Heart rate monitors, are they worth it?

to me, SO WORTH ITTT! I love being held accountable. I love knowing exactly what I put in my body and exactly how much of it ive burned off. I just got a new one that seems to be extremely accurate and its so comfortable really I forget I have it on. I would say save your pennies get a nice one. I already feel an immense amount better with my body. it pushes me to challenge myself too bc the one I have keeps track of every step and it pushes u to do more than u did the time before. so I hope this helps! good luck with your journey )

Short answer - Yes!

Definitely get one. Good ones like Polar can be pricey, but I have found that they are worth the money spent. I have a Polar FT4 that I love. Having a heart rate monitor showed me that gym machines, MFP, and running aps don't accurately measure my calories burned. And how could it? Not everybody running on the treadmill is going to burn calories at the same rate.

Yes they are. I use it to keep my asthma in check. I make sure my HR does not get too high.

To me they are one of the most important tools for weight loss along with a food scale.

If you are overestimating your calories burned, and eating back those calories, you could be eating maintenance and wonder why you aren't losing.

definitely get one!

^^ This - I could not say it any better!

I feel the same way. Emphasis on the food scale.
I really depend on my Polar FT7.
I have been using it for a long while and I always "eat back my exercise calories." My weigh loss has been steady and consistent.
When I first joined the gym I had a free personal trainer session and I wore my HRM. He took my heart rate with his finger on my wrist....my HRM was only off by like 2 beats per minute from what the trainer told me my HR was.

I got the PolarFt4 and it was "only" $60 on Amazon ... I know pricepoints are different for people, but that wasn't much for me to spend for the feedback it provides. I actually am not a huge HRM lover, I don't wear it for every workout (just a bit of a pain to put on each time, as I do multiple workouts a day) but I would still recommend it.

Heart rate monitors have an even more important purpose than being a gauge for measuring calories burned. Most people get them for that purpose, which is good. BTW - they too, are an estimate. The only way to accurately measure calories burned is with metabolic testing. But it is a consistent read out of effort, so that is better than a formula.

The best usage is learning heart rate zones. The all out zone is actually not the best zone for burning fat. Runners can benefit increasing their endurance by training in the proper zone. Briefly, there are 5 zones, from resting to all out. My HRM does this, but some use colors and other names.

RESTING (60 - 114)
1. WARM UP (115 - 124)
2. FAT BURNING (125 - 135)
3. AEROBIC (136 - 146)
4. ANAEROBIC (147 - 168)
5. MAXIMUM (169 - 169)

All exercise burns calories, but intervals using zones 2, 3 and 4 can produce better results. For endurance runners, a long run of 2 hours is a fat burning zone by default.

I had a Polar with a watch, which was good, but I love my Waahoo which synches to my iPhone and Endomondo. But there are lots of apps it will work with.

Another SO WORTH IT vote! Everyone with the Polar recommendation is spot on. If money isn't tight for you, I definitely recommend one of their high end models. Money is tight for me, though! I bought my FT4 on bodytronics.com with a coupon code and had it shipped to me for under $60 - check out retailmenot before you buy online. You pretty much can't beat that. It does everything I need and more... bonus points for being compatible with pretty much any piece of cardio equipment I've ever hopped on at the gym!

THAT SAID, do a LOT of research if you decide to go for a low end, odd brand model for $20, $30. My folks have one that is just a watch piece, and you put your fingers on it to get your heart rate. I don't trust it! I've tried it out of curiosity with my Polar HRM on, and the two don't agree. If it doesn't strap across your chest, think twice and do some digging.

They are definitely worth it provided you get a good one.

There are really cheap ones out there but most are only a watch which won't be as accurate since it only takes your HR when you touch the button. If you get one with a chest strap and one that allows you to enter your height, sex, age and weight they are so worth it... up there with a food scale.

What kind did you get? Since you're satisfied with it, I just might want to put that on my Christmas list. Or I might just get it for myself.