HR monitor for Swimming?

[coyote]

Hi,
I've been looking at some of the heart rate monitors. I notice that some of them say the wrist unit is good for 30m. Does that mean you can wear the chest strap in the water too? I would hate to assume.....

Thanks,
Mary

[HappyAnika]

I have the Polar F11 which says water resistant to 30 m. I was confused about whether this meant the watch, the strap, both, and whether or not it meant I could just get them wet or actually swim with them. I sent an e-mail to customer service and got the reply that swimming would be ok, but that the chlorine in pools can cause problems with the electrodes working properly. I tried it twice in the same pool a couple of weeks apart. Once it worked just fine, and once it had some problems picking up the signal, probably due to the pool chemicals being different between the two times. I don't regularly use it in the pool, but at least it gave me an idea of what was happening during a workout.

[7rider]

I used to swim 1 x/week...and used to use my Polar S-510 HRM in the pool. I never had any problems, but I didn't hit the buttons when in the water...I made sure to be up, out of the water, and my hands free of dripping water.
I don't think it's the strap that's a problem, it's the buttons on the wrist unit. The strap gets sweaty and wet all the time when running, cycling, etc, so I don't think a pool would matter much.

[crazycanuck]

I have a Polar F6 watch & have not used the HR monitor in the pool. I've only used it twice and now don't want it.

If you've not bought one yet, i'm happy to sell you mine..

[coyote]

CC,
I am interested in buying your F6. Thats the one I'm looking at so this is good timing. I'll pm you.