I'm looking to buy a sports watch that gives time, calories burnt and any other aspect that deals with exercise. Any suggestions?
Any watch that is going to give you an accurate idea of calories burned has to include your heart rate. How you go from there really depends on what kind of exercise you are doing and what else you want to know.
I have a Garmin 405 (www.garmin.com) that I really like for running. It has GPS, and with the additional foot-pod provides cadence info as well. The info up-loads wirelessly to either a Mac or PC, and then to the web where you can track and review.
Prior to my Garmin I had a Polar heart rate monitor (www.polarusa.com) without the GPS, however I do believe they have GPS add-ons for some models. They have a full range of models, from basic to advanced so you can likely find one for any budget. The upside to polar is most cardio equipment in gyms that can display HR use polar, so it will display on the treadmill, elliptical, etc. I doubt the display calories are adjusted for exertion - but at least you can make sure you’re in the right zone.
3 Answers
I use the Timex Personal Trainer with Heart Rate monitor (www.timex.com). It was the highest rated heart rate monitor by Consumer Reports and you can still find them at shops for around $60. It is simple to use, easy to setup and reliable. It is even compatible with all cardio equipment at my gym allowing me to view my heart rate on the treadmill and elliptical screens. It gives you your current heart rate, highest reached, average over time and total calories burned. It does lack GPS and other additional features so if you are interested in that type of data, you will want to look at other models.
I had never monitored my heart rate during exercise until about 6 months ago. Now, my workouts are much more effective. I recommend purchasing a heart rate monitor.
Hey there, this is Jake from Garmin and I wanted to make sure you knew about the Forerunner 405CX. Evolving from the original 405 that Matthew mentioned, 405CX uses algorithms developed by exercise scientists and world-class athletes to monitor the micro changes in a user’s heart rate and better calculate the number of calories burned during aerobic activity. Whether out running, on a bike, in step class or on a hike, Forerunner 405CX users will get instant gratification as they see the results of their hard work. Short of being hooked up to machines monitored by doctors in lab coats, this is about as accurate as you're going to get. Forerunner 405CX
Don't hesitate to shout if you have any questions, and you can get other Garmin news, tips and tricks by following me on Twitter at Twitter.com/JakesJournal.
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Any watch that is going to give you an accurate idea of calories burned has to include your heart rate. How you go from there really depends on what kind of exercise you are doing and what else you want to know.
I have a Garmin 405 (www.garmin.com) that I really like for running. It has GPS, and with the additional foot-pod provides cadence info as well. The info up-loads wirelessly to either a Mac or PC, and then to the web where you can track and review.
Prior to my Garmin I had a Polar heart rate monitor (www.polarusa.com) without the GPS, however I do believe they have GPS add-ons for some models. They have a full range of models, from basic to advanced so you can likely find one for any budget. The upside to polar is most cardio equipment in gyms that can display HR use polar, so it will display on the treadmill, elliptical, etc. I doubt the display calories are adjusted for exertion - but at least you can make sure you’re in the right zone.