Heart Rate Monitor Help

I have the Polar ft4, its very basic, easy to use and accurate. It has a chest strap but it constantly monitors. One button to switch between heart rate and calories, and if you're on a machine at the gym they usually sense your monitor and sync. It was only $90.

I got mine at big 5, but you can find them at Target or even a local fitness supply store.

i have the polar FT4 and love it.

Polar Ft4. I love it and dont exercise without it.

I used to have the Polar blue tooth and had to pass it along to my hubby. My phone's bluetooth wasn't strong enough to keep it accurate. So I just yesterday got the Polar FT4 and Love it so far. It's so simple, comes with a chest strap, tells you how many cals you burn and when your heart rate is falling above or below the Maximum burn area. I was recommended this one by a friend as well. She's had hers for 4 or 5 months now. Whatever one you get just make sure to take care of the chest strap, regular rinsing and all that. Good Luck

I just got a polar FT7 and used it for the first time tonight. I love it! My husband got it off Amazon for 85 and the link up system was 50.

I have a Suunto M4 - it's cute and does the trick. It tells the time, measures my heart rate, records my max heart rate, tells me calories burned, had a workout timer and at the end of a session it gives me the run-down of my work out (which I can look at later to record it down)
I like it It was $110AUD

You also mentioned accuracy was important.

Accuracy for getting the heart rate is going to be equal across the types. Chest straps best, wrist straps next, finger pulse checkers worst. Chest straps for instance have all been using the exact same technique, and comfort and size would be a better factor.

For the other part of accuracy is getting the readings to the monitor. That's where some options come into play.
Digital or Analog, and ease of re-pairing them in case of interference with others.
Analog has more chance of being effected, but better chance of working with gym equipment (more on that later, may not matter).

The other aspect is the transmitter and radio, good or bad. More expensive are likely to have better of both, which means better on battery life. Some may put out a weak signal on the transmitter, turning the radio up high on monitor to read it, and wasting the battery on the watch where you can replace it easily. But the transmitter is not field replaceable, but since it runs a low power it runs a long time.
Others allow you to change the transmitter battery too, and those may put out stronger signal, knowing you can replace it.
Cheaper units may have weak transmitter and receiver, and weaker non-replaceable batteries.
So the name brands by companies dealing a long time with HRM specifically or sports equipment in general have better specs usually. Polar, Timex, Suunto, Garmin, ect.

Then the accuracy gets down to what do you do with the data.
If all you get is a read out of HR while working out, then pretty simple.
Like most using them, you like to have more data probably.
Minimum desired is calorie count usually.
Perhaps stats at end of session, max, avg, low, time in a certain zone, ect, so you can improve workouts.
Perhaps zones with optional audible alarms when you get serious with workouts and pushing the limits, or trying not to.

Next comes accuracy of the calorie estimate.
For good estimates that are more accurate, the monitor needs to know from you, in order of importance, weight, sex, age, max HR, resting HR. The more the better. And the more accurate that data, the more accurate the estimate.

This is where using the strap with the exercise machines, or the Garmin x05 series, looses accuracy.
The Garmin does not use HR in the calorie estimates. Weight and pace tables like you could look up on a website. The x10 series uses HR.
Machines, while displaying the HR, and willing to display the calories burned, usually don't use the HR in those calculations. For one, the most info I've seen them ask for was weight and age on one specific machine. Usually just weight. And they also base estimate of calories on avg pace tables.
So if interested in accuracy, don't worry about which ones work with the machines you'll use. If you just want to observe your HR easier, fine and dandy. But bring your own monitor and set it on the machine if you don't want to wear the band.

Other features that may be nice.
Chronograph of course for recording your workout time. Laps for different parts of the workout or such, and if avg HR given for each one, even better. And if HR is only recorded while chrono is going, even better.

Countdown timer might be nice option.
Interval timer is great if you make progress to that. (set 3 min and 1 min, repeat so many times or continuously).

Comment on the BodyBugg/BodyMedia/SenseWear/FitBit type of device. Not meant for getting accurate with workouts. Study has shown they are way off. They can be great to get your daily lite activity, and walking, but start losing it when you really work out - they have no HR monitor, and that is the most accurate means barring expensive equipment, to estimate calories during exercise with HR between 90-160.