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Sports
Instruments Circuit 5 HRM
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Submitted by
Douglas Montgomery
a Racer
from Downers Grove, IL
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Bruno's Run | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Blazing Saddles | | Strengths: | Working great after about 8 years of use | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | polar | | Bottom Line: | I am sad to report that Bill Corliss died Saturday in a cycling accident near Park City, UT.
More information is available on velonews.com.
He will certainly be missed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Selva Sol
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Catawba | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | amazon | | Weaknesses: | Does not work in water | | Bottom Line: | I've sent 3 emails to Sports Instruments via their contact email asking for their support on the ECG5 Heart Rate Monitor and haven't received a response. I purchased 3 of these monitors in December 2004 (two as gifts). I use the heart rate monitor during my swim workouts. During my first five workouts it functioned perfectly well. After that, the monitor did not work.
In subsequent swim workouts: the monitor recorded my heart rate after I showered but before I got in the pool. Once I got in the pool it would not register a heartbeat. If I got out of the pool, it would pick up a heartbeat. Twenty minutes into the swim workout, the monitor would erratically register a heartbeat.
I would appreciate a response from Sports Instruments. I want a heart monitor that will work during swims. If your monitors don't work in the pool, give me my money back.
The reason I bought your product was that comments from other users said that you provided excellent support. Well, where is this great customer service?
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Edmonton, AB
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | Three year update from my last post - Circuit 5 is still going strong after four years. No problems at all. Just replaced the receiver unit's battery for the second time. This unit was worth every dollar I paid for it in '99. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Bouldrey
a
from RObertsdale AL USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Accurate, usable, inexpensive. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. | | Weaknesses: | None with Bill Corliss on the job | | Similar Products Used: | Brand P | | Bottom Line: | I've owned a "Frestyle" HRM for quite some time that developed a problem early on with the "set" function. The heart rate function and stopwatch always performed flawlessly. Last week, on an internet search, I found this forum and learned my unit was made by Sports Instruments and I learned of Mr. Bill Corliss and the service he has provided to users of this forum. I contacted him by email to see if he had any tricks to make it function properly. Indeed, he did. He emailed me back almost immediately and asked if I would send the unit to him so he could fix it for me. He also requested I send him the transmitter so he could check the entire system and refresh all the batteries. I shipped it off to him only last Thursday and when I checked the mailbox today (the following Friday) it was back already. Apparently the long-standing problem with the "set" button was terminal because I found that Bill had replaced my old Freestyle with a brand new Sports Instruments model. Needless to say, the unit funtions perfectly and I'm back in the HRM business.
Bill, if you read this, THANK YOU, and rest assured if the the time comes I have to replace this unit, I'll most certainly replace it with a Sports Instruments.
Regards,
Don | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sebastian Rozkuszka
a Cross Country Rider
from Hamilton, Ontario,Canada
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo.com | | Strengths: | Great price
Many features tha brand that cost 3x as much dont have
Very easy operation
Good display | | Weaknesses: | Goes out under power lines
Chest strap had to stay exactly in place
Chest strap had to be tight | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Klein Mantra 1999 (MTB)
Cannondale F 800 (ROAD) | | Bottom Line: | Good heart rate monitor for beginners and people on a budget.
Does go out when strap moves to much or when under some heavy power lines. Also does not work with women who have large chest (does not work for my girlfriend at all)
If your low on money and cant afford a Polar this is a model that'll get you by! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Racer
from Raleigh, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali, near Nanatahala, NC | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | trisports.com | | Strengths: | Offers as much info as HRMs 2x as much. Accurate, durable, time in/out of target range. Different displays depending on preference. Comfortable chest strap. | | Weaknesses: | Will sometimes flake out around power lines | | Similar Products Used: | Polar Pacer | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F900 mtn.
Marin road | | Bottom Line: | After using Polar products for 4-5 years, the ECG 5 is a solid change. It is much more reliable than Polar and you don't have to pay $40 to have the battery changed. If you're looking for accuracy with a ton of features...get this HRM! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Racer
from Geneva Illinois
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Mission Bay, Elgin IL | | Strengths: | Customer service is A+ | | Weaknesses: | The product itself seems to have inherent flaws in design or construction...or both. See below. | | Bottom Line: | This is another followup from 11/28/00 and then 4/06/01. I got my HR monitor back from Bill in early April. It worked great......for a week. Literally 7 days. Then, I noticed the "glow" light wouldn't turn off. I tried unsticking various buttons, etc. Wouldn't work. I emailed Bill, he was gracious enough to call almost immediately and offered AGAIN to fix or replace. Said the buttons sometimes get "burrs" on them and stick. Anyway, its race season, and I really don't have the time or energy for this anymore...It costs a week and $10 to Fedex it out...Sports Instruments has fantastic customer service, but I really feel the product needs to be retooled, with heavy emphasis on user input regarding design and usage. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marla
a Cross Country Rider
from Centerville, Utah
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay/ediscountbike.com | | Strengths: | Customer Support/Service Rules!
