I am a student and as such have little to no extra money to spend. Can someone point me to a site or store with VERY cheap heart rate monitors?
I need no fancy extras, just a monitor that hopefully gives a readout of the beats per minute every 15-30 seconds or so. Cheap is the operative word. I need to keep the easy runs easier than they have been in the past. Injury will teach one prudence if nothing else.
Thanks for the help.
I recall a Consumer's Digest test (or similar) found the BikeNashbar house brands were as good as the more expensive name brands.
There's actually a Polar Beat model (just HR, what you asked about) there for $29 right now.
I agree wholeheartedly. I originally got the nashbar for around $79.00 maybe four years ago. That was pretty much the cheapest they had then. I would not get one of the cheaper versions that they have at WalMart for fear of interference. For the same price you can a better one through Nashbar, they have been in the business long enough and know the sporting customer well enough to continue to deliver a good product. Also I am pretty certain that you can get the same functionality for maybe half the price. Probably the 1200 model is the level of the one that I purchased. I have subsequently purchased a Polar (I have given my simpler older model to my daughter who runs now). Truth is I think I liked the the Nashbar more..just plane Jane. Really all I need is the average heart rate, the profile (rate recorded versus time - kind of nice to see what kind of an effort I was putting in in a given race). Most of the other features are merely a distraction for those who really don't want to run anyway!
You need a hr monitor that is digital so it doesn't pick up interference. Usually monitors under $80 are analog and don't filter worth a shit. I'm not entirely sure but I think all of Polars monitors are digital as are Nike's.
Not a very smart student if you "need" a HRM.
just slow down wrote:
Not a very smart student if you "need" a HRM.
Lay off man, some people have trouble going easy. At least this guy is identifying the problem and trying to correct it.
Question about interference: In what area will this sort of thing screw up a HRM?
For instance, if I run in a park or on a track without any apparent radio towers nearby, will my HRM give me faulty data? Also, how much does interference mess it up?
Runner Boy wrote:
You need a hr monitor that is digital so it doesn't pick up interference. Usually monitors under $80 are analog and don't filter worth a shit. I'm not entirely sure but I think all of Polars monitors are digital as are Nike's.
Polar monitors are not digital and have horrible sensitivity to interference. The only thing they tolerate somewhat acceptably is interference from another polar.
Timex has some of the best, basic, cheap monitors. All use the same exact digital technology used in their top end time+distance models. It is the only monitor I have used that actually works while on treadmills 100% of time and does not read weird values when going under power lines and other problem areas. They even look like regular watches so you can wear them all the time without someone saying "Hey, is that a heart rate monitor? Are you a runner? How many miles a week do you run? How fast can you run a mile?".
What is strange is that timex offers an HRM with no lap memory for as low as 40 bucks but charges another 30 just to get 50 lap memory. Seems to me that the memory is the cheap part and should probably be on all watches. If you want lap memory read carefully. Timex has 100 lap models that ONLY COUNT LAPS. It has to say LAP MEMORY.
sundog wrote:
Polar monitors are not digital and have horrible sensitivity to interference. The only thing they tolerate somewhat acceptably is interference from another polar.
Timex has some of the best, basic, cheap monitors. All use the same exact digital technology used in their top end time+distance models. It is the only monitor I have used that actually works while on treadmills 100% of time and does not read weird values when going under power lines and other problem areas. They even look like regular watches so you can wear them all the time without someone saying "Hey, is that a heart rate monitor? Are you a runner? How many miles a week do you run? How fast can you run a mile?".
What is strange is that timex offers an HRM with no lap memory for as low as 40 bucks but charges another 30 just to get 50 lap memory. Seems to me that the memory is the cheap part and should probably be on all watches. If you want lap memory read carefully. Timex has 100 lap models that ONLY COUNT LAPS. It has to say LAP MEMORY.
Do you have a link for the monitor you mentioned above? Thanks.
Main Page:
Look for this one on sale (google search). I am sure you can find it (or similar) for 40 bucks.
Hmmm, looks like there was another thread on this topic today...
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=947999&thread=947988
Sorry, you're right Timex, not Polar, are digital.
Non-digital models really get whacked out by things like Invisible Fence dog containments systems - when I used to wear a Polar running by yards w/ an IF, the HR would shoo up to 250+.
I've been using a Nike unit for the past 2 yrs and it works great. What's particularly nice is that the battery, in both the watch and transmitter, can be replaced by the user, unlike the sealed Polar chest straps - when they go, they're done.
Don't know about Timex, etc.
JimG wrote:
Non-digital models really get whacked out by things like Invisible Fence dog containments systems - when I used to wear a Polar running by yards w/ an IF, the HR would shoo up to 250+.
I've been using a Nike unit for the past 2 yrs and it works great. What's particularly nice is that the battery, in both the watch and transmitter, can be replaced by the user, unlike the sealed Polar chest straps - when they go, they're done.
Don't know about Timex, etc.
Timex batteries are easily replaced by user.
JOnnyBigOne wrote:
Timex batteries are easily replaced by user.
Nice. Timex gets a lot of credit for being a user-friendly company, for sure, and making good, dependable products.
JimG, how much did your Nike HRM cost? Thanks for the help.
Any opionions on the timex T54 on sale at nashbar. Looks like the cheapest timex out there. I want to know if it is a piece of shit.
Here is the link:
HRM wrote:
JimG, how much did your Nike HRM cost? Thanks for the help.
The Triax C8 has a MSRP of $119 - I imagine you could find it a lot cheaper.
I know Nike watches get trashed on this board all the time, but I've had basically good luck w/ all the models I've had. Of course, maybe they send reviewers models from a "special high quality" batch ;-)
I run a warranty department for a large company and I have a little of advice for buying a HRM. 1.) Don't expect the thing to work all the time. 2.) Don't bother with the ones that download everything to the computer. 3.) Keep the little bugger as far away from your pc as possible. 4.) Stay as far away from cellphones as much as possible.
5.) We sell a ton of these things a month and in reality it is a luck of the draw type of purchase, but if push came to shove I would have to go with the Polar A3 for having the least amount of claims on.