Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Where To Buy Garmin Forerunner 405 (HRM) GREEN with Foot Pod (Bundle)


I purchased this monitor while I was stationed at FOB Warhorse in Iraq. My intent for the watch as two-fold, 1) I wanted an easy way to keep track of where I had been during dismounted patrols and 2) to replace my aging and dying Polar RS200sd heart rate monitor.

The Garmin Forerunner 405 (with Foot Pod!) is very good at what it does, which is keep track of where you were, how fast you went, and roll all that up into a neat little software package that lets you do a virtual tour of it all. Very cool. Just not very practical. The GPS information (i.e. location and altitude) is not displayed on the monitor. You can get heart rate, speed, average speed, average HR, etc but no location information. You also can't easily get that once you've downloaded the data to your computer (you have to get pretty clever with Google maps to make that happen). It takes a bit for to get a decent satellite lock, but once it does it has no issues with tracking. As a GPS device, this monitor is rather lacking. Don't misunderstand it does keep track of where you are and what you are doing, it is just impossible to figure it out while you are doing it. Its not like a dedicated GPS that you glance at and know where you are and where you've been.

But wait! Its not a GPS device, its Heart Rate Monitor! It says so right in the title! And yes it does that! But it doesn't do anything with the information it tracks. Its programming is based upon your age, weight, height, and...distance traveled. Heart rate doesn't play into its calculations at all, or if it does it plays such a limited role that in my four months of using it I never once varied from burning 103 kCal per mile traveled. Not if it took me 7:30 with an average HR of 178, or if I dawdled along and did it in 18:00 minutes @ 107 BPM, it was 103 kCal. And if I didn't move? Let's say I was rolling on the mats, or lifting weights, or doing step-aerobics, no matter how high my heart rate got (188), my kCal expenditure was exactly 0. So it doesn't exactly give you the fitness information that other monitors do.

Now, where this system excels is in the bundled software. The Garmin software is outstanding and its integration with Google maps is impressive. The ability to compare heart rate with speed/effort is very nice. It is also easy to customize and tweak to generate reports that fit exactly what you are looking for (HR over time, speed, and elevation for example so you can see just how much that hill really sucked at the end of your run, compared with how easy it felt when you did it at the beginning of your run). The software isn't without its limitations, for one thing you can't edit the raw data, or even view it in any meaningful form. I know the data is there, buried among the software's xml files, but trying to sort it out was just about impossible and not worth the effort.

Another plus is just how robust this watch is. Where my Polar was scratched up, beaten up, and giving in slowly and painfully to the rigors of Iraq the Garmin kept right on going. It took four months of use and abuse with nary a complaint and as a watch there is a lot to be positive about, the display is easy to read, the back light is bright but subtle, the ability to synch its time with the satellites overhead was a real time saver for me.Get more detail about Garmin Forerunner 405 (HRM) GREEN with Foot Pod (Bundle).

Monday, June 25, 2012

Shop For Vicks Professional ProStyle Thermometer


I don't usually take the time to write reviews, but I felt it was important to write this one. We have an 11 month old who was really sick recently. We were relying on this thermometer to take his temp, and we didn't realize it was faulty until about day 3 of the fever. He was burning up and it only kept registering 99.2. When we tried a different thermometer it was 102.9! I do not recommend this thermometer on babies. We plan to make the investment to get a digital ear thermometer. I don't want to risk something like that again on my little guy.Get more detail about Vicks Professional ProStyle Thermometer.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Taylor Precision Products Analog 300# Dial Bath Scale 20005014T


Well it's the cheapest scale out there. If you aren't concerned with getting your exact weight (I'd say within about +/- 5 lbs.) than it may work for you. But if you are like me and you want to monitor your weight loss each week then this scale is virtually useless. The reading fluctuates too much to be of any real use to me and thus, it's going back.

