Heart Monitor Reviews – Polar FT7
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Heart monitor reviews for the new Polar FT7 are starting to pop up now to the delight of consumers who want to know what this new model is going to offer. Since the FT7 is a great updated version of the similar F6 model, many users will be reading these heart monitor reviews with a serious consideration toward trading their current model in for something better. If you are just starting out with fitness goals or want a better way to monitor your progress, this could be the heart rate monitor for you!
Polar FT7: What's New?
What makes the Polar FT7 really stand apart from other models currently on the market is the new feature called EnergyPointer. This feature actually tells you whether you are burning fat during each part of your workout, or if you have started to make actual improvements in your level of physical fitness.
This is a great feature for anyone trying to lose weight or who wants to train for an upcoming race or other competitive event. Knowing that you are burning tons of fat and making real progress in terms of your fitness level is more than enough motivation to keep you going during intense workout sessions.
Polar FT7: The Watch
The actual watch itself is very similar to other models, coming with a detailed display including the date, time, and low battery indicator. It includes a timer and calendar and will display information in 8 different languages. The back lit console ensures you can see the data perfectly in all types of lighting and it is waterproof up to 50 meters, which is more than enough for working out in the rain or handling sweat.
During a workout, the watch tracks the time and allows you to either manually program your heart rate goals or go with automatic settings. There is an alert when you are within or exceed that designated heart rate zone.
More important is the OwnCal feature, which tracks how many calories are being burned during the workout. This information is saved along with the other data in a dated file and information can be compared between files over time. The watch will store up to 99 workout files at a time. You can even set personal goals for how many calories you would like to burn and have the Polar FT7 watch monitor your progress.
Polar FT7: The Transmitter
Another improvement on this model is the comfortable chest strap, which has been coded to reduce the amount of cross talk with other devices. The battery in the chest strap and the watch can be changed easily without sending it in to Polar.
The best thing about the Polar FT7 is the ability to track your progress in so many ways. You can compare those stored files right in the watch, you can monitor your personal calorie burn goals, and you can even use the online diary to store even more details about your progress over time. For anyone just starting on fitness goals, preparing for a race or other event, or simply trying to lose weight, all of this tracking is essential to keeping up motivation and making sure results are going to be seen.
The Polar FT7 will also come with a 2-year warranty on both the watch and the chest strap transmitter.
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Comments on Heart Monitor Reviews – Polar FT7
I bought the FT7 a week ago. It came within 24 hours as promised. After figuring out how to set it ( thanks son!!) , I can't tell you how much I am enjoying it. The challenge of trying to keep my heart rate up while knowing how much I'm burning calories and fat , is making me work harder than ever. The summary feature has also allowed me to set goals that I can track without using pen and paper. I would recommend this product in a heart beat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can I record 24hrs of heart rate data with this watch, and then transmit this information to my computer?
I'm trying to find a watch that can do this.
I got my FT7 a week ago and so far really like it! I'm able to see when I need to step up my pace during walking to stay in my target heart rate zone. I was surprised to see how much my heart rate and calorie burn increased when going up even modest inclines, even though the increase was imperceptable. I've also been watching calorie burn when doing outside yard work. It was interesting to see that I burned about 250 calories doing an hour of fairly light work in the yard – much better than what I'd burn with an hour in front of the TV! Also, the Life Fitness brand treadmills at my gym picked up the transmission and displayed my heart rate without my having to hold onto the treadmill's sensors. I purchased mine directly from polarusa.com. I called their toll free # and got a price match with a lower price I'd seen on another website. This HRM gets a thumbs up from me!
I don't understand how you are supposed to know if you are loosing weight or not if the watch doens't sound the alarm when your heart beat is below minimum to loose weight. The ft7 will only sound the alarm when you pass your maximun heart rate level. So actually you never know when you are in your proper zone. How I'm supposed to use it?I had the f6 and i changed for this one, but i totally regret it…help here!
I just got the FT7. It's a replacement for the F6 I lost. I'm so bummed out. The FT7 looks cheap and the buttons are so uncomfortable. I can't believe I have to wet the electrode part of the strap in order for it to read. I miss my F6. I'm thinking of returning this. Anyone have the same problem?
The polar ft7 is a peice of crap.I bought one along with three fitness straps and it is pretty much useless if you run outdoors. It is lesss than a year old and it is so sensetive to interference that it malfunctions more than it works. I recently bought a garmin forerunner and used it on the same routes at the same times and it preformes flawlessly
Just so you know, I had the same problem when using my new FT7. I bought it on my sister's recommendation, and she was able to clue me in to a priceless bit of info. This computer is actually much more capable than you would think from scrolling through it's menu. You have to read the extended version of the manual. (download it free from Polar's web site) Several of the useful features are a bit hidden so you have to read the manual to know how to activate them.
Thanks Michael for that. We really appreciate it alot. The Polear FT& truly is a wonderful heart rate monitor watch.
hey all, i bought the ft7 a few months ago and i havnt had a problem at all. i train with weights mostly for my cardio sessions and i feel that the ft7 has aided me in all areas of my fitness and endurance!!!! This little gadget has given me a better understanding of my limits n how far my body is prepared to go. As for people moaning about having to wet the electrodes dont let little glitches like that put u off,it hasnt happened to me yet so id give this bit of kit a 9/10. u could do alot worse for ur money.
Just to shed a light on some of these questions comments…when you purchase a heart rate monitor, the goal is to find one that is accurate, thats it! Unless you.are going to spend $300+ on a p rate monitor, don't plan on any of its "gadgets" to be entirely accurate. As far as whether or not you know if your losing weight (fat) or mot well thats easy, and no a heart rate monitor wont tell you if you are or not. There are formulas out there that will help you find your max heart rate based on age thay are great estimates used for training. Once you know your max heart rate the rest is easy. The best hr range for fat burning is 50-60% of your max hr. Anything above that will start burning muscle for energy…there are plenty of
articles out there on the topic, just do some research. Like I said as far as hr monitors go, you just need one that will give you an accurate hr. Once you know the best range for you to exercise in, the rest is up to you…..
Burning muscle for energy Jeromy? Do you mean carbohydrates are your source of energy??? Besides staying a a rate of 50-60% is so backdated and silly when you consider that you burn way more calories at a higher level. At the end of the day, it's all about energy in/energy out. So be careful what you read!