Running Watch Reviews » Heart Watch

How A Running Watch Can Help You Train

micoruiz — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:46:05 +0000

A lot of people seemed to become caught up in the fitness trend. Nowadays, it would not be uncommon for you to be able to see people who are running, or doing other forms of physical activities.

However, not everyone is really on board spending much money in the equipment for improving their training. This is especially true, for running and running watches. Many runners, especially those just in it for leisure and not for competitive purposes, would think that running watches are nothing more but added expenses. They would think that running watches cannot really help them improve their training.

This is wrong of course. A running watch, when properly used can definitely help you in improving your training and other workout sessions. Here are some of the ways where having a running watch handy would help you better your exercise.

Accurate Distance Travelled through GPS features:

One of the ways that people train is through running a set distance. For example, a person would want to set a goal of being able to run or jog for 3 kilometers a day. However, they may not have a way to accurately measure just how much they were able to train.

Through the GPS feature of a running watch, you have a way to accurately know just how much distance you have covered while you run. There are even some running watches that beep or inform you if you are about to cover your set training goal.

Tracking your Heart Rate:

A running watch when equipped with a heart rate monitor can help you track your target hear rate zone. This is important for you to be able to determine whether you were able to get an effective workout. A good workout would mean that you were able to reach your specific target heart rate.

With a running watch, you have a handy way of knowing if you were overtraining or under training. Under training means that you could have probably wasted time as your workout is insufficient. Overtraining, on the other hand, may be dangerous because you are pushing your body to levels that it may not be able to handle. This may cause injury or unnecessary stress to your body.

See improvement over previous performance:

People respond well to motivation. One of the best motivational tools is to see improvement or progress with what you are doing. Through the use of a running watch’s log of all your exercise data, you would be able to see your improvement in pace, speed, distance covered, and other factors.

Conversely, you would also be able to see if your performance is dipping in some aspects. This would allow you to force yourself to do better in it.

Through these features you would be able to see just how a running watch would be able to help your training. Maybe it’s not time for you to consider using one on your own workouts.

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Garmin FR60 Mens Black Fitness Watch Includes Heart Rate Monitor USB ANT Stick and Foot Pod

Running Watch Reviews — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:43:48 +0000

Garmin FR60 Men's Black Fitness Watch Bundle (Includes Foot Pod, Heart Rate Monitor, and USB ANT Stick)

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $199.99

Amazon Price: Too low to display

The Garmin FR60 Men’s Black Fitness Watch helps people make the most out of their workouts.

People who train in running or other sports know that heart rate tracking is important in training. The Garmin FR60 Mens Black Fitness Watch with included Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) understands this and allows people to use a sports watch with full heart rate monitor functions.

With the help of the watch, finding out your training intensity, difficulty and other factors would be much easier.

The Garmin FR60 Mens Black Fitness Watch works with the Heart Rate monitor and Foot POD watch to enable you to track your time, heart rate, and calories. It would even boost your training program by using all these data and giving you a Virtual Partner to compete with.

Runners who are looking to add more intensity to their training would be pleased with the benefits of getting a Garmin FR60 Mens Black Fitness Watch.

What’s in the Box
FR60, heart rate monitor , USB ANT Stick, quick start manual

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SIGMA ONYX Classic Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Running Watch Reviews — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:26:31 +0000

SIGMA ONYX Classic Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $89.99

Amazon Price: $54.55

The SIGMA ONYX Classic Heart Rate Monitor Watch helps people who are monitor and analyze their data through a simple and very easy to use device.

Built with a highly intuitive interface and with built in training monitoring and analysis capabilities, the Onyx Classic Heart Rate Monitor Watch provides a device for all your running training needs. This heart rate monitor watch enables runners to easily find out heart rate, calorie burn rate, and all other pertinent information for evaluating their training.

The watch is also capable of providing you with training zones to ensure that you are going at the right intensity. It also has 7 memory locations, a lap counter (50 laps with average and maximum heart rate indications) to ensure that you’re training progress is saved as you work out.

All the data that the watch can show are displayed in an illuminated screen with highly readable font and magnification, to ensure that you can easily note how you are doing.

