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Heart Rate Monitor Recommendations
Can anyone suggest a good heart rate monitor? I have an older model Polar
in the past but I'm looking to upgrade to a model that retains data that I can download into my computer. It want to be able to review and monitor my rate while I do a variety of exercises including running, bicycling, and using cardio machines at the gym. I see Timex, Nike, and others are in the business. Any recommendations on recent models are advancements? Thanks in advance. McGinty -- Too many spams have forced me to alter my email. If you wish to email me directly please send messages to pjbphd @ cox dot net |
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pjbphd wrote: Can anyone suggest a good heart rate monitor? I have an older model Polar in the past but I'm looking to upgrade to a model that retains data that I can download into my computer. It want to be able to review and monitor my rate while I do a variety of exercises including running, bicycling, and using cardio machines at the gym. I see Timex, Nike, and others are in the business. Any recommendations on recent models are advancements? Polar is a company that specializes in HRMs. They are built to last. Here's a link to a comparison tool that will help you decide which one is best for you. http://tinyurl.com/4nqxj Phil M. |
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The Star Trac treadmills at my work read my polar transmiter. Thats
nice since you don't have to keep looking at your watch. This is especialy helpfull doing speedwork on the treadmill. I still use the wrist watch that came with it to review avg hr, laps etc... |
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"The Star Trac treadmills at my work read my polar transmiter. Thats
nice since you don't have to keep looking at your watch. This is especialy helpfull doing speedwork on the treadmill. I still use the wrist watch that came with it to review avg hr, laps etc..." ~ Greyhound "Greyhound? Got surround sound, Or just a cavity, a ribbed cage Of Light? Or perhaps, you know of a certain Grille Sited in Morning Wood, Where together, We drink Grenadine? Just a splash ~ Over crystal rocks, a Water Ford, a sparking way, silvery sprays Of mist, gulps of love, Gulfs of Blew? O, but if you knew, You would be sure to tell me, would you not? For if not, how very selfish Of you." ~ Moi |
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pjbphd wrote:
Can anyone suggest a good heart rate monitor? I have an older model Polar in the past but I'm looking to upgrade to a model that retains data that I can download into my computer. It want to be able to review and monitor my rate while I do a variety of exercises including running, bicycling, and using cardio machines at the gym. I see Timex, Nike, and others are in the business. Any recommendations on recent models are advancements? Thanks in advance. McGinty I have a Polar 720i, I use it for biking and cardio machines (elliptical trainers, mostly) at the gym. The thing I find nice about it is that you can download the exercise details to a PC for tracking. I got it new on e-bay. HTH. rww |
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"pjbphd" wrote in message news:nZ4Pd.14433$6u.11738@fed1read02... Can anyone suggest a good heart rate monitor? I have an older model Polar in the past but I'm looking to upgrade to a model that retains data that I can download into my computer. It want to be able to review and monitor my rate while I do a variety of exercises including running, bicycling, and using cardio machines at the gym. I see Timex, Nike, and others are in the business. Any recommendations on recent models are advancements? I've tried a couple of other brands of HRM's, and none of them worked as well as the Polar do. I would stay away from the S410 if you're interested in downloading. Some people have had problems with them. IIRC, the S610 was designed specifically for runners, and has much more robust downloading features. I don't need the cyclometer functions (I use a powertap or a specialized pro for those) on the more expensive polar's, so the S610 works well for everything else. I don't know which Polar models have it now, but they do have a new chest strap where the sensor pads are cloth as opposed to plastic. If you have sensitive skin (or run and train for ultra's), this may be worth investigating. I know some people complain of chafing with the polar chest straps. When this current strap I have wears out, I'll definitely be looking to upgrade to the new strap. Overstock.com had the cheapest prices on Polar S610, but they're stocking is spotty, and as long as you're not in a hurry to get it. Regards, H. |
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pjbphd wrote:
