Both Garmin and Polar have been in healthy competition for quite some time now in the heart rate monitor market. Though the Polar Company have had an upper hand over all its rivals, Garmin have fast become a force to be reckoned with. Polar have been around since the first EKG monitor came out in 1977. By the early 90’s, they had people running for their products. Garmin on the other hand were originally in the GPS market but have focused their resources to this industry and it has paid off. This year alone, they are releasing two new heart rate monitors, the Garmin FR60 and 310XT. The following is a short review on the Garmin 310 and the FT80 Polar Heart Watch.

Garmin 310 Overview

This Garmin monitor is going to be the first swim-proof heart rate monitor with GPS capabilities. It will revolutionize the world of heart monitors. It accurately displays training and heart rate data on its wide display screen. The other great thing about this monitor is that it reads both cycling and running data too. This makes it an ideal tool for triathletes who need all the data they can get. It also fits comfortably on the handlebars of bikes.

Polar FT80 Overview

The FT80 Polar Heart Watch is a stunning piece of technology. Its revolutionary designs set it above most other competitors. The FT80 is definitely no ordinary heart rate monitor with innovative features such as the inbuilt training computer. This helps the user get the maximum efficiency out of their workouts ensuring no time and energy is wasted. It has target zones to monitor heart rate in averages and has Polars’ unique OwnZone and ZonePointer features. These ensure that you stay within the limits of your workouts. In some ways, it is a safety measure.

Downside

The downside to both the Garmin 310 and the FT80 Polar Heart Watch is price. They both carry quite a price tag. The other problem that may get to users is size. Both the heart monitors look like oversized watches. However, these are not design flaws.

Overall Assesment

Overall, the 310 and FT80 are great all round instruments and either one will surely get your heart pumping. The FT80 Polar Heart Watch is an ideal indoor training tool while the 310XT works perfectly outdoors. So if you are looking for strength, quality and durability, either one of these Garmin or Polar monitors would do fine for you.

Tagged with: •

Filed under: GPS Reviews

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!