Would you reccommend it? I'm considering getting one, because everyone says the machine read outs are way off (which makes sense).  I just want to make sure I get a good one.  Also, do they typically come with the strap, or is that extra?

Thanks for your input. 

I've had mine for about a week and I absolutely love it. It gives me exactly what I want - calories burned, heart rate, time in zone, avg. heart rate, highest heart rate during the session. If you forgot how much you burned that day, you can review it easily.

As for the strap, it comes with. You barely notice it while you're working out. Sometimes I go to shower and almost forget to take it off!

It's about $80-$90 but it goes everywhere with me, so if you're really into working out in a certain zone and don't mind the chest strap, the F4 is a really great option.

I've had mine for three months and its a unit. I was concerned about accuracy because I'm on beta blockers and other heart medications. But it looks to be more accurate than the machines. It does come with the strap so there is nothing else needed.

Polar HRM's rock! I owned a M32 (one of the earlier versions of the Polar HRM) and just recently upgraded to the F11. I was going to get the F6, since Polar said it was the replacement model, but they downgraded the F6 to the one-piece strap with the sensor built in. I've always preferred the detachable sensor, so the strap can be laundered.

As for accuracy, all I can say is I used the earlier one to gauge my exercise calories burned, and it didn't let me down. That being said, I usually only ate back 1/2 my burned calories, not 100%. This was with my CC counter set to sedentary, and adding 1/2 the Polar indicated calories burned. (I followed the CC guidelines always: 500-1000 calories deficit/day, with a minimum caloric input per day as specified for gender/age). I still managed to lose 1 to 1.5 lbs a week steadily, even with cheat days scheduled about once a week.

Interestingly, now that I'm on maintenance, I'm still using the sedentary setting on CC and find I have to eat more than the suggested CC amount plus whatever the Polar F11 says I'm burning, or I will continue to lose weight! I'd put it down more to not inputing all of the non-measured activities I do throughout the day that bring me above the sedentary rate, rather than the Polar HRM being off.

Does anyone know the differences between the F4 and F6 models?

I have the F4 model and have been using it for about a week and a half now... I love it except I do wonder if it overestimates my calorie burn though..

i did 1 hour and 40 mins of cardio today ( ino its long but i honestly didnt realise i was going for that long until i stopped the time on the watch! ) and it said i burnt 911 calories.. i did 20 mins on elliptical, 30mins on treadmill running, 20 mins on the bike, 10mins stepper, 10mins on rower.

do u think this is accurate? i mean it must be if its to your personal weight height etc and the chest strap is measuring the heart rate, but it seems so high 2 me.. :S

Original Post by kks_0204:

I have the F4 model and have been using it for about a week and a half now... I love it except I do wonder if it overestimates my calorie burn though..

i did 1 hour and 40 mins of cardio today ( ino its long but i honestly didnt realise i was going for that long until i stopped the time on the watch! ) and it said i burnt 911 calories.. i did 20 mins on elliptical, 30mins on treadmill running, 20 mins on the bike, 10mins stepper, 10mins on rower.

 

do u think this is accurate? i mean it must be if its to your personal weight height etc and the chest strap is measuring the heart rate, but it seems so high 2 me.. :S

Depends on how heavy you are.

I can jog & walk for 40 minutes and burn about 400 calories.