By knowing your heart rate, you can keep your workout at a fat-burning level, not exhaust yourself on long distance walks, or pump it up for a threshold workout to build your aerobic capacity. Many models also display calories burned and help you time your workout.
Price
Basic models displaying only heart rate sell for $40-75 US. Models with more features cost anywhere from $80 up to over $300 US.
Features
You get what you pay for with heart rate monitors. All come with the transmitter unit which you wear around your chest. Most come with a watch display to show your heart rate and other data, but some models instead have headphones to speak your heart rate and timing to you.
Features: Heart rate • Time/date • Elapsed time • Stopwatch timer • Nightlight • Target heart rate zone • Average heart rate • Time in zone • Calories burned • Alarm • Lap/split time • Customizable interval timers • Data transmission to computer • Programmed workouts
For My Money
I have used several different heart rate monitors. What I find essential is the heart rate and the elapsed time. I also like models that alert me when I am over or under my target heart rate zone. Ease of use is also very important - I don't want to have to bring the instruction manual along on my workout.
Reviews
- Heart Monitor Reviews
- Top Picks for Heart Monitors Under $100
- Top Picks for Heart Monitors Over $100
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