Heart rate monitor!

What do you all think of the MIO Shape Heart Rate Monitor? It doesn't have a chest strap, which seems like a big plus! It does the 2 main things I'm looking for - measure heart rate and calories burned. And the price is right - $50 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Shape-Heart-Rate-Monito r-Watch/dp/B00009MKC4

Anyone tried it out? Or is there another model you would recommend instead?

Thanks!

Looks ok - the reviews were a bit mixed.

Is there some reason you don't want to go with the chest strap models?  I think these are truly the most accurate since the heart rate is continuously monitored.  I personally never notice the strap and sometimes forget I have it on until I change clothes.

I thought the chest strap would be uncomfortable and awkward, but I've never tried one, I just assumed. If you don't even notice that it's on, that's great! What model do you use?

I use a chest strap model and it feels just like the band on your sports bra.  I don't even notice I am wearing it.

I have the Mio shape. I can't wear a chest strap heart rate monitor (due to a phobia caused by a hospital stay when young.) It works OK for my purposes which was to be able to check that I'm "in the zone" while doing aerobic exercise. The calories burned thingie is only available when you set it up in Chronometer mode (which I do for my workouts) then while exercising, during the routine, walk, run whatever, you have to check your heart rate (by touching your opposite hand's index & middle fingers to the buttons on the watch), then it will compute the calories burned. You have to recheck your rate every time you switch the intensity of your routine. I walk for my exercise so I check mine about 8-9 times during the course of the walk to make sure I'm doing OK and to keep the calorie calculator supplied with good data.

I will say it is not as convenient as the chest strap models sound, though I understand it is as accurate as far as when you check your rate you'll get around the same number from both.

They sell these at walmart too... they are only $40 last time I checked there.

I'm at some point going to get one of these... I'm not sure if I'll get one with or without the chest strap though.

pozesara, which one do you use?

aovermy, thanks very much for the detailed review!

I use the polar F11.  It is probably a little more HR monitor than I need but I got a good deal on it so it ended up being cheaper than a lower model.  It is very usable and I get a continuous readout.  I know at the end of my workout how much time was spent in each zone and how many calroies were burned as well as average HR.  All very useful information, I enjoy having it although I don't stricly need it.

I did a lot of search and reading on Mio after you mentioned it. It is not mainly the chest strap that I was concerned about, but the styling and size. Mio looks cool enough and the size is smaller. But I wonder how it will be able to compute correctly the calorie burned during exercise if my workout is a continuous routine that involves moving my arms and legs aroubd all the time? Using it for TM or elliptical or bike makes sense to me. I am doing Turbo Jam and SI6 mainly.

Any idea? I really like the style, but if it wont work I prolly have to get a HRM with chest strap afterall :o

I'm a polarF11 also but lots of folks on this site use the cheaper F6.  I like the F11.  I am not sure if the F6 model has the V02 test or not but what this does is calculates your fitness level and depending on different variables your calorie count can change quite a bit for the same workouts week to week.  Its too involved to get into here but basically depending on my stress level and stuff my calorie count for the same 45 minute workout in one zone can vary as much as 200 calories higher or lower even though my age and weight didn't change. 

I feel like going back to square 1 lol. Well, one way to find out is to buy one or both and compare (making sure I can return the products after) :)

I have the polar f4 and I love it...never notice the chest strap...it does everything i need...constant heart rate with a running total of cals burned and gives a summary at the end of my workout...It's really helped with my wgt loss...at $85 it was well worth it....

sweet_tart, I'll let you know what I end up getting and how it works for me! it sounds like you need to have your hands free for 5-10 seconds at a time for the MIO so maybe wouldn't work so well with the Beachbody routines.

maybe I can find an f11 on sale...

I'm actually interested in a guys perspective on this.  How well do the chest strap parts hold on for a guy?

I saw one reviewer on Amazon complaining about the strap pulling his chest hair. Sorry but I don't remember which model he was talking about. The only thing I've seen about sizing is that many chest strap models are too big for very petite women (never going to be a problem for me, lol!), so it sounds like the sizing should be OK for a guy.

Night: My husband uses the polar F11 and has been for at least 8 months.  He doesn't mind the chest strap at all.  He is training for triathlons and the only time he has had a problem is when he is swimming.  The signal does not pick up as well under water and he has to tighten it really tight.  His other main forms of exercise  are cycling, running, and weights, occasionally he will jump on the rowing machine at the gym. 

I know I'm not a guy but hope this helps, as far as the chest strap staying on, it is the same basic priciple for men and women - tighten it and snap it on.  I think the main issue might be that men are not used to the feeling of a band around their chests.  The bands come in different sizes and are adjustable, my husband has never had a problem with it pulling his chest hair.

The strap is elastic and adjustable.  I've not had a problem with it slipping and it has never pulled my hair.  I'm not even aware that it is there but I have been using a HRM for 10 years.

pozesara, thanks, that's what I wanted to hear.  I think when the time comes I'll get one with the strap as I don't want to have to put my fingers on anything to take regular measurements.

emily & amy - thanks for the feedback. You guys are right. For the workout I am doing, I think chest strap model is the one for me. :)

I just used my new balance heart rate monitor for the first time and the HR it gave me and the calories seemed kind of low - very low. I did 45mins spinning and it said like 150cals. This website and others say around 450. I

t sounds like what aovermy described where you touch the sensors with your other fingers every now and again. I tried to do it for each track in the class but the highest my HR got was 184 according to the watch which seems a little low for me.

The treadmill in the gym says 230+ when Im sprinting and if I count it myself at the end of circuits straight after 60seconds squat jumps its usually around 200bpm.

Any advice?

I have the Polar F11 and I love it. It tells me when to work harder or slow it down. I mainly use it in Spinning. It does alot of stuff that I haven't figured out yet. It also set a program for me based on my stats that will improve my fitness level it I complete the weekly program that it set for me. Cool!! Who else has a polar f11?