Affordable with variety of functions | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bottom Line: | I purchased this heart monitor on-line appx. a year ago. About 6 months into use, the heart rate display wouldn't work. I replaced the batteries as instructed, and still no luck. I chalked it up to a bad purchase through ebay until I stumbled onto this review sight. Sent my monitor to Bill and within 1 week received a new watch back with no questions asked. Monitor works perfect! Thanks SI! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glen Gobel
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | M.E.C. | | Strengths: | Functions
Low price
Customer service | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bottom Line: | I would like to send a special thanks to Bill Corliss for the prompt service on my circiut5. Not only was the case (it broke where one of the pins inserted) replaced but he took the liberty of replacing the battery and sent a new watch strap as well. Now that's customer service. BTW the HR has always worked great and has the features of more expensive models from other manufactures.
Keep the rubber side down.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Racer
from Geneva IL
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Mission Bay | | Strengths: | This is a followup to a post 11/28....Bill Corliss from Sports Instruments emailed me, asked me to send my monitor and strap in, and he would either fix or replace. When I (finally) got around to sending it to him, the turn around time was a week to a week and a half. Amazing. Free. Works great.
I always say customer service starts when a problem appears, and in this case, customer service was top notch. They are there when you need them! | | Bottom Line: | Dependable service if/when you need it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a
from Davis, CA
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Very Reliable
Great Customer Support
Many Functions (Stop watch, timer, ave HR, zones, etc.) | | Weaknesses: | None found yet | | Similar Products Used: | Polar Beat | | Bike Setup: | Ron Cooper Road Bike w/ Kestrel EMS Fork, full Campy NR (circa 1973), Speedplay pedals, Cinelli Bars & Stem, Serfas ARC dual density saddle | | Bottom Line: | My watch died about the same time my old HR monitor kicked the bucket (black display in the summer heat). I was given $100 gift cert. for Father's day and couldn't decide whether to get a watch or a heart rate monitor. The SI Circuit 5 gave me both! Shortly after purchase, the mount for the band broke when I was strapping the HRM on my bars. I Sent it to SI and quickly received replacement, no questions asked. I use it on the bike when I ride, and I wear it as a watch all day long. Sometimes I monitor my HR at work. I see some really low numbers, especially in boring meetings. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Peplinski
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary Alberta
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | MEC | | Strengths: | Great product support! Comfortable chest strap, | | Weaknesses: | At times the buttons seem a little small and sticky. Light display could be brighter at night | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Lemond Zurich Shimano 105, KHS with XT | | Bottom Line: |
I used my monitor for about 18 months before the display went blank. I followed the manual and had a watch repair shop replace the batteries but the display was still dead.
I sent off the monitor to Sports Instruments to see if they could fix it. Three weeks later the monitor was Fed Ex'd to my door now functioning with new batteries (again). The repair and shipping was done at no charge.
According to the letter sent back to me by Mr Corliss at Sports Instruments, it is very common for watch batteries to be dead from sitting on a shelf too long.
This is fantastic customer service. I had expected my monitor to be gone for 6 weeks minimum and be asked for $$ to repair and ship it.
I will buy another Sport Instruments. The monitor works well and is backed by its manufacturer. Its nice to know that you'll be able to use it for a few years and not have to toss it out at the first sign of trouble.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Corliss
a
from Park City, UT USA
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Hi folks, Several of the recent reviews of this product are related to dead or dying batteries. Anyone having similar problems with this or other Sports Instruments products please email me and I will arrange to get the unit repaired and working properly for you.
