Is this watch truly accurate when it comes to calorie counting?
1308166
It is not "truly 100% accurate" but cose enough for most people's needs. A device that accurately measures your calorie burn is expensive and cumbersome and would need to measure more than just your heart rate.
1308167
So I bought this watch and been using it for about 1 month. I can assure you that there is a difference on the caloric expenditure displayed on the cardio machine verses the one on the watch. But I made some research and really the POLAR watch seems to be the one to trust. The watch has info on height, weight, age, real-time heart rate monitoring so it has all the info needed to generate the actual caloric expenditure. On the machine however, usually the only 2 info you give is weight and age. At the end of the day, long story short, the POLAR FT7 is pretty much accurate and serves perfect for the individual who wants to monitor his/her caloric expenditure during any kind of aerobic exercise. I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!
1736543
Definitely. I use it for cross fit, which is heavy weights or kettle bells for multiple 30 second increments followed by 3 min of running/sprints. I can see where my max heart rate is (always when running) and see how fast my heart rate comes down when getting a drink between sets, etc. It's really a great watch and has outlasted all my past HRM!
284960
Yes. There is a weight setting and it does count your calories. What I like most is that you won't be overwhelm with features.
2218131
Yes, it is a fully functioning watch, which I have found to be very accurate.
1881747
Yes; the chest strap is the only way this watch can monitor your heart rate and calories. Without it, it's just a watch with functions you can't use
891392
Not really. I think it's more accurate but I also bought the wrist monitor because I can use it myself. My health aide uses the one on my arm
1992359
I have found mine to be very accurate, although sometimes it will be off usually about a quarter mile for a 10 miles ruen. I think it has more to do with the movement or adjustment of the satelites rather than the watch, since I have noticed on the peaks website that sometimes the course is really off and has me starting out in Lake Erie. There is not really much you can do about it and all brands pretty much use the same gps. If I am running a course for time, I always measure it by my bike or car for better accuracy. I did do a 10 mile race last fall and it showed 10.07 which was very good. Trees and turns or switchbacks can through it off as well.
757231
(9/4/2013) I think that may be something unique with the more expensive ones. I've found that with the cheaper ones, I have to wet my finger sometimes to get the rate to register. So far all my workouts have been rather sweaty but not overly heavy, so I guess it depends on how much sweat since I did read in the instructions not to submerge this one in water or take a shower with it or anything. I usually keep one of those dry sweat towels with me anyway (you know, the kind that wipe away your sweat but don't seem to ever get soaking wet no matter how much you wipe). I haven't had the watch for a full week yet, though, so let me put it through the wringer at my gym and out on the track a few times. Then I'll update on the results. Update: (9/18/2013) I've sweated up a storm with it and it keeps going. However, I'm a bit concerned with the accuracy of its measurements. I've had to set mine at the lowest sensitivity level possible and it still has a tendency to register almost double what a machine registers in burned calories. For example, I used the elliptical at my gym for an hour (using grips to register HR after having told it how much I weigh, etc.). I told the watch the same thing and used the finger pulse thing every 5-7 minutes during the workout. The HRs registered about the same on both the machine and the watch but the total calories burned was almost double by the time I made it to the end of the workout. My coworker bought one too, so I'm having her test hers out to see if she gets the same results then I'll report back again.
445656
I'm not aware that it will track calories burned, however, it is a great heart rate watch.
2103051
Mine does count steps.. isn't that what a pedometer does. ? Haha or at least I assumed that was my steps it's counting ! lol.. I basically needed the watch for the heart rate monitor. Really all I can comment on is how accurate and good it is for that! :)
977517
I'm guessing you mean the pedometer? I think it works as well as pedometers in general work. I've never owned a pedometer that was 100% accurate. I bought the watch for my dad so I haven't used it myself. He hasn't complained that it doesn't work but he feels like I do, not many pedometers are accurate.
1003792
No, this Pedometer is simple in that degree. Is very accurate in the amount of steps displayed as to the steps I take---I have counted the steps and then checked the Pedometer to see if the reading is the same and is pretty much right on.
791521
The answer is no but realistically there's no reliable calorie counter that is affordable. Besides it's irrelevant. Work out- burn calories.
1865829
Heart rate: yes, definitely.Calories: NO. (and I don't really believe the calorie tracking anyway, it depends too much on a individual's metabolism).
795843
Yes. The chest strap monitors your heart rate and that is how it calculates calories.
1324548
Yes. You enter your age, weight, gender, and height and the watch adjusts calories accordingly. However, you'll need to adjust the weight every couple months to account for weight gained or lost through your workouts to ensure the accuracy of the calorie counter. Well worth the investment.
252756
There is a mode on the watch that will provide the calories used along with a bar graft indicating the intensity of your workout... 1 bar light workout, 2 bar moderate, etc. As far as knowing the accuracy of the reading on calories - the caloric result is based on the amt of time and your heart rate at the end of your workout session. If your finger is not dry or at correct pressure on sensor of watch, you can get a misread on your pulse. It took me a little bit to get used to the sensitivity of the sensor. It is satisfying to get the caloric reading after working out or biking, whatever.