When you're swimming, tracking your heart rate helps you gauge how hard you're working. However, in a pool, it's most convenient to have a waterproof heart rate monitor that is easy to read, particularly if you taken off your glasses to swim. You also won't have to stop to find and count your pulse. Some heart rate monitors even offer features that help you track your workout.
Types
Swimming heart rate monitors, similar to regular heart rate monitors, come in several varieties. The main type is made of two pieces: A chest strap encircles your rib cage and transmits a signal to a readout device, which you wear on your wrist. Other heart rate monitors are worn only on the wrist, similar to a watch, and track your heart rate from that location, though you have to pause and press your fingertips to it for it to work properly. Ring monitors are also available.
Polar
The Polar brand of heart rate monitors are water resistant to up to 30 feet. In addition, the brand offers a number of training features, including average heart rate, length of workout, previous workout data and an easy-to-read display. The Polar F11 is priced at $160 in 2011. The F6 is priced at $110 in 2011.
Timex
Timex heart rate monitors are also water resistant. The manufacturer models include a top-of-the-line option that retails for nearly $300 in 2011, the Timex Bodylink. Also available is a less-expensive model that retails for $90 in 2011, the Timex 30-Lap Ironman.
The main difference between the two is that the more expensive model includes alarms when you're working out of your target hear rate. Both models have an easy-to-read display and store information. In the less-expensive model, information storage is limited to the last 30 laps swum.
Considerations
Receiving continual feedback on your heart rate can make your workout more efficient and help you track your fitness. A heart rate monitor that requires you to stop and put your fingers on its face is not very efficient for any form of exercise, but is effective for intermittent testing of your heart rate. A chest-strap model with a transmitter to wristwatch offers more constant information, but may be uncomfortable. Try wearing the chest strap a few times before getting into the water to make sure any discomfort won't interfere with your workout.
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