What Is So Great About a Polar Heart Rate Monitor?

Polar brand heart rate monitors come in several models with a wide range of prices and features, and they often earn praise in reviews and comparisons. Polar is the oldest and most popular maker of heart rate monitors, or HRMs. To understand what is so great about them, you need to know the basics of heart rate monitors and what features to look for when choosing one.

  1. Purpose

    • Heart rate monitors track your pulse as you exercise so you can get an effective aerobic workout. You should maintain your heart rate in the ideal zone for at least 20 minutes, and keep your heart rate between 55 percent and 65 percent of your maximum heart rate. The general formula is 220 minus your age, but a professional trainer is best to help you determine your maximum heart rate.

    History

    • Heart rate monitors were developed by Polar Electro in 1977 to train Olympic skiers, and they were soon adopted in many sports. They usually had a strap worn around the chest, and a monitor worn on the wrist. They were very expensive.

      Polar HRMs were developed for consumers in 1981 as the first EKG-accurate wireless monitor. Today many manufacturers offer a variety of HRMs, ranging from $35 to $350, with many features.

    Considerations

    • Reviewers agree that an HRM should be accurate, lightweight and comfortable. Operation should be intuitive and easy with one or two fingers, and the display should be easy to read.

      Pulse monitors that require no chest strap are popular, but monitors with a strap are considered more accurate. The monitor should have zone alarms and alerts to keep you at your optimal heart rate. A model that can connect to your computer to print or analyze results is very useful, although expensive.

    Reviews

    • From Runner's World to Consumer Reports, reviewers agree that Polar makes high-quality HRMs. For example, the Polar F11 ($160) has the "Keeps U Fit" program, which can be personalized to your needs. It uses a coded transmitter to block interference from other devices, and it will track heart rate, exercise time, and average heart rate. It is lightweight and keeps working 100 feet underwater. It also connects to the Internet to let you track your progress.

    Conclusion

    • Though there are many excellent heart rate monitors on the market, Polar Electro continues to be a leader in innovation, according to reviewers. Its lineup offers all the features reviewers recommend, with or without strap, in a wide variety of prices and features.

    Expert Insight

    • Greg Crowther, a research scientist at the University of Washington, says that keeping track of your heart rate during exercise is a good way to make sure you are exercising at the right intensity for maximum benefit. However, "Tracking your heart rate is of limited strategic value unless you have enough background knowledge to understand the numbers that your monitor spits out."