HRM's?

jman0

So, anybody use a Heart Rate Monitor?
I'm interested in getting one.
However I don't fancy a chest strap, nor having to press and hold my finger tips (?) against it to take a reading.
Maybe some people could recommend something, or tell us about your one?

topdog8

Ive never used one i just dont see the point in it. but thats just me. ive seen people with them around the top of there arms id imaine any good fitness store will stock them

FX Sheister

I use one and find the chest strap a bit of a pain in the ass. You might not see the point in them topdog8 but then again maybe you don't have any need for it. I use it a lot for running and use it to keep my heart rate within a specific range depending on what kind of training I'm doing.

Boru.

I've a section on my website dealing with Heart Rate Monitors and training, including some graphs and displays of my HRM in action. You can read the full details and get free HRM training guides here http://www.isometric-training.com/heart-rate-monitor-training.html

I use HRM with all my clients - it's mandatory. Chest strap is the only way to go - the fingertip checkers are inaccurate and quite useless. It's a question of choice - 1 minute putting the strap on, or never knowing if you are in the optimal training zone for your fitness goals.

If you want to get results you need to know exactly where you stand, you need HRM feedback.

I personally use a Timex - I find them to be the best and I hate Polar because of their sloppy work ethic and useless customer service, despite the fact the had a great product.

My advice - don't go cheap, you'll end up upgrading anyway and you can save yourself some money by buying what you need longterm.

Run a search - I've done some model comparrisons here before. If you can't find I'm sure I have a hard copy lying around somewhere.

jman0

Thanks Boru.
I found your site interesting.
However i'll pass on either of those Heart Rate Monitors.
They both sound like a bit of a pain in the ass.
Maybe i'll wait til the technology improves.

For example maybe id consider an upper arm-strap yoke that you pull a little tight, and it reads your pulse and sends a wireless signal to the "display" (wrist watch).
Sure that even sounds a bit archaic

quozl

jman0, if you know anybody with a HRM see if you can try on the strap. It doesn't bother me at all, even on a 3 hour run, and I was convinced it'd be annoying before I got it.

hunnymonster

I don't quite understand your objection to he chest strap? I chafed a little with my original polar when I wore it too loose but no problems since. I hardly notice I'm wearing it.

tunney

Boru. wrote:

I personally use a Timex - I find them to be the best and I hate Polar because of their sloppy work ethic and useless customer service, despite the fact the had a great product.

I've a Timex HRM and GPS unit. I've a bog standard entry level HRM. A Polar S210 and a Polar S625x.

I fecking hate the Timex, the software is terrible, its buggy and not that informative. The watch itself looks nice but its limited as well in terms of what you can program it to do (i.e. your sessions).

The entry level Polar isn't bad and it did me for a while after I grew out of the entry level one. I did grow out of that and I bought the Timex system. I must stress system as there is the GPS unit, the chest strap, the watch and the data recorder. Its bulky, awkward and you feel like a cyborg.

The Polar S625x is easily my favourite of the lot. Unlike the Timex the data recording is done in the watch and it communicates with your PC via infrared. its massively configurable in terms of sessions programming and the Polar software is amazing at analysising trends and allows hours of data checking! The Polar S625x also can hook up to your bike and it works in the water too.

Personally I don't think you can train properly without one.

jman0

hunnymonster wrote:

I don't quite understand your objection to he chest strap? I chafed a little with my original polar when I wore it too loose but no problems since. I hardly notice I'm wearing it.

Too much baggage.

Boru.

tunney, good post. I've got the Timex GPS and the S625x myself. I understand the cyborg comment I prefer the Timex, simply becasue of the wealth of info, and I like the software interface. Its also the only system that allows me to do focuses high intensity inerval training, tacking me through each zone and giving me consistent breakdowns.

My S625x had broken on me tiwce, and when I worked as Manager of a Star Fitness I had huge problems trying to get it fixed...polar changed companys in the uk and their repairs took months.

Just my take, eveyone has their own preferences.:)

Oh and jman0, thnak you for the kind comments about my website. Regarding your idea, I've often found pulse monitors to be horribly inaccurate - chest straps can be a little annoying but it's the most accurate and useful method of cardio training. Think of it this way - put up with it for 12 weeks, train solidly and with dedication and you will have a much imporved physique. It's worth the minor inconvenience believe me.

Myksyk

I have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and couldn't do without it. It's a GPS plus HRM and will almost make coffee for you. It's a bit bulky on the wrist but at 2oz is very light and the wealth of information it gives you across three or four personally configurable screens is fantastic. The simple ability to accurately pace yourself through current and average pace is invaluable. Its advanced training options are great. For example in some interval sessions you can get it to beep you after say 400m so you can slow down for either a prescribed length of time or distance then beep you again to start another 400/600/800 interval ... or whatever you're having yourself. There's so much it can do I couldn't possibly list it here but suffice to say its a serious training partner! With regard to the chest strap I really don't notice it even on long runs.

tunney

Myksyk wrote:

I have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and couldn't do without it. It's a GPS plus HRM and will almost make coffee for you. It's a bit bulky on the wrist but at 2oz is very light and the wealth of information it gives you across three or four personally configurable screens is fantastic. The simple ability to accurately pace yourself through current and average pace is invaluable. Its advanced training options are great. For example in some interval sessions you can get it to beep you after say 400m so you can slow down for either a prescribed length of time or distance then beep you again to start another 400/600/800 interval ... or whatever you're having yourself. There's so much it can do I couldn't possibly list it here but suffice to say its a serious training partner! With regard to the chest strap I really don't notice it even on long runs.

With the GPS system that I had I always felt restricted as to where I could run. I like running off road and through forests - GPS is useless for that - building and tree cover can stop GPS systems from working.

Worth thinking about if you like wandering when you run.

Myksyk

Hi Tunney. Yes this is a limitation of GPS systems. However, the 305's big selling point was it's dramatically improved a stronger gps receiver, allowing you to run in forests, beside high-rise buildings etc etc and still get a signal. I have run trails in heavily forested areas and not lost signal.

Here's a decent review of the Forerunner (the 205 which has no HRM) which gives an overall feel for the watch. Look for the links at the bottom of the page for his day 2,3,4 feedback.