Run, Jog, Hop, Skip, Crawl ... do whatever you have to do to get you a Polar HRM. I don't know why I waited so long to purchase one, but the more I think about it, I purchased it when I was in a spot on my journey where I needed the extra push and my FT4 is giving me that and then some.
If you haven't check out my initial thoughts on the FT4 you can check them out right here (initial thoughts). I still feel the same way. This HRM gives you accurate results, there is no more wondering whether or not the machine at the gym got it right. It does link up with the machine when it comes to measuring your heart rate. The strap is so comfortable, that you don't even realize it is on; but trust me you will feel lost without it if you shall ever forget to put it on.
All I can say is that this device continues to amaze me everyday and instead of me rambling on an on (I will do that after using it for a month) don't waste any time in investing is this treasure, you will never regret it.
Showing posts with label HRM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HRM. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor Review
Earlier in my weight loss journey I set my sights on a Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor but I wasn't sure if it was worth the $89.99 price tag. So, I sat on the decision for a couple of months trying to figure out if (when) I purchased it, would I use it until it wore out or would I purchase it, use it a couple of times and then leave it sitting on my dresser.
In the meantime I went ahead a purchased a cheaper heart rate monitor on clearance from Target to "test the waters", I knew if I enjoyed using a cheaper heart rate monitor I would love using one that came with a price tag worth double checking.
This Saturday, I purchased my Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor and I am absolutely in love with it. I purchased the pink/purple monitor (I loved the gray one but for some reason I thought because it had a man on the packaging, it was meant for a man - now that I think about it, I can't believe I actually asked that question out loud to my mom in the store) and couldn't be happier. It's a great color that makes you happy when you wear it and it actually makes me want to workout.
I have only used the Polar FT4 for 5 days so far, but I am impressed. Some of the things I like so far:
Using the Polar FT4 over the course of 5 days has made me realize that I shouldn't have waited so long to purchase it. It has helped me get more out of my workouts by giving me accurate heart beats per minute, along with what I believe are accurate calories burned. You definitely get what you pay for, and I have gotten my $89.99 plus tax (and warranty) out of this product.
Below are pictures of the monitor, which if you haven't guessed by now, you should go out and purchase because it is one of the best ways to spend $89.99 while on a weight loss journey.
In the meantime I went ahead a purchased a cheaper heart rate monitor on clearance from Target to "test the waters", I knew if I enjoyed using a cheaper heart rate monitor I would love using one that came with a price tag worth double checking.
This Saturday, I purchased my Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor and I am absolutely in love with it. I purchased the pink/purple monitor (I loved the gray one but for some reason I thought because it had a man on the packaging, it was meant for a man - now that I think about it, I can't believe I actually asked that question out loud to my mom in the store) and couldn't be happier. It's a great color that makes you happy when you wear it and it actually makes me want to workout.
I have only used the Polar FT4 for 5 days so far, but I am impressed. Some of the things I like so far:
- Both the monitor and the chest strap are comfortable enough to wear all day even if you aren't working out. Another bonus is that you can wear the strap without the Polar sensor (it snaps off).
- You wet the sensors on the strap by running them under water. My previous HRM required saliva or some gel to activate the sensors.
- The HRM syncs with machines at the gym. I am not sure if it technically considered syncing but while working out today, my heart rate displayed on the machine and on the Polar FT4 were the exact same.
- Your workouts are stored.
- The batteries are replaceable.
The only con I have so far is that the model I purchased doesn't tell you the percentage of fat you are burning, but I can definitely live without that.
Using the Polar FT4 over the course of 5 days has made me realize that I shouldn't have waited so long to purchase it. It has helped me get more out of my workouts by giving me accurate heart beats per minute, along with what I believe are accurate calories burned. You definitely get what you pay for, and I have gotten my $89.99 plus tax (and warranty) out of this product.
Below are pictures of the monitor, which if you haven't guessed by now, you should go out and purchase because it is one of the best ways to spend $89.99 while on a weight loss journey.
Monday, April 15, 2013
New Balance N4 Final Thoughts
Last Monday I wrote about my amazing find in a lower priced heart rate monitor. I purchased it on clearance and for the price I paid, it served its purpose as an introductory HRM before I was ready for more expensive purchase. I purchased the New Balance N4 HRM for a little over $21 (plus tax) and when I got home I had to try it out.
