Polar F4 Womens Heart Rate Monitor Watch Black Amber
The F4 is the first women’s specific unit from Polar, combining all the necessary heart rate features with a new, slim design. It includes the popular Zone Pointer feature that helps keep you in your Target Zone, and OwnCal to track the calories you burn in real time during your exercise. This well-rounded monitor offers automatic age-based heart rate target zones that will keep you exercising on the right track. You can also override the automatic setting to manually change this zone for fine tuning to fit your particular metabolism. With stopwatch and convenient button free operation, the F4 is a valuable fitness tool. Includes Wrist Unit with CR1632 battery, Transmitter with built-in lithium cell, and Elastic Strap to hold transmitter on chest.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Just what I needed!
I’ve wanted a HRM since I started working out about a year ago, but I couldn’t muster the courage (or money!) to get this one until recently. I bought another one that only gave you your heart rate on demand (instead of constantly), and it drove me up the wall. So I sucked it up and bought this as a replacement.
I LOVE this watch. I was floored at how easy it was to use. I didn’t even have to read the handbook to figure it out. The chest strap is surprisingly comfy. Yes, you will probably need to wet the probes before you start working out, but I put it on, run around the house picking things up or doing laundry and it usually works when I’m ready to go out for a walk/run. I love that the watch blends in and looks like a regular watch so you can wear it without feeling like you are wearing a man’s watch or a small computer!
The only problem I have with the watch is that I can’t get it as tight as I would like because the strap kind of sticks when trying to attach it or take it off. Nothing major, I just have to remember that I have to be more aware of it than I would of a normal watch.
**If you are a larger woman, the watch automatically comes with a size “medium” strap, but it fits me with room to spare. I highly suggest trying the one it comes with before ordering a larger one!**
Bottom line: LOVE this product. If you want something that will work easily and well, buy this HRM!
5 Stars A real life saver.
This little device actually saved my life while running…. A great investment at any price….
1 Star Can’t use it with Sun Tan Lotion
I got this F4 as a Christmas present in 2008. Two weeks later the buttons cracked and fell off. Polar sent me new buttons, and two weeks later the buttons cracked again. I sent the unit to polar two more times and the buttons only lasted 2 weeks each time.
I called their service department and escallated the issue. I spoke to Albert, who said that sun tan lotion damages the buttons so they break. He suggested either not using sun tan lotion or wearing a wrist band under the watch. GIVE ME A BREAK!!! I live in San Diego and I wear sun tan lotion 360 days per year. Polar said their new units do not have that problem, but they would not replace my F4 with a good one.
I will never buy another Polar product.
1 Star Polar seems to need some competition
First, if you buy one of these be aware that it’s extremely easy to accidently wipe out all the personal and cardio info it stores. There isn’t any way to lock this monitor to protect such loss.
I sent this monitor in for repair. They emailed me to tell me they received the monitor. They emailed me to tell me they replaced the circuit board. They had my monitor over a month. I got this monitor back and it works exactly the same as before I sent it in. They did nothing to it. Yes I know how to read and I always read the manuals for everything I buy. This monitor does not display the time when brought to the transmitter belt like it say’s it will in the manual. There isn’t any way for me to have this display the time while it is monitoring.
4 Stars Good Buy
I am very satisfied with this purchase. The only reason im not giving it five stars is because it doesnt have a stop watch or a pedometer. I have a small wrist, and the watch face is a good size especially if you dont like a bulky look. It is comfortable and the band stays put. It is easy to operate, and set up. you can easily turn the sound on or off. The strap is probably the same as all others and occasionally when i switch from doing cardio to weight training the clasp will pop apart, but that only happens occassionally.