Ok …here is my dilemna …
I have a bit of disposable income to play with and want a new heart rate monitor.
Which one? Both have their plusses and minuses.
Matt LaPointe
Depends on what you want to do. I have both a Polar s710i and a Timex Speed and Distance System. Personally, I prefer the Polar, having HR, speed, and altitude is awesome. I’ll wear both on runs to get mile splits. I think the Polar is better for biking, while the S & D is better for running. I only use the S & d for distance measurements, the pace function bounces around too much to be useful. The Polar software is great, I use it to log all my workouts, and being able to download data from most of my workouts means that they get logged.
I’m not sure what the features are that you really like in the S720i, although, I’m assuming they are the cycling features (e.g., cadence sensor, speed sensor, power sensor, etc.).
Seems to me that the power sensor would be the only reason why anyone would buy this monitor over a monitor that doesn’t have bike functions (e.g., the S610i). However, from everything I’ve read in this board, the power sensor is marginal, at best. And a separate bike computer, which will give you the speed and candence detection, doesn’t have to be expensive.
OTOH, the Timex S&D system gives you real time S&D measurements (which Polar does not), but IMO, the HRM functionality isn’t as good as Polar. Also, no bike functionality (although, as stated above, I don’t find that to be a huge deal).
My solution:
I have the S610i, which has most of the functions of the S720i (excluding bike functions), and I love it. I like the idea of adding speed and distance measurement, but I don’t want another watch, a GPS unit and a data recorder, and I like the Polar HRM function better than Timex, so I don’t want to give up my Polar HRM.
What to do?
I just read about a new GPS-based S&D monitor from Garmin (The Forerunner 201). Not a lot of info on its field performance, but it has a couple of advantages (IMO) over the Timex unit, at least for my situation.
It fits the GPS and monitor unit onto a single unit (smaller than Timex GPS) that attaches to your wrist (no additional watch and a smaller unit). It has built-in data storage and can transfer data to computer for analysis (no separate Data Recorder). Using this, I can monitor S&D, but use my Polar HRM and not add a lot more components to my body.
Just ordered it today. I’ll post a “review” after I’ve had a chance to test it out.
→ Steve
get a Powertap Pro for the bike and the Timex S + D for running. … and caviar for post race…
The nice thing about having cycling functions on the Polar is that it is recorded along with HR and (for the s710 & s720) altitude. Being able to download and analyze this data after a workout or race is fantastic.
Not a big deal if you live where it’s flat, but here in SoCal an altimeter is extremely valuable (either when running or on the bike).
Given the choice, I’ll take the Polar’s training time, HR, and total elevation gain (+ distance if you’re on a bike) over the Timex’s training time, HR and running or biking distance.
I have use them both… and, I prefer the the Timex BodyLink system… it’s module and upgradeable qualities seems to make the most logical way to approach the recent attempts at a truely universal wireless system.
The Polar has distinct advantage when it comes to the HRM. However, it is it not universally useful for both the bike and run. From that standpoint the Timex BodyLink system is better. The fact that the new Garmin is totally waterproof and smaller only indicates that the Timex will match that technology in the near future. Not only that, it’s also very likely that the Timex will upgrade it HRM as well. The good news is that you would only need to buy that part which you would like to (or afford to) upgrade - HRM or S+D.
From a general standpoint, I see the Timex as a wireless product that has a future. Unfortunately, I believe the Polar wireless products lack the upgradeability and not as universally useful (i.e., usefull for both bike and run) aspects that the Timex Bodylink sytem. But for now, the Polar HRM does have better and more functions than the Timex. But, that’s about it.
For my money, I’m betting on the Timex BodyLinks system to be wireless system benchmark for the future (specially when it offers more and better options).
Polar is very good… but, the Timex is better with a good possibility of becoming much better.
FWIW Joe Moya