Heart Rate Monitor Suggestions

G

Gobias

Cathlete
Hi All,

I am looking for a HRM. I have read a lot of threads but some are now considered outdated since the model of HRMs recommended are no longer made.

I don't need anything fancy but am looking for the following:

-easy-ish to use
-Has upper and lower target zones that beep when you are out of target zone
-takes into consideration gender, age, ht, wt
-perhaps can hold 10 days worth of exercises so I don't have to take notes every day
-made for a woman since all the ones I have had slip up and down my arm even on the tightest setting.

I will take any suggestions. Even if it has MORE than the above, such as calories, distance, pedometer, etc. I will only use it inside, so I don't need a garmin-type one.

Also, a question: I have had 2 HRMs within the past year. Both are a different brand and were about $200 each. Both sucked battery life very fast even though I always put it on battery saver mode. And I would get so frustrated because both batteries would die and I would lose all settings (gender, target zone, age, wt, ht, etc). I remember having a HRM about a decade ago that rarely ever died and it had a backup battery so would save my settings until I could put another new battery in. For the life of me I cannot remember the brand - anyone know of a HRM with a backup battery?

Thanks in Advance!
 
I have the Garmin FR60 ladies model with footpod.

It does all that HR - zones with alerts you can customize.
Training pages that display a lot of info you put on auto to scroll thru as you workout.

It's great, you can download desktop software or use Garmin Connect (I use the desktop) I just changed the battery after 1 year & info was still saved on it after the change. Does everything I need to do and more.

This could probably tell you everything you'd want to know.
DC Rainmaker: Garmin FR60 Review – InDepth

Edit: one thing I didn't include and I didn't find in the review above is the link to the owner's manual, in it you would find all the data that can be recorded & viewed, I use many of these data fields for every run, it's really helpful.
http://support.garmin.com/support/manuals/manuals.htm?partNo=010-00743-10&language=en&country=US
 
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My Polar Ft4 has worked out really well. You get calorie information, I have not had to change the battery at all, it adjusts for gender, weight and height. There is no pedometer. It does beep (if you want it to) when you aren't in your target heart rate zone. I turn my beep off, its annoying because I know when I'm working HIIT it will just beep all the time. I don't know how many days of information it retains. I see more than a week's worth of data. I like it because the heart rate numbers are big, which makes it easy to see when I'm working out and sweaty. This one is made for a woman.

Alisha
 
I also have the polar Ft4 and love it for the reasons mentioned. It's not fancy but it gets the job done. My trainer and several if my friends use the polar ft7 which is the next model up and has a few more features than the ft4.
 
I was just marveling today that I've had my Polar for 7 years and it's still going strong! It doesn't retain the amount of workouts you need, but I can attest that the Polar brand is very reliable at least.
 
hokypoky said:
I was just marveling today that I've had my Polar for 7 years and it's still going strong! It doesn't retain the amount of workouts you need, but I can attest that the Polar brand is very reliable at least.
Click to expand...

I asked for a Polar for Christmas the F4 or 7 not sure which one! Can't wait to try it! Looked like Polar (for women) was definitely the one to use, and it's under $100 on Amazon.
 
Another vote for Polar...ive had mine at least 5 years...only had to replace the battery once. I don't know what model it is, but it doesn't have all the features you want anyway.
 
Thanks everyone! I will look into them and I bet most are on sale this month since January seems to be fitness month.
 
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