I used it last week measuring my calorie expenditure doing workouts in the house, outside of the house and at the gym. My initial thoughts were that for the price (again I would have been a little hesitant about paying full price for this product) I was getting a decent HRM.
It is made to compliment women (meaning it's not going to look bulky on your arm) and it functions like many of the more expensive HRMs. These are all things I liked. Now for the one major things I didn't like. You have to wet the sensors with your own saliva, you cannot use water. They recommend you putting your finger in your mouth and then wetting the sensors, placing the strap to your body, giving it a few seconds to register and then you are all set. Although you were wetting the sensors with your own saliva (a personal choice because they do have gel available for you to put on the sensors, you just have to find it) it was still unhygienic but again, I can't complain because I opted not to purchase the gel.
Using it outside showed that I burned 21 calories, simply from walking from my back porch to feeding my dog; using it for Zumba indicated a nice calorie burn although I had to stop because the sensor wasn't reading properly and using it at the gym showed me that for the first 8 minutes or so the HRM and the machine were showing the same amount of calories burned then from the 9 minute mark to the 15 minute mark the N4 was showing about 30 - 40 calories higher. All of these numbers may have been accurate because I was using the strap with it, but I always had my doubts about it accuracy.
After using the N4 for a week, I give it a 3 out of 5 for my final rating (average rating for me 3.75 out of 5) simply because no matter how much saliva you put on the sensors, you may still not get a reading (essentially having to do it again, which is really bad if you are in the middle of a great workout and have to restart the device), I am still not sure how accurate this device actually is and unfortunately if you are not around other noise, you are going to have to listen to this slight ticking noise coming from the sensor.
Overall, if you just need an introductory device and you can find it cheap, I say go for it, but if you know you need something more, avoid it.
I used it last week measuring my calorie expenditure doing workouts in the house, outside of the house and at the gym. My initial thoughts were that for the price (again I would have been a little hesitant about paying full price for this product) I was getting a decent HRM.
It is made to compliment women (meaning it's not going to look bulky on your arm) and it functions like many of the more expensive HRMs. These are all things I liked. Now for the one major things I didn't like. You have to wet the sensors with your own saliva, you cannot use water. They recommend you putting your finger in your mouth and then wetting the sensors, placing the strap to your body, giving it a few seconds to register and then you are all set. Although you were wetting the sensors with your own saliva (a personal choice because they do have gel available for you to put on the sensors, you just have to find it) it was still unhygienic but again, I can't complain because I opted not to purchase the gel.
Using it outside showed that I burned 21 calories, simply from walking from my back porch to feeding my dog; using it for Zumba indicated a nice calorie burn although I had to stop because the sensor wasn't reading properly and using it at the gym showed me that for the first 8 minutes or so the HRM and the machine were showing the same amount of calories burned then from the 9 minute mark to the 15 minute mark the N4 was showing about 30 - 40 calories higher. All of these numbers may have been accurate because I was using the strap with it, but I always had my doubts about it accuracy.
After using the N4 for a week, I give it a 3 out of 5 for my final rating (average rating for me 3.75 out of 5) simply because no matter how much saliva you put on the sensors, you may still not get a reading (essentially having to do it again, which is really bad if you are in the middle of a great workout and have to restart the device), I am still not sure how accurate this device actually is and unfortunately if you are not around other noise, you are going to have to listen to this slight ticking noise coming from the sensor.
Overall, if you just need an introductory device and you can find it cheap, I say go for it, but if you know you need something more, avoid it.
Monday, April 8, 2013
New Balance N4 Product Review
This past Saturday, I went shopping with one specific purchase in mind; a heart rate monitor. I had my sights set on the New Balance N4 at Target since I noticed they were reasonably priced at $69.99 (I know what you are thinking, that's not reasonably priced, especially since I could get a Polar FT4 for practically the same price, but for me it was, especially since they go on sale at Target).
A couple weeks ago I was in Target and they had marked the N4s down between $33.99 and $36.99. Again, this price was remarkable (better than the original) because you were getting a product at almost half price and it was coming from a brand that does a lot with sports equipment.
