Being aware of your heart rate during exercise can help you improve your fitness by tracking your progress.
If you’re like me and you’re taking your workout to a high level of insanity can also help you not to die while training 😂
Polar H10 heart rate sensor measures your heart rate via a chest strap and communicates the results to your phone.
For seeing the results and for setting up the Polar H10 you need to download an app called Polar Beat.
Polar heart rate monitor sells for $89.95.
This is about average for a good heart rate monitor.
You can find fitness watches for at least double the price of this.
It’s a good price for anyone who only cares about heart rate and wants the most accurate result possible.
Table of Contents
Setting up the heart rate sensor
The setting up for Polar H10 is quick and easy.
You just download the Polar Beat app and fill up your age, height, weight, and training background.
It’s not necessary to sign in or create an account.
Still, you may want to have an account if you use the app across multiple devices and want to be sure that your data is saved somewhere.
Before wearing it you need to wet the electrodes on the strap.
Dampness conducts the needed electricity and improves accuracy.
Wetting is not always necessary if you sweat a lot, cause the sweat will serve the same purpose.
If you’re new to heart rate monitors you should know that the electricity word doesn’t mean that you are going to feel something.
You won’t get electrocuted! 😀
When you wear the strap, your heart rate will display on the Polar Beat app.
When you start a workout, search through the activities and then click “Start” after choosing the one that you’re about to execute.
Watch Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor Youtube review
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How does it feel wearing the Polar H10 chest strap?
I was worried that the heart rate strap would constrict my breathing, but I got used to it fast and could barely tell it was on.
The band is adjustable, so finding a good fit isn’t hard. It’s unnoticeable under most t-shirts.
If you’re practicing an activity that prevents you from wearing a wrist device, like boxing, this heart rate strap is slim enough.
So you can wear it for almost any activity.
I say almost because if you wear it at the gym while pumping iron you can get a little too pumped and the strap can become uncomfortable.
Also when you work on a bench facing down the heart rate strap becomes a bad idea.
This Polar H10 Heart Rate strap at least for me is a very useful gadget because I wear it while I train and also when holding mitts for my students.
I find it amazing to know that in an hour and a half of training my students, I burn as much as 600 calories.
Holding mitts isn’t as easy as may appear because it takes a lot for me as a trainer too.
Check out this small video so you’ll understand better what I’m talking about Burning fat while holding mitts!
Is the Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor as accurate as advertised?
The app that is used with the H10 is minimalist but that doesn’t make it bad.
When you open it you have the option to start a workout or check out your past results.
I think these are the two most important features.
After training, it’s easy to see the heart rate data in the graphic and how long you spent in each workout stage.
I appreciate the simple design and think that most users will find the information very easy to read.
Polar describes the H10 as its most accurate heart rate tracker available on the market.
Due to its construction and its ability to be improved via software updates.
The Polar H10 uses an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure heart rate.
It works by reading the electrical pulses that your heart makes, and it seems to be the most accurate option.
Other products are used for measuring the heart rate via the wrist, such as Fitbit and Apple watch.
They use optical technology that works by sending light into the skin and giving a heart rate based on how the light hits the blood flow.
You can check out how your training session went after you click on stop training.
You have an after graph from one of my boxing workouts in these images.
My training session includes a general warm-up, skipping rope, push-ups, burpees, double end bag, speed bag, and hitting the heavy bag.
I’m very satisfied with the fact that the strap stays in place even while I’m sweating a river underneath my clothes!
Notice how I’ve managed to bring sweat over two very romantic songs “Cry me a river” and “Underneath your clothes “, sorry about that Justin and Shakira!😥😀
The heart rate monitor and app work with most new smartphones.
Requires iOS mobile devices to have iOS 13 and later. Android mobile devices with Bluetooth 4.0 capability, and Android 7 or higher.
It can connect to two Bluetooth devices.
So if you want you can connect it to your phone and your gym equipment at the same time.
If you’re using a workout machine with ANT+, it can connect to that, as well as a Bluetooth connection at the same time.
Is Polar H10 waterproof?
The Polar H10 is waterproof up to 30 meters!
It can be used to measure heart rate while swimming thanks to the 5 kHz transmission.
If you’re a swimming enthusiast this heart rate monitor is made for you.
This is one area where the Polar H10 excels over other heart rate trackers.
How to clean Polar H10 heart rate strap and sensor?
Polar H10 has a machine-washable strap.
While you should rinse and dry the strap after each use, you can throw it into the washing machine if it gets dirty.
For the sensor, you can just use a wipe and clean put the sweat.
Read the instructions from the straps label to preserve it for a longer period.
You can read more about it here How to take care of Polar H10
Changing the sensor’s battery
The Polar H10 has a CR2025 battery inside, which works for around 400 hours before you’ll have to replace it.
The battery level is trackable within the Polar Beat app, but the level will display only when you’re wearing the device.
You’ll need to reconnect the fitness tracker with your phone after replacing the battery.
The battery is very easy to change
Just take a screwdriver and pop up the plastic cap which is placed on the sensor’s back.
Inside you’ll find the battery, you only need to push it out and replace it with the new one.
To make the connector and the battery lasting for as long as possible. Polar recommends detaching the connector from the strap after each use.
Make sure that the connector is dry.
Clean it with soap and water when necessary, and store it separately from the strap in a dry place.
The separation will keep the snaps from oxidizing and the batteries from wearing out.
Polar H10 chest strap’s durability
Well, here we’ve come to a turning point.
Even if my overall experience with the Polar H10 strap was a good one.
After 9 months I had to replace the sensors strap.
Because the first one broke when I disconnected the sensor from the strap.
So, in terms of durability, I can’t say I’m satisfied.
The strap also develops a powerful nasty barn small after a while.
Believe me, I respected all the cleaning instructions from the website and the label.
I bought a new strap, used it a few times, and washed it after every use as Polar advises.
I didn’t train with it for almost one month and I didn’t keep it in a closed box because I was worried that it would get the same smell as my first strap.
And now comes the ugly part.
My new chest strap started developing that nasty barn smell and I didn’t even get to wear it too much.😐
I don’t know what kind of materials they use in the making of the strap, but that smell is a turn-off.
When you get heated and sweaty the nasty barn smell amplifies and it’s fucking awful.
I can’t get used to it at all.
I’m afraid people around me will feel it too, and that’s not a great feeling to have while training.
Conclusions about Polar H10
PRO
👍 Polar H10 heart rate monitor is very accurate
👍 The Polar Beat app is very easy to use
👍 The chest strap is comfortable and stays in place very well while you train
👍 It’s waterproof
👍 It’s easy to clean
👍 It keeps you motivated while training
👍 The battery lasts for a long time and it’s easy and cheap to replace
CONS
👎 The durability of the strap itself
👎 The nasty barn smell that doesn’t come off with anything
Final verdict 💡
If you are a boxer, a swimmer, or someone who can’t wear a watch-style fitness tracker, then Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor will be perfect for you.
Its accuracy and comfortable design can be satisfying.
I can’t train without my Polar H10 chest strap sensor anymore.
It kept me motivated during the Covid 19 pandemic.
Since then it became my very own nasty-smelling training pal! 😀
Speaking of motivation, if you are in a search for your own motivation, check out my article What triggers you to start fighting your limits, you might find it useful.
I would buy it again, even knowing about the strap’s lack of durability and the nasty barn smell. 👍
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