Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Grey Pepper)
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Description of Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Grey Pepper)
The world's only heart rate monitor that creates a workout program with how much, how hard and how long to exercise to reach your goals.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. Other features include:
- Displays heart rate, exercise time, and average heart rate
- Manual and automatic heart rate limit settings
- Large easy-to-read display with backlighting and split screen
- Water resistant to 30 meters (100 feet)
Manufacturer's Warranty
The original purchaser of this heart rate monitor is backed by a limited warranty that states that this product that the product will be free from defects in material or workmanship for two years from the date of purchase.
Note:
Polar heart rate monitors are precision instruments; consumers are not advised to change their own battery. Polar recommends that all service be done by an authorized Polar Service Center which will include a warranty for 90 days on repairs and 6 months for batteries.
About Polar
The first EKG accurate wireless heart rate monitor was invented by Polar back in 1977 as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. The concept of "intensity training" by heart rate swept the athletic world in the eighties. By the 1990s, individuals were looking to heart rate monitors not only for performance training needs, but also for achieving everyday fitness goals. Today, the same concept of heart rate training is being used by world-class athletes as well as everyday people trying to lose weight. Polar is the leading brand among consumers, coaches, and personal trainers worldwide and the company is committed to not only producing the best products, but also being the leading educator on the benefits of heart rate based exercise.
Sports reviews of Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Grey Pepper)
Customer Review: Great Watch
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I wasn't until I started using this watch that I realized that I was doing all my exercise wrong. Now with this watch I know I'm doing the right amount of exercise.Customer Review: great training aid
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Great training aid helps you know how much to train and how long as well as how hard, or lets you know if you are doing too much. Worth the price.Customer Review: Does what I wanted
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
When I decided to get a HRM, the decision to get a Polar was easy. The Polar syncs up with the equipment at the gym. So now I don't have to grab onto the handles and wait for the treadmill to pick up my heartrate. As soon as you start the machine it begins reading.
I suppose I could have just gotten the chest strap, but I like toys, so I got the F11 to help inspire me and track my progress. Here's what I think of it.
The strap is cheap plastic, and will probably break after putting on and removing the watch several times. Although a standard band might fit, the cheapy platic one is really mated to the watch.
Setting up the watch was reasonably straightforward. It does a VO2max test, and sets up a fitness program based on parameters you specify.
Exercises center around being in one of three heart rate zones, and records how long you spend in each of those zones.
Data can be uploaded to Polar's website, but not to any standard format. The website is also rather rudimentary and is slow and cumbersome to navigate its limited features. (you can check it out at polarpersonaltrainer dot com).
One up on the scale is the F55, whiuch seems to be more centered around weightlifting, and costs about $40 more. The F6 is one model down. I'm not sure what it lacks from the F11.
Something to consider is the battery. Some models require you to return your watch and strap to Polar for battery replacement. The battery in the F11 strap is user replaceable. The watch battery should be sent in for replacement according to Polar, but I suspect that it can be changed by the user, or at a local jeweler.
I really enjoy using a treadmill or cycle, and have it pick up my heartrate instantly. Whether or not spending $160 on getting the additional features is questionable. If you're like me though, it does help give you the inspiration to stick to an exercise program.
I am satisfied with this purchase.
Customer Review: Great Polar HRM
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I gave this 4-stars because it's pretty good, but not perfect. I've had this unit for over 3 years now and there are times when the data goes beserk. I figure it's from sweat getting into the snaps which can corrode. I noticed that after cleaning the snaps, the reliability improves. I wanted to blame the battery but after cleaning the snaps (removing the green colored corrosion) all was well. Now, I put a dab of vasaline in the snaps to help keep it clean. I wash the sweat off the snaps after each workout. The only other problem I've noticed is that when carrying the unit in a travel bag, the buttons can get pushed to activate the monitor and store bogus data. Even after using the "LOCK" feature, it can become unlocked and start recording. The fix for that is to just wear the unit while traveling. No biggie, but it does happen.
As for the "KEEP-U-FIT", I stopped using it as I felt like I wasn't getting a good workout for my condition. I workout about 5 days a week for an hour each and I believe Polar programs these things on the conservative side so that you don't over do it. Keeps lawsuits to a minimum, I guess.
I now use the manual mode where I set my own limits as it gives me the final say in my workouts. I prefer to use more advanced HR calculations instead of the "220 - your age", as it is not for everyone. All this time I've owned it, I've only had to reset it two times after it "locked-up" for some strange reason.
I like the built-in diary as I can go back later and retrieve the information for my excel spreadsheet.
Would I buy this unit again? Probably. It has all the features I need to keep track of calories, HRmax, HRavg, HR%, alarms, and workout time. My only beef is the chest strap and snaps that can corrode, causing the sender to malfunction. Regular maintenance will extend the life of the chest strap.
Customer Review: Best HR Monitor Polar Ever Made
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I had this HR monitor for about 4 years before it completely crapped out on me. It is by far the best monitor that I ever used and the best one Polar has ever made. If you wanted a basic HR that tracked your fitness then this is the only one you should have considered buying. All the features just worked the right way. There is not much more to say.
The only con is that the straps that Polar makes will not work again if you attempt to replace the battery. Over 4 years, I had to use 3 different straps to continue using this watch. I could never just replace the battery. That obviously keeps someone at Polar very rich and happy.
It is a shame they stopped making these and re-re-re-engineering new (and progressively worse) watches as this watch did it all. Polar could have just continued to mass produce this single model and they would have cornered the entire HR monitor market. All the other Polar watches that were suppose to replace this model which includes the entire F-series are absolute garbage. But, redesigning their products every year keeps someone employed there at Polar I guess.
A word of caution, I would not buy this unit from any retailer or Amazon. If you do then you will probably get it with a bad battery and then you will have to buy a new strap as well. I bought mine nearly 4 years ago and I cannot imagine that buying any that are still out there would have batteries in them that work.
The closest unit on the market that Polar makes currently is the CS300 which has a lot of cycling functions that you may never use but still pay for. It does everything that this watch does. I have only had mine a couple of weeks so time will tell if it is as reliable as this one.