Submitted by
Peanut8558
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2009
Strengths: Price and... looks good? Had to think of something...
Weaknesses: Terrible. Weak signal, faulty electronics, cheap design, chest strap doesn't stay in place, usability doesn't make sense...
Bottom Line:
This thing is a pile. I bought it thinking, "Wow, a $90 Heart Rate Monitor for $40!" I should have read the reviews...
Let's start from the beginning.
Had the unit for about a week when after a ride I went to retrieve the data, and all I got was random numbers flashing with no way to view the data. Had to reset it, losing everything from that days ride. This would happen about once every 6-7 rides. Very frustrating.
But, I'm stubborn, so I stuck with it. Next, the wrist unit stopped receiving a signal from the chest strap. Found that it would, but only inside 6 inches away from each other. Again, I'm stubborn, so I would just put the wrist unit directly onto the chest strap under the jersey. Not comfortable, and I looked like my own little Alien was popping out.
Next, the wrist unit strap broke. That was the last straw. Actually, the first issue was the last straw, but being the stubborn German I am, I tried to let it work.
No go. Just ordered a Polar F4.
Stay away from this thing. It's not worth it, even at the tempting $40 price tag.
Submitted by
Alan Fetzer
a Racer
from San Antonio, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2009
Strengths: reliability and simplicity
Weaknesses: no history of workouts and no computer interface
Bottom Line:
Owned this HRM for over 10 years and it is 100% reliable AND is user serviceable, unlike Polars which have to be sent to the factory just to install new batteries. Sigma display and transmitter batteries can be replaced by me with standard watch batteries.
Strengths: Lots of features. I find that % of max is a better number to view than actual rate. If it worked I would deal with the weirdness.
Weaknesses: You won't get a hear rate reading until you set maximum heart rate, which is weird. Confusing to find the data that I wanted.
Now it will only display when the watch is right against my chest. Never did work when I would run with an MP3 player. This is the second Sigma Sport HRM that has failed me. I'm sure that Nashbar (superior customer service vs. Performance) will give me my money back, but I'm trying a Polar next. I sure miss my Vetta HR100. That one gave me everything I needed in one little display.
Bottom Line:
It's heavy too, like another reviewer stated. Cheap has been a hassle in this case.
Favorite Trail: Coffee Road! Sure do miss it . . .
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At: Nashbar or Performance
Similar Products Used: Vetta HR100, older cheaper Sigma Sport HRM, IronMan HRM (failed the first time I dove with it on; definitely a problem for enthusiastic mountain bikers), Sport Instruments HRM (never did figure out that one!)
Bike Setup: Giant all carbon road bike! But also use my Cannondal M800 as a commuter/urban assult vehicle (slick tires)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
S W
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2006
Strengths: Easy menu, clear display.
Weaknesses: Fell appart by the third ride!!
Bottom Line:
NOTE - THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE SIGMA PC15 MODEL
Don’t waste your money on this piece of junk!
First ride - One of the buttons fell out and was lost on the trail. Annoying but not a huge problem as the bottom buttons scroll either way through the menu and I could use the one on the other side and just scroll right the way around. Third ride out – Another button fell out and was lost – This time a button that was necessary. Now my only way to use this thing is to carry a pin around to poke through the hole to turn the functions on/off. Not easy with gloves on and can’t be done easily on the trail. Now water and sweat will get in – so I don’t think it will last long. This HRM had potential as the menus were easy, the display clear and the transmitter strap worked well. But SIGMA obviously have serious quality control issues. I bought this thing on-line and even though it fell apart within 2 weeks of purchase the vendor was not interested in helping.
Annoyed enough at wasting my $75 to post this to warn others away from this product!
Bike Setup: Intense 6.6, 36 Van, DHX Air, Avid J7s, SRAM X.0, Crossmax XL.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Mt. Bike Terry
a Weekend Warrior
from Redding, Ca
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2006
Strengths: Easy to read, easy to navigate, and it works! Very accurate.
Weaknesses: The chest strap failed after the 3rd ride. No light... Do you really need one?
Bottom Line:
There are too many ups and downs with the ratings of HRM's. I did my homework and have tried a few of these. But the homerun came with the Sigma brand.
I am using the Sigma Fit watch currently, which is not listed on MTBR. When the chest strap failed, I called their support line and with no questions asked, they sent me a new one with arrived 3 days later. This watch is more performance based, but you can change the settings for your own goals/needs. The learning curve for the inital settings was a little intimidating but easy to navigate once you look at the map.
The chest strap is a little more solid than the Polar brand. Once Sigma replaced the strap, it has yet to fail, and I might try swimming with it next... Maybe Value: more options than a sunday buffet for the price. Rating: I would give it a 4.5 but I would be splitting hairs.
