Mac and Heart Rate Monitor

The newer Garmins are mac friendly.

You don't need to be able to upload data to your computer in order to use a HRM effectively.  In fact, I frankly don't see what the benefit of that is, apart from satisfying the need to geek out on training toys.  (And I am a total geek...)  Know what zone you are aiming for at various points in a workout, and check the HRM occasionally to be sure you are there.  There's not much more to it than that, IMO.

And as for HRM alarms, I personally think they are a bad idea, because conditions during a workout (temperature, hydration, length and intensity of workout, etc.) can have a real influence on your zones.

Just my 2c based on my own experience, not general knowledge.

Good points! Thank you.

So I think it is down to the Garmin FR60 and the Polar F11.

(http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Fitness-Watch-Heart-Monitor/dp/B001S2RCXC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1247979037&sr=8-1)
(http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Monitor-Pepper-Design/dp/B00137UKT0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1247979073&sr=8-2)

The Polar seems to have a more comfortable chest strap and some nice features for training.  It looks as if it calculates your zone for each training session, which could be very useful.  However, you still need to buy a separate tool to transfer data to your computer --- and this doesnt seem to work well on PCs (looking at the forum) and they definitely do not support a MAC.

The Garmin comes with a computer link device and has great support for MACs. No automatic zone calculators or fitness tests like the Polar though.

thoughts?

I don't have a polar, so I can't comment on the software specifically, but I'd be wary of any canned program that calculates your HR zones.  HR is something that varies from person to person, and as already mentioned varies based on temperature, stress, and who knows what else. 

Since someone already brought it up, I'm becoming less and less interested in hearing my HR monitor alarms while I'm training.

I'm not familar with Polar units but I really like my Garmin.  I'm not familar with the FR60 but I do have a Forerunner 50 which appears similar in that it doesn't have GPS and comes with the same accessories. I love it.  Not sure what an automatic zone calculator or a fitness test is, but my Garmin shows my zones, which can be set in the program (I think either manually or based on age/weight, etc).  There are also fitness 'programs' or workouts that can be uploaded onto the device for specific workouts. Again, never used the Polar HR strap but havent had a single problem with the Garmin one, and I think all Garmins use the same strap design.

Ignoring all that business it looks like you have answered your question - it seems you want a unit that will work with your Mac and clearly doesn't look like the Polar will. Obviously there is no point in spending that much on a HRM if you cant utilize the fancier features...otherwise you could buy a super cheap one that dosen't log/record any information.

Just my 2 cents, Garmin for the win!

Edited by blindman10 2009-07-19 12:36 AM

If you're looking for something that's truly downloadable in a reliable way I'd go for a Garmin. Even with PCs the Polars can be a little funky. I had an S725X for a long time that I used with a cheapie windows laptop and it still wasn't the most reliable.

The Forerunner 305 is a great unit that works with the Mac, has a lot of training options including target zone and pace, and multisport (run/bike) capabilities. And I happen to have a used one that'll be available very soon for cheap, once my 310XT shows up...

Edited by DrPete 2009-07-19 8:40 AM

thanks for all the advice everyone.

so the only thing pulling me toward the polar is the OwnZone feature.

http://www.howtobefit.com/polar-ownzone-feature.htm

Just as many had mentioned, your target zone can change daily. Apparently, this can compensate for that.  Or is it all just useless?

thank you again

I wanted to add. .... (couldnt edit previous post)

That apparently the Polar compensates for daily zone differences through heart rate variability during your warm up.

Yes, this OwnZone thing, does sound gimmicky.  But if it actually does what it says, couldnt it be very useful? Especially for a beginner?

thank you all

It may be useful, but I don't have it and am doing fine :-)

Personally sounds like a gimmick to me...but I would like to know how exactly it determines your zones based on your warm-up.

I will revert back to my last comment, the Polar might have some fancier gimmicks and what not, but thats all quite useless if you can't upload anything to your computer imo. My Garmin doesn't tell me my HR zones but it hasn't taken me long to figure out optimal HR zones for the workout I am doing.

Just my two cents, take it for what its worth. 

thanks blindman10 -

you are absolutely right. 

So, I just made an account on both the polar website and the garmin. And wow, the garmin website for storing and analyzing data blows polar out of the water!  I was really impressed.  It is really a polished website. The data also isnt propietary.  (Of course, I havnt uploaded and/or analyzed any data on either site)

To be fair, I did read that the Polar F11 can indeed interface with a Mac (via parallels -meaning you have to install windows- and then transmission via the microphone) Seems like a lot of trouble to just get data up to a sub-par website.

So, I think that settled it ---- Garmin it is.

Im hoping I can learn what I need to from the articles on this site and the community advice!  (hence, no need for the "gimmicks"---- Im hoping... )




Edited by DantesROC 2009-07-19 10:24 PM

I use a polar and upload my data to my MacBook Pro. Although I do run my Mac using windows when I need to use the Polar software.

If your Mac has a pentium duel processor you can use Boot Camp or purchase parallels and jump back and forth between Mac and Windows. You will need to purchase windows to load onto your Mac. I purchased a new copy of XP off of ebay for around $50. Easy to do and it allows me to use the functionality of my HR monitor on my Mac. Any of the techs at an Apple store can walk you through this.

Hope this helps

It cannot do what it says, and shame on them for coming up with this gimmick.  Your HR is effected by all sorts of things -- temperature, hydration, how well you slept last night, drift, etc..., and these things affect different people in different ways.  If you are going to train by HR, you really need to learn systematically how your HR is affected by conditions, and how drift occurs for you, and adjust accordingly.  Doing so takes time and careful observation and some thinking.  It is also worth doing, IMO, because you learn a lot about yourself in the process.  And the nice thing is that the only gear you really need to do it is a simple HRM.  The rest is fluff.  If it's fun for you to have the fluff, then go for it, but don't lose sight of the real goal, which cannot be achieved by a gadget.  My 2c.

The Ownzone feature is completely worthless. I have a Polar F11 and don't use that feature at all. It's a fine, basic HRM, but the thing I don't like about it is that it does not have a lap function, so in a race, I have to press a bunch of buttons if I want to keep swim, bike, and run data separate.