Heart rate monitors provide an easy way for you to track the intensity of your workout so you can make adjustments to stay within your target heart rate zone. Most heart rate monitors are extremely accurate in tracking your beats per minute, regardless of price, according to "Consumer Reports," but which heart monitor is best for you depends on what type of exercise you engage in and what additional features would enhance your workouts.
Location
The biggest factor to consider when selecting a heart rate monitor is where and how it attaches to your body. Some heart monitors are wrist-only models, which you wear like a watch. These are typically the least expensive, but they require you to touch the device for several seconds to get a reading. Depending on what type of exercise you do, this may prove difficult or even unsafe, such as when cycling. Other models include a transmitter that you wear around your chest. The transmitter sends wireless signals to a watch that displays your heart rate throughout your exercise session.
Computer Functionality
Some heart monitors can sync data with your computer, either wirelessly or through a USB cord. These monitors are excellent choices if you're training for competitive events or simply want to be able to see your heart rates during previous workouts.
Other heart rate monitors have internal storage that allows you to retain data from previous workouts, though models that transmit the data to your computer are better for more intense training over long periods since the internal storage on the monitors is often limited to a few workouts.
Timers
Many heart rate monitors feature different kinds of timers. These models are useful if you want to ensure you're staying within your target heart rate zone for a certain amount of time. Most monitors include a basic stopwatch, though pricier models may include timers that show your accumulated time in your target zone or allow you to set an alarm if you drop below the minimum or exceed the maximum number of your target zone.
Other Features
If you often exercise in dark or dimly lit environments, choosing a heart rate monitor with a backlight will help keep you focused on your workout instead of struggling to read the display. Other monitors include standard watch functionality and can estimate other statistics, such as approximately how many calories you burned or a prediction of your maximum aerobic capacity, or how much oxygen your body can transport and use during vigorous exercise.
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