Which HRM? Polar F4,F6 or F11?????

punka274

punka274

Cathlete
I just read several old threads and Im STILL not sure which one to buy?

I can't even remember what each one does at this point:confused:. I just want to know how many calories i burn after a workout,if im in my target zone(or going above it) id like it to be easy to read too.

where are some good sites or stores to buy them at?(ebay? Amazon? Walmart? Target?) LOL....i need some help in deciding:)

I like the price of the F4
I like the color(pink) of the F6
I like how alot of the gals on here say the F11's strap is more comfortable

ugh....decisions,decisions:confused:
 
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I have had three different Polar HRM and had problems with every one of them. And the one thing I don't like about Polar's is if you have to change the battary, you have to send it to them for it to get changed. That is just ridiculous. They may have changed that now to where you can change it yourself, but when I had them I had to send it back to them.

I have a Nike Imara HRM and love it. I got it off ebay about two years ago and the only time I have problems with it is when the barraries are dying. Other then that, I have no real problems with it.

Just an FYI. ;)
 
I have an F4 and really like it. It suits my needs nicely. Only one problem - the batteries in my chest strap are non-chaneagle (it is all one "plastic" unit in the front). The battery on my watch died and I was bummed I was going to have to send it off and be without it. I called a battery store in my area (that is all they do...batteries!) and they replaced it for $6.00 - the cost of the battery! When the battery in the chest strap goes, I will buy a Polar HRM where that battery in the chest strap can be changed as well!

There are some thoughts that the F4 will pick up interference from other HRM's if you workout in a gym setting. I haven't had that problem (yet) and the cardio machines I work out on pick up the chest strap, which is nice.

Debbie - I think you live kinda close to me (Cleveland area). I went to Bulldog Battery in Willoughby.

Carrie
 
Thanks for your reply Debbie...i'll go check out your heart rate monitor now!

Carrie-Thanks...
 
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I think it depends on what features you want and what you plan to use it for. I chose the F4 because all I really wanted was to measure my HR and calorie expenditure. The chest strap with this one is not coded so it can pick up interference from other HRM if you work out in a gym or around others who are using one. I workout at home alone so its not an issue for me. I believe the F6 and F11 have coded chest straps and have more features.

I've had the battery replaced in the watch by a jeweler and had no problems. I'm not sure what Debbie was referring to unless she meant the chest strap. I don't know if that has a battery or not but I suppose if it does, it would have to be replaced by Polar. I've used mine for 3 years and have never had to replace anything but the watch battery. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

JJ
 
I got the F6, just because I liked the color - yeah I know that's a pretty stupid reason. But I just wanted to get kind of an idea of my heart rate and calories burnt. I had a Polar HRM with all the bells and whistles before and technical genius that I am (ahem not) I couldn't figure out how to really use it. So it just collects dust in my closet.

The F6 is great, aside from the fact that my dogs chewed off the watchband and I am waiting to get a new one from Polar :mad:

I have no idea about the chest strap thingy, haven't had to replace any so far.

I bought F6 on ebay, it was $ 99 with free shipping.
 
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NinjaMom said:
I think it depends on what features you want and what you plan to use it for. I chose the F4 because all I really wanted was to measure my HR and calorie expenditure. The chest strap with this one is not coded so it can pick up interference from other HRM if you work out in a gym or around others who are using one. I workout at home alone so its not an issue for me. I believe the F6 and F11 have coded chest straps and have more features.

I've had the battery replaced in the watch by a jeweler and had no problems. I'm not sure what Debbie was referring to unless she meant the chest strap. I don't know if that has a battery or not but I suppose if it does, it would have to be replaced by Polar. I've used mine for 3 years and have never had to replace anything but the watch battery. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

JJ
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When you check on Polar's website about replacing the battery in the watch or chest strap, it states you have to send both off to "official battery changing location." Maybe people tried themselves and messed up the internal workings of the "computer." I didn't have any problem when I took the watch to get changed either. However, I think the official word from Polar is that once the back is removed from the watch by someone OTHER than the official battery people, the warranty is void.

Carrie
 
I was literally JUST on Polar's website trying to figure out the difference between these exact models and the darn thing kept locking up! Thanks for posting this! I am leaning towards the F6 I think.
 
