I have been doing tri’s for about 1 year now (got on the podium last weekend - 2nd in 35-39 M age group for 800m/40k/10k with 900+ athletes) and want to take my tri’s a bit more seriously re training so am looking at HR monitors.
Seems that POLAR have many to choose from, but I also noticed TIMEX, that are considerably less expensive.
Any comments on what I should or should not be looking for in brands, functions etc?
TIA
Hairy Legs
I used to have a Polar (ran over it with my car, don’t ask long story) and now have a Timex. I got the Timex at Wally World (wal-mart) for abour $70. It has many of the same functions as my old Polar expect the Polar I had was about $180. The biggest difference however is tha when the battery on the transmitter goes out you have to send it back to Polar so they can replace it. You can replace your own on the Timex. also my Timex watch receiver is waterproof to 50m while my Polar was only “water resistant.” The transmitter on the Timex is only water resistant also. since you are only swimming with it probably you don’t have to worry too much about that. But if you want it fairly water proof just put a little GE silicone caulking aroung the battery door and it will be fine, though I would not recomend diving deep in it (why would you anyway). One other issue is that the timex band is kinda thick compared to the polar but not overly bulky. You’ll get used to it real fast.
Bottom Line is I am perfectly happy with the Timex.
Yuck
Hairy,
First off congrats on the podium finish!!
On my third HRM now. Second was a timex. It was ok, I always had problems with getting a good signal on my timex. After 14 months the sucker went bad in the middle of IM Fla 02.
I got a polar last year for christmas and have been quite happy with it. It is definitly of higher quality then the Timex IMHO. But the polar S150 model I got cost $65 more then the timex.
If cost is your #1 criteria I would look at Nashbar or performance they have some older model polar’s for under $80. Just my 2 cents, good luck!
Rockfish
I’d go with a polar - definitely.
I had a S120 - lost it. Bought a timex but didn’t like it for the following reasons:
I returned the Timex and bought a S210 - more expensive but works great. I wear it under my westuit - works well on the swim and never loses the signal. So far very reliable - and its “owncode” - I haven’t gotten the interference I was getting with the S120 and the Timex from my wireless cycle computer…You do have to send it in to replace the batteries which sounds like a pain but from what I hear they last for a long time…
Hope it helps…
I’ve had two Timex watches and had signal problems with them constantly. Sent one back to the service centre and they said there was nothing wrong but changed the battery anyway but I still continued to have Signal Lost problems.
Brought a Polar s710 and have been very happy with it. I keep the Timex watches in my drawer at work so that I can lend them to friends who are just getting to the stage where using a HM is useful.
Does anyone use their Polar as a bike computer during a tri? I just use it as a watch since I don’t want to have to spend the time to mount/unmount it on the frame.
Cheers,
dt.
I’ve used a lot of different brands of HRM’s over the past 8-9 yrs. and the Polar is good (but over rated). I would specially avoid the S-510 or 520 (for reasons too many to post). However, the S-710 is very good.
On the other hand, I believe the Timex will most likely be THE benchmark for wireless HRM of the future. What Timex seems to have developed is a BodyLink system that will be able to determine - Speed, Distance (pace also) and HR for use on both the bike and run. I currently use the Timex/Garmin Speed+Distance device and find it very useful and accurate. Once they introduce the PC downloadable BodyLink System… they will be incorporating Speed and Distance with HRM.
Once the BodyLink system is introduced, I predict Timex will become the benchmark for wireless devices.
FWIW Joe Moya
On my fifth Polar - various models dating back to the late 80’s CSC Polar ‘box on your wrist’ model. The product is fine despite the rather clunky interface for set up and preference settings. Downloads are fabulous. Rarely brake (I have upgraded and slod all of them).
The larger issues are: Customer service- they run hot or cold… nothing in between it seems. Best information comes from the oversees site and customer support. The US folks are marginally helpful.
Also - if you want cycling data polar is your only option currently. Hopefully this will change soon with Timex looking to epand the product line… but it has been forever coming.
I have a Polar 210 and have had no problems, seen them on sale recently (performance and others)
Never used a Timex HRM so I can’t comment but as Joe M mentioned the Body Link with HR/Speed/Distance is out and looks to be cool. I saw it in the Road Runner Sports catalog so I think that it is already on sale.
A
I have the Timex and dont use it anymore because it’s simply useless. I hate it! Always lose my signal or it just stays at one value, say 180 even when i’m slowing down. It’s very frustrating. By the way, a bucket of water on it might help but I dont always have it and I’m not ready to do it in the middle of winter. 
