Mio Shape Select Heart Rate Monitor Watch

I bought this thinking it would be great not to have a chest strap during my spin class...the problem is that it is impossible to keep checking my heart rate and then setting it to get an accurate heart/calorie reading. This is NOT a continuous heart rate monitor. I don't know about anyone else but there isn't alot of opportunity to STOP in a spin class!! If you are walking or cleaning house it would work but not for any intense cardio workout. I'm going back to the chest strap!

I have researched a lot of heart monitor watches, and Polar seemed to be everywhere. But, the more I read the more I found things I didn't like, so I kept looking and found the MIO.

The Sport and Ultimate are the same watch, but the Ultimate comes with the chest monitor and the Sport you have to purchase seperately. Depending on YOUR workout you can decide which is best for you.

Let's start with the cons because most people reading a reveiew (like I did) want's to know what people using the watch find an issue with.
* Like all these monitors you need to take some time upfront to set the watch up. This applies to all of the watches. Good news with teh MIO is the heart rate monitor works out the box and at your fingertips.

* Rate is hard to get a reading from when running, you need to slow down to a jog to fingers in place to get a good reading, takes 5 seconds. Great if you stop to rest, traffic signals, after run, etc

* Need to read the instructions well to get the calorie count

* Water resistance to 10 M (30 feet) so if you go into the ocean a lot may be an issue.

* No back light

Pros

* Easy to read dial when working out. The up and down arrows also help you target your heart rate better by speeding you up or slowing you down

* Monitor works very easily and is accurate. I have not had a false reading yet

* Chest monitor is GREAT! I work out outside, but also go to the gym and use the tread mill and stationary bikes. The chest monitor works well and all the equipment reads the chest monitor and displays on the work out equipmpent. This allows me to focus on work out. The watch also shows the rate with up and down arrows keeping you within your target range (which you set). If you do cardio in the gym get the chest monitor.

* Chest monitor is very comfortable to wear also.

* Face dial large enough to read easily, but the watch is small enough to wear everyday. About the size of a Timex Ironman watch.

* Lots of features to use, but standard watch features are good too.

Bottom Line

The monitor has all the features of the much more expense monitors sold by other companies. Has very few real cons, and it works well, is comfortable to wear, and is a great value.

It seems to be pretty accurate and reads my bpm after about 4-5 seconds. I have had to lick my fingers before when too dry.

I paid about 39 dollars for it at walm@rt so I am even happier with it lol. I had bought a sport previously and paid $50 for it and it takes about 10 seconds to read.

All in all, this has been a good piece and is accurate enough for my HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts. You can even get your reading from any screen of the watch. Just hold the buttons and wait.

I purchased two of these one for my home in PB, AR and one for my home in HS, AR, as I work out in both places. This peice of Junk worked for about a year and just stopped working. Then the other one stopped working in about the same time. I sent one in and they wanted $85 dollars up front to look at and estimate repairs. Now the watch is selling for less than that, go figure. They not only get you on the initial purchase they make more money on your ineviable repair if you are that niave to let them get you twice.
Stay away from the MIO (Made in China) There are much better watches out there that will keep on ticking.

Cliff

I recently purchased one and it works fine so far..
I found some errors (BPM indicates 400 instead of 120) while my work out but it happened less than once a week and not a significant problem for me.