Heart Rate Monitor
 

Fellas,

I'm getting back into my gymming ways (10k a day on the Ergo, hopefully without smelling of piss), and fancy getting myself a new HRM, my old one is knackered (Polar Accurex Plus). Thinking about getting a Polar S610, for £163 from www.wiggle.co.uk, since this seems like a good price. I'm still not totally decided, so any opinions/advice would be greatly appreciated.

J

Depends what you want to do with the HRM? I have the S610 and use it for setting intervals (for circuit training), heart rate zones, calorie counting and recording training runs.

If you just want to see what your heart rate is then you wouldn't need all the features of the s610.

Stefan

I do some interval training, but to be honest I don't tend to look at my heart rate a great deal while I'm training, I tend to download it to my PC afterwards and look through it then. When I take up spinning again it'll be a different matter though, always like to keep and eye on my HR then just so I work out when I'm about to collapse.

It appeared to me that the 610 was the equivalent to my old accurex plus, but with the addition of infra-red for analyzing my data. Have you had any problems/issues with your watch?

J

nope, none whatsoever. Had it 2yrs now and it's been everywhere from knee deep muddy runs, through assault courses and up most mountains in Scotland. It's virtually indestructable.

On the other hand, I have a Timex Ironman speed/distance watch and the strap broke on my first trip to some Mountains in Australia :(

Polar do the cheaper s410 with PC transfer too. It's via sonic link and not infra-red and it's sh!it, so stick with an IR watch.

I can post up some graphs from the Polar software if it helps. You can also download the Polar s610 manual from their website.

Stefan

Nah, you're alright, I think the software is just the same as the stuff I've got for my old watch.

Cheers for the advice, might just go ahead and get one, does £162 sound like a bargain?

J

Depends if it comes with the IR interface for your PC.

I paid £160 for the watch, chest strap and IR link but that was a special offer from Newitts and I don't think they sell the actual watches anymore.

I think the RRP is £180 for the HRM + £30 for the IR PC interface, so base any online prices on those figures.

around £160 does seem a fair price for the watch.

Stefan