What HR monitor works for you?

[helen41]

I'm on my second HR monitor and thought it might be useful to get the input of others.
My first was the Polar F4, but the alarm was almost inaudible

I am now wearing a Polar RS100. The alarm is not too soft, but not so loud that that it would attract attention from others. The chest strap is ok, but I would be pleased if I could find a wrist only model that did continuous monitoring.

 

[Rooney]

Helen,

I just got back from the Lapp clinic and Dr. Black just mentioned Polar with a chest strap. I need to buy a new one as I've combed through my usual rats nests and can't find the old one. I must have been programmed wrong because it never went off! Per your review, I'll get the RS100. Thanks

 

[urbantravels]

My current model is a Polar, one of the simplest ones they make: Polar FS1.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ASDGU8/ref=oss_product

The alarm on this one is high-pitched and a little annoying, but I have no problem hearing it. (My 71 year old mom couldn't hear it, but her hearing is a lot worse than she lets on anyway.) There is a certain embarassment factor in having it go off in public settings, so I sometimes turn the alarm off and just try to look at it fairly frequently instead. Pretty sure I'm the only person on the city streets who is constantly looking at a watch and then *slowing down.*

The more expensive models have more features, which I don't particularly have a use for, but it is important to get a model with a chest strap. Heart rate monitors without chest straps are not very accurate. Polar and Cardiosport are the best brands; Consumer Reports also liked some Timex models last time they did reviews. I think you can usually expect to pay $45-$55 or so for the simplest models and much more for the kinds with bells and whistles.

 

[Rooney]

Urban travels,
Great info. Thanks for this information.