Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch, Monitor Your Training Progress
If you are on a fitness regimen, it is more likely for you to keep track of your progress. This way you will be able to know if you are doing any good or if you need to step it up a bit to achieve that desired figure. Back in those days, most people just rely on the weighing scale and by just looking in front of a mirror to see if the fitness training is really effective. Today, measuring the heart rate and burned calories are proven to be some of the much better ways to monitor your fitness training. For those who looking for a great gadget to bring along will doing your training, the Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch is at your disposal.
Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch, Monitor Your Training Progress
This watch has a sturdy and sleek design that will perfectly fit your sporty outfit while keeping up with your training. Aside from monitor the heart rate, this will also display the calories burned during the training session. It can also measure the training effect in your body, which allows users to see how hard the body is working during the fitness regimen.
The advanced Suunto t4 Heart Rate Monitor Watch helps you develop a training program for your next upcoming challenge and keeps you on track as the date approaches. Suunto's built-in Coach software lets you know how long and how intense to train each day. If you opt for a rest day or different workout, it adjusts the rest of your ten-day cycle to ensure you get enough exercise during each phase of training. Plug the t4 Heart Rate Monitor into your PC to track your improving fitness. Of course, the t4 has all the features you'd expect from Suunto: real-time heart rate, calories burned data, heart rate alarmsall the goodies. Suunto even added their Comfort Belt chest strap to make your workout more comfortable.
Product Features
- Material: [Housing] aluminum; [Strap] nylon
- Altimeter: No
- Barometer: No
- Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
- Chronograph: Yes
- Thermometer: No
- Digital Compass: No
- Adjustable Declination: No
- Low Battery Indicator: Yes
- PC Compatible: Yes
- Waterproof: Water resistant to 300ft (100m)
- Backlight: Yes
- Alarms: Time and heart-rate
- Battery Type:
- Battery Life:
- Size: Medium
- Weight:
- Recommended Use: Advanced training
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 Years
- Country of Origin: Finland
Amazon.com 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:
- Color: Black volcano
- Stopwatch: Yes
- Max number of split times in memory: 50
- Timers (interval and warm-up): Yes
- Average heart rate: Real time
- Training effect: Real time
- Calories: Real time
- ANT digital coded signal: Yes
- Memory capacity: 15 logs
- HR limits and HR zones: Yes
- Suunto heart rate belt: Compatible, sold separately
- Suunto comfort belt: Included
- Suunto memory belt: Compatible, sold separately
- Water resistance: 100 feet
- Selectable metric/imperial units: Yes
- Menu-based user interface: Yes
- Dot-matrix display: Yes
- Backlight type: Electro-luminescent display
- User-replaceable strap: Yes
- Software: Suunto Training Manager Lite
- Low battery warning: Yes
- User-replaceable battery: Yes
- Suunto Coach personal training program: Yes
- Button lock: Yes
- Compatible with pods: Yes
- Watch: 12/24 hour
- Calendar clock: Yes
- Dual time: Yes
- Daily alarms: 1
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.
Lowest Used Price: USD 159.99
Lowest New Price: USD 169.00
- Versatile heart rate monitor watch in contemporary "black volcano" color
- Displays current heart rate, average heart rate, and calories burned
- Training Effect function measures how hard your body is working
- Suunto Coach mode lets you create personalized 5-day training workout
- Interference-free digital ANT transmission; water-resistant to 100 feet; 2-year warranty
Color: Black Volcano
Model: SS013577010
Release Date: 2008-02-14
Very solid
I agree with most of the comments. This is a solid product and I have only good things to say except.... how on earth do you adjust the chest strap?
Suunto T4C Heart Rate Monitor & Fitness Trainer
This is a great Heart Rate Monitor (HRM). I initially got this to help with my running but ended up using this for whenever I'm doing any active exercise such as playing football/soccer, etc. I've found it to be really informative and the logs can be kept for future reference. What surprised me from reading various reviews of different HRM was the fact that a number of them require some "warming up" before accurate readings occurred. I found that when putting my HRM belt over my chest and switching the watch to read the belt, it picked up my heartbeat within seconds and accurately so.
In addition to the accurate readings and logging capability it has a coach/trainer that determines a workout schedule for you in a given week. I've not yet tried it out but it seems really easy to use and rather useful.
I'm not sure how the batteries last but I switch it off in between sessions to pro-long battery life. The only downside to this part is that you're not able to save logs in between sessions.
A couple of things I'd like to note though are that the text next to the buttons are tiny to the point where you'd have to refer to the manual to know what you're doing initially, or if you prefer to play around with it by trial and error, can just press away. If you really want to make full use of the watch and its many features, you have to read the manual. If you're going to use the basics, stick with a lower model like t1c. This is just a small gripe as once you've used this a number of times, navigating the menus is second nature.
Secondly, I find the buttons tiny and difficult to press if you're running and there's not much in terms of audio feedback (or rather not very loud) to know that you've pressed it if you're running around. I also tend to do more of my running at night so visibility of the watch and stats tends to be difficult to read, but then that's going to be the case with any HRM. The light works well enough for it's purpose.
Overall I would recommend this HRM and my concerns for it are minor issues that can be overcome with regular use or using it during the day.
Useless!
I loved the look, feel, and the features this heart rate monitor provides, and I so wanted to keep it. However, if you use it while you move your arms around other than a stationary position you will lose your HR and therefore not have an accurate picture of your workout. I replaced the batteries in both the belt and the watch, paired the belt to the watch but it continued to lose the HR if my wrist went behind my back or over my head. I even returned it and bought it from a different store hoping to correct the problem. Both watches experienced the same situation. In desperately wanting to keep it, I researched and found this to be a common problem with Suunto. I have been a long time Polar user, but HATE the look of every single one of them, so I really was looking for the same quality. Unfortunately,Suunto isn't the one.
I Lovit I Lovit I Lovit I Lovit
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.
perfect HR m.
SO I bought this watch, in need of a heart rate monitor and since I already owned a Suunto watch I thought I would love this one too. I LOVE IT! It's comfortable, it's easy to use once you figure out all the little applications, it's a good size for women. I'm still finding cool little things out about the watch. I suggest you buy the wireless PC Pod too and it will also log your RPMs if you buy a bike pod or even distance if you buy a GPS pod or foot pod. The PC pod will log all your workouts on your PC. I am about to purchase that. The coach on the watch give you the option to follow it but it does not punish you if you don't. The training effect is confusing at first but when you log your workouts it gives you a range to categorize each workout. I love this watch/ HRM and would recommend it to active women who are into gadgets.
What’s more to it is its capability of creating a personalized 5-day workout that will effectively help you achieving a more fit and healthy body. The Suunto t4c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch proves to be more than just a typical sports watch.