|
|
|
|
|
|
Polar FT80 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)
Studio : Polar
by Polar
Brand : Polar
Model : 90032297
Release Date : 2008-09-01
Publisher : Polar
Department : Bike
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Size : One Size
Color : Black
EAN : 0725882449616
UPC : 725882449616
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 30 reviews)
List Price : $349.95
Our Price : $257.95
|
|
| |
-
Black heart rate monitor watch with several innovative training features
-
Intelligent training computer helps you achieve maximum workout efficiency
-
Displays heart rate as percentage of maximum, bpm, and within target zone indicator
-
Polar Star personalized training program delivers feedback and weekly training targets
-
Offers ZonePointer and Polar OwnZone modes; water-resistant to 30 meters; 2-year warranty
|
|
| |
|
Product Description |
|
Optimizes strength training by providing guidance on how to long to rest between sets, delivering the information in an easy-to-read graphical display (see image above) |
| |
|
Mychildrensstore.com Product Description |
|
If there's one word to describe people who train seriously for athletics, it's dedication. And if there's one heart rate monitor that's dedicated to helping you achieve maximum workout efficiency, it's the Polar FT80. The FT80 starts by checking your daily condition, and then guiding you to the ideal training intensity for your age and fitness level. Knowing your heart rate not only helps you reach your personal fitness goal, but also improves your physical condition in general, as it's vitally important to train at the appropriate intensity level. If you exercise too hard, you may quit before you reach the real benefit, but if you work out too leisurely, you'll struggle to lose weight at all. The FT80 helps overcome these problems by encouraging you to map out a complete fitness routine. The FT80's intelligent training computer also helps you work toward achieving your exercise goals in other ways. For example, the watch offers a Polar Star personalized training program that adapts to your workout habits. By giving you weekly training targets and providing constant feedback, the watch guides you without being too strict, helping you reach your goals more efficiently. The watch also displays heart rate info in several ways, including as a percentage of your maximum heart rate, as beats per minute, and within a graphical target zone indicator. And should your heart rate exceed or dip below your target zone, the FT80 will sound an alarm that helps you return to form. Users will also love the variety of proprietary Polar functions, including ZonePointer, Polar Strength Training, and Polar OwnCal modes. The ZonePointer is an audible and visual feature on the display of your FT80 that shows you where your current heart rate sits within your target heart rate zone. The Polar Strength Training mode, meanwhile, helps you optimize your strength training by reading your heart rate and informing you when your body is ready for the next set--an ideal way to optimize your weight training. Finally, the Polar OwnCal mode shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session, as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. You can also set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure, helping you achieve both short-term and long-term goals. Other watch features include a built-in fitness test that measures your aerobic fitness at rest in just five minutes; a ZoneLock mode that lets you activate a target zone in the midst of training with the press of a button; a Polar OwnZone mode that provides a customized target zone for individual exercise sessions; an OwnCode mode that prevents crosstalk from other heart rate monitors nearby; a recording mode that tracks your average and maximum heart rate, calorie expenditure, distance, and total exercise time, and then puts it in an exercise file (with 100 total files); water resistance to 50 meters; a 12/24-hour clock with a day/week indicator; a built-in backlight; an alarm with a snooze; a low battery indicator; and a Polar FlowLink connection for transferring data between the FT80 and a computer. Sporting an attractive black housing, the watch carries a two-year warranty. Manufacturer's Warranty
The original purchaser of this heart rate monitor is backed by a limited warranty that states that this product that the product will be free from defects in material or workmanship for two years from the date of purchase. About Polar
The first EKG accurate wireless heart rate monitor was invented by Polar back in 1977 as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. The concept of "intensity training" by heart rate swept the athletic world in the eighties. By the 1990s, individuals were looking to heart rate monitors not only for performance training needs, but also for achieving everyday fitness goals. Today, the same concept of heart rate training is being used by world-class athletes as well as everyday people trying to lose weight. Polar is the leading brand among consumers, coaches, and personal trainers worldwide and the company is committed to not only producing the best products, but also being the leading educator on the benefits of heart rate based exercise. |
| |
|
| |
|
Great looking but functionally only good |
I purchased this watch with the following criteria:
- single watch to wear in the gym and office
- help me track intensity, calories, distance and pace while running
- used during strength training / cross training
- Mac compatible
It does 3 of 4 above. It is very stylish watch for a heart rate / fitness watch. It _does_ have a some nice features for fitness. And it _does_ all the main things I need - intensity, calories, distance, and page (using G1 GPS). Where it falls short a bit is the display. I read the reviews prior to purchasing. The display is not totally as bad as reviewed but it should be brighter. I don't have a problem reading it at work and most days in the gym or outside. It's tough to see in the shadows but if I tilt my wrist a bit it's fine. The GPS unit works fine. I did have a problem b/c I put in power save mode by accident on a run one day. But other than that, it works fine.
Gripes:
- polar's and it's competitors (I had a Garmin 310 as well) make their instructions really difficult. Don't know why but they don't make the instructions really simple to put features together.
- Polar for some reason ignores Mac users and therefore this unit is NOT mac compatible. I conceded here b/c of the watch style and comfort of the HR strap. It's the comfiest I've ever tried
- The last gripe I have is that it's 3 zones for HRM vs a full 5. I didn't realize this until it was past the return date. I probably would have exchanged for the less svelte, but more functional Polar 300x
Overall, I would recommend this watch. However, I would also recommend that if you are a runner, that you check out the Polar 300X or a Garmin 405.
