I’m looking to buy a heart rate monitor and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. The model I’m currently considering is the Polar S275x mainly because of the optional running stuff. Here’s a link to the page for it.
Does anybody know of any other HRMs that offer similar features that would be conducive to the kind of training we do? I’m looking to keep it under $350. What types of things should I be considering while shopping for one of these? I chose the one I mentioned above because it has the capability to track your running distance and comes with the stuff to sync it with your bike. I’m in the dark on this one. Thanks in advance for the help.
Jeez what an overpriced piece of crap that thing is. You can get a basic watch + hrm for 25 or so. I’m not sure about their latest models but I’d steer clear of Polar because you have to mail the strap in to get the battery replaced.
Garmin 305 - 225. GPS, all kinds of bells and whistles. Get the cadence thing for another $40 or so.
wrong facts. The current chest straps have user-replaceable batteries and are comfortable and reliable. Have been using Polar for many years. Many discontinued models are available on ebay/outlets. Mike
I have the polar S625X and have been very happy with it. I’m not sure what the differences are between the one I have and the 725, but I use both the running pod and cycling/cadence sensors. The only problem I have ever had is using it in the pool, I guess with all the other electronic stuff going on it doesn’t get a good reading? Believe it or not, the foot pod has been EXTREMELY accurate (still don’t understand how it works though). If you have any specific questions, let me know!
These are fact based on your use? The Polar is waterproof and most gyms are Polar compatible and the Garmin is not.
I have both a Polar and a Garmin and the Polar is able to go more places than the Garmin. I have a Polar S150 and CAD200 with Cadence which allows me to use a single HR strap and I can use it in the swim, the bike and the run.
Another happy S625x user. I have had mine for about 2.5 years and have had no problems with it. The new chest belts are much more comfortable then the older plastic ones and have user replaceable batteries. I could find no significant difference between the S725x and the S625x, except the S725x comes a speed cycling sensor and has adjustable display text size while the S625x comes with the foot pod for running speed.
I also have a Garmin ForeRunner 305 and if I had to choose one device between these two it would be the S625x. It is far more versitile and comfortable. The ForeRunner is very cool, and I love it for longer trail runs/hikes but for general training the S625x is my choice.
Thanks for the info on the S625x. I already have computers on my road bike and tri bike so I don’t really need the cycling comp sensor but I figured the running speed and distance would be really helpful. I think the foot pod was $150 extra for the S725x. Another question I had… The website says stuff about being able to upload your data into a computer. How does that work? Is it useful and do I have to buy anything extra to do that? Thanks!
How does that work? Is it useful and do I have to buy anything extra to do that?
It’s very useful if you’re a numbers geek, and if you get the cycling sensors, you can also track all of your ride info (elevation, speed, distance, etc.). You do have to buy an extra sensor for your computer to do the transfer, but you can get a $20 IrDA interface that works just fine, as opposed to the $60+ that Polar is charging for theirs. I wrote up some info about this on here a couple of months ago if you want particulars. As for the original question, I’ve got an S710i from several years ago that’s still chugging along, and I’ve been very happy with it. It doesn’t have the running option, but other than that it does everything I need.
“Jeez what an overpriced piece of crap that thing is. You can get a basic watch + hrm for 25 or so. I’m not sure about their latest models but I’d steer clear of Polar because you have to mail the strap in to get the battery replaced.”
100% incorrect. Any strap that comes with a Polar over about $35 has a user-replaceable battery compartment in the HR strap (edit: for the sttraps that the battery can’t be replaced, they provide 2500 hours of operation and the whole belt can be replaced for less than $40). Also, the Polar is water proof where the Garmin is not.
That sort of makes the Garmin better for a duathlete than a triathlete, IMO. Just make sure you have the facts on a piece of equipment before you call it “an overpriced piece of crap”.
The only downside is that once you start one workout or a race, you can’t switch it from bike mode to run mode without starting a new timer, so, unless you want to fiddle with it in the middle of a tri (i.e. start a whole new “workout” file and change it from the “bike” setting to the “run” setting), you don’t get the bike info. Sounds like you don’t care about that, though (as I don’t now–bought a Powertap for bike info–it’s a little excessive but awfully fun to have). I just leave it on the “run” setting the whole time, and I get real-time pace on the run, but no info from it on the bike (other than time and HR). Before I started triathlons, I used it for every bike ride, too, and it worked spectacularly for speed, cadence, time, and HR.
So now I use it for overall time, a lap counter, HR on the swim, HR on the bike (I loosen it up a tad and turn it sideways on my arm so I can see it while I’m in the aerobars without moving my arm), and HR+real-time pace on the run.
You do have to send the watch back to Polar for battery replacement, but the watch gives you plenty of notice, the repair was quick (8 days including shipping), cheap (like $12), and mine ran for almost 3 years (of 6-day-a-week use) before I got a battery light.
BTW, I’m currently working with Polar to develop a cover that will make the 625X more hydrodynamic. Just kidding, but in an age where we have a whole thread about redesigning the cover of the profile aero bottle, I thought I’d just throw that out there.
I have had good luck with uploading data from my S625x (as well as my other Polar HRMs). I use a standard irDA vs. the Polar USB IR Interface, it is more versitile and the Polar USB IR doesn’t work with the Polar AXN series units (and some of the other new Polar units), I believe Polar is selling a irDA USB dongle under their name now as well as the older Polar USB IR interface.
The new Polar software looks promising, I am just playing with the trial now, but I have had been using MySportsTraining software for a number of years. It works well with the S625x, but it doesn’t work with the AXN series or have the ability to work with Power, so I am looking for a new training software. There are also a number of online services that allow you to upload your HRM data (i.e. TrainingPeaks). In the few days I have been playing with the new Polar SW5 software, it looks like winner to me.
It is overpriced crap because it can’t reliably determine distance. There is no need to wear the polar or the garmin in the water if you are racing and if you are training you may as well get the garmin and a $10 waterproof job and come out $100 ahead.
As for the original question, I’ve got an S710i from several years ago that’s still chugging along, and I’ve been very happy with it. It doesn’t have the running option, but other than that it does everything I need.
to the OP, i agree with johnny here. just picked up a lightly used S710i, everything i need for cycling, running (i didn’t want/need footpod compatability) and waterproof to boot. the S625x with cycling options OR S725x with footpod would be the ducks nuts…you will learn to love downloading & analysing the data, very useful feature (and common to all good HRM systems).
this from a converted technophobe and JFT advocate…i’ve seen the light!
Not wanting to argue, I have both. For 2 and a half years of the 625, loved the software. In a 10k race, distance pace, spot on. Anything else, from IM, stand alone marathon, or training it was always off. No matter how many times I tried to calibrate it or at whatever pace, it always recorded a longer distance, so faster pace. For training it worked because it was very consistant with errors. I gnow using the Garmin, my course run times are the same, but my average is slower(on the watch.) For me the garmin is more accurate. However will I like the software, combined with training peaks–cycling peaks better than Polars…?..We will see
There’s at least one entire forum dedicated to the 625X and it’s accuracy. Some real gearheads have broken the thing down there. I’ve found mine to be incredibly reliable and accurate, but with certain limitations. If you calibrate it on pavement, for example, it’ll be a tad (i mean a tad) off if you’re running on an unpaved trail or grass, for example. I’ll take that over losing sight of the satellite any day.
I’ve had the 725x for over a year now and use it for HR and bike (speed and cadence) - it is a good piece of kit.
The online training log is also pretty good altho’ my pc suddenly decided it didn’t like to download the info from the watch…!