heart rate monitor

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kaboom

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#33152 1-May-2009 10:12

hi all,
can anyone recommend a good heart rate monitor while exercising ??? doctor has advised me to start exercising !!! and has warned me due to my weight i need to keep an eye on my heart rate.

any suggestions/pointers would be appreciated

ta.

tonyhughes

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#211158 1-May-2009 10:25

Any timepiece that counts seconds, and index and middle finger pressed firmly against carotid about 2/3rds the way up your neck. Cheap, easy, reliable.

I do this very often, as I have a heart condition, and have never felt the need to buy an electronic monitor.

kaboom

77 posts

Master Geek

#211161 1-May-2009 10:46

ya someone suggested this but i find it hard to do .... in the middle of an exercise i just find it hard to stop and count my pulse while keeping track of time.

sorry doesnt work for me.

tonyhughes

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#211164 1-May-2009 10:54

No worries. Gets easier. I do it while on the bikes and the treadmill, and after every 4th or 5th set of weights.

Tokes

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#211167 1-May-2009 11:01

If you are loooking for a cheap heart-rate monitor - you can pick one up from Kathmandu for about $40, or alternative keep an eye on Torpedo7 as they usually have good deals pop up every now and then. No need to fork out for an expensive one (although Polar Heart Rate monitors are absolutely amazing if you are a gadget freak!)

alexx

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Ultimate Geek

#211712 2-May-2009 16:21

It all depends what you are looking for and what sort of exercise you are doing.

I do a bit of running and got a Polar F6 from ebay (about $99 USD plus shipping). Main reason for choosing the F6, was that I wanted one with coded transmission so that I could run with a group of runners (or possibly in a gym) and it would only pick up the signal from my own HRM.

I didn't feel the need for one of the super expensive ones with foot pods or GPS, but in hindsight I probably should have paid just a little more for the Polar RS100 which has a few more basic features like lap splits which are useful to runners.

Dratsab

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#211777 2-May-2009 21:04

I brought a Sports Instruments HRM for training for and wearaing during cycling (competitive) events and duathlons. The particular model I brought was pretty much their top end one and (feature for feature) was about one-third of the price of a Polar HRM.

This was about 5 years ago though so the price differential may have changed significantly since then.

Take a trip around a few bike shops, if you have a Penny Farthing Cycles in your area you'll find they sell should them. Kathmandu and Torpedo7 as suggested by Tokes are also good options.

Steer clear of second-hand ones as the quality of the seals is an unknown...

alig

56 posts

Master Geek

#212086 4-May-2009 13:04

Heart rate monitor is the best thing I've ever bought for my fitness program (except for a bicycle though).
I got a $99 UNION-XT from Torpedo7 for my bike (surprisingly a very good monitor and computer) and $42 Kathmandu heart rate monitor for my wife and her aerobics routine (this one is OK). When I get rich, I'll buy Polar.

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Stu

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#212118 4-May-2009 15:09

Jaycar had some for under $40 but I can't remember the brand.. It was a chest band and watch setup..

bobmeister

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#212130 4-May-2009 15:47

The chest band models are the way to go. I got one for about $75 off trade me a couple of months ago.

The chest strap magically broadcasts its signal to the treadmill, cycle and other equipment at the gym too, which is really useful.

The fun thing is that it broadcasts to the treadmill adjacent to the one I'm on as well. Its great to watch the people wondering how its measuring their heart rate.

Stu

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#212131 4-May-2009 15:50

bobmeister: The fun thing is that it broadcasts to the treadmill adjacent to the one I'm on as well.? Its great to watch the people wondering how its measuring their heart rate.

And seeing the panic on their faces when their display hits '0' when you move away....

NealR

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#212146 4-May-2009 16:33

Because I'm extra geeky I use my Garmin Edge with Heart Rate monitor. Allows me to update http://www.motionbased.com and present my exercise runs/rides on GoogleEarth.

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NZtechfreak

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#212180 4-May-2009 18:14

An N79 Active package will do the same as the Garmin Edge, along with a lot more. No idea what the Garmin device costs, but an N79 is a great device.

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stevenz

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#212367 5-May-2009 08:17

The Polar monitors work fairly well and interface with a lot of gym equipment (it may be a "standard" protocol?), but they're very poorly made, and will leak at the slightest provocation. (the watch part anyway, the chest straps are fine). Sports Instruments make one that has much better build quality, I'm not sure which store sells them though.

Suunto make some, but they're horribly overpriced.

Timex and Casio also both make good quality ones, but you pay a bit of a premium as you're also getting a fairly reasonable watch.

Otherwise, a cheap one of Trademe, or the 2-finger solution will probably be fine.