Heart Rate Monitor advice

[firenze11]

I need some advice from all you heart rate monitor users. I got some money from grandparents for Christmas and have been looking into a HRM as my next cycling-related purchase. I'm a bit lost as to what would be best and what has good reviews. So far I've looked into some of the Polar models. And I'm intrigued by the stuff Garmin has. I'd prefer to have one I wear on my wrist because I'd like to use it for running in the summer. I'd like to have a bit more than just basic heart rate stuff, but that might just be me being a gadget dork.

I never thought the Garmin 305 forerunner would be in my price range but I found one at costco.ca for around $250. Would there be any drawbacks from me using the forerunner if it is more based around running? How is the reliability/accuracy of Garmin and Polar. Have you had any trouble with wonky readings or crosstalk?

Thanks for your advice.

~E.

[crazybikinchic]

A friend of mine had a Garmin for a short time. He was always messing (and cussing profusely at it ) with it because something on it would not work. The one time he really wanted it to work was the HHH in which it did not work at all. He has recently bought a Polar. I know for myself, I have had 2 Polars. I have had good luck with both of them.

[kelownagirl]

I have the Garmin Edge 305 which I use for cycling and running (I have to carry it when running though). I have had no trouble with it although I've had wonky HR readings at the very beginning of a ride a few times. I think it's because I didn't have the band wet enough or placed correctly. The Forerunner is pretty much the same features as the Edge, other than the wrist band and size of the readout. If you want to see an idea of the data you can get, take a look at my motionbased account. I haven't paid for the upgrade so you can only see my last 10 ride/runs and those are a bit boring because they were on the trainer. You can still get an idea though.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4609269

[ehirsch83]

I suggest Suunto.
I have a Polar, but wish I had a Suunto- they are cheaper and they hold up better! I also took a clinic with Sally Edwards(the founder of heart rate prettymuch- she wrote the first manual for Polar) and she even said that she prefers Suunto now.

[Mr. Bloom]

I only ride...I LOVE my Garmin 305.

Silver is a triathlete and she uses something ( I think a Polar) on her wrist in conjuction with a standard bike computer. She'll post something later on this...but she's out riding right now...

PM Silver to make sure she responds to this.

[aicabsolut]

I have an Edge 305 w/out the heart rate strap. I use a Polar F11 on the bike and in the gym. It's coded, so there's no crosstalk. It periodically does fitness tests which are supposed to estimate your VO2max. It does calories burned and calculates different training zones each time you turn it on if you want, which is good, because some days your HR can be abnormally high, for example if you're dehydrated or whatnot. It will adjust your training zones accordingly.

I put my Polar on my handlebars when on the bike, but sometimes that gets old. I was thinking of buying the Garmin strap and seeing how that does. The Polar has been very reliable, though, and I think it's user-friendly. Some models like mine also come in women's sized wrist units.

The Timex Ironman HRMs are supposed to be pretty good as well, and I think you can also get coded straps for those too. I think those tend to be cheaper. With the Polars, you can get all sorts of "stuff" though no GPS.

I've also been told that Garmins are less than reliable for calorie counting, but even though I don't use the Garmin strap, just based on my other workout data and my stats (age weight gender), I find that the calorie estimates it gives me are very close to what the Polar tells me, especially on longer rides. Indoor workouts are the most off, because well I'm doing slower on the trainer with the resistance and sweating buckets with a heat-induced HR spike.

[hellosunshine]

ive got a polar M31 and its been great BUT BUT BUT i do find even the polar coded strap picks up others sometimes in a bunch,AND also in winter the readings go barmy if im training when its below 3'c.some say it depends what you are wearing!

[firenze11]

Thanks everyone.

I think I've started to narrow down my options. In the Polar category I'm looking at the F11 (thanks for the info aicabsolut), the CS300, and the S150. The Suunto T3 looks pretty good to me, too. I had read a bit about them but it is good to hear they are accurate and hold up well.

And the Garmin is still tempting me. Kelownagirl: I think that motionbased looks really cool. Easy to use and pretty comprehensive. Mr Silver: I think I remember you posting one of your graphs from you Garmin. I like that you can see so much data on one graph. And I'll PM Silver to get her vote.

I like that I can connect it to my computer so easily. For the Polars it seems I'd need to get an infrared port or it uses soniclink and I don't have a microphone. I don't really like that. But there are pros and cons to each unit. I'm leaning a little more toward Garmin right now. Maybe I'll go find a store that has some of these to look at in person.

Oh boy, more bike-stuff shopping. I think this is getting addictive.

[Mr. Bloom]

Silver has a Garmin not a Polar...

[OakLeaf]

I have a Forerunner 301 and I really like it. It's not perfect - the Forerunners don't have a barometric altimeter, so I get altitude spikes pretty often. Once in a while I do get a speed/pace spike. Heart rate spikes seem to always be related to poor contact. I use aloe vera gel on the electrodes and it helps a lot. I like the intervals feature and I like being able to download my track to the computer. Supposedly, the 305 has a better antenna - I do tend to lose the signal under heavy tree cover, especially when it's wet.

[firenze11]

I bit the bullet and ordered the Garmin Forerunner 305. The Costco price was just too good, the Running Room was selling it for about $100 more and even the most basic Polars are selling for $130 up here. Now I just have to be patient and wait for it to come in the mail, shipping takes for-ev-er.

Thanks again for all your advice everyone!

[silver]

I think that you will really be happy with this one!!!! You'll get the good graphs. I still keep the regular computer on the bike and wear the garmin on my wrist if I ride the bike with it.

One issue with the garmin, (maybe someone knows the fix) is that when you stop the watch doesn't stop (like the bike computer stops when the bike is stopped). that's why I like to keep the regular computer on the bike.