Heart Rate Monitors w/out chest strap

bigfatbino
bigfatbino Posts: 136 Member
edited January 2 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been thinking about getting some kind of heart rate monitor for exercise tracking and such. But there are a LOT to choose from it seems. I got one of these little Fitbit Zip things at the Apple store on an impulse, and while it's cool, I just don't see how it can be accurate. I'd like to step up from that, but I don't like the idea of having to wear a chest strap and a wrist thing. It's too cyborg-ish for me.

So.

For the HRM users out there. Are there any ones you could recommend that do not have the chest strap?

Thanks in advance.

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    NO.
  • ascotton80
    ascotton80 Posts: 56 Member
    you need one with a chest strap. Otherwise there is really not much point.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    If you want accuracy you need one with a chest strap (it takes no time at all to get accustomed to wearing one)
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I started with a watch-only New Balance model, I found on clearance at Target. Figured it was better than nothing. But after a few weeks with it, I was searching for a model with a chest strap. Got a New Balance N4 (brand new on eBay - $26! score!) and was astonished at how comfy the strap was, and how nice it was to hit start on the watch when I began my workout and didn't have to worry about it until I hit stop.

    With the watch only type, you have to pause your workout to touch the face of the watch and take a heart rate - which doesn't always read the first time, so you pause longer, interrupting your workout and getting frustrated! The watch only bit goes by whatever your heart rate was last time you touched it, the chest strap is monitoring the whole time, so much more accurate.

    I wish I had saved the money I spent on the clearance watch and just gone straight for the chest strap model.
  • bigfatbino
    bigfatbino Posts: 136 Member
    Wow thanks for the good information. I guess I'll stick to the chest strap models for my selection. I'll check out the New Balance N4's for sure. Are there any other models / brands that users have had some good success with that I should consider?
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Polar seems to be very reliable and has a lot of different models to choose from depending on your budget and needs.
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