Customer Reviews

Polar F4 Women's Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Blue Ice)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I received this watch as a Christmas present in 2005. I have been using it for the past 6 months (average 2x per week). I spotted this exact watch but with yellowish straps at an expo from Polar after I got my watch for only 2 weeks and was diligent about keeping it clean, but to no avail, it turned yellowish after about 2 months and now it just looks dirty and old, the face is still the original "ice blue". If you are thinking about this watch, buy the black one.

After I started using it, I wished I went with another model since this one doesn't store any previous data. I track all my runs and sometimes I forget to record before my next run and I lose all my previous data once I press "start". In addition, it doesn't have a stopwatch. Once you press stop, it thinks you're done with your workout instead of just a pause or break so you can't track your actual total workout time. I just let it run even when I am at stoplights or water break. If lap feature is important, go with another model. Another complaint about this watch is that there's no backlight. I have to wait till I run under a street light to see my data. The data sheet said it has a backlight but I can't manage to find it.

Today both the buttons cracked and fell off my watch. Now it's useless.

I still have the most basic model from Polar (bought in 2000 and it's discontinued) that only monitors my HR and that thing still works because there's no buttons to push. Polar makes good HR monitor and I would still buy another one from them. Just not this one.

This watch is simple to use. The instructions are very easy to follow. It's fun being able to see my heart rate while I'm exercising. It works with the heart rate monitors on the equipment at my gym. I don't have to hold on to their handles. The signal is transmitted from this heart rate monitor to the treadmill, elyptical, or whatever, and shows up on the screne.
I wish the watch had a stopwatch and a light. No such luck.

I bought this watch several months ago. It is great for basic use and is easy to set up. Keeps accurate HR readings, and the fact that it estimates calories burned is great. It does store an exercise file of your last workout. This model does have a few drawbacks, though: 1. the light blue band turns yellowish from wear, so the black model would be better; 2. The one-touch button that activates the HRM activity is very easy to accidentally bump and turn on -- I woke up one morning and the HRM function had been running during the night; 3. When you lose weight and you go to adjust your user profile, it doesn't have a down function for weight, and you have to scroll up and all the way around to your lower weight; and 4. it doesn't have a backlight, so using it at night, in theatres, etc. doesn't work. The watch is a good size for women -- I've had other Polar models that were huge like men's watches. Overall, not bad for the price, but I will buy one with a few more features next time.

This is a great watch and it's why I got it for my wife for our anniversary last year. She likes to go walking so the heart rate feature was also a nice added feature. It has manual and automatic heart rate zones so you can find your target heart rate and then monitor from there to see your progress. It also has a stopwatch feature so you can time your walks as she does. For the price I think it's worth it as it has so many great features. She has really enjoyed it.

I trained for a marathon and several 10K races using a heart rate monitor. They are very good instruments for training and I recommend them to everyone who wants to lose weight or get in shape. After you've purchased one or two of them, you become a better shopper. I purchased an F-4 for a friend, and I was very, very disappointed in the battery life when I found out how soon the battery in the main unit wore out. Some of the newer heart monitors - Nikon for one- have user replaceable batteries so you can save a lot of money and time replacing batteries after one or two years.

Love this hr monitor. Easy to set and allows me to get the most out of my workouts. It is also very rewarding to see the calorie burn at the end of each workout. It asks for your height, weight and gender, and calories burned are predicated upon your specific data, rendering it much more reliable than estimates from most pedometers and gym equipment. My personal trainer recommended this brand (this is what she owns as well), and although you may see flashier, more attractive monitors, they will not be as reliable or user-friendly.

I am very impressed with the F4. It is very easy to use and a good basic heart rate monitor. It is easier to program than my F6, and it fits better.

Polar makes the best HR monitors, and it works with all their chest straps - coded and uncoded, and even with ones that are not from them. I have Vision Fitness exercise equipment, and the strap works with their HR function. Sometimes I strap the watch to the equipment so I can read while I exercise, and I'm able to continually see the HR without constantly changing the view on the equipment.

The color is more of a gray color than an ice blue, so it goes with just about anything you wear. I'm really looking forward to using this unit while I go out and do my walks this spring!

I can't imagine buying anything else but Polar. This is my third watch and all three of them are still working well.

Works great, easy to set up, and transmits your heart rate to gym equipment. I love the calories burned feature of the monitor, it validated something I've long suspected - the elliptical machines at my gym overestimate calories burned by approximately 30% and the treadmills underestimate by almost 40%... I WAS actually running very hard!

I'm sorry I didn't get this months ago...

Gift for wife who works out at 5:30am. Primarily because it would support her current routine: Lots of Aerobics.
Nice that it's compatible with many of the treadmills/ steppers...

Easy to set-up and use. Medium chest strap fits her, (size 4) and adust to fit me as well(42'' chest. had to try it). Got this primarily because of design, color. Ofcourse the features are very important, and I trusted that this model had most of the valued features in HRM's.

I've owned Polars before, and it helped me maintain a great workout schedule. My wife uses it everyday, and really enjoys the summary feature which recaps the week totals.

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.