My background: running since 1985, 8 yrs of XC, 9 marathons. I've been using HRM's for training for years and have tried Nike, Polar, Freestyle and Timex HRM's. I was intrigued by the buzz this watch was getting in some of the running and outdoors magazines, so I picked up the T4. Here are my thoughts:

1. The band looks cool, but that cool white stripe is grey and dingy two months later. It also constantly slips and requires readjustment. Nylon bands also get wet and stay wet until you take them off...a pain if you wear your watch all the time like me.

2. The crystal is not recessed/does not have a rubber buffer around it...as is typical on most running watches. This means the crystal is unprotected and the face is more scratched after two months than many of my older watches.

3. The "coach" function is neat, but it's not that much of a revelation really...probably some simple algorythm that comes up with a training progress rate based on how long you're working out at what heart rate. Good for a beginner, but nothing a serious athlete can't figure out on his/her own based on the principles of HRM training.

4. The HRM itself has been inconsistent...on my last several runs the HR reading has been way below where it should be (ie 90 when it should be at 130...) then, out of the blue, it pops up to a more reasonable reading. Then it freezes without explanation. Not something you want to deal with during an interval workout or hard run where your pace/HR matters.

5. After years of mostly Nike and Timex, it just isn't intuitive or easy to use. The menus are hard to navigate on the fly. This is my fault though, I guess I need to try harder.

6. The split display when the chrono is on is cool...you can choose between a variety of displays: calories burned, HR, time since last split, average heart rate, etc. My only beef with this is that if you stop during a split, and then restart, it shows you your time since you restarted, it doesn't keep tracking your split time. Kind of inconvenient when in the middle of an interval.

Anyway, for what it's worth, those are my thoughts. Nike remains probably the best for running features, although I've had reliability problems with Nike (short battery life and cheap bands), Timex is probably the most reliable for the bucks. I just don't think this one was worth the price tag. On race day I'll probably break out an older, more reliable HRM. 3 stars

This monitor DOES indeed do what the manual says it will do. That is, it monitors heart rate and provides "training effect" information. However, I note 3 problems w/ it that cause me to recommend my previous brand - Polar- over the Suunto. First, because the monitor is not the least bit intuitive in its operation, the manual needs to be much more detailed. I'm pretty saavy w/ monitors and can program most w/o even consulting the manual. I can't even operate this one w/o continual reference to the manual. I end up delaying my training by 5 minutes or more just to get the monitor ready to go. Second, the monitor loses the heart rate signal more than any other monitor I've ever owned. I've replaced the batteries and still, it cuts in and out both inside and outside. Since the monitor is supposed to track your training via heart rate and time in various training zones, this interruption is frustrating and undercuts the whole point of this monitor. Lastly, the monitor is capable of interfacing with various add-ons such as a "foot pod" and a "bike pod." That's fine if one wants to purchase and utilize those add-ons. But, the menu on the monitor should permit you to delete those fields for which you have NOT added the extra apparatus so that when you scroll through you don't have to click past 3 blank fields for which you have no use. A minor point, I know, but it contributes to an already cluttered menu arrangement. 3 stars

This is a great training tool. The post exercise information is very, data by log, week and month and the coach is a very nice training tool. I just believe that suunto could invest in a better strap and general device materials. Making long history short this is a better option to T6 and even better than S625x if you are looking for a daily training tool. 4 stars

I got this watch approximately one week ago. The coach function, which is probably the reason you are looking at it, is fairly nice, although I've only used it about 3 times. It seems to be a fairly good read of your current capacity, although for me it was too easy to exceed what it asked for (as I am in fairly bad shape, and even low intensity exercise shot my heart rate way up... of course this is not the watches fault). I expect that with time, it will help me improve in a better fashion than if i did not have this tool, will post an update in a few weeks/months.

The watch interface is fairly simple, although it does have all the basic functions necessary. Its got the normal time, dual time, alarm clock, day, date display (it only shows the time and one other thing at a time),and the alarm clock has a snooze function, which I had never seen on a wristwatch. It does not have all the extra functions that Suunto's normally do(altimeter, compass, barometer), but this is not expected, as this is geared towards fitness.

As for heart rate belt reception, I have not had a dropped signal in any use. When I first got it and tried it, the signal kept dropping, but after reading the instructions, and placing a small amount of water on the electrodes,this problem disappeared.

The watch has a slightly steep learning curve, as there's 3 different training measures that it uses (activity class, program level, and training effect), but again, after reading the instructions, it became clear what these mean and how they work (TE is the main workout measurement, the others are set up at the beginning, and you don't have to modify them or monitor them on a day to day basis). Again, I have had it for a week, and have been using it effectively, so the learning curve is manageable.

As other people have mentioned, the materials the watch is made out of are not necessarily the best, specially considering the acrylic vs crystal face, and the band, as I would have preferred an elastomer one(easy to fix with 19 USD). Nonetheless, it does not look bad.

In conclusion, its a nice enough watch with some very nice fitness functions, and at a very good price. I definitely recommend it.

AN UPDATE A FEW MONTHS LATER:

My only complaint is the band. I like the way it looks, but I have to adjust it about once or twice a day. Will definitely get the elastomer strap.

Coach function has helped! 4 stars

Having been a serious triathlete who has used heart rate monitors for the past 10 years, I was excited about the description of this product. When I opened the box, I was immediately disappointed in its appearance. It looks like an incredibly cheap watch that you would buy at a dime store. The watch itself looks like it would break apart with any jarring, and the watch band is nothing more than a ribbon that is adjusted by pulling it through a flimsy bracket attached to the watch. This causes the "end" of the band to stick out when the watch is on. I did not use it once, put it back in the box, and am sending it back. It may work just fine, but I'm not going to pay this kind of money for a heart rate monitor that looks like something you got out of a vending machine. Pathetic. 1 star