I guess you get what you pay for.Get more detail about Taylor Precision Products Analog 300# Dial Bath Scale 20005014T.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Pedometer with Pc Download Review


I first ordered this pedometer for my use after being dissatified with several other models that I had tried. This one is the best I have used and I do use it on a daily basis. Mine must be about 8 months old and the battery is still working well. I rarely ever plug it into my computer.
We have ordered several of these pedometers as gifts and it has always been appreciated.
My prefernce is to use a pedometer with the display facing upwards so you can view how may steps you have taken without having to touch the pedometer and to have a pedometer with buttons that are out of the way so I do not constantly hit the buttons and accidentally change the settings. This model meets these two objectives plus it has a long battery life. Additional features of this pedometer that I like is that it keeps a weekly total of steps walked and has a clock.
A negative of this pedometer and several others that I have used is that it is easy to knock off your belt. It would be nice to have a security loop that would wrap around the belt to keep it from being knocked off.Get more detail about Pedometer with Pc Download.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Littmann 3000 Electronic Stethoscope with Ambient Noise Reduction Immediately


I find I need this for hearing loss in one ear and tinnitus in that same ear. This device works as advertised, amplifying sounds. All sounds. So shirt noise, skin moving - all these factors become much more important. The diaphragm equivalent is curved, which i hate - it lets in background noise and tends to slip. The clarity of the traditional stethescope is (was, in my case) much better - so this product is not for ANYONE that can hear normally. It is only for us old guys that listened to music too loud. Having said all those negative things, I have used mine for a year, changed the battery only 3 times, and it has no signs of wear despite 40 plus hours a week on my neck. The button to turn it on could be bigger, and lose the curve, and have the thing remember the volume level you set it at last time and then this might be a product to be desired, not just settled for. Wow, I sound so negative. Oh well. Get more detail about Littmann 3000 Electronic Stethoscope with Ambient Noise Reduction.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Tanita 6102 Cardio Heart Rate Monitor Get it now!


The reviewers who gave this product only one star simply are using it in a way it was never intended. This is **not** a simultaneous monitor that can be used while exercising. At the price, why should anyone expect it to be? It measures a resting heart rate very accurately, with continuous updates. You can use it immediately you **stop** exercising.

In addition, the watch feature is as accurate as a quartz watch costing hundreds of dollars, if not even more accurate. When I just recently re-set it for standard time I found it still matched the time indicated on my cell phone and cable box although I had not touched the settings in eight months! Get more detail about Tanita 6102 Cardio Heart Rate Monitor.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Omron Small Size Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff Buy Now


Be careful when you order the item. Although the product description says fitting omron blood pressure monitor. it actually only fits the HEM-711AC model. Does not work with my HEM-780, or other models coming with ComFit cuffs.Get more detail about Omron Small Size Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Oregon Scientific PE826 Pedometer with Pulse Meter Order Now


I don't understand why some have had a difficulty with programming this pedometer. I really haven't had any problems, but then I've used it before. Maybe the first time? I don't remember, but it is fairly easy, very readable, accurate, and I've come to rely on it daily.Get more detail about Oregon Scientific PE826 Pedometer with Pulse Meter.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Prestige Medical Dualheads, Hot Pink Decide Now


Bought ths for my husband so he could listen to what our cat's heartbeat sounded like. Eventually used to listen to my lungs when I had pneumonia (then forced me to go see a doctor). Works well from a non-professional standpoint.Get more detail about Prestige Medical Dualheads, Hot Pink.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Sleeptracker Wake Up Monitor Right now


I'm not so concerned with my nightly sleep patterns; after all, they are what they are, and probably one of the best things I could do would be to get more sleep in general. Having said that, I do notice a substantial difference in how I feel when the alarm goes off during the "window". If I do not trigger the alarm before the end of the window, then I feel pretty much the same way I would if woken to a standard alarm (clock or cell phone, etc.). When the alarm goes off during the window, I have the distinct feeling that I am already "almost awake" and feel considerably less groggy, so I do think that this device does what it is supposed to do. At first I was worried that I might not hear the alarm, but it seems as if I'm awaiting it while asleep, so that has not been a problem.
I agree that the price is a bit steep considering the quality of manufacture; perhaps the newer models are a bit better engineered in terms of comfort? The vibrating alarm sounds as if it might be an improvement for some people. All in all, I am satisfied with the Sleeptracker, and think it a clever and effective product!Get more detail about Sleeptracker Wake Up Monitor.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Lowest Price Health o Meter HDM560DQ-05 Digital Weight Tracking Scale, Black


I cannot stand on this 3 times in a row and get the same reading. Actually, I've gotten up to 5 different numbers in a row, with a range of several pounds. It has been like this for a long time. I use it on a hard, flat surface as recommended, but it's still inconsistent.Get more detail about Health o Meter HDM560DQ-05 Digital Weight Tracking Scale, Black.