Customer Reviews

Mio Shape Select Heart Rate Monitor Watch

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I purchased this monitor to avoid having to wear a chest strap during my workouts. I thought that the strap would be uncomfortable and I like the idea of just touching the face of this monitor and getting my heartrate. The first time I used it, I had little difficulty. It is easy to program, gives an adequate amount of info for the average fitness routine and relatively comfortable. However, once I started my first workout, I encountered some problems. This monitor is difficult, if not impossible, to use while running. You must stop or slow down considerably to allow your fingers to make a decent connection with the sensors. It took me a few tries to get a reading, by which point my heartrate had dropped. I had the same difficulty while spinning. I was not able to keep track of my heartrate until I was sitting and in recovery. This isn't really convenient in a standing climb where you're trying to reach a target and can't tell where you're at until you're finished. Plus, I wasn't always able to get a reading the first time and had to try again, and sometimes again, leaving me with a less than accurate reading.

I still really like the convenience of this item, however it doesn't seem to work for the type of exercise I'm doing. It seems like a great HRM for those who don't like a chest strap and are doing low impact activities or interval programs that allow for some down time in which to get a reading. However if you are involved in continuous or high impact movement, I wouldn't recommend it.

This watch/heart rate monitor is great and is a lot more convenient than the chest strap type. Good functionality and form. Best one on the market since Casio stopped making their pulse rate watch. Recommended for runners and bikers. I don't use the calorie counter as it requires you to take the booklet with you!

This watch/monitor fits the bill in almost every respect - sturdy, easy to read (old eyes!) and operate, and highly useful in a variety of settings. However, it is not especially water- or sweat-proof, and I killed the first one in just a little over a year of daily wear. First the buttons went dead, then the LCD fritzed. However, there is nothing on the market like this in this price range, so I am going back to buy another!

I have researched a lot of heart monitor watches, and Polar seemed to be everywhere. But, the more I read the more I found things I didn't like, so I kept looking and found the MIO.

The Sport and Ultimate are the same watch, but the Ultimate comes with the chest monitor and the Sport you have to purchase seperately. Depending on YOUR workout you can decide which is best for you.

Let's start with the cons because most people reading a reveiew (like I did) want's to know what people using the watch find an issue with.
* Like all these monitors you need to take some time upfront to set the watch up. This applies to all of the watches. Good news with teh MIO is the heart rate monitor works out the box and at your fingertips.

* Rate is hard to get a reading from when running, you need to slow down to a jog to fingers in place to get a good reading, takes 5 seconds. Great if you stop to rest, traffic signals, after run, etc

* Need to read the instructions well to get the calorie count

* Water resistance to 10 M (30 feet) so if you go into the ocean a lot may be an issue.

* No back light

Pros

* Easy to read dial when working out. The up and down arrows also help you target your heart rate better by speeding you up or slowing you down

* Monitor works very easily and is accurate. I have not had a false reading yet

* Chest monitor is GREAT! I work out outside, but also go to the gym and use the tread mill and stationary bikes. The chest monitor works well and all the equipment reads the chest monitor and displays on the work out equipmpent. This allows me to focus on work out. The watch also shows the rate with up and down arrows keeping you within your target range (which you set). If you do cardio in the gym get the chest monitor.

* Chest monitor is very comfortable to wear also.

* Face dial large enough to read easily, but the watch is small enough to wear everyday. About the size of a Timex Ironman watch.

* Lots of features to use, but standard watch features are good too.

Bottom Line

The monitor has all the features of the much more expense monitors sold by other companies. Has very few real cons, and it works well, is comfortable to wear, and is a great value.

I'm a fitness instructor and I have my participants take their heart rate several times during our aerobic workout. Since I have to count the seconds for them, this allowed me to monitor my own heart rate at the same time.

Also, for new folks who couldn't find their heart rate consistently I'd have them wear my watch. It seemed to give them confidence and help them ease into finding their heart rate on their own.

After my classes ended I recommended this watch to several students who want to continue to easily monitor their herat rate during individual work-outs.

I wanted a heart monitor to give me a better idea of my calorie burn. First, the actual calorie burn according to the watch is much less than my treadmill or elliptical, so that is interesting. Second is my only concern with the watch, it doesn't always register heart rate. If I'm running or on the elliptical I really have to slow down or stop to get it done. Then if it doesn't register, it slows me down more so it is frustrating because my heart rate slows down. Also, occasionally it rates low, below resting heart rate. That results in incorrect overall information. I don't use it on my equipment anymore since I know about what the difference is. But it is still useful when I am doing outdoor activities and want the feedback.

It seems to be pretty accurate and reads my bpm after about 4-5 seconds. I have had to lick my fingers before when too dry.

I paid about 39 dollars for it at walm@rt so I am even happier with it lol. I had bought a sport previously and paid $50 for it and it takes about 10 seconds to read.

All in all, this has been a good piece and is accurate enough for my HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts. You can even get your reading from any screen of the watch. Just hold the buttons and wait.

I am enjoying for the first time the freedom of monitoring my heart rate no matter where I am. At the Airport while waiting in line or going through the security. More importantly, while working out, lifting weights. During aerobics, awesome. I really appreciate this watch.
Bill

I bought this watch after much research. I wanted a heartrate monitor watch that didn't have a chest strap. This is about as basic as you can get, but it isn't short on features. Stopwatch, calorie count (based on your weight and heartrate when exercising), alarm, etc. The only complaints I have, and please keep these in context, is that it's a bit of a pain to check your heartrate while exercising when you have to place your index and middle finger on the tabs. Sometimes, I can't get a reading, but with a simple adjustment of the watch (sliding it up or down an inch) and can usually get one. When I'm in the middle of a run, the last thing I want to do is fuss with anything (watch, ipod, shoe, sock...). If a little fuss means I don't have to have a strap around my chest, I'm all for it!

One little feature I really love about this watch is the strap. Mio designed it so that the strap doesn't have pins where it connects to the watch. The watch actually slides into the strap, and with replacement straps coming in different colors, gives it some fashion hope. It's still an ugly fitness watch, but one with some options!

I bought this thinking it would be great not to have a chest strap during my spin class...the problem is that it is impossible to keep checking my heart rate and then setting it to get an accurate heart/calorie reading. This is NOT a continuous heart rate monitor. I don't know about anyone else but there isn't alot of opportunity to STOP in a spin class!! If you are walking or cleaning house it would work but not for any intense cardio workout. I'm going back to the chest strap!