone (1, 2 or 3) that your heart rate accelerated to as you exercised. The OwnZone feature uses a smiley face to show that you maintained your optimal heart rate while the words “Not in Zone” are displayed when you have been unsuccessful.
Goal-Directed
Polar offers you a personal trainer right in your FT60! The Smart Coaching function offers you the following features: Fitness Test, OwnZone, Smart Calories, STAR Training Program and Training Load. Fitness Test allows you to compare your test results and analyse your aerobic fitness so you can review what areas of your exercise program are working and how you are improving. OwnZone monitors your body’s current physical condition to let you know if you’re training at the right intensity to enhance your aerobic fitness.
Personal Guidance
With the STAR Training Program, you can stay motivated by reviewing how much closer you are to reaching your goals as well as receive written feedback on the outcomes of your training sessions. Training Load can help you understand and find the perfect balance between resting and training so you can always perform at your best. Head to the www.polarpersonaltrainer.com website to use Training Load.**
Push Yourself
Having a visual reminder effectively keeps you motivated to train. With the FT60 heart rate monitor, Polar’s STAR Training Program allows you to view your weekly target for each heart rate zone, the actual training times and personal guidance regarding how much closer you are to reaching your fitness goals. When your body is at rest, you can also rely on the FT60 to tell you the time and measure your aerobic fitness to determine your progress.
Post Training Benefits
Other than splurging on some new outfits, the Polar FT60 heart rate monitor provides you with feedback after each workout. You can see if you have reached your weekly targets and the effect of the training: the FT60 might read “Training is primarily improving your body’s ability to burn fat, but it also improves your fitness.” With such helpful comments, the FT60 heart rate monitor helps maintain your motivation and dedication to living a healthier lifestyle.
Polar RCX3 Heart Rate Monitor
Recreational runners will appreciate the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor which offers six Smart Coaching features to help you train at the optimal intensity for improving the outcome of each workout. Available in the following colours: black and white.*
Comfortable and Easy-to-Use
Make every day count with the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor! It offers an easy-to-use design with buttons around a large display screen. Before you get started, simply button-in your personal body measurements, including: time, date, units (metric or imperial), weight, height, date of birth and gender. With the OwnCal Smart Coaching feature, these details are then used to provide an accurate calculation of how many calories you have burnt while training.
Smart Coaching
Benefit from a range of Polar Smart Coaching functions built-in to the RCX3 heart rate monitor, including: Fitness Test, OwnCal, Running Index, Training Benefits, Training Load and ZoneOptimiser. Each function complements your entire workout to help you stay motivated. Fitness Test allows you to view your test results to monitor the successful and unsuccessful aspects of your workouts so you can analyse the progress of your fitness levels.
Coaching for Running
The Smart Coaching Running Index feature has been designed for runners. You can regularly view how efficient your running technique is based on the statistics picked up by the Polar RCX3, which track your heart rate as you run. You can also monitor speed data and track your distance with the optional G5 GPS sensor. A higher reading indicates that you can run faster with less effort.
Post Workout Benefits
Enjoy the satisfaction of every training session when you read the post-workout tips and motivational guides from the Polar RCX3 heart rate monitor. The Training Benefit feature offers you a quick overview after each session to let you know the effect of different exercises on your body. If you want more details, simply check your training file or head to the www.polarpersonaltrainer.com website.**
Get Fit. Stay Fit.
Benefit from ZoneOptimiser, a Smart Coaching feature that helps you train at the right intensity. This practical function adjusts your heart rate training zones to match your body’s current physiological condition. Now there’s an easier way to see if you’re pushing yourself too much or not enough. You can also find the ideal balance for rest and training using the Training Load feature. The Polar website: www.polarpersonaltrainer.com displays your cumulative training for every day and also advises if and when you require any rest days so you
6. Sports watches
Timex Women’s T5K460 1440 Sports Digital is a stylish digital sports watch from Timex features a chronograph design with a digital day and date display, an alarm and an INDIGLO night light. A top candidate in the Sports watches category, the Timex Women’s T5K460 1440 Sports Digital has a silver case with a translucent blue strap complete the look of this watch.