But, I waited to see if it was going to go any lower (I stood on the aisle for about 15 minutes just looking at them and trying to figure out if I should buy one, I knew I should have, but I didn't). The next week I went into target the N4s were marked down to $20.98. Again, I knew I should have purchased it then because I would not see that product at that price again and I was right.
This weekend I went into Target (I go every weekend in case you were wondering by now) and there were no N4s left on the shelf in either sports equipment or electronics (you know how things travel, you pick it up and want it, then decide you don't and put it back at the nearest location). I left that Target and went to another Target, still no N4s, but I found a Gaiam HRM for about $9.00. I looked at the review online and as always you had a mixture of both negative and positive, more negative though. I still purchased it because for $9.00 even if I only used it once, it wasn't going to be the end of the world.
I tried one last Target on my way home and couldn't find any marked down N4s in the sporting goods section, so I decided to venture to the electronics section to see if they had any phone cases (I know, that has nothing to do with a HRM) and it is a good thing that I did. There on the shelf was one last New Balance N4 Heart Rate Monitor and I grabbed it, went to the front, returned the Gaiam and purchased that one.
2 days have passed and I am still impressed (and learning) with this HRM. I have read countless negative reviews on sites like Amazon, the majority of which seem to be targeted at the fact that the watch doesn't do what the individual intends for it to do or the watch was sent to them from Amazon with missing parts, used or missing instructions. None of which I see as reasons that you should write a negative review about a product. But, this is where I will give my review of the product in later weeks.
The HRM doubles as a watch and fits comfortably on your wrist. The band, you wear it right under your bust, is elastic and feels like you are wearing nothing at all. Overall, I haven't had it but for 2 days and my initial rating is that I give it a 4 out of 5 (only because I had to set everything back to default for it to get an accurate reading).
It fits my needs, looks nice (I wish I could have found it in a different color), is comfortable and was very reasonably priced.
Stay tuned for a more updated review in weeks to come. Below are pictures of the product (minus the band). Check back for a more detailed review.
A couple weeks ago I was in Target and they had marked the N4s down between $33.99 and $36.99. Again, this price was remarkable (better than the original) because you were getting a product at almost half price and it was coming from a brand that does a lot with sports equipment.
But, I waited to see if it was going to go any lower (I stood on the aisle for about 15 minutes just looking at them and trying to figure out if I should buy one, I knew I should have, but I didn't). The next week I went into target the N4s were marked down to $20.98. Again, I knew I should have purchased it then because I would not see that product at that price again and I was right.
This weekend I went into Target (I go every weekend in case you were wondering by now) and there were no N4s left on the shelf in either sports equipment or electronics (you know how things travel, you pick it up and want it, then decide you don't and put it back at the nearest location). I left that Target and went to another Target, still no N4s, but I found a Gaiam HRM for about $9.00. I looked at the review online and as always you had a mixture of both negative and positive, more negative though. I still purchased it because for $9.00 even if I only used it once, it wasn't going to be the end of the world.
I tried one last Target on my way home and couldn't find any marked down N4s in the sporting goods section, so I decided to venture to the electronics section to see if they had any phone cases (I know, that has nothing to do with a HRM) and it is a good thing that I did. There on the shelf was one last New Balance N4 Heart Rate Monitor and I grabbed it, went to the front, returned the Gaiam and purchased that one.
2 days have passed and I am still impressed (and learning) with this HRM. I have read countless negative reviews on sites like Amazon, the majority of which seem to be targeted at the fact that the watch doesn't do what the individual intends for it to do or the watch was sent to them from Amazon with missing parts, used or missing instructions. None of which I see as reasons that you should write a negative review about a product. But, this is where I will give my review of the product in later weeks.
The HRM doubles as a watch and fits comfortably on your wrist. The band, you wear it right under your bust, is elastic and feels like you are wearing nothing at all. Overall, I haven't had it but for 2 days and my initial rating is that I give it a 4 out of 5 (only because I had to set everything back to default for it to get an accurate reading).
It fits my needs, looks nice (I wish I could have found it in a different color), is comfortable and was very reasonably priced.
Stay tuned for a more updated review in weeks to come. Below are pictures of the product (minus the band). Check back for a more detailed review.
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