Can anyone suggest a good heart rate monitor? I have an older model Polar in the past but I'm looking to upgrade to a model that retains data that I can download into my computer. It want to be able to review and monitor my rate while I do a variety of exercises including running, bicycling, and using cardio machines at the gym. I see Timex, Nike, and others are in the business. Any recommendations on recent models are advancements? I like my Polar S625x. I was looking mainly for a hrm that could store multiple training sets until I could download them (so I could separate different portions of multiple-activity workout), barometric altimeter (for elevation gain / loss and plotting against hr), and accelerometer for estimating total distance run. It also has some optional cycling features that I haven't gotten. I defintely like the infrared link connection as compared with the sonic link of the S410 that I just upgraded from. (had a few glitches originally, but once I got it sorted out, it works great.) It obviously doesn't have some of the advantages of a gps unit where I can map trails and use regardless of activity - running, mtn biking, xc skiing, snowshoeing. It has advantage of not depending on satellite signal. I'll take a gps with me on all long runs (or ski, snowshoe, etc), and use the footpod if running. Since I run trails most of the time, I'm happy with distance estimates within 5-10% of actual value - just for logging value, since my alternative may be guesstimating from inaccurate map or throwing darts. I run by time and effort so real-time pace is not of interest to me. The altimeter has worked surprisingly well on rolling hills (30-70 ft vertical) with the obvious issues of barometric altimeters when a front comes through. I wasn't sure if it would be sensitive enough for those small hills so have been pleasantly surprised. (I use 15-sec recording intervals to eliminate some of the noise of 5-sec intervals). If not interested in distance measurements, stop here. The footpod may be larger than some other brands, but it hasn't bothered my feet for gentle hills (may on steeper but not sure). Since it arrived during our first snow in October, I haven't had an opportunity to calibrate it on dry ground on a section line road (with gravel shoulder). But curiousity got the better of me, and I have used it uncalibrated while running on hard-packed snow (not too different from dirt). For simple terrain, it seems to be within about 3% of my best guesstimate of overall distance - out of the box. For some trails, I've had either a map with "measured" (not sure exact methods, but reported in 1-m increments) distances between intersections or some mile posts (clueless as to accuracy but they're at start of Iditarod Trail). For other trails I may just have a route on map or a gps distance. At any rate, for most conditions for total distance, values are within about 3% of each other most of the time - occasionally out to 5%, many times within 0-1% of alternate best guess. I've found it really handy for the ice we've had the last few weeks when I've just been running laps up and back in a mowed hay field (grass covers ice) - distances on each lap were reasonably repeatable, given I may not have been running exactly the same place. I also ended up with a little bushwhacking in a snowstorm (don't ask) with it the other evening, with reasonable results. Its distance estimates are close enough to any other estimate that I have, that I just use it now for running. Not sure how it will do on our regular hills (10-30%) when I have a good surface, but suspect it will be off there - but may cancel out by the time I go up and down. I haven't used it on twisty single track yet. I don't think I had good results on loose snow on 20%+ slope, but I didn't have any real results to compare it to. It was 1/2 step back for each step up, and a landmarkless location where I turned around. Dot -- "You try to slow down and enjoy it. You try to look at the scenery. But your brain can kind of go blank. All you want to do is tell your feet to keep working." -Cedar Petrosius, women's winner 2004 Matanuska Peak Challenge (14mi, 9000ft up and down) |
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On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 20:14:41 GMT, "HardwareLust" wrote:
I don't know which Polar models have it now, but they do have a new chest strap where the sensor pads are cloth as opposed to plastic. If you have sensitive skin (or run and train for ultra's), this may be worth investigating. I know some people complain of chafing with the polar chest straps. When this current strap I have wears out, I'll definitely be looking to upgrade to the new strap. Be aware that the "new" coded Polar chest strap with replaceable battery has a weaker transmitter (even with a new battery) than the older coded Polar chest strap with non-replaceable battery. YMMV. |
#9
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For further information on various models and companies, go to
www.heartmonitors.com. You should note that Nike and Timex do not design the technology themselves. They usually use Polar's technology in their products. Polar and Cardiosport are probably the two largest manufactures in the industry. Bill pjbphd wrote: Can anyone suggest a good heart rate monitor? I have an older model Polar in the past but I'm looking to upgrade to a model that retains data that I can download into my computer. It want to be able to review and monitor my rate while I do a variety of exercises including running, bicycling, and using cardio machines at the gym. I see Timex, Nike, and others are in the business. Any recommendations on recent models are advancements? Thanks in advance. McGinty |
#10
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The new Polar Percision Performance software rocks; has eliminated the
sonic link probs I had with pathetic Coach PC. |
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