Is the polar F6 accurate?

[FourAM]

I was just wondering because it says I burn quite a few more calories than they estimate on the workout manager...So do you think that the Polar F6 is accurate enough that if it says I burned 500 calories then I probably did?
Rachel

 

[petramom]

I have one too, and have never had a reason to doubt its reliability. It's always seemed about right to me. I suppose you could just do a manual count (take your pulse at your neck or wrist) at some point during a workout and see if that is what the Polar says.

 

[shanihib]

I have an F4 and have never had any reason to doubt the results. I tend to burn the same or slightly less. Your body may be working harder than expected!

 

[banslug]

I hope so! LOL I have the F6; I got it about a month ago. My true test, for me, will be this week sometime when I do a run (iTread) for my cardio day. I average about 100 calories per mile. So we'll see.

Gayle

 

[CollinsMom]

I have the F7 and I agree with the above posters, I've never had any reason to doubt it's accuracy. I would imagine that the calorie estimates on the workout manager are sort of like those on cardio machines -- based on a person of average height, weight, and age. You Polar asks you those questions, which would leave me to believe that it would be more accurate.

 

[NancyAZ]

I experience the opposite problem. The WM overestimates my calories by quite a bit. I have the F6 now and have had several different models over the years. They have been consistent.

 

[Muscle Car]

I experience the opposite problem. The WM overestimates my calories by quite a bit. I have the F6 now and have had several different models over the years. They have been consistent.

Nancy, I just got my F6 and found the same thing about WM. I never used a HRM before just always did perceived exertion.

Having said that I have a question for you or anyone else, do you set your HR limit on automatic, or do you do ownzone, or manual? I have mine set on auto at moderate. So if want to push myself or work harder would I set it on hard?

Sorry if this sounds stupid but like I said I never used a HRM before and not sure how to set it. I have my weight and height and all that entered in.

 

[FitnessBunny]

I was just wondering because it says I burn quite a few more calories than they estimate on the workout manager...So do you think that the Polar F6 is accurate enough that if it says I burned 500 calories then I probably did?
Rachel

I would say with some confidence that your watch is much more accurate than anything else. It’s actually reading your heart beat as opposed to a machine or the workout manager that is giving you an approximate number based on an “average woman” of your weight. I always, always, always go by my F6 as opposed to anything else. I know the machines at my gym are way off base when it comes to calculating calories burned. I stopped using them after I got my watch but sometimes do a comparison between the two and am always amazed at the difference in numbers. And, some days depending on my energy levels my calories burned for a workout I’ve completed before can vary greatly. Hope this helps.

 

[Runcrazy]

I have an F6 also and have always felt it was pretty accurate.

Jo

 

[marymac]

Polar reliability

I have the Polar F11 and find it to be very accurate with calories and my heart rate. My friend has the Nike HR and it is not accurate at all.

Mary

 

[NancyAZ]

Nancy, I just got my F6 and found the same thing about WM. I never used a HRM before just always did perceived exertion.

Having said that I have a question for you or anyone else, do you set your HR limit on automatic, or do you do ownzone, or manual? I have mine set on auto at moderate. So if want to push myself or work harder would I set it on hard?

Sorry if this sounds stupid but like I said I never used a HRM before and not sure how to set it. I have my weight and height and all that entered in.

I had my MaxHR tested so have all my information set manually. Otherwise, I would definitely use the OwnZone testing to set everything up. That is just my own experience talking from when I was using my HRM before the MaxHR test.

 

[hottiescientist]

I think the its recording of the heart rate is very accurate but they just use an equation to determine the calorie burn. I just switched from an F11 to an FT40 and though I have similar HR profiles for certain workouts, I have 25% reduction in calorie burn on the new watch (and my Fitness index number thing is the same too). It seems to me that they changed the equation (I don't care too much because it encourages me not to eat as much!). I am thinking about trying to calculate my own max HR...

 

[Muscle Car]

I had my MaxHR tested so have all my information set manually. Otherwise, I would definitely use the OwnZone testing to set everything up. That is just my own experience talking from when I was using my HRM before the MaxHR test.

Thank You Nancy!