With all these features combined with a stylish design, the SIGMA ONYX Classic heart rate monitor watch is your partner for all kinds of exercise

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Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch Black Frost

Running Watch Reviews — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:40:34 +0000

Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch (Black Frost)

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $239.00

Amazon Price: $155.00

The Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch enables you to create and track the very best training program for your body.

The Heart rate monitor allows you to track just how intense you’re workout is through its built in heart rate monitor functionalities. You would be able to see if your body is getting the burn it needs from the work out that you are doing. It provides data for real-time heart rate; calories burned, and even heart rate alarms.

Aside from simple monitoring the Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch even has built-in training software. It has the Coach software that enables you to know how to long and how intense to train each day. It even adjusts the rest of your ten-day cycle to ensure you get enough exercise during each phase of training.

With all of these features, the Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch is a great training partner for people looking to get the best for their body.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars excellent but you have to praid for function works
this watch is excellent but mine works really bad, i bought it 3 weeks ago and never works on calories burned.. for example, I did 40 min of a hard spinning class and the watch said that I burned 30kcal at 84% average,,, poor watch… if you can buy a polar! i realized that a lot of users have severals problems with T series, pls find differents forum on the web and see them….

1 Star Useless!
I loved the look, feel, and the features this heart rate monitor provides, and I so wanted to keep it. However, if you use it while you move your arms around other than a stationary position you will lose your HR and therefore not have an accurate picture of your workout. I replaced the batteries in both the belt and the watch, paired the belt to the watch but it continued to lose the HR if my wrist went behind my back or over my head. I even returned it and bought it from a different store hoping to correct the problem. Both watches experienced the same situation. In desperately wanting to keep it, I researched and found this to be a common problem with Suunto. I have been a long time Polar user, but HATE the look of every single one of them, so I really was looking for the same quality. Unfortunately,Suunto isn’t the one.

5 Stars perfect HR m.
SO I bought this watch, in need of a heart rate monitor and since I already owned a Suunto watch I thought I would love this one too. I LOVE IT! It’s comfortable, it’s easy to use once you figure out all the little applications, it’s a good size for women. I’m still finding cool little things out about the watch. I suggest you buy the wireless PC Pod too and it will also log your RPMs if you buy a bike pod or even distance if you buy a GPS pod or foot pod. The PC pod will log all your workouts on your PC. I am about to purchase that. The coach on the watch give you the option to follow it but it does not punish you if you don’t. The training effect is confusing at first but when you log your workouts it gives you a range to categorize each workout. I love this watch/ HRM and would recommend it to active women who are into gadgets.

4 Stars Suunto T4C
I have had the watch for a little more than a month now. I would say it is a very large step up from my Polar RS100. However I have a few complaints:

1. The backlight only works some of the time.

2. The screen scratches very easily

Other than that the watch is awesome.

5 Stars I Lovit I Lovit I Lovit I Lovit
This is a sweet piece of gear. I’ve been using it for about a month now. It works great and gathers a lot of data.

The watch itself is comfortable the band works especially well, (mine is the black volcano). A friend has a Suunto T4C as well, (his is the black frost), but his band is a little different. I will agree with other reviews that the face is prone to scratching. With this in mind I use mine only for workouts. The interface isn’t too difficult to figure out. Had it totally figured out after about 4 workouts. I saw a lot of reviews complaining about the complexity however with all the things this thing does the 5 buttons are easy enough to work with. My Timex was about as difficult to figure out.

The chest strap is OK. About as comfortable as a chest strap is going to be. It took a week or so to figure out exactly where to place the strap on my chest and how tight was tight enough. Once the chest strap placement is determined this thing rarely loses heartrate once it has captured it.

I could take or leave the coach function. It usually tells me to do long low intensity workouts or to rest. I haven’t really done much with the coach function as a result.

The data that the T4C can store is pretty extensive. There is detailed workout data available for the 14 most recent workouts. This data includes duration, training effect, average heart rate, peak heart rate, calories burned, and lap times (if using the lap timer). I don’t have the PC interface but transfer the infomation manually to a spreadsheet every few days. Long term data is available (totals) for the current week, the previous week, current month, and the previous 11 months. This data includes the number of workouts, total workout time, total running distance (Foot Pod), total bike distance (Bike Pod), total GPS distance (GPS Pod), and total calories burned.

I don’t have the Foot, Bike, or GPS POD paired devices.

