What is the best heart rate monitor for rowers and scullers? That question was recently posed to the readers of rowingillustrated.com, a leading rowing bulletin board in the United States. Three models emerged as being popular with rowers and coaches. Which one you choose will depend upon the type of rowing training that you do. Here is our review of the Polar FS1 which came out tops for scullers and general fitness.
The POLAR FS1 is an entry level Heart Rate Monitor which is perfect for those who want the training benefits of heart rate monitoring, without spending a fortune on features that will never be used.
The Polar FS1 has a clear easy to read display which shows the time of day, heart rate (HR), exercise time and average HR. Easy one-button use makes the Polar FS1 extremely easy to use.
Polar FS1 Features:
* Wireless ECG accurate heart rate.
* Average heart rate of total exercise.
* Exercise Time.
* Heart rate (displayed as bpm).
* Visual and audible alarm in target zones.
* Manual target zone.
* Time of day.
* Stopwatch.
* Water resistant 50m.
* Polar T31 transmitter and elastic chest strap.
If you're looking to spend lots of money for lots of unneeded options then this is not the heart rate monitor for you. However if you want something that is simple to use, well thought out, and does what it says on the packaging this monitor could be a winner.
It comes from Polar, a well known and respected heart rate monitor manufacturer. It uses the popular Polar standard chest strap so reliability shouldn't ever be a problem. The strap itself is easy to adjust and is as comfortable as any other on the market.
The watch is ridiculously simple to operate as it has only a single button. The uncluttered display with extra large numbers makes reading the watch while erging or sculling very easy. Polar claims the batteries will last for 2 years with 1 hour of exercise use per day. Sadly after this you have to send the watch off to Polar for a battery replacement. While not expensive,it is an inconvenience, even if it does help maintain the unit's water resistance.
This watch is a great value way to complement the information the erg gives us, it provides simple feedback when we're sculling or running.
The only down side to this product is that it doesn't have Polar's shielding technology. This means that it is possible the monitor might pick up signals from other monitors being used in close proximity, like on the next erg, or other rowers in a team boat.
This is a very easy to use product, it does what is required at an unbelievably cheap price. However the lack of shielding technology and thus potential interference from similar devices means it is probably best suited to single scullers and those who tend to erg or work out by themselves. There are definitely better monitors out there, but with the Polar FS1 the price is most definitely right and you have to ask yourself - do I really need more?
