Straps get yellowish buttons cracked.

I received this watch as a Christmas present in 2005. I have been using it for the past 6 months (average 2x per week). I spotted this exact watch but with yellowish straps at an expo from Polar after I got my watch for only 2 weeks and was diligent about keeping it clean but to no avail it turned yellowish after about 2 months and now it just looks dirty and old the face is still the original "ice blue". If you are thinking about this watch buy the black one.



After I started using it I wished I went with another model since this one doesn't store any previous data. I track all my runs and sometimes I forget to record before my next run and I lose all my previous data once I press "start". In addition it doesn't have a stopwatch. Once you press stop it thinks you're done with your workout instead of just a pause or break so you can't track your actual total workout time. I just let it run even when I am at stoplights or water break. If lap feature is important go with another model. Another complaint about this watch is that there's no backlight. I have to wait till I run under a street light to see my data. The data sheet said it has a backlight but I can't manage to find it.



Today both the buttons cracked and fell off my watch. Now it's useless.



I still have the most basic model from Polar (bought in 2000 and it's discontinued) that only monitors my HR and that thing still works because there's no buttons to push. Polar makes good HR monitor and I would still buy another one from them. Just not this one.More detail ...

more comfortable than the rubber model

I bought this transmitter because I did not know that the Polar Heart Rate Monitors came with a transmitter included in the box. I could not find anything that specified this so I ended up purchasing an extra transmitter.



That being said this transmitter is super comfortable. The rubber model that comes with the heart rate monitors does not have any comfort issues over this one. The electrodes are sewn inside the fabric of the strap and they are soft. The only hard piece on this is the plastic transmitter part that is not that big in the front. If you are doing something that involves a lot of body motion like aerobics tennis dance or lifting weights this fabric model is a better alternative to the rubber model. This fabric strap transmitter might also be a better option for women who may already be dealing with an underwire bra at the gym.



As far as functionality goes you won't really need a coded transmitter unless you are using the HRM in a crowded environment where EVERYONE is using monitors. Like at my gym where the personal trainers sell the Polar brand of HRMs hold weekly training classes about them and encourage everyone to buy them. If you don't find yourself in this type of environment but you find the regular transmitter to be uncomfortable than this is for you. If the regular transmitter does not hurt you then you don't really need this.



One problem with this transmitter is the clip mechanism that you use to snap it shut. The little plastic points that clip in look like something I am going to break in about a month. Everytime I snap it open or closed I feel like I'm breaking it.

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Not that hard to use just play with it

Just like any gadget you learn how to use all the functions on this watch by just playing around and pressing buttons. True the manual should be clearer and seems to be talking about doing things in a different order than what's really needed sometimes but unfortunately that's the case with most electronics these days. It's really not all that hard to figure out and anyway that's part of the fun of getting a new gadget (for some of us anyway).

It has worked pretty well since I got it. Took a few trials to get the strap tight enough so it wouldn't slide down while running. About 1/4 mile into my first 5k wearing it that's exactly what happened and my grand plan of closely monitoring my performance went up in smoke. I've had no problems with the receiver picking up my heart rate or interference from power lines or cars.

So all in all highly recommended. I think it's got just the right level of functionality for me someone who wants to train with a monitor to get a little faster running 5k's and 10k's but it also makes running a little more interesting on those days you just don't feel like doing it.More detail ...

Nonin G02 pulse oxidometer

After using this product I came to a conclusion that it really doing its job.

It give very accurate results and is very easy to use.



product main properties:

- Continues measurement (results displayed and updated continuously).

- Automatic ON and OFF (no buttons!!!)

- clearly readable LCD display (with backlight) - Very accurate. results are repeatable - tested on different fingers both hands on short time period

resulting difference + or - 1BPM + or - 1%SPO2 (which is the device resolution so the actual accuracy maybe even higher).

- Give an indication on measurement quality (pulse strength indication).

- Uses standard AAA battery.

- Battery level indicator.



