The Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor Review: Insist On Accuracy

Justin Mastine-Frost | Oct 17 2019 - 4:01 pm

Quick Take

Our health is very sensitive and can easily fluctuate. At the center of all bodily functions is the heart. Any changes in the health status affects the functioning of the heart and the body in general. By monitoring our heart activity, we can help maintain a healthy heart and identify any problems at an early stage. The best way of doing so is by using a heart rate monitor. One of the best HRM devices is the Polar FT4 heart rate monitor watch. This Polar FT4 heart-rate monitor review is intended to help you understand the gadget and its benefits better.

Pros

The heart rate monitor is hands free and does not necessarily require the press of a button. The device will reveal your heart rate data when the watch is raised close enough to the transmitter.

It is water resistant up to 30m and can therefore be used when swimming.

It is lightweight making it easy to use when exercising.

Cons

For accurate heart rate readings, you require to have the chest strap. This may be quite inconveniencing.

Lack of an application that allows for wireless transfer of data from the watch to either your PC or smartphone.

The Polar FT4 heart rate monitor

Monitoring your heart rate is important if you wish to maintain a healthy heart. We all known that the heart rate is affected by the exercises we perform, the intensity of the said exercises as well as the type of food we consume in terms of fats and calorie content. For these reasons, the Polar FT4 heart rate watch comes in handy. It is not only a health tracker to monitor your health, but it is also a fitness tracker that keeps track of your workout sessions and shows the effect they have on your heart.

Furthermore, the device will let you know how many calories have been burnt throughout your workout. So, if you are looking to have a healthy heart, then purchasing a heart rate monitor is the best move you could make.

Key features of the Polar FT4

The Polar FT4 has a wide range of features that enable the device to relay important and accurate readings. These features make the device effective, efficient and user-friendly. The common features of the FT4 HRM include:

The heart touch is the most unique feature on the FT4. This feature allows you to access your heart rate data without having to press any button. The working is quite simple. All one has to do is to place the watch near the transmitter and the watch automatically displays your data.

Unlike some of the HRMs that transfer data to their compatible application for viewing, the FT4 has a screen that enables you to view your progress in real time. Moreover, the screen displays more information such as the battery life which will notify you when the battery is low and may need replacement.

Smart Calorie Calculation

The device has a Smart calorie feature that calculates the calories burnt. This feature collects your personal data and uses it in its calculation.

The FT4 is inclusive of a heart rate chest strap that enables the device to make accurate readings and recordings. This ensures that the data relayed by the device is as accurate as possible for the benefit of knowing your actual heart condition.

The device has a target zone feature. This feature informs you when you have attained your target. This is done through an alarm that alerts the user.

The Polar FT4 heart rate monitor watch uses a replaceable battery with a life of 1 year.

Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor versus the Polar FT7 Heart Rate

Although both models are from the same Polar product series, they differ greatly in terms of their features and their individual capabilities. Notably, the FT7 has an added advantage over the FT4 due to the introduction of additional features as well as the use of more advanced technology. Unlike the FT4 that simply alerts you when you have attained your target, the FT7 has a smart coach feature that alerts you of when you should be exercising and when you need to rest.

The FT7 allows you to set your own targets unlike the FT4. The one thing notably missing from the FT4 is well incorporated in the FT7. The latter has a data transfer platform. This means that data can be transferred to either a Mac or a PC for viewing. The FT7 is also compatible with the PolarPersonalTrainer.com which has numerous benefits to the user. The FT4 allows for recording of only 10 sessions. However, the FT7 allows for up to 99 sessions. These are just but a few of the most common features that separate the FT4 from the FT7 model.

Word on the street

Customer reviews are an indicator of how the device is accepted by the public. In the case of the Polar FT4 received quite a number of positive remarks most of which were centered around its accuracy. Moreover, the customers were impressed with the level of simplicity and diversity the watch had to offer.

Many claimed that the device was user friendly. It was sighted that customers appreciated the light weight and the fact that the HRM watch also acted as a common watch. However, this was not to say that some customers did not have some complaints. The fact that this device did not have an application where data can be transferred for better viewing and analysis was one of the major disadvantages.

Final thought

If you are looking for a device that offers you diversity with accuracy at hand, then by choosing the Polar FT4 heart rate monitor watch, you have made the right choice. This affordable watch is more than a common watch. It offers a wide range of services from health monitoring to fitness tracking. This device perfectly fuses simplicity with accuracy to make it one of the best HRMs out there. Its unique feature such as the Heart touch add to the convenience that this gadget has to offer. Although it lacks quite a few features like the ones incorporated in the FT7, the FT4 has more than enough features at the price it is going for. This Polar FT4 heart rate monitor honest review has revealed that the FT4 has the capability of performing all basic functions of a heart rate monitor with accuracy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does this device have a training coach feature?

A: The Polar FT4 heart rate monitor watch does not have a training coach. It simply monitors your workout sessions and relays the data.

Q: Which type of battery does the Polar FT4 use?

A: The device uses a replaceable battery. This battery has a 1 year life term and requires changing once an year.

Q: Can the FT4 HRM work without the chest straps?

A: The answer is yes. However, the device may not give very accurate heart rate readings especially when there is vigorous body movement. This is where the chest strap comes in handy to monitor the heart rate and enable the device to get accurate readings.