Polar FS3 Heart Rate Monitor (Grey)
Editors review
Customer Reviews
Good value HRM
A heart rate monitor is almost essential for running, cycling, Spin classes, and treadmill work. I bought my first heart rate monitor - a Polar Pacer - in 1990 for £126.45 and Im still using it in Spin classes, so Polar build quality is good. I came back to exercise nearly 18 months ago after a long break, and bought an FS3C for £39.50. So much cheaper than the Pacer, yet it incorporates a stop watch, maximum heart rate, average heart rate, a single log, and time/date, none of which were in the Pacer.
Once the stopwatch function is running, the FS3C must be held next to the chest strap to change the display (time / stopwatch / pulse), as pressing the button below the display will halt the stopwatch and the data recording. Ive inadvertantly wiped out data by pressing the button. Note that the stopwatch doesnt have a pause function.
Minor negative points for me are:
* only one log, and a new session overwrites the existing information;
* when fixed to handlebars, its not practicable to toggle between the display - for example between stopwatch and pulse - as it has to be next to the chest strap, so it has to be worn on the wrist, or used in conjunction with a separate stopwatch if the FS3C is mounted on the handlebars. The single log isnt an issue, as the details (duration, average pulse, and maximum pulse) can be written down before starting another session. Some people may miss the option to pause the stop watch.
I wear glasses for reading so I need large digits in the display as I dont wear glasses whilst exercising. The digits in the F3C are 9mm high x 1mm wide and I can see them whether in daylight, the gym, or a studio with lighting. The FS3C is compatible with the Star-Trac treadmills and ellipticals in my local gyms and, I havent had problems with interference from people close by who were wearing heart monitors; the C in FS3C refers to codedand signifies that interference shouldnt be a problem. The manual says that the watch unit is waterproof provided that the button is not pressed; having inadvertently worn the watch in a gym power shower, I can confirm that it is waterproof! The Zone calculator is based on age and gender; it appears to be of the 220 - age variety, and therefore the limits will be too low unless you are unfit. If you know or can calculate your maximum heart rate and the heart rate limits that you want to use, the cheaper F2C may well suit you. The chest strap is narrow and plastic covered, but is just as comfortable as the Polar Wearlink+ or the Garmin Forerunner. The narrow construction is a bonus in the gym, as Ive worn the Polar F3C chest strap at the same time as the chest strap for the Garmin Forerunner so that my heart rate would be picked up by the treadmill and elliptical.
The FS3C doesnt have lots of features, and isnt compatible with Polar speed and distance footpods. However, this is a really good buy for the average person.
Unfortunately, the T31C chest strap is not compatible with the Oregon Scientific WM100 data logger.
John Boy
Beware the expensive replacement battery
Polar heart rate monitors work by recording the tiny radio signal emitted from a belt that attaches around your chest, a bit like a cupless bra in effect. I bought a Polar device last year; it is excellent but the transmitter battery died and, since the battery is sealed in and irreplaceable, I was left with little choice but to buy a new transmiter strap for £30. Polar, when contacted, were exceptionally rude and arrogant in their reply to my suggestion that the battery should be a £5 stand-alone replacement item. The cost of spares is a rip-off!
Dont buy youll get stung when the batteries need replacing.
G. E. Downie
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