Highly recommended!!! More detail ...

Overall a decent product with some minor drawbacks

For some reason Polar requires that these units be sent back to replace the battery which costs $25 + shipping. On top of the annual cost of maintenance this ship to replace policy leaves you without a heart monitor for about 2 weeks once a year.



The other issue I found is that the reception range is not very good so the unit won't work well mounted on a bicycle.



Finally Polar has decided to arbitrarily remove the % fat burn function from some of its watches. This watch does not have it so keep in mind you will not know what % of your calorie burn was fat. More detail ...

Still needs some work

I read many reviews on this watch and the one thing that I saw over and over was the complaint that the HR wouldn't display during an activity such as running. The runner had to stop to get a reading. I took a chance since I would either be walking or on an exercise bike but lo! I'm even having the problem while walking and while simply sitting on my exercise bike with my legs pushing the pedals. I rarely get a reading while still exercising at a very moderate rate. It seems the watch only cooperates when I'm still.



Despite this problem I like the watch. All the features work well aren't too hard to program and work well for me. The watch is bulky and quite large on a smaller wrist but there is a lady's version available. I made sure to buy the Mio that offers the interchangeable strap which is a good thing. One other reviewer complained about the strap breaking on another Mio with no way to replace it. I can see how that would happen over time. The plastic used on the band is rigid and with the bending of putting the watch on every day it appears it won't take long for the plastic to break.



Overall I find it to be an acceptable HR monitor with limitations that some however might find unacceptable.More detail ...

*I Have a Geek Toy I Have a Geek Toy*

Easy to set up accurate user friendly. Just took it for a test drive this morning. Shipping was fast and friendly. Nice user manual. Very explanatory.



Put in your vitals adjust the strap around your chest and put the pedal to the metal.



I burned 511 calories -- 45% from fat. For 49:51 minutes of work I spent 14:46 minutes in the 144-160 beats per minute range; with my heart rate topping out at 178 (93% of my maximum for the "moderate training zone"). My average heart rate was 151 for the duration (79% of my maximum). The alarm cued me when to step it up and also when to back it down so I could keep on a better training track.



Apparently I've been working too hard in the past. Because just as the HRM was yelling at me to back down I was thinking "Geez touchy thingie! I can go way harder and higher than this!" But if it improves my stamina all the better.



I would recommend reviewing the product manual and setting up your customizations the night before if you are an early morning exerciser. Setup and familiarization with the product/material takes about an hour.More detail ...

Good Product with one drawback.

I recently purchased this product and was dissapointed that it doesn't continuously take your heart rate. You have to push down on the two silver buttons above and below the screen with your index and middle fingers to get a heart rate reading. If I would have done my research beforehand I wouldn't have been surprised at this I know.



Anyway now that I have it I am pretty pleased with the product.





The pros of this product are as follows;



I really like not having to wear a chest strap transmitter.



I like that it is slightly "girlier" looking; I have the blue model and I like it better than my very basic big clunky Polar model.



I like the calorie counter.



It is as accurate as my Polar model with the chest strap; I used both watches during my last workout on my elliptical machine and everytime I took my heart rate with this watch it was usually within 2 BPM of my Polar Watch. At the most a few times the difference between the watches was 4 BPM.





The only drawback to this product in my opinion as I've mentioned before is the fact that it does not automatically and continuously take your heart rate. Once I get used to that I think I'll really enjoy this watch.More detail ...

more comfortable than the rubber model

I bought this transmitter because I did not know that the Polar Heart Rate Monitors came with a transmitter included in the box. I could not find anything that specified this so I ended up purchasing an extra transmitter.



That being said this transmitter is super comfortable. The rubber model that comes with the heart rate monitors does not have any comfort issues over this one. The electrodes are sewn inside the fabric of the strap and they are soft. The only hard piece on this is the plastic transmitter part that is not that big in the front. If you are doing something that involves a lot of body motion like aerobics tennis dance or lifting weights this fabric model is a better alternative to the rubber model. This fabric strap transmitter might also be a better option for women who may already be dealing with an underwire bra at the gym.



