Healthy Heart Rate: Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch (Black Volcano) Review

This is a sweet piece of gear.I've been using it for about a month now.It works great and gathers a lot of data.

The watch itself is comfortable the band works especially well, (mine is the black volcano).A friend has a Suunto T4C as well, (his is the black frost), but his band is a little different.I will agree with other reviews that the face is prone to scratching.With this in mind I use mine only for workouts.The interface isn't too difficult to figure out.Had it totally figured out after about 4 workouts.I saw a lot of reviews complaining about the complexity however with all the things this thing does the 5 buttons are easy enough to work with.My Timex was about as difficult to figure out.

The chest strap is OK.About as comfortable as a chest strap is going to be.It took a week or so to figure out exactly where to place the strap on my chest and how tight was tight enough.Once the chest strap placement is determined this thing rarely loses heartrate once it has captured it.

I could take or leave the coach function.It usually tells me to do long low intensity workouts or to rest.I haven't really done much with the coach function as a result.

The data that the T4C can store is pretty extensive.There is detailed workout data available for the 14 most recent workouts.This data includes duration, training effect, average heart rate, peak heart rate, calories burned, and lap times (if using the lap timer).I don't have the PC interface but transfer the infomation manually to a spreadsheet every few days.Long term data is available (totals) for the current week, the previous week, current month, and the previous 11 months.This data includes the number of workouts, total workout time, total running distance (Foot Pod), total bike distance (Bike Pod), total GPS distance (GPS Pod), and total calories burned.

I don't have the Foot, Bike, or GPS POD paired devices.

I've found it most helpful when lifting.I've set heartrate targets for starting my next set so my weight workouts remain in a cardio zone.Prior to having the watch I'd just wait until if felt like my heartrate had dropped enough.Now I have hard data to start the next set.

Spent a lot of time researching before buying.I recommend buying something really cheap that you won't mind throwing away when it fails/battery dies or buy something decent.This is something decent.Things that drew me to the Suunto T4C is a coded system.You won't get crosstalk in a spin class with others using a monitor.With the Suunto you can change your own batteries.Most of the Polar monitors have to be sent back to the manufacturer for battery replacement, (read the reviews).The only other monitor that I considered was the Garmin Forerunner 305.Picked the Suunto T4C based on word of mouth of a friend, and I have no regrets.

That's about all I have to say about that.

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Product Description:
How long should you run? How fast should you pedal? How quick you should move? Answer these questions and more while receiving all the training guidance you need with the Suunto t4c heart rate monitor watch. The t4c employs a Suunto Coach feature to evaluate your athletic performance via a personalized five-day training program. Rather than spending weeks tweaking your workout regimen, the Suunto Coach quickly gets you on the right track by making intelligent training recommendations for the frequency, duration, and intensity of your workouts. And this, in turn, helps you get in great shape without wasting a ton of effort. Plus, if your schedule suddenly changes, the Suunto Coach will adapt by making a new plan that advises you which days to train and how, as well as when to rest.
The t4c also tracks your real-time Training Effect, a quick and accurate measurement of how hard your body is working at any given moment. By knowing your Training Effect, you'll enjoy a more intimate understanding of your body's workout "sweet spot," an essential tidbit if you want to achieve your targets without setting yourself back by under- or over-training. The Training Effect works intuitively: The watch first notes the info from your personal fitness profile, and then analyzes your physiological progress and translates the data into a simple one-to-five scale. For example, if you want to improve your aerobic fitness at a moderate tempo, you should exercise until your TE meter reads between 3.0 and 3.9, two to four times per week. To improve your aerobic condition more rapidly--but without the risk of over-training--you should push yourself harder once or twice per week, so your TE meter reads 4.0 to 4.9, with a few recovery sessions in the TE 1.0 to 2.0 range. The Training Effect is relative to each individual. While a novice runner might achieve a TE of 4.0 on a four-mile jog, a professional runner might have to complete an uphill marathon to get the same reading. In other words, both runners will have to exercise hard to achieve a TE of 4.0.
The Suunto t4c also offers interference-free digital ANT transmission, making it easy to pair your heart rate monitor with the included Suunto comfort belt. You can also use this secure connection to monitor your speed, distance, or cadence by pairing your Suunto t4c with an optional Suunto training pod. Training pods are small units that attach to such items as a running shoe or a bike to calculate your speed, distance, and even pedal revolutions per minute while you exercise. Pods are ideal for athletes who aren't satisfied with half-hearted training efforts, but really want to monitor their training routines down to the last detail. Finally, the t4c is equipped with an integrated training logbook that compiles your progress and personal stats. You can even conduct a more thorough analysis of your workouts by using the Suunto Training Manager Lite software.
Specifications:

Manufacturer's Warranty
Two-year warranty
About Suunto
Suunto was founded in 1936 by outdoors man and a keen orienteering enthusiast, Tuomas Vohlonen, who had long been bothered by a problem: the inaccuracy of traditional dry compasses and their lack of steady needle operation. Being an engineer with an inventive turn of mind, he discovered and patented the production method for a much steadier needle, better readings, and a new level of accuracy. By 1950 the company was exporting compasses to over 50 countries around the world, including Canada and the United States. In 1952, Helsinki was hosting the Olympic Games, and the torches carried to light the Olympic flame were Suunto products. The next step was improving the stability and accuracy of marine compasses. The first marine compass, the Suunto K-12, was launched onto the market in 1953. In 1957, Suunto started manufacturing hypsometers, which measure the height of trees.
In the 1960s, the compass range grew further and Suunto introduced its first diving compass--initiated by the divers themselves. A British sports diver attached a Suunto compass to his wrist and found that the device also worked underwater. Thanks to his feedback and initiatives, the new business category was found. Suunto's exports and business grew steadily and Suunto then focused on combining its strength in precision mechanics with new skills in electronics. Accuracy, reliability, and ruggedness have been Suunto's key values from the very beginning of the company history.
Today, Suunto is a leading designer and manufacturer of sports instruments for training, diving, mountaineering, hiking, skiing, sailing, and golf. True to its roots, Suunto is today the world's biggest compass manufacturer. Prized for their design, accuracy and dependability, Suunto sports instruments combine the aesthetics and functionality of watches with sport-specific computers that help athletes at all levels analyze and improve performance. Headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, Suunto employs more than 500 people worldwide and distributes its products to nearly 60 countries. The company is a subsidiary of Helsinki-based Amer Sports Corporation with the sister brands Wilson, Salomon, Atomic, Precor, and Mavic.

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