BEST Heart Rate Monitors

Was wondering the same thing..a friend of mine got one from amazon.com for like $75

I've used POLAR the last 6 years and I love it! Here's what I think the pro's are:

1. Keeps track of your workouts and comes with software to download them onto your computer.
2. Works without the watch - so if you wear the heart strap without the watch, the machine you are on will still pick up your HR and show up on the machine.
3. Keeps me on task during my workouts.
4. Very precise with how many calories burned during exercise (excellent for calorie counting)
5. Waterproof
6. Good customer service
7. Easy to program yourself

They are a little bit costly but a good investment in my opinion.

Good luck!

You can shop around, especially with Christmas sales coming, and find a better deal for something that will work for you.

My tips:

Look for a heart rate MONITOR watch, not a heart rate watch. The monitors have a constant feature that'll allow you to glance at your wrist to see either your heart rate in bpm or your heart range percentage (which is the easiest for those who, for instance, are working to build their cardio endurance/fitness). Heart Rate Watches usually require you to stop and touch them and wait for the heart rate (which by then, is dropping). Constant up to the second displays on the MONITOR watches are better.

Be sure that your choice displays not just the number of beats per minute (bpm) but the heart rate max percentage. Not many of us know at a glance that 161 may be 78%. I don't like to do the math so I like the watches that display the percentage of hr max. We trainers like folks to work out within a specific range and it's too much of a hassle in my experience, to ask people to remember the number that equates to specific ranges (e.g., 70%, 80%, 90%).

Remember that you can't upgrade your purchase. Sometimes it's smart to spend a little more to get the IDEAL watch. In my humble opinion, if you can afford it, there is nothing cooler or more motivating that the Heart Rate Monitor watches with GPS. These not only display HR information, but mileage and pace, as well. Yes, they're a bit more, but you can never change your basic model into a gps one. Why would you want the gps model? Well if you are inclined to be a walker or have ambitions to be a jogger, or if you like to hike, you can touch the button on your watch and it'll actually (via gps) record your mileage, and pace, and because they also monitor your hr, it can very specifically calculate your calorie burn (some better than others). When you're done, you can sync your watch information with a website that shows your "trip" including elevation climb, average pace, best pace, etc. It's kind of addicting. It can even calculate the mileage precisely when you walk the miles you walk in the mall while doing your Christmas shopping. Those are more expensive, but there are couple of good Garmin models that are below $200. I love these things for so many reasons and if there is any chance you would like be a walker or runner, these things are incredibly motivating. Just be sure, if you look for these, that you are getting one with both the GPS and the heart rate monitor in one unit (will include a chest strap).

Hope that helps you out!

-- Robin

I love my Polar F6 and would recommend to anyone. You can program in your information and set your zones.

I have a polar f6. I've only used it a couple times but i love it. last night i set it to display my calories burning as i was doing my zumba class. Knowing the generic aerobic number MFP calculated for my exercise gave me a gauge for about where I should be. I used it as a tool to push myself a little more, trying to get those numbers to match.

I'm also happy that I now know my true calorie burn. MFP calculations are slightly higher for me.

Man, I have quite a few errors in my last post. I should proof-read before I hit "Post Reply." Sorry!