Polar sports watches......cheap but cool(ish)?

[RobDad]

I just joined a gym (100kg's and counting, time to get back to the 85kg's I was before my wife had kids and I gave up training to read them bedtime stories, help out the wife etc!)

Anyhow, as part of my membership they gave me a Polar heart monitor strap and watch - and they sell 'em for just £30 if you need a replacement!!!!!! Now, I wear a Sub Date when I'm not in the gym, and am not a digital fan, but with a really big clear display, just 1 button covering all the functions, and a really useful heart monitor, which even keeps a record of your exercise routine - time/date/average heart rate/maximum etc - it's a neat, cheap bit of kit - with a genuinely useful function. It will even change functions during exercise just by bringing it close to the monitor strapped round your chest, then it toggles between time/heart rate/time since you started exercising

Anybody else use one? - must be the cheapest, but most useful watch I've bought in ages!

[GerardoG]

I do and it is a nice item. Most cardio equipment (ie Life Fitness) has Polar incorporated as well so, even if you forget the watch; just wear the chest band and the machine will get your stats (nice feature); it is a great device to aid you on weight loss, tells you when you are in 'cardio' zone and warns you if you are pushing too hard.

[RobDad]

Yeah, I just programmed mine to minimum 120/Max 159 on the advice of my instructor - keeps it interesting, and apparently the new models are coded, so it won't get interference from monitors worn by other people in the gym. Apparently this feature isn't available on models in the USA or Canada - wonder why not? - anyhow, it's also really comfortable to wear, even when lifting weights - the main reason I don't wear my Sub is that I don't want to scratch it up on all the heavy steel equipment, or take it off and get it stolen!

[GerardoG]

I agree. I even use the Polar sometimes as a Sunday watch; very lightweight and comfortable. Overall it is a good watch. It is also helpful at some meetings; there are times (maintenance staff training) when I do not want to show up with a DayDate or a 2T sub, the Polar fits perfectly.

I have used a Polar heart monitor on occasion (out of interest) when I was actively racing bicycles. Maybe I'm old school (okay, I know I'm old school) but while I found it interesting to use, I felt that I knew my body well enough to know when to push, how hard to push and when to back off, without an electronic aid. I remember once a semi-cycling buddy of mine got a digital speedo and I told him to get in my draft... when I hit a certain rpm in a certain gear I turned around and told him we were doing 40km/hr and he was amazed that we were doing 38.8km/hr. I did this at various speeds to both our amazement.

But, it was interesting using the Polar to see that I had a maximum heart rate of 225 bpm when I was 31 years old (generally you subtract your age from 220 to get your max heart rate).

I know digitals give great bang for buck, but for me, if it ain't mechanical, I don't want it on my wrist. I wear my Rolex at the gym and I don't care what anyone thinks.

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by Atomic

I know digitals give great bang for buck, but for me, if it ain't mechanical, I don't want it on my wrist. I wear my Rolex at the gym and I don't care what anyone thinks.

A couple of weeks ago when I was in the gym, a guy said "man, I can't believe you wear that watch to the gym. Don't you think you'll ruin it?". I had on my 14060M. I said "No but, I can't believe you wear that outfit to the gym. Aren't you afraid everyone will laugh at you?" He doesn't talk to me anymore

Originally Posted by C.J.

A couple of weeks ago when I was in the gym, a guy said "man, I can't believe you wear that watch to the gym. Don't you think you'll ruin it?". I had on my 14060M. I said "No but, I can't believe you wear that outfit to the gym. Aren't you afraid everyone will laugh at you?" He doesn't talk to me anymore

If there's one thing policing has taught you Craig, it's tact.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by C.J.

A couple of weeks ago when I was in the gym, a guy said "man, I can't believe you wear that watch to the gym. Don't you think you'll ruin it?". I had on my 14060M. I said "No but, I can't believe you wear that outfit to the gym. Aren't you afraid everyone will laugh at you?" He doesn't talk to me anymore

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by Atomic

If there's one thing policing has taught you Craig, it's tact.

Ah yes. I have quite the golden tongue

[RobDad]

I'd wear my sub to the gym, no problem, but I find it uncomfortable when I'm exercising - biceps curls, that kind of thing - as I wear it loose enough to drop down onto my wrist sometimes, where it gets uncomfortable. If I tighten it a notch, I end up with a print of the watch on my wrist as my arm expands during exercise - so that cheap plastic polar thing fits the bill nicely

I'm also not going to wear it in the steam room - maybe the watch can take it, but that metal gets too hot to touch!

[Manatee]

I have several Polars. My favorite is the 625SX. It has bicycle computer functions built in, and supports a stride sensor for running. I'm probably going to add a Garmin Forerunner 305 to the tech watch collection soon.