I am interested in getting an entry level HRM to use mostly for cycling but perhaps also for other activities (hiking, etc). So I think I would like a unit where the receiver and display is in the form of a watch with band versus an integrated cyclometer. I don't need/want anything very fancy - no interface to my PC is needed, I don't need lots of zone or interval counters. I would like ECG accurate heart rate, display of rate as % of max rate, user set max/min rates, waterproof tansmitter and receiver, time, date, stopwatch, comfortable chest strap, no/low interference (does this mean digital?). Long lasting battery life is a must and it would be ideal if the same battery is used in both transmitter and receiver (2032 lithium would be excellent). I looked around and see lots of different models from different makers including Polar, Timex, SigmaSport, and many others. Price is important - I really don't want to spend over $60 or so. Please respond with your experience - what to get AND what to avoid. Thanks.
On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 12:23:20 -0700, David White <whitedavidp@comcast.net> wrote:
Hello and thanks in advance for your response...>
I am interested in getting an entry level HRM to use mostly for cycling but >perhaps also for other activities (hiking, etc). So I think I would like a unit >where the receiver and display is in the form of a watch with band versus an >integrated cyclometer. I don't need/want anything very fancy - no interface to >my PC is needed, I don't need lots of zone or interval counters. I would like >ECG accurate heart rate, display of rate as % of max rate, user set max/min >rates, waterproof tansmitter and receiver, time, date, stopwatch, comfortable >chest strap, no/low interference (does this mean digital?). Long lasting >battery life is a must and it would be ideal if the same battery is used in >both transmitter and receiver (2032 lithium would be excellent). I looked >around and see lots of different models from different makers including Polar, >Timex, SigmaSport, and many others. Price is important - I really don't want to >spend over $60 or so. Please respond with your experience - what to get AND >what to avoid. Thanks.
I've been completely happy with my Sigma sport PC-7. It's the older model available cheap everywhere. Batteries are user replaceable and normal types. It doesn't display % as such, but what the heck. It does have alarms.
Apparently there's been an update on the styling, this one sorta looks like the official sports watch of the special olympics. But then they're all clunky looking.
Thanks to all who replied. I went ahead and purchased a Sigma PC14 from Nashbar where the website sale price was $10 less than the catalog sale price (go figure). This unit has more features than I need but the reviews were very good and the price was acceptable.
David
David White wrote:
Hello and thanks in advance for your response...>
I am interested in getting an entry level HRM to use mostly for cycling > but perhaps also for other activities (hiking, etc). So I think I would > like a unit where the receiver and display is in the form of a watch > with band versus an integrated cyclometer. I don't need/want anything > very fancy - no interface to my PC is needed, I don't need lots of zone > or interval counters. I would like ECG accurate heart rate, display of > rate as % of max rate, user set max/min rates, waterproof tansmitter and > receiver, time, date, stopwatch, comfortable chest strap, no/low > interference (does this mean digital?). Long lasting battery life is a > must and it would be ideal if the same battery is used in both > transmitter and receiver (2032 lithium would be excellent). I looked > around and see lots of different models from different makers including > Polar, Timex, SigmaSport, and many others. Price is important - I really > don't want to spend over $60 or so. Please respond with your experience > - what to get AND what to avoid. Thanks.
