Polar FT80 Heart Rate Monitor GREAT!
Hi,
It took me a lot of time to pick up the right heart rate watch for me.
FT80 is the best from cost/price perspective. It is Polar which means good quality. This type of monitor allow exporting data whcih I then combine with results of RunKeeper (iPhone application for runners).
I really enjoy it.
Regards,
EG
Friday, July 13, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Polar FT80 Best Price, Excellent product.
Polar FT80 Best Price, Excellent product.
Let's start with bottom line. I love and enjoy my new Polar FT80.
Got it about a month ago after training for a couple of years with an older version of a Polar heart rate monitor. The FT80 is a big step forward and upward.
First the physical aspect. The chest belt is wider and much more flexible and comfortable. Wetting it before the training to make sure the heart monitor connects well to the body is much easier and more reliable.
It stores 100 training sessions in its memory, so my whole training regiment for the last month can be reviewed. It also accumulates summaries so I can review the results on a weekly basis. This makes it much easier following my calories intake/spending on a daily or weekly basis.
During aerobic training there is a display that shows both the calories and the time spent from the start of the session. The previous version required jumping between two different displays to see these.
I set a weekly goal for training calories spending. I did not get the GPS Sensor or Foot Pod since all of my training is in the gym. I do not know how well they work, but if it is as well as the components I have, it should be very enlightening to get all the extra information like distance and speed statistics. It is also possible to set weekly distance goals.
The concept of heart rate based training zones is implemented very well. The time spent in each zone is recorded separately for each training session and accumulated through the week. The target time to be spent in each zone is also set on a weekly basis.
There is a special strength-training mode that shows the heart rate on a graph. On the same display I also see both the heart rate and the time from the start of the session, so I can time the rest between the exercise sets based either on time or my heart rate. It also suggests when to start the next set, although it currently gives me only about 30 seconds for rest and I feel I need more - or maybe I need to challenge myself more :-)
When my gym visit includes several sections like warm-up, strength training and aerobic training, I record them separately in the appropriate modes. Then when I come home I synchronize the watch very easily through the FlowLink with the [...] site and it stores all my training history. It also shows my target status, training-zone statistics and graphical curves of the heart-beat during all the training sessions.
I just skimmed through the training program feature, so I cannot comment on it. I did see that I can define a detailed training program with pre-defined exercises or add new ones I define myself. I'll probably do it further down the line.
It is even much better as a watch. It has a Stopwatch application with a nice multiple-laps recording feature and the wrist-band is very comfortable.
Finally, it even looks very nice - rounded, hi-tech shape. It looks different.
...Told you I love it :-)
Polar FT80 Best Price, Works Great.
The Polar FT80 has worked great for me. No issues with the display. I wear it playing basketball, aerobic excercises, and weight training and I haven't had any problems.
I have worn it outside in the sun and can see the display without issue both inside and outside.
Let's start with bottom line. I love and enjoy my new Polar FT80.
Got it about a month ago after training for a couple of years with an older version of a Polar heart rate monitor. The FT80 is a big step forward and upward.
First the physical aspect. The chest belt is wider and much more flexible and comfortable. Wetting it before the training to make sure the heart monitor connects well to the body is much easier and more reliable.
It stores 100 training sessions in its memory, so my whole training regiment for the last month can be reviewed. It also accumulates summaries so I can review the results on a weekly basis. This makes it much easier following my calories intake/spending on a daily or weekly basis.
During aerobic training there is a display that shows both the calories and the time spent from the start of the session. The previous version required jumping between two different displays to see these.
I set a weekly goal for training calories spending. I did not get the GPS Sensor or Foot Pod since all of my training is in the gym. I do not know how well they work, but if it is as well as the components I have, it should be very enlightening to get all the extra information like distance and speed statistics. It is also possible to set weekly distance goals.
The concept of heart rate based training zones is implemented very well. The time spent in each zone is recorded separately for each training session and accumulated through the week. The target time to be spent in each zone is also set on a weekly basis.