As far as functionality goes you won't really need a coded transmitter unless you are using the HRM in a crowded environment where EVERYONE is using monitors. Like at my gym where the personal trainers sell the Polar brand of HRMs hold weekly training classes about them and encourage everyone to buy them. If you don't find yourself in this type of environment but you find the regular transmitter to be uncomfortable than this is for you. If the regular transmitter does not hurt you then you don't really need this.



One problem with this transmitter is the clip mechanism that you use to snap it shut. The little plastic points that clip in look like something I am going to break in about a month. Everytime I snap it open or closed I feel like I'm breaking it.

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works great

My husband bought this unit almost a year ago when another brand he was using quit working. this has been working great for him. I started using it a few weeks ago and have been please with it's performance. The strap is comfortable and the monitor is fairly acurate and easy to read. It is nice to have your heart rate displayed constantly without having to stop and push a button. So far it is wearing very well. Nothing is broken and after a year it is still displaying the correct heart rate. The other unit we bought earlier was cheaper and died after just a year. The strap just needs a little water on it before straping it on like others of its kind. But once on it is not noticable at all. I have liked this so much that I am buying one for each of our daughters for Christmas this year.More detail ...

Exceeds Expectations

I purchased this watch to replace an older Polar heart rate monitor with dead batteries in the chest strap and the monitor. The design of that product required me to send both units in for replacement by a Polar service center. The cost was nearly as much as the cost of this timex heart rate monitor.



I am so pleased with this product. The instructon manual was clearly written and easy to understand. There are just enough functions for me without loading the product up with things I will never use. That makes using it simple and I can remember how to use it without having to refresh my memory by repeatedly rereading the manual.



The monitor is an excellent watch when not using the heart rate features. Best of all I can change the batteries myself when the time comes without sending the thing off in the mail to a service center.



On top of all that the price was reasonable. This is one of those few purchases that exceeded my expectations because everything that it does it does a little bit better than I had hoped for.More detail ...

*I Have a Geek Toy I Have a Geek Toy*

Easy to set up accurate user friendly. Just took it for a test drive this morning. Shipping was fast and friendly. Nice user manual. Very explanatory.



Put in your vitals adjust the strap around your chest and put the pedal to the metal.



I burned 511 calories -- 45% from fat. For 49:51 minutes of work I spent 14:46 minutes in the 144-160 beats per minute range; with my heart rate topping out at 178 (93% of my maximum for the "moderate training zone"). My average heart rate was 151 for the duration (79% of my maximum). The alarm cued me when to step it up and also when to back it down so I could keep on a better training track.



Apparently I've been working too hard in the past. Because just as the HRM was yelling at me to back down I was thinking "Geez touchy thingie! I can go way harder and higher than this!" But if it improves my stamina all the better.



I would recommend reviewing the product manual and setting up your customizations the night before if you are an early morning exerciser. Setup and familiarization with the product/material takes about an hour.More detail ...

Works great

I wanted a heart rate monitor to use for general exercise and fitness. I bought four of the Timex monitors one for myself and three for Christmas gifts. I have used mine several times and it works fine. The machines I use at my athletic club pick up the heart rate signal automatically so I can see the heart rate without looking at the watch. I wear the watch to record the length of the workout the average heart rate and the maximum. I like this amount of information; I don't want to download training information to a computer and I don't want calorie information since that would probably be inaccurate anyway; that is you get the same calorie count for a 110 woman as a 230 pound man (me). There is a small exercise booklet that comes with the watch and monitor that gives some useful information to correlate your heart rate and length of workout with your fitness level. You can use this to calculate points for the workout and compare that with the range of points you should be accumulating every week for various activities like running a 10K or a marathon. Putting the monitor strap on is only a minor inconvenience. I have had no read-out problems. The wrist watch works as a watch when not showing heart rate. This is an excellent product for the price.More detail ...