Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have been using the Polar F55 about a week now, and at this point think it's a great product, though it has many features I do not use.
First off, the basic functionality is great - the strap is comfortable, and after adjustment I can wear it without really feeling it or having it come loose even when I'm doing weights. Both the wrist unit and the gym equipment I've used it on (elliptical and treadmill) read my heart rate without interruption.
The advanced functions are... advanced. I had to read the instructions to figure out how to work the unit, but was able to figure (almost) everything out after doing so, the remaining exception being my inability to figure out how to rename exercise sessions. The features I found most useful were the fitness test, which calculates your VO2, and the personalized exercise program. There's also a body workout which I thought fairly useless, as all it does is show you muscle group and sets (it's also a single program, you can't have two different programs for alternate days).
One thing I was curious about was the accuracy of the calorie expenditure calculation; I was initially puzzled by how it could figure this out just from my heart rate and statistics. I did some googling, however, and found that heart rate is proportional to oxygen use; it turns out several groups, including some sponsored by Polar, have researched how to derive energy expenditure from heart rate and the calculation is fairly accurate overall. I checked the calculated calories on the F55 against the calories calculated by an elliptical machine (which knows energy use) on a 45-minute workout and the Polar was within 4% of the elliptical.
I think the best feature for me is the ability to continuously calculate and record heart rate and energy expenditure; without the F55 I only knew how many calories I was burning when I was on the cardio equipment, now I can record this during my weight sessions and other exercises. This, along with the ability to upload and keep track of my exercises and fitness level, will make the F55 used long after I get bored with all the extra bells and whistles it has.
Edit: Two months later, I am still using it and loving it - it keeps me honest when doing weights and records my last 26 sessions so I can keep track of my workouts on the polar web site. Still puzzled as to why some features were included (lunar phase indicator? why? so people who need the moon to run can plan their running during the day?) but I just ignore the things I don't use.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor
The F11 is an exerciser's dream come true. A revolutionary heart rate monitor that creates a workout program to tell you how much, how hard and how long to exercise to reach your goals.The Keeps U Fit - Workout Program guides you to your personal goals. OwnIndex® will determine your fitness level, track your improvements, and provide motivation.The OwnCal® feature counts the calories and fat that you burn and the OwnZone® feature will automatically determine each day's target zone. The F11 also features the WearLinkT Coded transmitter made from a soft, fabric material.The Coded feature eliminates interference from other heart rate monitors. The F11 is the closest thing to having your own personal trainer.
Click here for more information about Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor
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