There is a special strength-training mode that shows the heart rate on a graph. On the same display I also see both the heart rate and the time from the start of the session, so I can time the rest between the exercise sets based either on time or my heart rate. It also suggests when to start the next set, although it currently gives me only about 30 seconds for rest and I feel I need more - or maybe I need to challenge myself more :-)
When my gym visit includes several sections like warm-up, strength training and aerobic training, I record them separately in the appropriate modes. Then when I come home I synchronize the watch very easily through the FlowLink with the [...] site and it stores all my training history. It also shows my target status, training-zone statistics and graphical curves of the heart-beat during all the training sessions.
I just skimmed through the training program feature, so I cannot comment on it. I did see that I can define a detailed training program with pre-defined exercises or add new ones I define myself. I'll probably do it further down the line.
It is even much better as a watch. It has a Stopwatch application with a nice multiple-laps recording feature and the wrist-band is very comfortable.
Finally, it even looks very nice - rounded, hi-tech shape. It looks different.
...Told you I love it :-)
Polar FT80 Best Price, Works Great.
The Polar FT80 has worked great for me. No issues with the display. I wear it playing basketball, aerobic excercises, and weight training and I haven't had any problems.
I have worn it outside in the sun and can see the display without issue both inside and outside.
Polar FT80 Watch NICE!
Polar FT80 Watch NICE!
The only drawback to this watch is the display issue others have mentioned.It actually looks better than the white face in the full sunlight and when it is dark with nightlight.The main problem is a certain level of light (low level in a slightly darkened gym)You have a glare area where you can only read the watch when you hold it at a certain angle.The web sync device worked fine for me,just go to Polar web site download websync 2.5 and then plug in the reader and the driver device should install.I had an old FT7 and FT 80 and they both loaded the info to polar web site in a snap.The fitness and relaxation test and tracking of these things make this a great watch to see how your workouts are going.If you have problems reading small print or will only use this in a Gym go with the white face.
The only drawback to this watch is the display issue others have mentioned.It actually looks better than the white face in the full sunlight and when it is dark with nightlight.The main problem is a certain level of light (low level in a slightly darkened gym)You have a glare area where you can only read the watch when you hold it at a certain angle.The web sync device worked fine for me,just go to Polar web site download websync 2.5 and then plug in the reader and the driver device should install.I had an old FT7 and FT 80 and they both loaded the info to polar web site in a snap.The fitness and relaxation test and tracking of these things make this a great watch to see how your workouts are going.If you have problems reading small print or will only use this in a Gym go with the white face.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Polar FT80 Heart Rate Monitor So far so good
Polar FT80 Heart Rate Monitor So far so good.
Amazing design. Very happy with what it was made to do. I am addicted to looking at my heart rate now! Very happy with the VO2 accuracy. VO2 was 1 off of my lab result which was taken a month and a half ago, so I would consider it accurate. Kinda sad with the web interface because of how few strength workouts you could choose from (Although I found a work around by changing the name of the premade workout ie.("bench" into "pushup")dependent on the exercise, in the web interface.) Very happy with how powerful and intelligent the watch is. I would not even consider it a watch except for the fact that it also tells time... All in all, very excited! People need to understand the power of working your lower and higher Heartrate ranges, and watches like these will make the difference. Very Happy, and I will return with a full review in a month. My current VO2 is 73. Resting HR 51.
Amazing design. Very happy with what it was made to do. I am addicted to looking at my heart rate now! Very happy with the VO2 accuracy. VO2 was 1 off of my lab result which was taken a month and a half ago, so I would consider it accurate. Kinda sad with the web interface because of how few strength workouts you could choose from (Although I found a work around by changing the name of the premade workout ie.("bench" into "pushup")dependent on the exercise, in the web interface.) Very happy with how powerful and intelligent the watch is. I would not even consider it a watch except for the fact that it also tells time... All in all, very excited! People need to understand the power of working your lower and higher Heartrate ranges, and watches like these will make the difference. Very Happy, and I will return with a full review in a month. My current VO2 is 73. Resting HR 51.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)