Heart Rate Monitor Recommendation?

[zootMutant]

My trusty Suunto T6C died after many years of faithful service and I'm having a hard time finding a replacement. Maybe I'm just too picky. Or too old.

Here's what I'm looking for:

1. A display that I can wear on my wrist, with
2. Current heart rate

Bonus points for:

1. Time within different training zones
2. Training Effect
3. PC-based software that can show HR over time

What I do *not* want:

1. An 'app' for a cell phone
2. Web-based software
3. Requirement that I create a account in order to 'activate' my purchase
4. Internet-enabled device
5. A subscription service

Does anybody make these anymore?

[Iain]

Zoot, I use an AP so can't help, but great to hear from you again, so what training have you been upto and what are your plans / objectives?

[Ian Bee]

Hi Zoot, hope all well and I'd also be interested to read how you're getting on.

I'm afraid all the devices I've ever used fall foul or either needing a smart phone, and account and/or a subscription.....

Is this for rowing specifically or wider fitness use?

[JonT]

Before the T6C died, how did you get the data off it?

In theory I could use my Wahoo Tickr to directly connect to my Garmin wath. That would give you the data that you seem to want, but it's an expensive solution - you would basically be paying for all of the features you explicitly don't want

[zootMutant]

Pretty rude of me to ask a question and then vanish.

Fact is, I was very busy at the time, then completely forgot I posted the question.

Anyway, thanks for your feedback Iain, Ian, and Jon.

I eventually went with a Polar FS-2 which I bought off eBay as "New, old stock". The battery was dead and I had to take it to a watch repair shop to get it changed, but it's been working fine ever since. I think the FS-2 is what I used in 2010 before I started using the Suunto (but maybe that was the FS-1, I can't remember). It displays real-time HR and, after the workout, average HR and max HR. It should pair with the C2, but I haven't tried that yet.

I use it mainly for hiking. If it is hot or humid, I cap my heart rate at 130.

What have I been doing? Plans and objectives?

The whole pandemic thing really hit me hard (like everyone else, I imagine), and it's taken me a while to get my act together. I've been hiking for about a year, slowly building up to 2x per week (each hike is 6-15 mi, with 2,000'-4,500' elevation gain). About 6 months ago I added balance and flexibility training, and about 6 weeks ago I added in strength training.

The most disheartening thing about being 60 is that it takes so long to recover from any sort of workout. Long gone are the days when I could do a weight session in the morning and then a cardio session in the evening! Even so, I would like to get in some intervals and I've been toying with the idea of dusting off the C2. My wife has even expressed some interest.

January's CTC looks like a good place to start: go as slow as you can for 250 meters. Should be right up my alley!

Cheers,
zoot

Jon - the T6C came with a specialty cable that had a three prong thingy (that clipped to contacts on the T6C) on one side and a USB-A connector on the other. I can't remember if Suunto provided software because I always Firstbeat Athlete software to download/analyze.