💓 Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor with Power Systems, Exercise Training Watch in Black/Silver (92018) Review

Background: I bought the FT7 when I owned the FT4 for many years, problems started. I love the FT4 and just wanted to replace it, but the Revain is now $183. I don't want or need all the fancy stuff available with modern HRMs - just heart rate, calories burned, and average BPM. While FT7 has a lot of modern stuff, it has simple elements that I wanted to make easily accessible. I use a T31 chest strap on my FT4. Elegant design, easy to put on and take off. I do aqua aerobics so waterproofness is

First, my online research shows that Polar is currently the only company that makes heart rate monitors that use the signal from the chest strap at a low radio frequency (RF) rate of 5000 cycles per second (i.e. at 5kHz ). When swimming, only these low frequencies can penetrate the water, which is why I believe Polar devices are the only real-time swimming HRMs with accurate chest ECG sensors. My Polar FT7 has been very accurate and reliable all year round, sailing several miles a week. I know…

Actual score: 3.3 rounded up. Actual rating reflects my previous experience with Polar products and how this product compares. The rounding is done out of respect for those who have little or no experience with heart rate monitors. I've been training with Polar monitors for over a decade. This was my first purchase of the newly upgraded versions where you can replace the batteries yourself. So before this model I had about 6 Polar models. I've never had to completely replace a Polar, but I've…