F 4 Blue Ice :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

It's OK but it could use some enhancements

2008-05-02
I've had the Polar F4 watch for 5 months now and I use it regularly. I would say it's OK for basically knowing where your heart rate is when exercising, but it could use some enhancements, such as: a back light (helpful when you take an exercise class in a room with the lights dimmed - spinning, yoga, etc); ability to check your heart rate and not have it counted towards your weekly exercise totals; ability to delete a bad / erroneous heart rate reading. What I mean for the last two is the watch only records your heart rate when you engage it in exercise mode. Once it's in exercise mode for more than 5 seconds, that reading counts. That session and its duration and heart rate reading are added to your weekly totals. Well sometimes I don't want to add a heart rate reading toward my totals. But there's no option for deleting it or not saving it. A useful reason for having the ability to check your heart rate reading without having it count towards your exercise totals is to get a reading of your resting heart rate, when you are not exercising. You can use your resting heart rate as a basis to calculate your maximum target heart rate.
Another issue is that lately the watch a) freezes up and doesn't respond to the buttons and b)doesn't read my heart rate at all or stops reading it mid way in the middle of an exercise session. I can't understand why because I make sure the chest belt is secured in place and I'll repeatedly even tighten it and press and hold the chest belt to my chest. This is annoying because I have to pay more attention to what the watch is doing than paying attention to the exercise class - defeats the purpose of exercising. This only started happening when I started using the watch 5 to 7 days/ week, ironically when I need it most. In summary, I would say it's an OK watch if you are not relaying heavily on the readings. But if you do and you need it 7 days/week at high intensity workouts, look into getting a more advanced model.

Great product for a good price.

2008-04-04
I was looking for a simple heart rate monitor for use in the gym and on the running trail - this one was exactly what I needed! Easy to set up and use. My only complaint is the chest strap is slightly uncomfortable, especially during heavy breathing while working out. I suspect this is more due to my particular anatomy/size (on the small side) than anything as it feels like it is pressing my xiphoid (the point at the bottom of your sternum) into my heart, but I'm sure it's not ;) In most people I am sure it lays more comfortably on the chest. Overall I would definitely purchase it again and recommend it to anyone!

Great Heart Monitor

2008-01-24
I just purchased this product and had a great time using it. I was able to know when I was working out within my target heart range, and it alarms if I go above or below where I need to be.

I also love that it tracks my calories, so its great for cardiovascular fitness as well as weight loss.

You do have to wear a chest band but its not bothersome at all. You don't even notice it once you put it on. I have no complaints about this purchase.

A Lemon?

2008-01-09
I've had my women's F11 for about a year and have sent it back once for repairs, and suspect it will be going back again soon. Polar is pretty slow with agreeing things need to be fixed, but they did repair it free of charge. When it works, it works well and is comfortable and user-friendly, but if you buy it, save your receipt!

loved it so much I bought one for a friend

2007-12-28
I've had one for about a year and found it user friendly and dependable. I've owned several and this one has been much more dependable than the others. I bought one for a friend trying to lose weight. Love it. The product arrived in a timely fashion.