Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Heart Rate Monitors - Opinons needed!

Good Afternoon,
My lovely finacee wants a HRM, and I've been researching them. Currently Nashbar has the Polar M32 for $90, and a Polar F6 bundled with a Nashbar wireless bike computer for $109. Obviously I'm leaning toward the latter :).

Anyway, I can't find enough difference between the two to make a good decision. I want to get what is best for her, she likes to treadmill and do group workouts at the Y, so I'm going for the "bang for the buck" here.

Please help!! :)

Wireless bike computers can get interference with wires - though I don't know anything about those in particular.

I have used a Polar F6 for a year in conjunction with a Cateye CD300DW wireless cyclocomputer. They work well together and do not interfere with each other. The Polar has a coded transmitter which is supposed to keep it from interfering with any wireless unit. I don't know how well it works with the Nashbar wireless.

I have noticed some limited interference with the Cateye from electric fence transformers, large power lines, aircraft and CB radios. The Polar units (I also have a Polar CS200) seem much less vulnerable to outside electromagnetic/radio interference.

For use off the bike, the Polar F6 is a nice choice. I use it at the gym and the transmitters (both the T-31 and Wearlink) work with most of the machines that have integral HRM's, such as Precor elliptical trainers.

I use the Polar CS200 with cadence on the bike and the Polar F11 when I'm at the gym or in spinning class. As Dogbait said, the CS200 has few interference problems.

I have a cs200 and love it .. just wish i could wear it on my wrist. .. I would of gotten the wrist model if I known that I would want to wear it more. been trying to figure my cal burn for a avg day. I am a industral athleate and might walk in excess of 2 to 3 miles a day with gear / tools. no interference problems but when the batteries get low on your chest strap you will get erratic hr and high hr.

computer download is nice somtimes the getting the mic set up right can give you issues.
dont get it wet .. bag it if its raining
the download tone went out in it once under warrenty

KB

I picked up the cheapest Polar at Nashbar at clearance prices. Wife likes it more for the Health club then the bike, all the machines at Bally's have a "Polar" ready icon labeled on them. Wearing just the sensor all the machines read the HR just fine. Great for Zone training in the Winter months.

Hi,
I have 3 HRM, and this may be my favorite.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22577&subcategory_ID=4115

You set it up, and then just turn it on. It is really easy to use. It tells you what zone you are in, and you can set it to beep if you go outside that zone.

I was looking for a cheaper price and found this review
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/default.asp?pg=fullstory&id=2748

+1. I've used the Sports Instruments Fit 3 for over a year and I love it. As stated above it is very easy to use and I've never had any interference issues with any of mine Cateye wireless computers. The Fit 3 is abour $50 cheaper than the comparable Polar model.

Thanks for the recs! She really wanted the polar, and I really wanted a computer for my new ride so.. the F6 it is. Seems like a ridiculously nice HRM, has more features than I can sum up.

And.. the Fit 3 has made my personal "must buy" list. That F6 is stupid cool, but the Fit 3 would be more akin to biking.

The Garmin 305 Edge is the best on the market--you can get it with H/R monitor and/or Cadense sensor. You can also by an extra Cadense senor for another bike and it take about 10 seconds to swap it from one bike to another.

Garmin Co. (LIVE) tech support is easy to reach if necessary.
Great PRE_SALES explanation and best prices from Jay at http://www.geomangear.com/

I love mine..........

Computer works in car due to GPS cpabilities and I'm sure a strap could be fitted for your wrist while running.

Had been having problems with interference between my Cateye CD300DW wireless and Polar S150. Based on this discussion I purchased a Fit 3 the other day rather than the Polar F6 I was planning to try. Works perfect with no interference. No reason to spend the extra $60 for the Polar. Great suggestion.