The heart rate monitor market has been dominated by the rivalry between Garmin and Polar. In spite of the lead the Polar company has historically enjoyed in the market, Garmin has been gaining on it. The Polar brand is a well-established one, with presence on the market since producing its first EKG monitor in 1977. By the time the early 90’s arrived, in order to advertise their product, they sponsored runners to wear their products. Garmin’s strategy to utilize their strong position in the GPS market to break into this industry has proven successful. The Garmin FR60 and 310XT are two exceptional heart monitors being released this year. Read below to learn about the Garmin 310 and the FT80 Polar Heart Monitor.

Garmin 310XT

The Garmin 310XT is the premiere heart rate monitor that is waterproof and GPS-enabled, making it very attractive to swimmers. In the world of so many heart monitors, it will create a revolution. The display clearly presents the heart rate data from the training session. It has other features too i.e. it can monitor both data of cycling and running. It is especially well-suited to athletes who compete in triathlons. They tend to rely heavily on such data. It can also be fitted on the handlebars of bikes making it more versatile.

Review: Polar FT80

The FT80 Polar Heart Watch is a stunning piece of technology. Its revolutionary designs set it above most other competitors. The FT80 is definitely no ordinary heart rate monitor with innovative features such as the inbuilt training computer. This helps the user get the maximum efficiency out of their workouts ensuring no time and energy is wasted. It has target zones to monitor heart rate in averages and has Polars’ unique OwnZone and ZonePointer features. These ensure that you stay within the limits of your workouts. In some ways, it is a safety measure.

Downside

The downside to both the Garmin 310 and the FT80 Polar Heart Watch is price. They both carry quite a price tag. The other problem that may get to users is size. Both the heart monitors look like over sized watches. However, these are not design flaws.

Final Looks

The 310 and FT80 are both great instruments, and for heart pumping action either one will get the job done. If you require an excellent indoor training watch, consider the FT80 Polar Heart Watch. If you are training outdoors, consider the 310XT! Garmin or Polar monitors do great, if you want strength, quality and durability.