Polar T31

Get the low down on the features, strengths and weaknesses of the Polar T31 strap.

The Polar T31 heart rate monitor strap is an accessory that should come with your new HRM wrist watch such as the Polar F11. You have to attach the elastic strap around your chest ensuring that the sensors and transmitters make contact with your skin. Once the sensors are in contact they can pick up your heart rate and transmit your data to your heart rate monitor wrist watch computer. This will use the data to calculate and display your basic heart rate and other training data such as pace and distance, speed and average HRM, while you are run or go jogging.

The Polar company invented the first wireless EKG HRM wrist watch that could provide an accurate reading of your heart rate while exercising. They achieved this goal in the latter part of the 1970's and since then they have gone on to make numerous innovative HRM products for the athletic and fitness markets. The company now serves a huge market and supply a large array of HRM fitness watches, endurance equipment and training accessories

One of their major developments was the creation of the Polar T31 transmitter which can accurately read your heart rate while you are working out whether its indoors or outdoors. The T31 has been designed specifically for accuracy and comfort. In the past their earlier chest straps that where made of plastic were prone to slipping and skin chaffing. They were also quite bulky in size and this made them uncomfortable to wear especially for women who wore a sports bra.

However, the new Polar T31 chest strap has a slim and lightweight design and as it is made out of latex it expands with the movements of the body. If you are a doing various outdoor sports such as tennis, cycling or basketball you will hardly notice  wearing it. There are two versions of the T31 one is coded and one is not. Coded means that the transmitter has the ability to block signals or crosstalk between other HRM transmitters nearby. For example, this can happen in a marathon when there are a lot of athletes close together. If your Polar wearlink T31 is not coded there is a greater chance that your data can be disrupted or result in an inaccurate reading. The actual transmitter is sealed within the waterproof strap making it suitable for wet conditions.

If you use a gym that uses Polar treadmills and elliptical machines they will have receivers that can display your heart rate from this transmitter without having to hold onto the handlebar sensors. This enables you to free up your arms and have a more natural and comfortable workout. In some cases you do not actually have to wear your fitness watch as the chest strap can transfer your performance data on to the exercise machines display where you can track your personal performance directly.

The Polar T31 battery can approximately last up to 2 years if you use it on average 10 hours per week. A replacement battery can be  inserted easily into the strap by yourself. You can also purchase further accessories especially if you want to track and improve your cycling performance by using a cs cadence sensor which enables you to measure your speed and average pedaling rate. For example, you could  buy a bike mount to attach your Polar CS200 T31  HRM monitor.

With the polar heart rate monitor t31 and watch you have the ability to monitor and track how well you are performing in terms of achieving your health and fitness goals and improving your cardio strength. The belt is available at most online sports and fitness stores. However, it is always a good idea to checkout Amazon for promotions  and customer feedback. At the time of writing the Polar T31 price was retailing at $50.

Strengths:

• Quality made
• Comfortable to wear
• Accurate readings
•  Waterproof

Weaknesses:

Their can be interference or cross talk between other HRM transmitters and over head power lines