I like F6

I like the F6 it tracks my daily and weekly progress, but i have a question? my heart rate can get up to 165 bpm when I am doing Cathe's workout I this normal? I am 43 and I don't think it have ever got that high.

thanks
 
Debbie-i saw that too...they had a real cute 'watch' and dum me almost bought the thing:rolleyes: then i read some reviews and realized it was only a watch. Does the nike Imara HRM come in different colors or is black the only color offered?(i know,im so vain:eek:)

Carola-May I ask what seller you purchased your HRM from on ebay?

orphylea-I too kept getting stuck on the polar website....very frustrating! I thought it was just my computer..
 
Amelia,

I bought mine from bikedealsgirl. She was really nice, sent the watch out the same day, kept me posted and thing was there a couple of days later.

I have seen the Nike HRM in light blue, I almost bought it because it looked pretty cool and matched my running shoes and two of my tops. Talk about vain :eek: Now of course I don't remember where I saw it but it wasn't on the Nike website, they only have black.

Oh gosh, I had totally forgotten about that Nike HMR, now I am thinking I HAVE to have the blue one :mad:
 
Thanks Carola...I will see if I can find a blue one. The black one does look very nice though.

Im still debating on either it or the f6.....i don't like the idea of having to send in the f6 monitor in order to get the battery changed:eek:(knowing me i would just take it to a jewely store and say THW the warranty)
 
I have to be frank here. Right now I am in a really bad place with Polar!!! I have 3 watches.....all of them have NOT worked once the batteries crocked in either the watch or the chest strap. I just find it sooo irriating that I Have to send it in to get the batts replaced. I try to do it myself to save time and money and basically the watches never work the same. So, for the investment of the watch.....it makes me angry that the lifespan of the watch is only about a year or so. I take VERY good care of my watches...and so this makes me a bit angry. I really would like a new one (2 of the 3 that I have are F11's) but I just can't see myself spending another $170ish on another one year investment. I don't know if once the batteries die and you replace them that it loses it's sync with the chest straps and it never works again the way you need it to! Ugh.... I have also taken it to 2 jewelry stores and they can't do it either..... One or the other works but not the way it is suppose to!

Sorry for my gripe but ironically this was something I have been doing all day with both of my F11's. And still....nada! I am looking into a whole differnet company of watches now! But, the Polar F11 was WONDERFUL when it was in nice working order!!!
 
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I just purchased the Nike Imara ice blue HRM!:D:D:D:D

Tanya-sorry to hear about your frustrations with the Polars:(
 
I have the Polar F11 and I LOVE it. It has the better chest strap with the replacable battery. I've had other brands as well, and I can honestly say the Polars I have had have last longer and put up more readily with the crap I dish out to them (I'm hard on HRMs).
 
Just today I ordered this watch - Pulse Ware Mini Heart Rate Monitor.
I can't tell you if its great yet - but I can't wait to get it.

I initially saw it on the Lucy website. (love their stuff).
I searched on google and ordered from someone on ebay for less.

Here's the Lucy link...
http://www.lucy.com/jump.jsp?itemID...size=&sort=&path=1,2,237,932&iProductID=12145

Here's the description on the website:

follow your heart with this multi-function watch/heart monitor. pulsetouch technology includes advanced ECG-accurate fingertip sensors and a quick-glance color graph that shows when you've reached your target zone so you can be assured of getting the full benefit from your workout. it monitors your pulse from resting through average and maximum heart rates for workouts, plus calories and fat burned.

12/24-hour format with alarm and backlight
time/day/date/month plus dual time zones
includes chronograph, stopwatch, lap chronograph, countdown timer
water resistant to 30 meters

FYI - another option...
 
^^^^5s Amelia on the purchase. Very cool!!!! Where did you find it?

I will wait for your report how you like it. In the meantime I will be sitting on my hands to keep them from typing and ordering another HRM :D
 
LOL Carola....I found it at Amazon for about 50$:eek::eek::eek: not bad:D

oh,go on and order you one....after all,your worth it;)(lol,im such an enabler:eek:)

I'll be sure to let you know how I like it!
 
punka274 said:
I just purchased the Nike Imara ice blue HRM!:D:D:D:D
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Yay! I hope you like it. I love mine. Cool on the color. When I got mine they only came in black. But I don't care.

You can change the battary in the strap and watch all on your own. It's very easy. Can I ask how much you got it for? I paid only $30 for mine on Ebay.

CONGRATS!
 
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