Polar if you are reading this - fix the display by making it brighter or user controlled brightness, add the full 5 zones for HR intensity, and make it Mac compatible!!!!! |
| |
|
How to fix contrast problem |
Most of the other reviews have touched on the potential issues with this product - notably the uploading information to the Polar website and poor contrast. Simple solution is to make sure you get a recent firmware version that uploads fine. I especially like that you don't have to press a single button for the watch to upload information to the site!
With regards to the contrast issue, it is fixable as well!
I completely thought there was something wrong with the watch when I first received it and was about to send it right back. The screen was impossible to read with or without the backlight because the letters were bleeding into the pixels next to them and you could hardly see where a character began and ended. This is probably the opposite of what most people are complaining about, where the "white" pixels are too dark to see on a black background.
There is a secret service menu that allows you to adjust this setting which you can find by searching Polar's discussion forums. Polar does not support doing this, but I would have deemed this product unusable had I not found and used this. The adjustments are on a system of 1-10. I adjusted my setting from 8 to 7 (others have adjusted theirs up from 7 to 10). It will not be a night and day difference in readability, but it might render the watch from unusable to usable as in my instance. |
| |
|
Great Concept. Poor implementation |
I purchased the FT80 back in December of 2008. The first few months were horrendous.
I like most who were early purchasers ran into the issue with the bad firmware version which caused issues with the Star program. And like most I ended up having to send it back to them for service on my own dime. Initially I'd called customer support and they had given me the wrong info about what was wrong with it, even though there were litterally 100's of people on the forums having the exact same issue. It was incredibly frustrating having spent 350 dollars on a HRM.
This bring to my biggest current gripe about this HRM. There is no way to update the firmware remotely. The only way to update the firmware is to send the unit in. In this age where I can update my stereo receiver firmware from 5 years ago remotely. It is unfathomable that a product that is marketed as a heart rate computer, does not have a method to have its firmware updated remotely.
My next biggest gripe is that there is no way to export the data to a computer readable format so that 3rd party applications can read the data. This is another thing that should be basic to an HRM at this level.
My next gripe, is that they label this a computer, but there is no way to load 3rd party applications to it which would be a godsend. The ability to create an interval app for it would be wonderful. If you are going to label something as a "Computer" it needs to have basic computer functionality.
My next gripe is that the face scratches super easily. This I remedied by buying a Zagg plastic cover ($20). Definitely worth it if you wish to protect your investment. But I don't understand way a $350 model would scratch so easily.
Now that I've had the firmware updated and bought the cover for the face. It's been running as designed for about 5 months now. I could not imagine working out without a HRM. But I still get so frustrated since it was such a good start to a concept but so terribly implemented, and worse so poorly supported after initial release. They make Toyota's Customer Service issues look mild by comparison.
Hopefully some HRM maker will shortly realize the value in creating a true Computer HRM that will allow custom apps to be created for it, and will allow full export of workout data for use in other applications. Polar would be served well to go to fewer models and simply limit the memory for apps and let people upload whatever they want to them. They would sell so many more than this business model of trying to maintain 30+ products that only do things slightly differently.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of 2/18/2010 many resellers are still shipping watches with a firmware that is over a year old that was fixed with a new firmware update over a year ago. MAKE SURE you call and get a watch with the latest firmware update or you will end up having to send it in for repairs on your own dime to get it fixed. Not to mention if you buy from the seller that Mychildrensstore points you to on this product, its not even covered under the Polar Warranty. Amazing that Polar has still not dealt with this issue. My info is based on a couple of posts on the Polar FT80 forum in the last couple of days. BUYER BEWARE!
Hopefully they will learn at some point. |
| |
|
Outstanding product |
|
After several weeks using this device, I can assure i am 100% satisfied with it. I would say it is impossible o workout without my polar on. It is precise measuring my heart beats and its design is awesome as well. I do not take it out even working because it seems as a normal watch.Polar FT80 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black) |
| |
|
Great for general fitness |
I have owned this product for 9 months, and it is my second Polar product. This watch has been a great purchase, and I am very satisfied with its performance. I use the watch for general fitness (6 workouts per week 3 cardio and 3 strength). The contrast is great for almost all situations (the backlight works for all others).
It provides great motivation to get my workouts in, and it keeps me honest when I don't.
Pros:
- The training program is a huge step forward - it monitors and adapts to your weekly activity level
- Strength training - I bought the watch for the strength training capabilities, and I am very satisfied. I like the ability to load workouts and see the recommended start times
- Data tracking - Polar does a great job of tracking all workout progress on the watch and on their website www.polarpersonaltrainer.com - the watch synchs easily to the site, and the available data is extensive and motivating
- Easy to read watch - I wear the watch unit most of the time
Cons:
- Swimming - the device doesn't work for me when swimming, the chest strap won't stay in place when I push off the walls - not allowing me to use the product in the pool
- Battery life - I've already had to replace the battery in the watch unit (my previous Polar is still on its first battery)... battery replacement was simple.
If I could use the watch while swimming, it would easily be 5 stars. |
| |
|
|
|
