The Polar F4?♥

This is me looking into purchasing a Heart Rate Monitor and I'm all but sold on buying the Polar F4. I'm looking for one that is relatively inexpensive. (I'm a college student in September which equates being dirt brokeXD). However, it doesn't seem to come with the chest strap....I can't seem to find out whether it does or not.

Does it/doesn't it?

If it doesn't, is it less effective because of it?

If it is less effective, is there a fairly inexpensive alternative?
{Inexpensive alternatives welcome either way.xD}

Thanks in advance darlings!

It comes with a T31 uncoded chest strap.  It's usually not visible in the packaging, however

http://www.polarusa.com/Products/fseries/f4.a sp?cat=consumer

It usually come with a chest strap, and HAS TO if you buy it legit.

It won't track your heart rate at all if you don't use the strap.

It's amazing. The only thing I wish it did was track distance, but that's more like a Garmin.

Garmin are the REALLY expensive ones aren't they? D: I think I looked at those ones and my jaw dropped a wee bit.

http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Rate-Monito r-Watch/dp/B0016HCIB0

I ordered this Polar F5 from Amazon for $63 and am very happy with it.

...What's the difference between the F4 and F5? Anyone know?

Original Post by ribear:

Garmin are the REALLY expensive ones aren't they? D: I think I looked at those ones and my jaw dropped a wee bit.

They are essentially running computers, so you'd have to expect that. They're the best for the serious runner...you know, competitive ones in particular.

I think Melkor once said that the F5 and F6 are coded so that it won't received the signals of other nearby Polars. The F4 doesn't have that. Or was it the F6 and F11?

Hmm...That's really interesting. And it would probably be useful if I'm going to be using it at the gym...>_< Decisions decisions...

I'm happy with my F4 which I bought off ebay.  It came with the chest strap.  I don't use it nearly as often as I thought I would but I do like having it.  I've never used it in the gym so I don't know if it gets interference, but I can tell you that very few people have HRMs.

I bought my F4 off ebay too, got a good price for it... I use it at the gym 4-6 times a week, for the last 6 weeks - and I havn't once yet had any problems with interference... come to think about it i've never actually seen anyone at my gym with a HRM!

It's really useful to see how many calories are actualy burnt compared to what the machines tell you and I've found its more accurate than what CC's log tells me i burn too. Its so motiviating to see the number increase as you work out :)

I have to add that the F5 does come with a chest strap.  I use it every day, but since I work out at home I have never used it in a gym setting and can not say if there are any problems with interference.