Submitted by
Per Magne
a Cross Country Rider
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2005
Strengths: Very solid Simple too use Replacable batteries Maximum heart rate display Average heart rate display Good chest strap
Weaknesses: Not encoded signal for transmission. Can not upload data to computer
Bottom Line:
I have been using a PC14 for over 3 years. Trouble free. Just had too change batteries now and then. Gives me the information I need during a training session and that is max HR and avg HR.
The old PC 14 has now broken down and I was considering bying a Polar watch. These HRM's can't give you avg HR during exercise so I ended up with a new PC14. Same functionality and much better looks.
Submitted by
llhank
a Weekend Warrior
from Winchester, MA
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2005
Strengths: Simple to use, plenty of functions, tracks my heartbeat accurately all the time. Best reason to purchase is that Sigma gives the best customer service of any company out there. When there's a problem with any of their products they find the right way to make you happy.
Weaknesses: Calorie calculator gives approximate results but I don't rely on it.
Bottom Line:
Don't waste money on anything more expensive than this because the Sigma gives you everyting you need.
Submitted by
Tobias Nyman
a Cross Country Rider
from Silkeborg,Denmark
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2004
Strengths: Great value for money, multitude of functions, good reliability and transmission.
Weaknesses: Uhmmm, the size i guess
Bottom Line:
There is no reason whatsoever not to buy this HRM. Max HR is a great feature, the strap fits nicely and the navigation between functions is quite simple. The only feature it lacks is the possibility to connect to a pc and get your HR during training on print, but hey for 60 bucks i can live with that.....
Strengths: Awesome warrant used twice! I broke the plastic on the chest strap and Sigma sent a whole new stap Asap, freee And recently the chest monitor quit working and Sigma is sending me a new one
Weaknesses: need to keep the instructions, when the battery goes on the watch.
Bottom Line:
Good to have for training tool. I was using it for checking morning resting heart rate, but now only for rides and races. I also noticed if i wear a heavy jacket the receptors on the watch would not pick up the signals when riding with my hands in the drops of road bike.
Bike Setup: Schwinn home grown pro stock except king wheels
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Strengths: Large, clear display Backlight Replacable battery in chest strap Handlebar mount included in price Maximum heart rate display
Weaknesses: Buttons can be difficult to press with gloves. Stops working under power lines. Too big to be comfortable on the wrist.
Bottom Line:
A good HRM at a low price, with a handlebar mount included in the package. The user-replacable chest strap battery is a nice feature. I like the maximum heart rate display. After a ride I can check how close I was to exploding! The backlight is great, but in practice I don't use it all that much. I would sacrifice the backlight for better reliability under power lines. My local training ride is under power lines and they block the signal to the HRM. This HRM has quickly become part of my performance toolkit, it helps me pace myself correctly and achieve better results over a long ride. Woulda got 5 chilis if it worked under power lines.
Submitted by
CK Felton
a Cross Country Rider
from Blacksburg, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2003
Strengths: Large Display; consistent readout; has all the basics features most folks need; comfortable chest strap; comes with removable handlebar mount
Weaknesses: Large display is a little awkward when wearing watch on wrist
Bottom Line:
Transmission from strap to watch is excellent - connects almost instantly and from up to several feet away. Single progammable zone feature with visual and audible out-of-zone indicators is great. Display is a large square, though, so it can affect your wrist movement a little if you wear the watch when you ride instead of mounting it on the bar. Easy battery replacement. I'm sticking with Sigma Sport should I ever need another HRM.
Bike Setup: GF Supercaliber, XT drivetrain, Cane Creek wheelset, Thomson
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Submitted by
Matteo Tellini
a Cross Country Rider
from Livorno, Italy
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2003
Strengths: many fuctions offered for a very cheap price. You can also change the belt batteries on your own.. not like polars where you must send the belt to polar hq to change batts.
Weaknesses: ugly look, not so much functions like polars high end models.
Bottom Line:
Very ugly but great price/quality product.. does not have many functions (but as the most important ones like target zones, maximum Hearth rate, average Hearth rate and so on)like high ebd polar models but has the minimun functions necessary to a good training program for less than half a polar model. You can get no better for 50 bucks.
Bike Setup: Scoot Team Issue Hard tail Xt mounted with Rockshox Sid SL
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Daron
a Weekend Warrior
from Malaysia
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002
Strengths: Lot's of features at this price, hardy and reliable.
Weaknesses: Not the best looking one out there
Bottom Line:
Clock, Calendar, Alarm, Heart Rate, Zone Training, Calorie, Stopwatch, Lap counter.....even though it is ugly, it served me well over a year for just about 50 bucks. It is still working well and guess I'll recommend it to those who cant afford an expensive CycleOps or Polar, this one works!
