Polar Heart Rate Monitors Category:

Best heart rate monitor overall – Polar F11

by Alan on May 1, 2011

Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor

MAIN FEATURES

Documentation: Included is a exercise guide along with the manual for the F11. The guide gives a comprehensive overview to fitness level and heart rate zone basics.

Design: Polar isn’t exactly known for elegant design, and yet the F11 is probably the most stylish attempt to break this image. While nothing out of the ordinary, the chrome buttons give it a solid feel and the grey or red housing both look very classy (for an HRM). Overall, the polymer housing and wrist band are of solid quality. The display provides better contrast than the typical greenish version found in older Polar devices. Lighting is cool as it illuminates the text (Green) rather than the background, but requires very low light levels to be visible.

Chest Belt: I may be reaching out a little bit too far by stating that Polar probably makes the only truly reliable HRM straps with little or no connection issues. While the F6 still comes with the conventional design, the F11 now includes the new WearLink chest belt. The improvements are strikingly simple yet effective. Better comfort due to soft band and finally a transmitter that allows to change batteries.

User Interface: The F11 sports 4 buttons to navigate the menu driven interface (Up, Down, Ok, Back) and one button dedicated to turn on the lighting or the key lock. The user guidance is great and walks the user through the initial setup. From that point on it’s usable, but to get the full potential, one will have to read the detailed manual, especially for all the specialized functions that are not necessarily self-explanatory.

Keeps U Fit: … is the newest and probably most powerful function in Polar’s repertoire of training aids. Based on your fitness test results, the user can have a workout program generated by the F11. A bar diagram keeps you informed how much of each is still left to be done in the current week. The type of exercise is not defined as the effect is classified by the heart rate.

OwnIndex: Based on the VO2max value, this fitness indicator takes resting heart rate and body mass into consideration. A table then provides age and gender specific classification ranging from very low to elite.

OwnZone: Allows to determine your heart rate zone based on a specific order of five 1 minute segments with specific pace (walking to jogging).

OwnCode: Following the Polar jargon for most features, OwnCode describes the coded signal from the emitter (chest strap) to the wristband. This is helpful with other HRMs nearby which could interfere.

Diary: This function pretty much describes the memory function and the ability to record excercise results and even have them displayed graphically (on the watch display). Overall the functionality is great and most useful for control freaks, but at the same time a little overwhelming for casual users.

Connectivity: In times where Bluetooth becomes a household name, Polar still relies on soundwaves to transmit data. Yes that’s right, all you need to communicate between the F11 and a computer is a speaker and a microphone.

Based on my recent experience with both Garmin and Oregon Scientific chest belts, the Polar design may be superior to all of them. It also happened to be the most important feature to choose the F11 over the cheaper F6. Not only due to the replaceable battery but mostly for comfort and attachment design. This is easily the best belt I ever used. Just rinse the pads in water before each use and it could not be more reliable. The soft fabric makes it also much more comfortable to wear, but the squishy feel of putting the soaked pads on is a minor setback. I guess that’s the trade-off for a replaceable battery? ;-)

The initial setup survey is fun for every gadgeteer and doable for even casual users that are less interested in bells and whistles. Daily use is easy and hassle-free if not using any of the advanced features. Even if you’re more involved and craving more guidance, the F11 is a great companion to reach your workout goals — unless you have a problem abiding a “machine” as it will tell you what to do.

Main arguments for the F11 are the chest belt and the fitness program called “Keeps U fit”. If neither sound compelling to you, it may save you $50 since the F6′s differences are mainly with those 2 main features which are either different (belt) or not included (Keeps U Fit). Deals on either are hard to come by these days since both models are brand new and in the name of fitness well placed in the market (with sticker to match).

Overall, there is no good substitute for the Polar F11 (or F6) if heart rate based calculation of fitness and calorie consumption are important to you. Less advanced devices typically are much less precise and may de-motivate based on erroneous readings. Some of that fame goes to the chest strap itself, and Polar simply knows how to make them reliable. (An easy concept that not every manufacturer has figured out yet — even in much pricier models like the Forerunner 301.)
Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor For Men

Polar F11 for men

Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor For Women

Polar F11 for women

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