I’ve found it most helpful when lifting. I’ve set heartrate targets for starting my next set so my weight workouts remain in a cardio zone. Prior to having the watch I’d just wait until if felt like my heartrate had dropped enough. Now I have hard data to start the next set.

Spent a lot of time researching before buying. I recommend buying something really cheap that you won’t mind throwing away when it fails/battery dies or buy something decent. This is something decent. Things that drew me to the Suunto T4C is a coded system. You won’t get crosstalk in a spin class with others using a monitor. With the Suunto you can change your own batteries. Most of the Polar monitors have to be sent back to the manufacturer for battery replacement, (read the reviews). The only other monitor that I considered was the Garmin Forerunner 305. Picked the Suunto T4C based on word of mouth of a friend, and I have no regrets.

That’s about all I have to say about that.

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SIGMA ONYX Balance Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Running Watch Reviews — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:56:15 +0000

SIGMA ONYX Balance Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $89.99

Amazon Price: $80.99

With the Sigma Onyx Balance Heart Rate Monitor watch, not only would women feel good, but also look good while running.

The Sigma Onyx comes with various features that enable runners to capture all the necessary information for improving their training. With just a few clicks on its highly intuitive and easy to use O-ring controls, the Onyx uses its digital coding method, to accurately capture pace, heart rate and all the other data.

It would then display them in large readable font, through its easy to read display

Compared with other feature loaded heart rate monitors that look clunky or awkward, the Sigma Onyx Balance Heart rate monitor watch trumps them by having impeccable design. The sigma onyx comes in an attractive powder blue shade and a decorative ring that can surely catch the eye of people everyone around.

With the combination of beauty and functionality, the Sigma Onyx Balance Heart Rate monitor watch is a good choice for active women everywhere.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Finally!!!
I’ve had this watch for about a month now. It seemed to take it’s time arriving, but once it got here it has been put to use and it is well worth the value.

I read a review about how it was a bit difficult to set, but I did not have a single problem with setting it. I always read the instructions so that may be why it was so easy for me to set, also knowing that this is a German manufactured watch I figured if ever there was a time to read the book, this is it.

I didn’t even read the entire manual, just skipped over to the page that had a break down of what every function was used for, and how to set them and that was it. Took me all of 10 minutes to input my personal data, and the next thing I know, I’m counting calories.

Just in case you don’t know, you must have the heart rate monitor on AND the stopwatch must be going in order for the calorie counter to work. I skipped over that part and was confused for a minute or two, but once I turned the stopwatch on, no worries.

Great watch, more user friendly than I expected it to be, and very durable.

4 Stars LOVE IT!
I love my Sigma HRM. When I asked my husband to help me with a workout plan, he stressed the importance of maintaining the heart rate. After researching several, I chose this one. I really like the calorie counter! It’s a bonus for me. This little jewel has been such a motivator for me.

The chest belt is comfortable and after a while you forget your wearing it. I like to wear mine all day after a workout to watch the calorie counter go up, up, up. The watch itself is a bit bulky for me but it’s not that bad. It’s funny.. my daughter or 3 knows mommy’s going to the gym when she sees my blue watch!

I love this product and would recommend it for anyone who wants to watch their progress!

1 Star Stopped working after 2 weeks
I bought this and was so please because it had exactly what I wanted and not too much jumble that I didn’t need. After about 2 weeks it stoppped reading my heart rate and would just display a “zero” for the heart rate. It became so frusterating because when there is no heart rate then it stops counting calories too. I’m returning it and finding another hrm.

1 Star Stopped working
I had the same experience as “Shopaholic.” After about two weeks, it just stopped working and displayed 0 for my heart rate. Currently in the process of returning the watch and hoping for a full refund. EDIT: I contacted the Niagara company who makes this product and they sent me a UPS shipping label to return the defective watch and are sending me a more expensive heart rate monitor watch at no extra charge. Pretty upset that the other watch didn’t work, but really happy with my customer service experience! Hoping the new watch works well!

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Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch Black

Running Watch Reviews — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:35:49 +0000

Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $249.95

Amazon Price: $299.99

The Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch is a watch that is made especially for people who take their running seriously.

Powered by its highly accurate inertia controlled accelerometer, this time piece can easily measure data necessary for improving your running regiment. It can accurately capture your speed, pace, distance, and heart rates as you run.

The Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch also has a fitness indicator feature which allows the runner to create a highly personalized workout. It is able to measure your fitness level, and give you workouts that will not over train or under train you.

To further check your training levels, the Polar RS200sd even features uploadable training settings to your running computer. This allows you to send your workout files to the Polar Running Coach Web Service for analysis.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Best polar for the price
I’m an experienced runner (running for more than 5 years) and I just can’t train without a polar on my wrist… First I bought a simple polar F3… At first It was good because all I wanted was my heart rate measured… But after 6 months I realized it wasn’t enough… So I spent a good money on a Polar FT80 Heart but that was too much… You just don’t use all the features of the watch and the screen is too dim at night and when you are running at high level you get have an easy to see screen, one that just at a glance you get all the information you need and want… So, as I’m from Brazil and I moved to US I forgot to bring my Polar FT80 Heart so I purchase the Polar RS200sd (the sd means speed and distance because it comes with a footpod)… This heart rate monitor does all the work… It measures your speed and distance (that’s good for street runner but useless for treadmill runners only if you like the watch to keep registered your speed and distance for that day)… And gives you your heart rate, your percentage, and your ownindex (VO2)…

I’ve learned that the polar ownindex is not accurate but it is useful for doing a training program at the polar weblink software…

This polar comes with a feature called connectivity… You download the polar weblink software, register yourself on their website and transfer your training data from your polar just putting it near your computers microphone… It makes a modem connecting sound and it transfer all the data (it’s easy to do it)… Thus, after transferring the data you can create training programs up to marathon… Moreover, it’s really useful for you to keep your whole data as this polar only keep in file your last 20 sessions (more than enough)…

In a nutshell, I would certainly recommend this polar for experienced runner and beginners… Keeping a track of your heart rate and your training evolution is extremely important and with this polar on your wrist you will be just fine…

Best cost for the features, certainly do not recommend spending more money… This does it all…

5 Stars Solid and Dependable
I am currently training for the Marine Corp Marathon and recording all my runs using this watch. I am tracking against a training program i created on the polar training website. The watch included the optional footpod. I find this to be an invaluable tool as I use it to track pace (min/mile) as well as total distance. Overall i am extremely happy with this purchase. As a long distance runner i am able to keep track of my heart rate and better manage my fitness through training zones. This is not perfect as i find i am typically running at 90% of my maximum heart rate unless i make a concerted effort to slow down.

5 Stars Polar RS200SD Heart Rate Monitor Review
Pros: Price, Weblink, accurate, not big, easy to navigate.

Cons: none

I have had no problems with my Polar RS200SD. It is extremely accurate. and easy to use although more advanced interval monitoring is a little cumbersome. For anyone looking to purchase a heart rate monitor for the first time the RS200SD is a great start and has the weblink feature that lets you use Polar’s software to breakdown and visualize your workout heart rate data. I have not used the foot pod so I can’t comment on it. I’ve had very good luck with mine so far.

[...]

4 Stars Good watch
This is a good entry level watch for a runner that wants to follow their HR during runs. The watch is only moderately complex. The numbers are legible. The basic kit comes with a strap, the sd kit comes with the footpod.

You really need to buy into the HR zones to get the full function of this watch. Otherwise, it may be a bit of overkill. The polar website has some additional instructions that help with this.

5 Stars Just what I was looking for…
I LOVE this Heart Rate Monitor watch!! It is just what I was looking for in a HR Monitor for running. I would highly recommend it…It is easy to use and loaded with great features for runners/walkers.

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Sportline Solo 960 Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Running Watch Reviews — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:18:41 +0000

Sportline Solo 960 Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $99.99

Amazon Price: $86.86

Tracking your training data becomes much easier with the Sportline Solo 960 Heart Rate Monitor Watch.

The Sportline Solo 960 Heart Rate Monitor Watch is able to track steps taken, distance travelled, speed, pace, exercise time and even calories burned while being attached to the runner’s wrist. It helps motivate people by displaying just how far along they are in their training.

Aside from these features it also has a chronograph, a countdown timer, and 7-day and 10-week memory to further complete the training functionality of the watch.

All these training data are displayed in the Sportline Solo 960’s dual time display and EL backlight to ensure that they are readily available to runners no matter the lighting situation.

