Advice on buying a heart rate monitor?

i know that everyone will tell you to get the Polar and I am sure that they are great. But i really didnt want one with the chest strap. i know that with the watch ones you have to take your heartrate yourself, but its really no big deal. i got the New Balance Fit and it was $60 and I got it from Target. I wear it on the Treadmill and take my rate every 3 mins. It works for me. The more times you take your rate, the more accurate it will be. Since the chest strap is taking more readings, it is probably a little more accurate, but i think that mine is fine. i love it actually. but to each his own! :ohwell:

I've been looking into buying a heart rate monitor but I'm on quite a tight budget.

I've been looking at The Polar FS3C and this model: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=367100709

Is there anything specific I should be looking for or brands I should be avoiding?

First...what do you need it for? Different ones have different features which you may or may not need.

I got a Polar FT4 for $60 on Amazon, and it does everything I need it to (just to count calories during my P90X and Insanity workouts). It also counts calories for me just fine and comes with a comfortable chest strap, which you want to go for, due to accuracy. Taking it at set intervals, like with just a watch based HRM, doesn't make it more accurate. If your taking it during a peak or valley in your workout, you're not getting an accurate picture of your entire workout. a chest strap is taking a continuous reading.

Polar FT4 - had it a few weeks. It has a chest strap which is very comfortable, and displays a choice of view at the press of a button: HR only in large numbers, your lower & upper HR zone for best workout with HR, time date duration of workout, and calories burned. The max HR was important for me, when running, as I am in my late 40's and was worried about overdoing things. I now have the confidence to run at a steady speed under my max HR, and can include short bursts of speed within reason. It provides all the data I need...

Honestly, I just needed one to track heart rate and calories as well, so when I was at one of my favorite outdoorsy websites and one popped up for $20, I grabbed it. http://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-Watches-Heart-Monitor/dp/B003S1ZNL4 With shipping it only came out to $2 less than the going price on Amazon. I haven't received it yet, but I'll let you know what I think when I get it.

I have the polar ft60 and loveeeeee it, it comes with chest strap and gps device for running outside