• Case: Silver resin
• Caseback: Stainless steel snap-down
• Dial: Digital
• Calendar: Digital day and date display
• Chronograph, alarm, INDIGLO night-light
• Strap: Translucent blue resin
• Clasp: Tang buckle
• Crystal: Plastic
• Movement: Quartz
• Water resistance: 5 ATM/50 meters/165 feet
• Case measurements: 35 mm in diameter x 12 mm thick
• Strap measurements: 12 mm wide x 190 mm long
• Box measurements: 2.5 inches wide x 3.5 inches long x 3 inches high
• Model: T5K4609J
Stuhrling Original Men’s Regatta Espora Swiss Quartz Divers Bracelet Watch
This watch is built solid stainless steel and outfitted with a Ronda 515 Swiss quartz movement. The polished dial includes individually applied luminous markers in circles and baton configurations. This comes equipped with a stainless steel link bracelet
• Case: Stainless steel
• Caseback: Stainless steel, screw-down
• Bezel: Black
• Dial: Black
• Hands: Silvertone with luminous fill
• Markers: Luminous markers
• Calendar: Date
• Bracelet: Stainless steel
• Clasp: Deployment
• Crystal: Krysterna
• Crown: Screw-down
• Movement: Swiss quartz
• Water resistance: 10 ATM/100 meters/330 feet
• Case measurements: 44mm wide x 44mm long x 11.5mm thick
• Bracelet measurements: 24mm wide x 8 inches long
• Box measurements: 3 inches wide x 3 inches high x 12 inches long
• Model: MW417S02O
Timex Men’s T20041 Easy Reader Brown Leather Strap Watch
Keep track of time with this men’s Timex Core Easy Reader. With a big white face, and easy to read black numerals and hands, this brown leather watch is perfect for a busy man on the go.
• Case: Silvertone
• Caseback: Stainless steel snap-down
• Bezel: Silvertone, brass
• Dial: White dial, INDIGLO night-light
• Hands: Black
• Markers: Full Arabic, black numerals
• Calendar: Day, date at 3 o’clock
• Strap: Brown leather
• Clasp: Tang buckle
• Crystal: Mineral
• Crown: Push/pull
• Movement: Quartz
• Water resistance: 3 ATM/30 meters/99 feet
• Case measurements: 35 mm x 35 mm x 9 mm
• Strap measurements: 205 mm x 35 mm x 9 mm
• Box measurements: 2.5 inches wide x 3.5 inches long x 3 inches high
• Model number: T200419J
7. women’s sports watches
Vernier Women’s All Over Floral Pattern Stone Bezel Watch is revolution in the women’s sports watches.
• Fashionable flair makes its appearance on your wrist when you wear this Vernier women’s floral-pattern watch. The metal band features a jewelry clasp to ensure this eye-catching watch stays securely on your wrist
• Case: Base metal
• Caseback: Stainless steel, snap-down
• Bezel: Base metal
• Dial: Silvertone
• Hands: Silvertone sword
• Markers: Silvertone Roman numerals
• Bracelet: Base metal
• Clasp: Jewelry
• Crystal: Mineral
• Crown: Push/pull
• Movement: Japanese quartz
• Water resistance: Moisture and dust
• Case measurements: 39 mm wide x 39 mm long x 11 mm thick
• Bracelet measurements: 20 mm wide x 8 inches long
• Model: V11168O
Timex Women’s T5G881 1440 Sports Digital
This stylish digital sports watch from Timex features a chronograph design with a digital day and date display, an alarm and an INDIGLO night light. A silver case with pink accents and white strap complete the look of this watch.
• Case: Silver resin with pink accents
• Caseback: Stainless steel snap-down
• Dial: Digital
• Calendar: Digital day and date display
• Chronograph, alarm, INDIGLO night light
• Strap: White resin
• Clasp: Tang buckle
• Crystal: Plastic
• Movement: Quartz
• Water resistance: 5 ATM/50 meters/165 feet
• Case measurements: 33 mm in diameter x 12 mm thick
• Strap measurements: 12 mm wide x 190 mm long
• Box measurements: 2.5 inches wide x 3.5 inches long x 3 inches high
• Model: T5G8819J
8. sports watches with heart rate monitor
Garmin Approach S1 Golf Watch
Although the Garmin Approach S1 GPS-enabled Golf as one of the few best sports watches with heart rate monitor, the watch won’t help you with your putting skills, it will give you the edge over your contemporaries by providing vital distance information to the front, back and middle of greens, making one of the best sports watches with heart rate monitor.
Durably Sleek Design
Play on your favourite golf course and look good whilst doing it with the Approach S1’s stylishly sleek and practical design which not only looks good but has been built to last on the go wherever you go. The Approach S1 even has an IPX7 waterproof rating for the occasional spill or even shrug off the rain so you can keep on golfing on! (Just don’t do it in a thunderstorm!)
LCD Watchface
With a handy display size of 2.5 x 2.5 cm and a resolution of 64 x 32 pixels, the Approach S1’s monochrome LCD screen, displays status at-a-glance information about golfing metrics as well as the time, so you won’t accidentally miss out on lunch.
Vital Intelligence
No matter what your playing level, beginner, novice, veteran and perhaps pro, the Approach S1 will have you dialled in with up-to-date information on ranges to the front, back and middle of the green. This sports watches with heart rate monitor will also tell you how far you’ve walked both on the golf course and off so you’ll be able to work off that heavy lunch you’ve had!
