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Item 806916
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 8 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-8
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
I use this heart rate monitor mostly in the gym on the treadmill and the elliptical trainer. The transmitter is compatible with Precor equipment and probably other exercise equipment as well.
The device is as basic as it gets. Setup is fairly simple (doesn't take more than 5 minutes) and operation is very easy too. Usually it takes one button push to start the watch monitor and another push of the same button to stop. You can cycle through the different watch displays by repeatedly holding the watch close to the chest band transmitter.
The device has exactly one heart rate zone and this, I believe, is just fine for most people.
The build quality of both the watch and the transmitter is good. Especially the transmitter looks like it is build to withstand a bit of tossing around in the gym bag etc.
In summary. The FT1 is a reliable albeit basic heart rate monitor that is compatible with Precor exercise machines.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
I searched far and wide for understanding the differences between the FT1, FT2, FT4 and various other sub-$100 Polar monitors. I wrote an article over on [@]. Basically the FT2 (over the FT1) includes automated heart range for your age for the extra $'s. The FT4 adds more like a self-replaceable battery and calorie counting.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
I bought this looking for a basic unit for spin classes. It was replacing a cheap off-brand hrm I'd bought at performance bike a couple years ago, which was mediocre but worked well enough for me to keep it until it broke.
I thought i was upgrading by going with a polar unit, albeit the entry level model. Not so. It couldn't hold on to the signal from the chest strap, and would more often than not being showing wildly impossible hr data, and lacked basic features like showing hr as a percentage of max.
The Chest strap was painful to wear, with several pinch points. The only good thing i'd say about the product was that the watch itself was comfortable.
Awkward user interface. Sometimes i'd look at it in the middle of a workout and all the screen would say is "OK?". As a matter of fact Polar FT1, it is NOT OK. You are going back to REI.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
This is a basic unit that does primarily two things, monitors your heart rate or tells time. And I for one am happy with that.
I purchased a more expensive monitor originally from REI but I could not get it to work at all. It was one of those fancy ones that is so complicated it forces you to carry the owner's manual with you everywhere you go. Forget it! Thats not for me.
This Polar takes about five minutes to set up and your off. In fairness I must say this unit does give a false reading sometimes. It seems to pickup something on my bike occasionally (like the wheelspin at a certain speed or something) and the result is an obvious false reading. However it recalibrates itself fairly quickly and returns to an accurate reading after a few seconds.
Bottom line is this product does the job and you can't beat the price. The more expensive ones have more features but if you read the reviews they often have a few problems as well.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
This does exactly what I need it to do - it shows my heart rate. I don't need zones or estimated calories burnt, I just want to see my HR. It does that quite well.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
I borrowed a friend's heart rate monitor to see if I wanted to buy one. The borrowed monitor had lots of bells and whistles, and required a very careful study of the manual to set it up. Even then, I could not get it to work properly. I decided simple was the way to go. This unit is super easy. One glance at the set-up diagram in the manual and I was good to go. Be sure to moisten the sensors on the chest strap or you will lose the signal. An unexpected benefit: it is compatible with the treadmill heart rate monitor in my gym. I also use it in my fitness classes to make sure I stay in my training zone -- that's exactly what I wanted a heart-rate monitor to do. One star off because the wrist band is hard to manipulate. But I have tiny wrists, so that could be the problem.
Pros
Cons
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Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
I've used a Polar HRM before and liked it until it finally died. Since I only use the monitor for spinning, I decided to try the inexpensive FT1. I've used it 4 times and decided that it's worthless. The received unit is supposed to pick up the sending signal for up to 1 meter. But, it won't pick up the signal if I mount it to the handlebar. Also, I get widely erratic readouts that can't possible be right. I'm on my way back to the store now to return this unit.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Polar FT1 Heart Rate Monitor - Men's:
I think this is a fine product for the price and features. It's not a high-end monitor but a simple way to keep track of your heart rate as you work out. The chest strap fits well and I have never had a problem with it's synch to the watch. The rate monitor changes quickly depending on activity. The one feature I would like is to be able to save multiple work out sessions. The read out is pleasantly simple and large enough to see without squinting.
Displaying reviews 1-8
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