And by the way, their customer service is so so. Viva DESOTO!!!
Go for a Polar!
Richard
Does anyone use their Polar as a bike computer during a tri? I just use it as a watch since I don’t want to have to spend the time to mount/unmount it on the frame.
I have used my Polar S710, but on my arm along with a normal bike computer, that way I don’t have to look at my wrist to see RPM, time etc, but when I get home I can analyse my performance, speed Vs HR etc. Just got a new race bike and will see how I get on without the polar info.
Tom
I have a Nike HRM, a Polar s710, and the 100 lap Timex HRM. Hands down, the Polar has the most, and most interesting features. So far the Timex has worked well for me but it’s still brand new. I like the styling of the Timex better (I’ll actually wear it when I’m not working out), and love the velcro strap. But the Timex has very few features. If you just want a basic stopwatch that shows the current heartrate, then the Timex should be fine. If you want bells and whistles then you should probably go with the Polar. BTW, I stopped using my Polar b/c I’ve had all sorts of issues with it. It seems however that I got a lemon and most people have had good experiences with theirs.
Thank you for all your comments on HRM’s. Great forum.
Hairy Legs
Does anyone use their Polar as a bike computer during a tri? I just use it as a watch since I don’t want to have to spend the time to mount/unmount it on the frame.
I do. I put some industrial-strength velcro on the back of the watch and on the computer mount (mounted between my Syntace C2’s on the narrow part closest to the stem), When I get out of the water I take the watch off my wrist and place it into the mount- I don’t even bother fastening the strap as the velcro holds fine. As I get to T2 I take the watch off the mount and put it on my wrist a couple of hundred yards before the transition. This way I get total time, HR, altitude, for the whole race in one file, and speed and cadence during the bike.
I had a Polar 120 for most of the year. It worked fine. I chose it over the Timex because the Timex chest strap was too big. I went on vacation awhile ago, and now can’t seem to find the chest strap to the 120. No biggie, the 120 had way too much going on for me. I’m the guy that still rolls the windows in my Jeep up and down by hand. The KISS principal works well for me. So, I went out and bought a Polar A5, and love it. Nice and simple. I have Syntace Streamliners and I wear it on the inside of my wrist. Easy to view. I just want to know two things from a HR monitor. What is my HR at that moment, and how long have I been “Sweatin’ to the Oldies”. I don’t need an I.R. down-loadable version of my HR that can be viewed as a bar graph, line graph, or pie chart. Don’t need one more thing attached to my bike. I don’t need three HR zones. I Don’t need a lazer range finder, GPS, a compass, encrypted information security, OnStar, multiple time zones, a rain gage, three dot tritium sights, wireless high-speed internet access, LoJack, an intermittent wiper option, surround sound, or an Anti-UFO detector on my HR monitor
Just my heart rate please. Nice and simple.
… and why do those stinkin’ instructions come in 18 different languages. Everything but English. I swear they got Pig Latin in there somewhere… You just can’t win I tell ya’…
Joel
Does anyone use their Polar as a bike computer during a tri? I just use it as a watch since I don’t want to have to spend the time to mount/unmount it on the frame.
I do. I like to keep things simple, so 2 computers is overkill to me. I’m going to be wearing my 710 anyway. I tend to pace on RPE during a race anyway, speed is a poor way to do it (headwinds, false flats, etc) and heart rate is frequently very different during a race than during training. so, I just leave it on my wrist and roll the arm a bit if I ever want to check anything.
I had a Polar ProTrainer NV I used for 3 years before the battery went out. It’s still sitting in my drawer. This crappy Timex I now have I bought to save some $$$'s. In essence, you get what you pay for. It’s OK, although as many have mentioned, the signal is intermittent. There must only be about a 24" range to the transmitter, because if I walk with my hands at my sides, it loses signal every time.
Additionally, the readings are inconsistent, the chest strap left scars (after wearing it every day for 2 weeks), and generally, while I love the Timex Ironman watches, I won’t be purchasing another HRM. I’ll probably send in my Polar and utilize their trade up program (if they still have it). Too bad we can’t get them to shrink the flippin’ size of their HRM’s.
Maybe if enough people lobby for Oakley to do a OE purchase on the HRM board, they can incorporate it into one of their swanky sport watches? Dare I dream?
The ONLY drawback I had with the Polar was the inability to switch between chrono mode and watch mode without it restarting the chrono. I believe this has since been fixed in later models.
My vote definitely goes for the Polar. After doing HRM training for 4 years now, I’ll pay for reliable.
~ Craig