Bill Corliss
Director of Product Development, Sports Instruments Inc. | | Bottom Line: | I hope that this is not an abuse of this site. We just want to make sure that everyone is happy using our stuff | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hans
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Strengths: | Price, ease of battery replacement. | | Weaknesses: | Reliability. | | Bottom Line: | Used semi-regularly for 16 months, then both batteries died. Then display went flaky. Now I get irregular/innaccurate HR readings, so I can't use the product reliably anymore. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Racer
from Geneva, IL USA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Mission Bay Multisport | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | Reliability | | Similar Products Used: | Polar | | Bottom Line: | I bought the Circuit 5 in late August, early Sept 2000 after borrowing a friend's Polar. Features seemed comparable, price was right. First the audible alarm failed, then the display started to go. I replaced the watch battery, that didn't help. Then I replaced the chest strap battery, that didn't help. Now the display LCD is all goofed up. I am beginning to think maybe there is only one brand to buy, and that I wasted $100. I never used it swimming, only training runs & bikes and in races. I can't recommend this product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcelo Iannini
a Racer
from Brasilia, DF, Brazil
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Strengths: | Price
Reliability
Features | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Polar (sh!t), vetta (BIG SH!T) | | Bike Setup: | ibis road | | Bottom Line: | I have used this product on my last 3years of training. It has about 2400hours or about 45000miles (really, this is true!). During every ride I used this monitor with little problems. I have replaced the batteries on both monitor and chest strap 3 times each. When my HR readings are inaccurated, it's time for another battery change. Simple.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leo Medellin
a Cross Country Rider
from Chihuahua, Chih, MEXICO
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Creel | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | REI-OUTLET | | Strengths: | This is a follow up on my prev. review | | Weaknesses: | It has been diagnosed and fixed | | Similar Products Used: | read review below | | Bike Setup: | read review below | | Bottom Line: | After posting my review, Mr. Bill Corliss (Director of Product Development/Sports Instruments) got in touch with me and explained the problem (due to an old battery), also he promtply offer a solution to get my unit back to work w/o any problems.
After this I gave the Circuit 5 HRM a 5+ score!, that's customer service...
(Thanks Bill!)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leo Medellin
a Cross Country Rider
from Chihuahua, Chih, MEXICO
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Creel | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | REI-OUTLET | | Strengths: | Price; handlebar mount; transmiter. | | Weaknesses: | Display will fade and/or the reading will be incorrect.
(much like the problem explained by "K. Geist") | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar HRM | | Bike Setup: | Sunn Team Issue,'99 RS SID XC, RaceFace Turbine LP crankset, SRAM 9.0sl read derl., XTR front der., XTR v brakes, Mavic X517/XTR wheelset | | Bottom Line: | I've used this product w/o any problems while training on the road/indoor trainer. Problems will start during XC races, pretty annoying. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K. Geist
a Racer
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Weaknesses: | I use my moniter everytime I hit the road, but half the time it doesn't give me a reading. It's REALLY annoying when half way through the ride, it just quits! Recently, the screen went totally blank. I'm still working on getting it fixed, no luck so far. | | Bottom Line: | It's a great training/racing tool when it works. When it works... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marlon
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Accurate, affordable, memory feature with alarm. | | Weaknesses: | Display scratches easily, backlit feature can be hard to access. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Retro-fitted Trek 1200 with Time carbon fork, ultegra gruppo, and Spinergy rev-x's. The mountain bike is a beat up, 50lb. Sears bike special with bashed-up ritchey cleats as the only upgrade, 'cause I'm sadistic when I do trails. | | Bottom Line: | I'm coming at this as a completely new HRM user, so bear with me - I'm making comparisons with a Timex Ironman.
All in all, I like the HRM, both as a watch and as a training tool. At the price that I got it at, I think it was a more than fair deal for something that provides more than just a pulse reading. For Canadians and out-of-USA folk, at $US 40-45 from Supergo even with import duties, I'd say it's very good. In contrast, I'd have to pay around $US 60 minimum for a very minimal model HRM in Canada. And that's before 14-15% taxes depending on where you live.
Pros: It's pretty accurate. I checked it's performance against a commercial blood-pressure machine in my local pharmacy, and against my family physician (he's a friend and sports buff too) and the HRM was dead on or very close. The chest strap takes a day or two to adjust to for beginners, but I don't notice it anymore - seems to be pretty comfy. Instructions included were adequate, and the HRM's use is almost self-intuitive; note I say "almost", I still had to refer back to the instructions. The large display is good and visible, and the backlight feature is similar to a Timex "Indiglow" function. The audible alarm and memory features work, and they do their job well. In short, only a small learning curve was needed to use the HRM.
Cons: The display is NOT like an Ironman. Be careful with it, although rubbing toothpaste on the display in a circular motion over small scratches will remove the scratches. Pressing buttons to activate features still disconcerts me at times; the feel is not the same as a Timex watch, but after about a month of constant use, I think I can get used to it. The backlight feature can be a little tricky to activate when you're cycling at night, and doesn't stay on once you activate it - you have to keep pressing to see the display. The watch is water-resistant, but I wouldn't go diving with it. The rubbery watch casing surrounding the LCD display is kind of neat, but picks up dirt easily. It washes off just as easily though - in most cases. Like all watches that come with watch-straps, do be careful of watch-strap stink. And yes, the colour of the watch I got was a bright neon-orange, but on the plus side, when I was wearing it as a watch when clubbing at night, it was pretty trendy and I got a few nice comments:)
Last but not least, addressing concerns with Supergo, I find that the service there is satisfactory. No problems as of yet, but I'll keep my eye out just in case. I'll write back in 6 months with a longevity report.
