Excellent product, highly recommend it

sporting goods:

	• Polar FT80 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black) Polar Polar, 2008 average customer review:based on 27 reviews view larger image
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Outstanding product

After several weeks using this device, I can assure i am 100% satisfied with it. I would say it is impossible o workout without my polar on. It is precise measuring my heart beats and its design is awesome as well. I do not take it out even working because it seems as a normal watch.Polar FT80 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)

Excellent product, highly recommend it

Let's start with bottom line. I love and enjoy my new Polar FT80.
Got it about a month ago after training for a couple of years with an older version of a Polar heart rate monitor. The FT80 is a big step forward and upward.
First the physical aspect. The chest belt is wider and much more flexible and comfortable. Wetting it before the training to make sure the heart monitor connects well to the body is much easier and more reliable.
It stores 100 training sessions in its memory, so my whole training regiment for the last month can be reviewed. It also accumulates summaries so I can review the results on a weekly basis. This makes it much easier following my calories intake/spending on a daily or weekly basis.
During aerobic training there is a display that shows both the calories and the time spent from the start of the session. The previous version required jumping between two different displays to see these.
I set a weekly goal for training calories spending. I did not get the GPS Sensor or Foot Pod since all of my training is in the gym. I do not know how well they work, but if it is as well as the components I have, it should be very enlightening to get all the extra information like distance and speed statistics. It is also possible to set weekly distance goals.
The concept of heart rate based training zones is implemented very well. The time spent in each zone is recorded separately for each training session and accumulated through the week. The target time to be spent in each zone is also set on a weekly basis.
There is a special strength-training mode that shows the heart rate on a graph. On the same display I also see both the heart rate and the time from the start of the session, so I can time the rest between the exercise sets based either on time or my heart rate. It also suggests when to start the next set, although it currently gives me only about 30 seconds for rest and I feel I need more - or maybe I need to challenge myself more :-)
When my gym visit includes several sections like warm-up, strength training and aerobic training, I record them separately in the appropriate modes. Then when I come home I synchronize the watch very easily through the FlowLink with the [...] site and it stores all my training history. It also shows my target status, training-zone statistics and graphical curves of the heart-beat during all the training sessions.
I just skimmed through the training program feature, so I cannot comment on it. I did see that I can define a detailed training program with pre-defined exercises or add new ones I define myself. I'll probably do it further down the line.
It is even much better as a watch. It has a Stopwatch application with a nice multiple-laps recording feature and the wrist-band is very comfortable.
Finally, it even looks very nice - rounded, hi-tech shape. It looks different.
...Told you I love it :-)

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Polar Heart Rate Monitor Watch

This monitor is a great assistant to measure, record and motivate anyone training to inprove their fitness.

The programmed features are pretty good with different training available programs if you need them as a guide or as a challenge. If you have a solid understanding of the principals of heart rate training you could use something less cabable, hence less expensive.

The Polar website for recording your fitness is pretty good. I acknowledge that some people don't like the fact it's on line only and not "downloadable" and some of the features are not all that flexible. I think it's best suited to soemone who's willing or who needs to be shown how to build and record a training program. Other websites like bodybuilding dot com are more felxible and could be used in conjunction with the the polar tool if you like. Simple daily trackers like diet assistant are also useful and it would be nice if they were all compatible or if the Polar crew developed their site further.

I've noted the complaints on software, watch face lighting etc but I've had no problem with these features.

Overall a very good assistant and I'd recommend this or the less expensvie versions. I am burning 3000cals extra a week now I have the item so it has been a successful purchase for me.

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Great for general fitness

I have owned this product for 9 months, and it is my second Polar product. This watch has been a great purchase, and I am very satisfied with its performance. I use the watch for general fitness (6 workouts per week 3 cardio and 3 strength). The contrast is great for almost all situations (the backlight works for all others).

It provides great motivation to get my workouts in, and it keeps me honest when I don't.

Pros:
- The training program is a huge step forward - it monitors and adapts to your weekly activity level
- Strength training - I bought the watch for the strength training capabilities, and I am very satisfied. I like the ability to load workouts and see the recommended start times
- Data tracking - Polar does a great job of tracking all workout progress on the watch and on their website www.polarpersonaltrainer.com - the watch synchs easily to the site, and the available data is extensive and motivating
- Easy to read watch - I wear the watch unit most of the time

Cons:
- Swimming - the device doesn't work for me when swimming, the chest strap won't stay in place when I push off the walls - not allowing me to use the product in the pool
- Battery life - I've already had to replace the battery in the watch unit (my previous Polar is still on its first battery)... battery replacement was simple.

If I could use the watch while swimming, it would easily be 5 stars.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Optimizes strength training by providing guidance on how to long to rest between sets, delivering the information in an easy-to-read graphical display (see image above)