EmailBest Reviewed
Heart Rate Monitors
- Best heart-rate monitor Polar FT60 *Est. $215
- Budget heart-rate monitor with calorie tracking Timex Personal Trainer Heart Rate Monitor T5G971 *Est. $60
- Basic heart-rate monitor Omron HR-100C *Est. $35
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Best heart-rate monitor
- Numerous training features
- User-replaceable battery
- Comes in men's and women's designs
- Optional GPS and foot pods
- Expensive
- Data uplink costs extra
- Setup can be confusing
The Polar FT60 does much more than just track heart rate, and reviewers say this training partner is surprisingly motivating -- much like having a virtual personal trainer. The Polar FT60 tracks heart rate and calories, and its training program calculates training zones based on your current level of fitness. The FT60 will also tell you if you are working too hard or need to speed it up. The FT60 also gets high marks for accuracy and reliability. Unlike most Polar heart-rate monitors, the FT60 has a user-replaceable battery, so you won't have to spend time and money to send it to a Polar service center for a battery replacement. However, you will have to spend extra if you want to transfer your heart-rate data to a computer -- the Polar FlowLink (*Est. $50) must be purchased separately.
Some reviewers find that it takes some time to set up the FT60 in the beginning, but most acknowledge that this monitor is easy to use once you get going. If your budget is tight, the Polar F6 (*Est. $105) has many of the same training features as the Polar FT60, but you'll save over $100. If you don't need something so sophisticated, we found great reviews for the Timex Personal Trainer T5G971 (*Est. $60), a good, accurate basic heart-rate monitor.
The Polar FT60 is reviewed by a number of publications, but the most detailed review comes from a recent article in Runner's World. The magazine enlists the help of four runners to test several heart-rate monitors and sports watches, including the Polar FT60. The New York Times and FeedtheHabit.com also test the Polar FT60 in real-world settings. Shorter reviews from Bicycling and About.com are also helpful, but less detailed.
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Our Sources
Danielle Belopotosky tests the Polar FT60 for The New York Times' Gadgetwise blog, finding it comfortable, sturdy and reliable. However, she also says that it takes some time to set up the monitor and there is no lap timer.
Review: Marathon Tech Review: Watches, Danielle Belopotosky, Aug. 18, 2009
2. Runner's WorldDetails/Subscribe
Runner's World enlists the help of one runner to test the Polar FT60. Bob Parks finds that the device develops a "surprisingly insightful plan," assigning total exercise time and workouts of varying intensities.
Review: Times Are Changing, Bob Parks, July 2009
Jason Mitchell tests the Polar FT60 (with the optional G1 GPS pod) for several months. He likes the training programs and easy review of workout data, but he thinks the buttons can be hard to press.
Review: Polar FT60 G1 Heart Rate Fitness Watch Review, Jason Mitchell, Nov. 24, 2008
Liz Reap Carlson calls the Polar FT60 one of her "favorite training tools," thanks largely to the personalized training recommendations. Carlson also says the FT60 is easy to use.
Review: Polar FT60 Training Computer, Liz Reap Carlson, Jan. 2009
5. About.com
Paige Waehner, About.com's exercise guide, lists the Polar FT60 as one of the top five heart-rate monitors. She acknowledges that the FT60 is pricey but says its training programs are motivating. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Best Overall Heart Rate Monitors, Paige Waehner, April 22, 2009
6. Amazon.com
Fewer than a dozen owners review the Polar FT60 on Amazon.com. While most agree that it's a great training tool, others complain of erratic heart-rate readings and others regret the lack of a lap timer.
Review: Polar FT60 Men's Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black with White Display), Contributors to Amazon.com, As of Aug. 2009
7. T3.com
While T3.com calls the Polar FT60 one of the "101 Gadgets You Can't Live Without," this review offers little except a general overview of features.
Review: 101 Gadgets You Can't Live Without, Editors of T3.com, Aug. 8, 2009
Heart Rate Monitors Runners Up:
4 picks by top review sites.
3 picks by top review sites.
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2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
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