The HRM gets 5 chilis in value, because it's that good a value for non-USA residents, and 4 chilis in rating, because I can't give it a 4 and 1/2; although not perfect in every way (what is?), it comes darn close according to my needs. If you're looking for a good-value HRM as a training aid, this is it. If you're looking for something more high end, you can find it, but you'll pay a price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Lodi, Ca
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Dead Camper | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Very reliable readings, chest strap fits good, bike mount included, price: $40 from Supergo. | | Weaknesses: | Color, orange: but for $40 I'll take it. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta HR50, inconsistent at best. | | Bike Setup: | Ventana Marbel Peak with all the good bits. | | Bottom Line: | A good piece of equipment, very easy to use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JAMES STAUBER
a Weekend Warrior
from STATEN ISLAND, NY
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | greenbelt | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | customer service is ok | | Weaknesses: | doesn't work well x 2 | | Similar Products Used: | performance bike hr 100 AXIOM HR 100 | | Bike Setup: | TREK 6500, NOLEEN FRONT SHOCK, TRUVATIV STYLO CRANKCASE, XT FRONT DERAILLEUR | | Bottom Line: | The first one I ordered was completely non functional. The display was totally blank. I called customer service at SUPERGO.COM and they sent me a replacement.
The replacemnet worked for one day and then it too went blank. So far SUPERGO and its discount heart monitors are zero for 2. 2 chilis for customer service, one chili for value and performance because the ratings don't go any lower. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT ROCK
a Racer
from Drumheller, AB
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Stone cold reliable
Accurate
Long battery life | | Weaknesses: | Funky strap
Watch face not abrasion resistant
A little pricey | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bottom Line: | Absolutely reliable, never gives false readings, never a transmitter/reciever problem. Only gripe is that the strap on the reciever works well for attaching to handlebars, but it sucks as a wrist strap. Fortunately, I never wear it on my wrist (my running days are long gone). Batteries are still going strong after 14 months.
Be careful with the receiver - the display is not very abrasion resistant. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Aurora, IL USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Palos-Mtn, Any less traveled blacktop-rd | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | I bought a year old model freestyle circuit 5 which was made by sport instruments(looks identical except for the band). Easy to read, set and use. I like the memory feature, gives time in, above and below HR zone. Nice rubber bike mount attaches by wrapping strap around it - nice and simple and secure. Beefy leather/nylon strap A+ | | Weaknesses: | None at this time. Will see how long the battery lasts but you can replace it yourself. (A plus) | | Similar Products Used: | Polar Pacer (tested) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper Comp- Mtn, Trek 660 w/600 Ultegra- Road | | Bottom Line: | I got it at discount for $100 and it has been well worth the money. Using it primarily for fitness and cycling and it hasn't given one false reading, unlike the competition. Don't know who makes the new model freestyle HR's but this SI / (freestyle) C 5 is great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Sevenoaks
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed y brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very reliable readings. Never had any problems with it stopping recording or giving obviously wrong reads. Great value for money - a Polar HRM that give average heart rates and time in zones is about twice the price. Paid £50 for it (reduced price) and i certainly dont regret it. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Polar Vantage NV | | Bike Setup: | Klein Pulse Race | | Bottom Line: | Great value for money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cyrus
a Cross-Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
-Nice price! I got this for $100CND at MEC and it has served me well.
-Durable
-Looks nice too. | | Weaknesses: |
No light | | Similar Products Used: |
Polar accurex | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F400 | | Bottom Line: | This is really the only thing you need in a heart rate monitor, nothing more or less. Compared to others, the price is its main advantage. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Willy
a weekend warrior
from Lincoln,Nebraska USA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the Circuit 5 at my LBS for about 120USD because my old reliable Polar Pacer got destroyed in a little altercation with the planet. I didn't really need the backlight feature, but what the hell. I'm super-stoked on the Circuit 5, as it is even better than my old Pacer, comes with a great rubber donut for handlebar mounting, and would made a nifty watch with its velcro band (if I didn't have a Casio DataBank already). The chest band doesn't slip at all, and the transmitter battery is user-replaceable (unlike Polar HRM's). I give this bad boy 5 big ones! | | Overall Rating: |
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