Polar F7

Wristband keeps breaking – This is a great watch and I love it but I'm onto my third watch as the plastic wristband keeps breaking. They work harden if you remove your watch a lot and eventually they break off. ...and eventually is within about six months. The bluetooth connection to the chest band works perfectly. I use it to monitor my heart while riding my bike "so the engine doesn't blow up on me!" Show details

very poor – i am on my 3rd polar watch, no more, they are unreliable, drop out, keep turning itself off and i need to reenter settings etc, and the batteries are vey expensive, there has to be a better product on the market as these are one of my worst purchases ever.

long lasting – i love this watch! its super easy to use and i have had it for several years and have never needed to change the battery. it has never given me a problem. totally recommend. great value!

Loss of heart rate – My Polar drops out continually. Like the other reviewer I have changed batteries with no change. Looking for a reliable Heart rate monitor for gym workouts but not sure which is the best!

Unreliable for me – I have bought two of these in the past. They are perfect while they work but both times mine have just stopped working. I change batteries and they work intermittently but it is so frustrating when they either don't work at all or worse, stop in the middle of a workout. Not sure what the problem is but don't want to have to keep buying new ones… Read more

every year. Having said this, it hasn't happened to other people so maybe it is just me. Love tracking the calories, easy to see at night with the light. Just did not last for me. Died after a year or so twice.

Great! – I got this off the polar website for around the $100 mark. I think it's an older model but it does everything I want. It tracks calories (day and weekly)and time exercised (day and weekly). I purchased it in silver and it looks stylish and unobtrusive at the gym. I've owned it for 3 years and have not had to change the battery in the watch at… Read more ·  1

all. The band you wear around your ribs is comfortable and the battery in it is easy to change yourself. Everything.

Excellent For What It's Designed For – I decided to replace my Polar FS1 with this, which I bought as a clearance item from the Polar web site. I gather it's not being sold any more, which is a pity because this watch is extremely good for its, admittedly narrow, intent -- showing heart rate and elapsed time. It allows setting up for heart rate zones, with programmable warning… Read more

beeps for going over or under your desired range. It has a back light, although it's a bit fidgety. The display shows heart rate and elapsed time, but can scroll through to show actual time by pressing a button.

The heart rate monitor is better than the single plastic one on the Polar F7, and the strap is excellent (indeed, there are some running sites recommending using the Polar strap with the Garmin transmitter unit -- as both fit!).

The start button sequence, although fidgety, is better than the stopping button sequence, which is totally un-intuitive. However, there are two buttons that allow you to scroll through menus and options.

After a run, it will show maximum and average heart rate. It also shows calories burned, although I am always skeptical about these algorithms.

Like the Polar FS1, you cannot change the watch's battery, although $20 to your local watch repairer should see you through.

Bottom line is -- a great little watch for its design intention of monitoring elapsed time and heart rate as you run. Well recommended, although, you will have to go to ebay to buy one as I believe Polar have stopped making them.

Addendum -- my running has progressed to a point where I'd like a GPS enabled watch and intend to get a Garmin 210. Stay tuned. Back light. Single display shows heart rate and time elapsed. Can programme some heart rate zones into it. Lightweight. Great heart rate monitor. Cheaper than Garmin FR110. No GPS (unlike more expensive Garmin FR110) and hence no distance or laps. The diagrammatic zone information looks like nonsense to me.