Save on Batteries and the Environment
When it comes to serious golfing, it’s not just about the game with the Approach S1! Now you can be green whilst being on the green with the Approach S1’s lithium-ion battery which lasts up to 3 weeks on time mode and up to 8 hours in GPS mode. Furthermore the battery is rechargeable –so no more disposable batteries!
Timex Personal Trainer Heart Rate Monitor
Stay informed about your body while you exercise with the Timex Personal Trainer Heart Rate sensor in Grey and Black using one of the leading sports watches with heart rate monitor. It keeps you informed about your beats per minute (BPM) as you work out, and alerts you if you move past your healthy level so you can give yourself a break. It even tracks calories burned, and can communicate with other fitness equipment.
Target Zones
Need a reminder when you are going a bit hard on yourself? The target heart rate zones function of this watch will play an alert when you move past your healthy BPM, so you can take a breather and get your heart rate down before continuing to exercise.
Calories Burned
Keep an eye on what you’re burning with the practical calories burned display of this watch. It will let you know exactly how many calories you are burning off in each work out, so you can design a fitness routine which works best for your diet and body.
Fitness Compatible
This analog heart rate sensor can communicate with other fitness equipment, so you can see your beats per minute on your treadmill, stationary bike or other fitness equipment you are using
9. Heart rate monitor watches
A heart rate monitor watch is the perfect tool to track distance, time, pace and, most importantly, your heart rate. Knowing your heart rate during training is essential because specific heart rate zones accomplish different tasks: recovery, weight loss or endurance. By knowing your heart rate and which zone you are in, you can either pick up the pace or slow down.
Polar RS100
The Polar RS100 heart rate monitor watch is an ideal training solution for a wide range of athletes. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned runner, the heart rate monitoring features will help you keep in an appropriate training zone with this Polar RS100.
By staying in different heart rate zones, you can improve your fitness level and lose weight. It would have been better if the Polar RS100 had GPS, but the 100-hour memory capacity, two-year warranty and intuitive backlight feature help ease the loss.
Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS-Enabled Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor
Some versions of the Forerunner 110 (men’s black/red and women’s gray/pink) come with a heart rate monitor to display your heart rate in beats per minute. It also provides heart rate-based calorie computations so you can accurately track your calories burned. If you purchase the black/gray Forerunner 110 without heart rate, you can buy a Garmin heart rate monitor separately or use with an ANT+ heart rate monitor you already own.
11. Polar watches
All Polar watches are designed to meet a specific need. The range caters for those who are just starting out on their journey to fitness, with basic heart rate monitors designed to keep things simple, right up to high performance athletes looking for a sports watch to guide them through an entire triathlon. Whatever your current fitness level, and whatever your fitness goal, Polar watches can help you on your way to improving your health and performance. To that end, Polar split its range into three sections: Get Active, Improve Fitness and Maximize Performance. Within each section there are products designed for fitness and cross training, cycling, running and multisport.
I first purchased my Polar watch in April of 2013. I was only 2 months into my weight loss journey but had seen people posting about this amazing watch for a while and knew it would greatly benefit my weight loss. Since I count calories, I knew this would make even more sense because then I could see how many calories I was burning during each workout. The way this watch works is it comes with a heart rate band that goes right below your bra or chest to get the best accurate reading of your heart rate. Then you can wear the watch around your wrist to see while exercising how well you are doing. You have to wear both at the same time while exercising or it won’t work.
The reason I love this Polar watch so much is because its pretty accurate for every exercise you do. I can now go to Zumba and know exactly how much I burn rather than guessing. Then I input that into my fitness pal and it tells me how many calories I have to eat based off my exercising. I won’t workout without my watch. It has been such a great tool for my weight loss.
According to your weight and body, it wants you to stay in between heart rate range for maximum calorie burn. For me its, 126-162. This is when I burn the most calories. If I am walking at 3.0 speed on the treadmill with a 1.0 incline, I am at a 126-130 heart rate. If I am on the elliptical doing 12 minute miles, my heart rate tends to be around 130-145. If I am running 5.5 speed, I am pushing a 160-170 heart rate. This Polar watch has been an excellent indicator of how hard I am pushing and how many calories I am burning. You want to stay in your range because if you go below, you aren’t getting an effective workout and going above can be too much for your muscles.
Polar watches also track all your previous workouts so you can see them if you want to go back. Also it tracks your average heart rate through each workout and I love being able to see that! I have just figured out for me what burns the most calories and I tend to burn 500-600 calories per workout. I know that yoga and weight lifting for me doesn’t burn a lot. However, when I run or do lots of cardio, I see great calorie burns. You will have to experiment when working out with this watch.
