Polar FS3C Heart Rate Monitor

The Polar FS3C heart rate monitor is an improved version of the original Polar FS3. The Polar FS3C uses coded wireless transmission to reduce interference from other heart rate monitor users exercising nearby, whereas FS3 doesn't. Otherwise the two models are the same. So coded transmission is essentially the difference is between the Polar FS3C and FS3.

Polar FS3 heart rate monitor is a basic heart rate monitor. It is designed for general use and fitness training.

The main features of the Polar FS3 heart rate monitor are:

• Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring
• Manual and Automatic Setting of Heart Rate Training Zone with Audio and Visual Alarm
• Duration of Exercise Session (using its Stop Watch)
• Average Heart Rate of Exercise Session
• Maximum Heart Rate of Exercise Session
• Basic Time Keeping - Time, Day of the Week, Date
• Backlight
• Wireless heart rate monitor. It comes with a T31 coded chest strap transmitter and a wrist watch receiver
• Water resistant up to 50m

The features in bold are found in FS3C but not in FS2C. It is in fact identical to Polar FS2C except for ONE additional feature over FS2:

• The aged-based automatic setting of heart rate training zone

What this means is that Polar FS3C heart rate monitor calculates your heart rate training zone according to a formula based on your age. According to its user manual, it estimates your maximum heart rate according to the formula:

Max HR = 220 - Your Age.

If you are 30 year old, your estimated maximum heart rate is 220 - 30 = 190 beats per minute. It then uses your maximum heart rate to calculate your own heart rate percentage training limits.

If, for any reason, you happen to know your actual maximum heart rate (i.e. one that is measured instead of estimated), then you probably don't need this feature. You would use your actual maximum heart rate to calculate your own training limits and set those limits manually on the heart rate monitor watch.

Summary

The Polar FS1, FS2C and FS3C monitors are all basic heart rate monitors with no frills. The suggested retail price of the Polar FS3C heart rate monitor is $89.95 whereas that of FS2C is $69.95. Polar FS2C is probably the best buy. The FS3C's age-based automatic calculation of heart rate zones probably does not justify an additional $20 over the price of FS2C.

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Useful Information

Next one up in the Polar fitness series is the Polar F4 heart rate monitor. It is an intermediate heart rate monitor. The Polar F4 has considerably more features than the Polar FS3C.

Not sure which heart rate monitor is right for you? Take a look at the Which Heart Rate Monitor page.