Polar A5 Heart Rate Monitor Review

I bought the Polar A5 Heart Rate Monitor just over a year ago ago. I enjoy hiking, bicycling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. I bought the A5 on a whim but it has become an indispensable companion on my outings. It's helped me turn my hikes, bikes, etc. into real workouts instead of just ambles through the mountains. I was in pretty good shape to start with, but having the monitor there to push me has helped me drop a couple inches (love handles) around my waist.

First off, I should warn you that the A5 can do a lot more than the rinky-dink models that come in cereal boxes and Happy Meals which means programming it and learning to use it will actually involve reading the directions. In the beginning, I accidentally deleted my files a couple times, and it took me several outings before I fully realized this heart rate monitor's capabilities.

Here are some of the features off the top of my head:

It shows your current heart rate and your target heart rate zone. It rewards you with little dots for every 10 minutes you spend in your target zone. A little alarm goes off if you go out of your zone, either too high or too low. That feature can be turned off though.
It displays calories burned based on the body weight you program in and your heart rate.
It doubles as a clock, showing date and time in normal mode.
After the workout is over, you can see what your average heart rate was. It displays your BMI (body mass index) as well.
The A5 has a walk test which if you do periodically will help you measure your progress and your overall fitness level.
Easy to activate backlight which is nice if you workout in the evenings or take classes where they dim the lights.

In short, using the Polar A5 Heart Rate Monitor is like having a personal trainer in your pocket.

I know you are thinking, ok, but what are the cons?

Well, the Polar A-series monitors are designated for beginners, so there's a chance I could grow out of this one or want something with more features in the future. I guess it depends how hardcore you are. Try the Polar M-series if you need more as those are targeted at intermediates/pros. Or check out some other brands. I chose Polar because they are known for putting out quality heart rate monitors and I have not been disappointed. Another review I read recommended the Sports Instruments ECG 5 Zone Trainer Pro as sort of a next step up which is something I may also look into as it seems to provide more features.

The only other thing I want to mention is that chest strap is pretty comfortable but it does lose some of its elasticity after repeated use. Not so much that I worry about it falling down but it's not as snug. Also, I don't think you can replace the battery in the chest strap.

Considering the A5 cost me less than $100 I'll probably just buy a new heart rate monitor when this one wears out rather than worrying about replacement parts down the line--I've already gotten hundreds of hours of use out of it.

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Review submitted by ZoneMan5

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