Polar F11 fitness trainer...anyone have ones? thoughts?

External Since: Sep 05, 2005 Posts: 3

Hi,

Just wondering how legitimate and accurate this product is. I've had
it for several months and it looks great and "says the right things" (I
do bust my ass in the gym, though) but like all electronic devices I
question them.

I'll stop here in case nobody has one of these Smile

External Since: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 187

fatness trainer wrote:
> Re: Polar F11 fitness trainer...
> Just wondering how legitimate and accurate this product is. I've had
> it for several months and it looks great and "says the right things" (I
> do bust my ass in the gym, though) but like all electronic devices I
> question them.

Depends on what you're asking to be accurate.

I believe it accurately measures and reports your
heart rate. (Although I suspect it is a moving
average over 5 sec, not an instanteous value. IMHO,
that's a good thing.) Generally, I believe that HRMs
that use a chest strap measure HR more accurately
than other methods.

Caveat: Devices that rely on wireless transmission
can be affected adversely by electromagnetic interference.
Also, inaccurate measurements can result if the
electrodes are not sufficiently moist.

However, no device of that type can accurately
determine MHR, VO2max or calories burned, much less
%fat burned. They rely on statistical data, based
on your inputs. The statistical data have wide
margins of statistical error. One HRM manufacturer
said +/-30%.

Note: If you can set the MHR and/or VO2max manually,
and if you determined them in an "accurate" manner,
of course %MHR will be accurate.

As for the built-in training programs, well, take
them with a huge grain of salt. First, since MHR is
inaccurate, the training zones based on %MHR are
inaccurate. Second, no one training program can fit
everyone. (Nor can the 3 offered by the Polar F11.)

But that is not to trash the entire concept. The
training programs might be a good starting point, as
long as you can set the MHR manually.

I now yield the floor to those who will preach their
anti-HRM mantra. Personally, I think an HRM is useful.