Polar FS3 Heart Rate Monitor (Grey)

 

 

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UPDATE - battery replacement
As my FS3C is out of warranty, I changed the battery myself. Using a cross point screwdriver for tightening the hinges on glasses, I removed the four back screws. The CR2025 battery is held by a clip that has to be removed to change the battery. Change the battery, replace the battery clip, line up the small coil spring in the corner with a small hole in a plastic disc on the back plate. Insert and tighten the four back plate screws. Press the button on the front and then reset the time, date etc. If you want to do it it's at your own risk. Unfortunately there isn't a way to replace the battery in the chest strap.

The April 2011 cost is not good value.

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 it lasted years of running,cycling, and much later, 3 years of Spin classes, so Polar build quality is good. I came back to exercise in 2006 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. I've inadvertantly wiped out data by pressing the button. Note that the stopwatch doesn't 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, it's 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 isn't 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;
* it only displays beats per minute and does not have an option to display the percentage of the maximum heart rate - for Spin classes, I use a card that gives percentage heart rate for beats per minute.

I wear glasses for reading so I need large digits in the display as I don't 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.

I haven't had problems with interference from people close by who were wearing heart monitors; the C in FS3C refers to 'coded'and signifies that interference shouldn't 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. 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 I've 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. Polar chestbands are compatible with Star-Trac and Life Fitness treadmills and cross-trainer equipment, also the Trixter Xdream, so it is very useful in my local SLM run and Fitness First gyms. Unfortunately, my T31C chest strap did not link with the Oregon Scientific WM100 data logger. The battery lasts about two years but the monitor has to be sent to Polar UK for that battery to be changed and it is expensive. The chest strap also has to be sent to Polar UK when the chest strap battery expires.

The FS3C doesn't have lots of features, and isn't compatible with Polar speed and distance footpods. However, this is a good buy for the average person new to using a heart rate monitor, provided that you are prepared for the cost of changing the battery, or use it as a stepping stone to a monitor with more features and the ability to change the battery yourself.

This is a great value heart rate monitor that works well, feels robust, and for the price, extremely good value.

One worry is that when checking the workout history, there was already 7 hrs on the system, suggesting this was perhaps a returned product. 7 hrs is well within the life of the watch and monitor, but I hope the batteries last for the full 2 years that the manufacturer recommended.

These watches are not intuitive generally, so if you're looking for just a heart rate, for simplicity get the FS1 or the update FT1.

Either way, amazon sell this at half the usual price and I would buy again.

The Polar FS3 does exactly what is meant to do, without any hustles. Its design, menu and large display consists a combination of a simple to use product.

Do not expect to find a rich set of features (GPS, calories calculator, lap-split timer etc). Its cost efficiency would not allow such a set of advanced features to be added!

Despite the single button available for all the selections, its smart menus allow the conveniency to use concept. However, I would prefer the existence of couple of buttons more! The later could allow the setting of the zones (for example) "on-the-fly"=while running, something that becomes impractical with the single button approach: you have to stop running in case the heart rate zones should be altered.

All-in-all: good solution for the begineers, or for those who do not want to spend lot of money but they would like to monitor their heart rates.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Heart Rate Monitor
This is a basic model heart rate monitor which is very easy to program and to operate. The single function button makes it less confusing than other models which may have multiple... Read more

Published 13 months ago by Mrs. C. De Silva

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Product
does everything it says it does.
was dubious about the one button, but it's the most simple system.
delivery was promt.
AWESOME

Published 14 months ago by gcmbt

5.0 out of 5 stars polar heart rate moniter
Great peice of equipment,I have used polar products for years,they are great value for money,easy to use and have a quality about them,buy with confidence I am sure you will not... Read more

Published 15 months ago by Dr Christian

3.0 out of 5 stars Jury's out!
This is the first heart rate monitor I have used and have only had it for a week but already feel that I should have spent a bit more on a better model. Read more

Published 16 months ago by Deborah Webber

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Excellent product and easy to use. "Does what it says on the tin", as they say..

Published 16 months ago by Mr. S. N. Manton

1.0 out of 5 stars not delivered
First time to have ordered an item that has not arrived, i waited for weeks for this item to be delivered as they say it could be due to problems with late delivery. Read more

Published 16 months ago by jane

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed
This is simply what I needed. It's easy to use and it works very well with the treadmill I use at the gym.

Published 17 months ago by F. Costaguta

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Happy
It does exactly what I want. The interface is a bit clumsy but it does the job and I guess not everyone is as good as apple!

Published 17 months ago by Baggins

5.0 out of 5 stars Good value!
Got this HRM a month ago.
It's a basic one for Polar but I only need to know my heart rate mins & max and have watch functions.
Good price, well chuffed!

Published 18 months ago by Nat Brooks

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