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User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Too Hard to Use
This product can do so many things that it ends up not doing any of them well, and the watch is so complicated to use that I stopped using it. Dont waste your money.

3 Stars SPORTS WATCH
Very complicated to setup the programs. Display is very good-even in full sunlight. Retrieving exercise data is complex – Takes a lot of training to figure out how to use this watch.

1 Star Don’t waste your money
I purchased this watch from another vendor. First of all, it’s difficult to figure out how to program the settings in the beginning. You have to spend an evening trying to figure everything out using the manual. Secondly, the pedometer is quite sensitive so you have to make certain adjustments. If you’re AR about it, you can go on GMaps Pedometer to calibrate the watch’s pedometer and also you have to change the length of your walk/run on the watch accordingly. I read somewhere that if your watch’s pedometer underestimates the actual distance, you have to increase the length of your stride on the pedometer. I haven’t had a chance to do this because I’m busy calling customer service to help me out because my watch doesn’t beep when my heart rate goes above or below my programmed heart rate zone. Needless to say, this watch is an expensive Pain In the Royal Rear! I’m thinking of getting a heart monitor watch with the chest strap instead. I don’t like running and stopping to put a sweaty finger on the sensor button that picks up my heart rate less than 25% of the time.

4 Stars good heart rate watch
Have used for heart rate a few times. Very accurate. Pedometer seems accurate if sensitivity properly set. Only complaint – Numbers do not stand out visibly enough against background. Need lighter background. Can adjust contrast though.

4 Stars heart monitor review
works so well, he uses it several times a week to keep track and not a problem!

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Nike Triax C8 Heart Rate Monitor Watch Blue Black

Running Watch Reviews — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:00:49 +0000

Nike Triax C8 Heart Rate Monitor Watch Blue Black

The Nike Triax C8 Heart Rate Monitor Watch makes it easier for runners to focus on their running and not on their training equipment. Designed with the help of renowned training coach, Roy Benson, the Nike Triax C8 tries to provide runners with a feature rich watch, that can be operated with a few single clicks

The Triax C8 has multiple functionalities including a continuous heart rate display. a runners chronograph (stopwatch) a laps and splits time display. It also features the Benson Button which allows runners to easily adjust between the data that you are recording.

The Nike Triax C8 even takes care of data analysis after your training workout. The Triax C8 allows you to review your lap times for up to 50 laps. It also displays the average heart rate during your training for you to know how long you spent in your heart rate zone.

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User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars C8 is an “8″
Great runners watch. I’ve had none of the problems with the chest band that everyone complans about. Just be careful when you take it off I suppose is all you need to be aware of. This until doesnt count calories burned which I wished it did. i know the C6 does, but it would be nice if this one did too. programming is a little tedious but once you figure it out, its not a big deal.

1 Star Watch was not water resistant!
My Triax C8 lasted less than 3 months. I do triathlons and relied on the manual which states, “Designed for underwater performance to a depth of 165 ft. Attention: Water damage will occur if watch buttons are pressed underwater.” Unfortunately I had water damage just from wearing the watch in the pool even though I never pressed buttons underwater. The watch was not water tight and started to sometimes freeze up after swimming with it on, eventually failing altogether. In addition the HRM functionality didn’t work great. I’ve since switched to a Polar HRM and it provides more consistent HRM performance. The Triax C8 chest strap transmitter sometimes sends numbers that were clearly much too high, even after getting good and sweaty, and doesn’t start sending good data at quickly as the Polar. I like a lot of Nike products, and liked the form factor of the Triax C8. However, I was extremely dissapointed with its performance and would not buy one again or recommend it.

1 Star Didn’t Last Two Weeks
The heart rate monitor quit functioning after two weeks of almost daily use. I changed the batteries in the transmitter to see if that was the cause…no luck.

5 Stars Good way to Keep the Beat
I’ve owned a polar heartrate monitor before and definitely didn’t get the satisfaction that I have with this little beauty. Watch is very comfortable and easy to read. Transmitter is pretty comfortable too! Great HR monitor for a reasonable price!

5 Stars Nike Triax C8 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Blue / Black)
Excellent product. This watch has the best heart rate signal that there is – connects instantly with any of the machines at the gym. I swim with it and shower and have had no problems whatsoever. Highly recommended

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