Heart rate monitors are efficient tools for tracking your exercise intensity and workload during cardiovascular exercises. Heart rate monitors typically consist of a watch and a signaler. The signaler reads impulses from your chest and transmits them to the watch to tell you your heart rate. Choosing a quality heart rate monitor is important because it ensures that your heart rate readings are accurate and that the signal strong enough so that transmission of the signal to the watch is uninterrupted.
Omron HR-100C
The highest rated, basic model, heart rate monitor according to users of Amazon.com and a ConsumerSearch.com report is the Omron HR-100C. This model features a quality chest transmitter that can send its signal up to 98 feet away. The watch has holes in it for ventilation of the wrist. The watch also comes with a feature that signals an alarm if your heart rate is above or below the pace you set on the watch.
Timex T5G971 Unisex
The Timex T5G971 watch also scores favorably on Amazon.com with an average overall rating of four out of five. ConsumerSearch.com also highly rates this Timex heart rate monitor and labels it one of the best budget-friendly choices. This watch also features the target heart rate zone feature that beeps if you do not keep your heart rate in the desired zone. This watch also reads your heart rate via a chest strap transmitter. This watch is waterproof up to a depth of 30 meters.
Polar RS100
The PolarRS100 is a highly rated performance-based heart rate monitor, according to users from Amazon.com. This monitor keeps track of your heart rate across workouts and signals you if you're not within your desired heart rate zones. The watch is waterproof up to 50 meters. One feature of the Polar RS100 is that it also displays your heart rate as a percentage of your maximum heart rate which is highly beneficial for monitoring exercise difficulty for elite athletes.
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
GaltTech.com rates the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS as one of the best heart rate monitors for cyclists and long distance running athletes. Besides the features of a typical heart rate monitor, the built in GPS will track the distance covered during your workout. This data can then be plugged into software that comes with the watch to better monitor your workouts.
References
- American College of Sports Medicine: Selecting and Effectively Using Heart Rate Monitors
- ConsumerSearch.com: Heart Rate Monitors - Review
- Amazon.com: Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor
- Amazon.com: Timex T5G971 Unisex Sports Personal Heart Rate Monitor Watch
- Amazon.com: Polar RS100 Heart Rate Monitor and Stopwatch
- GaltTech.com: Heart Rate Monitor Reviews and Buying Guide
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