BEST MONITOR DEVICE???

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2008-10-02 1:35 PM

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Evansville
Subject: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???

I am in the market for a device that can track my cadence, distance, heart rate, max, min, avg. calories etc. etc. etc.   I need one that can work on a bike...work with running...AAAANNNDDDD work  in the WATER.  I have looked at all the Garmins and I cant seem to find one that can work ACCURATELY in water also.  I have a budget of $400.00 roughly.  Depends on if I tell the wife lol....ANY INPUT IS MUCH APPREICIATED!!!!!

 

THANKS 

RANDY



2008-10-02 4:45 PM
in reply to: #1712423

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Master
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Lafayette, IN
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
The Polar 400SD would be worth looking at.  I think I am going to ask for one for Christmas.
2008-10-02 7:24 PM
in reply to: #1712423

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Evansville
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
Thanks...ill keep that in mind.  I am wanting something I can use for all three phases....mainly one that is effective IN WATER....thx though
2008-10-02 7:50 PM
in reply to: #1712423

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, Texas
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
I'm pretty sure what you are looking for doesn't exist. IMHO, the Garmin is the closest and will be accurate if you put it in a zip-lock bag under your swim cap (as long as you're not swimming backstroke).
2008-10-03 9:47 AM
in reply to: #1712423

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Chenequa WI
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???

Try the new Polar RS800cx with running and biking pods.  It meets your requesirements but will be more than $400 with all of the pods...

I am in the market for a device that can track my cadence CHECK

distance CHECK

heart rate CHECK

max, min, avg. calories etc. etc. etc  I need one that can work on a bike...work with running...AAAANNNDDDD work  in the WATER.  checkity check check ....

2008-10-03 10:17 AM
in reply to: #1712423

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Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
I checked the Polar web site and neither the RS400sd or RS800cx multi mention anything about swimming or waterproof. I have the gamin 305, does need a cadence for the bike and only a foot pad for treadmill, etc.

Would love a waterproof devise for all the events, but don't think it exists......yet.

2008-10-03 10:45 AM
in reply to: #1712423

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Evansville
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
wow..that really sucks.  I would love something that I could use on each event, I really need a way to figure out ,accurately, how far I am going, calories, speed, etc etc. in the water.  What I will probably have to do is break down and buy a separate type of watch/monitor.
2008-10-03 11:09 AM
in reply to: #1715379

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Chenequa WI
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???

randym - 2008-10-03 10:17 AM I checked the Polar web site and neither the RS400sd or RS800cx multi mention anything about swimming or waterproof. I have the gamin 305, does need a cadence for the bike and only a foot pad for treadmill, etc. Would love a waterproof devise for all the events, but don't think it exists......yet.

 I have the RS800cx and the manual lists it, although I don't see the manual on their site, yet.  The watch is water resistant to 50 meters. 

Look under the "full features" on their US site: http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/products/running_multisport/RS800CX

You can also see it on their comparison chart: http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/products/compare.

 

 

2008-10-03 11:14 AM
in reply to: #1712423

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Evansville
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
I wonder if a person should just use a swimming watch as opposed to trying to tie it in with the rest of the stuff??
2008-10-03 11:18 AM
in reply to: #1712423

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Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???

I guess it really matters on how effective you want it to be while swimming. Pretty much any of Polar, Timex, Suunto, Garmin 50, etc will give you the stopwatch functionality swimming. The older Polar (with T-31/61 HR straps), Garmin 301, and Timex should also give you HR data while swimming. All of these newer ones that use the 2.4Ghz signal (Polar WIND, Garmin 305/50, Suunto) will probably not have usable HR data while swimming.

The Polar 800 & Garmin (with footpod, not sure about the 50) are the only ones that can give you running cadence.

I don't believe any to be very accurate with regard to calories, although the Polar is pretty good IF you have a good estimate of your VO2Max. Garmin's can be way off to right on and is frustrating to many.

I, personally have a 305 and feel it is by far the best bang for the buck. I have previously had a nice Polar (S610?) and Suunto T6. For racing, I've done the under the cap thing but I'm too worried my cap will come off. I usually just swim sans stopwatch as I know about where I'm going to be after the swim. For my last race, I wore a stopwatch for the swim and shoved it in my tri-top pocket while running to T1. If I really needed to see my total time, I could have just pulled it out while running, but I had other things on my mind than how long I was suffering

 

2008-10-03 12:20 PM
in reply to: #1712423

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Evansville
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
Haha, I see.   I guess that is what I will eventually do.  Just buy a swim watch and then a monitor set for biking and running.  Question though, I dont have a bike yet, I dont plan on buying one until the first week of March, mainly because I plan on spending 3-4k on a bike.  So in the meantime in training I will be specifically doing my bike training on the bikes at the gym, can these monitiors still monitor me on the mechanical bike system as far as cadence etc??

2008-10-03 2:07 PM
in reply to: #1712423

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Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
The garmin 305 can not be used on a indoor bike. The speed/cadence sensor is mounted to the bike. There is a foot pad you can buy to use on treadmills. The one good thing with the 305 is the multi-sport function. It can track bike, T2 and run. You can add swim and T1, but I'm sure I would risk the device in the water.
2008-10-03 3:05 PM
in reply to: #1716045

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Expert
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Chenequa WI
Subject: RE: BEST MONITOR DEVICE???
swain - depends on the type of bike you have at your gym.  Some places will have bikes with a PowerTap hub.  Also, I have noticed two places in my area that have recently added Computrainers that you can see your real time rpms, watts, heart rate and efficiency rating.
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