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 FT80 better than most, but could be tweaked Aug 13, 2010
The FT80 is the most high tech heart rate monitor I have owned. I also like the functionality provided by uplink to my laptop and the ability to create individual programs. Like many others have commented, the display could be improved. Black on a white or gray background generally has much greater readability, but with my 54 year old eyes, I can still spot the zone I am in when on the stair climber, treadmill, and cross trainer.
The one shortcoming of the FT80 is that it has just three zones. With most zone training protocols using five zones, it is odd the FT80 only utilizes three, especially since other Polar heart rate monitors use the full five. Not a huge deal if you know your zones and monitor your actual heart rate, but seems odd it is limited to three zones.
I like the strap and snap on transmitter which is very comfortable and easy to don and doff. All in all a good product with minor improvements would be a five star product.
Polar FT80, great watch Aug 06, 2010
I have used this watch for over a month, great product, for running and workout, perfect for me.
Good resistance to scratch, light and fine quality on materials.
 Works Great Jun 24, 2010
The Polar FT80 has worked great for me. No issues with the display. I wear it playing basketball, aerobic excercises, and weight training and I haven't had any problems.
I have worn it outside in the sun and can see the display without issue both inside and outside.
 Display Renders Monitor Useless Jun 06, 2010
Apparently this monitor has many great features...well I don't care if it can hand you a protein smoothie when you're done working out! If you can't read the display...it's useless.
I read about the display issues prior to purchasing---but to be honest, I thought those people complaining about the display were either whiners, or....old with bad vision. I am neither. When I took it out of the box, I thought that perhaps the protective plastic over the display was tinted...it was not.
Outside in bright sunlight it is passable, but inside the gym, and especially in a spinning class where the lights tend to be low...forget it! You have to keep reaching over to press the display light which is only on for a second.
Your effort should be spent on your workout, not trying to read your monitor. I am returning mine.
Great looking but functionally only good Mar 03, 2010
I purchased this watch with the following criteria:
- single watch to wear in the gym and office
- help me track intensity, calories, distance and pace while running
- used during strength training / cross training
- Mac compatible
It does 3 of 4 above. It is very stylish watch for a heart rate / fitness watch. It _does_ have a some nice features for fitness. And it _does_ all the main things I need - intensity, calories, distance, and page (using G1 GPS). Where it falls short a bit is the display. I read the reviews prior to purchasing. The display is not totally as bad as reviewed but it should be brighter. I don't have a problem reading it at work and most days in the gym or outside. It's tough to see in the shadows but if I tilt my wrist a bit it's fine. The GPS unit works fine. I did have a problem b/c I put in power save mode by accident on a run one day. But other than that, it works fine.
Gripes:
- polar's and it's competitors (I had a Garmin 310 as well) make their instructions really difficult. Don't know why but they don't make the instructions really simple to put features together.
- Polar for some reason ignores Mac users and therefore this unit is NOT mac compatible. I conceded here b/c of the watch style and comfort of the HR strap. It's the comfiest I've ever tried
- The last gripe I have is that it's 3 zones for HRM vs a full 5. I didn't realize this until it was past the return date. I probably would have exchanged for the less svelte, but more functional Polar 300x
Overall, I would recommend this watch. However, I would also recommend that if you are a runner, that you check out the Polar 300X or a Garmin 405.
Polar if you are reading this - fix the display by making it brighter or user controlled brightness, add the full 5 zones for HR intensity, and make it Mac compatible!!!!!
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