Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch
Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch
The Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor is the world’s only heart rate monitor that creates a workout program to tell you how much, how hard and how long to exercise to reach your goals. This powerful wrist monitor provides a highly accurate gauge for getting the most from your exercise sessions. The Polar Keeps U Fit Workout Program gives you personal guidance–how often, how hard, and how long you need to exercise to reach your personal fitness goals. It also includes a free-of-charge online component.
The wristwatch-like monitor features a large display that includes 12/24-hour time of day, alarm, and stopwatch. The transmitter includes the Wearlink Coded function, which eliminates interference from other heart rate monitors. The transmitter’s electrodes, which pick up the heart signals, are integrated right into the strap for added flexibility and comfort.
The OwnCal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. It also allows you to set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure. The Fitness Bullets feature shows a bullet on the monitor’s display for every 10 minutes spent exercising/training in your target heart rate zone. The Coded feature eliminates interference from other heart rate monitors.
Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch Reviews
I’ve owned three other monitors, one of them a Polar (which I liked), and this one is the tops.
This is why I gave it five stars:
- It has an easy-to-read display.
- The instructions were extremely clear.
- It can automatically calculate, if you want it to, your target range based on your birthdate.
- It has a weekly status that gives you the total number of calories burned, and the total exercise time for that week.
- There is also a fitness progress report, which shows your improvement, via a chart, over time. Unfortunately, I ignored the first few opportunities to take the quick fitness test, so my report is just recently starting.
- The strap is much more comfortable than the previous Polar monitor’s.
I think this is an excellent “mid-range” monitor.
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The two previous reviews do an admirable job. If you’re considering this heart rate monitor, read them. I do, however, have a couple of additional points.
First, this device isn’t a personal trainer. There’s nutrition, motivation, and a slew of other things a personal trainer does for you. Even on the purely cardio side of exercise, a personal trainer educates you on form, safety, etc. I imagine plenty of personal trainers will encourage their employers to get such a device. It lets you exercise to a specific level rather than guessing: are you really babying yourself, are you trying to kill yourself? (And for the record, I’m not a big fan of personal trainers, but nor do I have anything against them.)
Second, this device isn’t simple. I’m not saying it’s rocket science. I’m rather technical and I’m confident that there are plenty of people out there that simply aren’t going to want/be able to figure this baby out. If you have a hard time with your digital thermostat or VCR, this may be take more effort than you’re willing dedicate. Luckily, the good people at PolarUSA have the manual posted on their website. Have a read. Make an informed decision.
Just so no one thinks I’m hesitant on this product, I think it’s great. Personally, I don’t foresee ever doing a long term cardio program without this thing (or something just like it). From my research and experience, Polar and the F11 are tops.
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This one can’t be beat for the reasonable price tag. I researched heart rate monitors for over a week on the Internet, as I do with most things. Though, this one comes with more bells & whistle that I can grow into it, I found myself using most of the features already. I just got this last night at the Sports Authority. (…)
I’m generally not a direction reader…I prefer to figure things out for myself. I was hoping this model wasn’t too complicated to set up – per another reader’s comment. This handy tool, in my opinion, is NOT complicated at all. Yes, I did refer to the manual which I must agree was/is very helpful. I learned from just using this one day that I was exercising out of my targeted rate. Once this is programmed with your info, it will keep you right where your heart rate should be via a beep if too high or low. Love that! It has so many other great, useful features too.
This is my first HRM, and though I like the best of things, I took many thoughts into consideration after talking to various customer service people at different Internet stores. I was gonna get the F6, but thought the program feature along with the other sophisticated features on the F11 would ultimately be advantageous in the long run. I didn’t even have to wait for the long run. I just love this fun watch.
The Polar is #1 in HRM – that’s what they do! You will pay more, but it will last much longer than the other brands from what I’m told after speaking to many people. I almost bought the Nike Imara which has a nicer look than this Polar F11, but decided to stick with the people who specialize in one thing…not several, and have been doing it for YEARS.
The chest strap is so comfy, you don’t even know you’re wearing it. Much better than the Polar transmitter strap that came with my 9 year old treadmill.
My advice: if you’re looking for a step up from the ordinary HRM with more Uncomplicated features, this one’s a sure bet. This is a large watch, but for everything it provides, size just doesn’t matter in this case, though it can be worn as an everyday watch. Did I say how much I love this watch? Go get one. 