Item #50 in Heart Rate Monitors

Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor

Made by Polar

Sales Rank on Amazon.com: 1091

Average Review: 4.5 stars

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See more items in: Sports & Outdoors: Sports Electronics & Gadgets: Heart Rate Monitors

Amazon.com Reviews

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

The following review received 6 helpful votes out of 9 total votes:
Review Date: 2007-12-28
"Great Gift"

We bought this for our daughter for Christmas. She has a regular exercise routine and and found it to be perfect for monitoring her heart rate. She requested this because her research found it to be the best and she now agrees. 5 stars

The following review received 6 helpful votes out of 6 total votes:
Review Date: 2008-02-18
"Perfect for an organized workout!"

I recently purchased the F11 to replace my F6 after the batteries gave out. I loved the F6 and it stuck with me for two years before dying. After some research, I decided to upgrade to the F11 and couldn't be happier! Some positives:

- The upgraded WearLink chest strap is incredibly comfortable and I love that the batteries can be changed by the user rather than having to be replaced as the other straps do
- The additional software including the Keeps U Fit program and the ability to test your fitness level are great for frequent exercisers
- I like to be organized, and the F11 keeps track of it all for me: calories, when I've exercised, etc. and even displays a trophy for reaching my goals
- It pushes you: it beeps to remind you to increase your HR and you tell it your goals/fitness level and it formulates a plan: how often to exercise and for how long--couldn't be easier!
- Color. My F6 in "pink coral" faded and yellowed over time, which hasn't happened to the "blue glow"

A few negatives include:

- Bulk. The F11 wrist unit is a bit bulkier than the F6, but I suppose those additional programs have to fit somewhere!

Whether you're an advanced exerciser or stepping up light exercise, the F11 is a great motivational and tracking tool--it's certainly something I can't live without!
5 stars

The following review received 5 helpful votes out of 5 total votes:
Review Date: 2008-01-05
"Excellent Monitor"

I bought this heart rate monitor a week ago and so far I am blown away by how many features it has. It took me a couple of hours just to read through the manual! The monitor is a little difficult at first to navigate through because of all of the different features that are available. Once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze. I bought it in hopes that I would stay motivated to work out, and so far it's done its job. I am not extremely well versed in sports, and I did not want to spend a fortune on a personal trainer, so this had to suffice. After you input all your basic information, you take a test to see how fit you are. Based on that test, you can then have the monitor design a workout program for you based on your goals (to maintain, improve or maximize fitness) and time available to work out. Since this monitor tells you what kind of workout to do (meaning, what heart rate ranges you should target) and monitors your progress when you actually do it, it's flexible in what kind of workout you are doing. For example, you could be running, cycling, elliptical, jump roping, etc. because all that matters is that your heart rate is in the range. I am pretty out of shape so at first I thought I couldn't survive a 40 minute workout, for instance (the workouts have varying durations). However, because it takes into account your fitness level, I found that I was able to finish the longer workouts with a good sweat but not dying (because previously I tended to work out too hard and wear myself out 5 minutes into it). This is a great monitor for people who are starting out. The transmitter sends the info also to the machine (if it has that capability) so you can read your heart rate on the machine itself if you're working indoors. Once you're done you get a summary that includes also how many calories you burned and what percentage of those were fat. You can also customize workouts if you don't like or want to modify the ones designed for you. The OwnZone function also finds your personal best target heart rate zone rather than having generic zones. You can also pause the workout, and revisit previous workouts to track your progress. Right now as I bought it they also give you 60 days free at podfitness.com, but i haven't tried that yet. Overall, great product.

Pros: nice display, can use as watch daily when not working out, keeps track of progress, measures fitness, designs your own workouts
Cons: the alarm that beeps when you've gone outside range is not very loud at the loudest setting, so if you're using a headset with music, you have to check periodically you're still in your target zone by looking at your wrist unit. 5 stars

The following review received 4 helpful votes out of 4 total votes:
Review Date: 2008-02-21
"Wouldn't work out without it!"

I received this as a birthday present and it's a jem! I was using a regular old sports watch from Target that basically only timed me. This watch does SO much! It even gives you a fitness program, though I don't think I'll use it as I have my own. It tests your fitness level which is nice too. It keeps your heartrate and gives you a zone to work in, as well as keep count of your calories. The heart rate monitor itself fits nicely around me and is comfortable...so comfortable I forget its there and go to class with it on still! It doesn't hurt and doesn't ever budge, even during sprints. I wouldn't bother with buying the bra that goes with it, as it fits nicely under any other sports bra, at least for me. The only thing is, its doesn't have a stopwatch per say...it has a timer. The navigation through the programs, diary, etc. was tricky at first but you get used to it. I never go to the gym without it! 4 stars

The following review received 3 helpful votes out of 3 total votes:
Review Date: 2008-03-26
"Polar F11 Heart Monitor-Blue Glow"

Very happy with the heart rate moniter, calorie counter and exercise review functions. Also happy to be able to use during swim workouts, as the watch and moniter are both water resistant to 30m.
Only disappointment is the lack of a stop watch function. 4 stars