I am lucky enough to be “asked” what I want for Xmas. It’s high time I got a HRM for running rather than hijacking my wife’s all the time.
The newer Polar RS200 looks to be less, um, MAMMOTH, than the older versions. I haven’t seen the SI Fit 3 or the Pro Metal 9. Anyone seen/used any of these, and have recommendations?
I don’t care about loading data to a PC, I have small wrists so I prefer sleek/thin, and my needs are pretty basic - record laps/splits incl HR data for each.
I have the RS200 and I’m supposed to review it for a magazine.
It looks a bit girly in red.
How about the 210?
HEY I love the red!
Aztec
I have had the sports instruments HRM. There is a structural weakness in the case of the HRM. I had two of them crack in the same place. Once they are cracked, you have to send them back to the mfr for repair. Also, the sports instruments buttonology is a bit confusing and harder to use. On the other hand, the chest strap is very sleek as is the HRM watch. I don’t own it anymore because of the breakage problem though.
Mike
I’ve got the RS200 SD (SD includes the footpod). I’ve had a few HR monitors, I’m happiest with this one. The wearlinnk band is much better than any other one I’ve tried, hardly chafes at all. The big screen allows the RS200 to have legible menus, so it’s easy to operate (I had to refer to the manual for my Polar Coach all the time). The watch is physically a little on the big side, but unless you have a really small wrist, it should be OK. The footpod is great for measuring your pace–I’m terrible at maintaining a consistent pace and I find it really helps to have an indication of how fast I’m going.
The only thing I dislike about it is that you have to use the Polar website to download your data. To make matters worse, you can’t even cut & paste from the website to Excel or any other program. Polar and PC Coach both claim to be “considering” adding RS200 (and CS100/CS200) compatablility to their software, but nothing yet.
just a general comment from past experience…perhaps not totallt relevant to the question but…i had an older SI model that was supposed to ok for swimming, the button gaskets leaked and destroed the unit, i managed to return it, but never went back…since than i have had two polars with no problems, other than the brickishness that you noted, but sounds like the newer model your looking at cures that. good luck.
Anyone have a pic of one (either) on their wrist? My wrist is pretty small and I’d hate to have a bulky thing on there.
Why don’t they make one as thin as a Movado? 
the RS200SD sucks for the fact you have to use the web interface to look at your files.
i have a s625x my wife made one run in the rs200sd before we took it back and got her a s625x.
its a bit bigger but my wife weighs 95lbs and if she can deal with it i am sure you can too.
PC Coach just announced ver. 4.6 will work with the RS200 (and CS200 cyclocomputer). Upgrade is supposed to be available 12/17. Check out their newsletter for more info: http://www.mysportslog.net/Decindex.html