Strapless heart rate monitors are made for individuals who do not like the feel of a chest strap during exercise. The chest strap may irritate the skin or not fit properly around the chest area. Strapless versions typically involve you wearing a watch and placing your fingers on the sensors to monitor your heart rate. However, certain models do have continuous monitoring capabilities.
Reebok Heart Touch
The Reebok Heart Touch was named one of the best strapless models available by the Top Heart Rate Monitors website. Standout features include the ability to record minimum, maximum and average heart rate readings along with the option to store data in 50 memory slots. It is a fully functional sports watch with 12 or 24 hour time displays and both visual and audible alarm features. To measure your heart rate, you need to stop exercise and place your fingertips on the faceplate of the watch for several seconds. Once your heart rate appears, you can resume exercise.
Impact Sports ePulse2
The "Seattle Times" recommended this strapless heart monitor watch to women who may not like the feel of chest straps. The watch is one of the few on the market that allows for continuous monitoring of the heart rate. Instead of needing to place your fingertips on the monitor, you secure the monitor to your forearm. Additional features include exercise calories burned, stopwatch capabilities, heart rate averaging, timers and rechargeable battery.
Bowflex Hybrid Watch
Another option you have when looking for the best strapless heart rate monitor is to consider a hybrid model. Hybrid watches work strapless and with a chest strap. For instance, the Heart Rate Monitor Blog recommends the Bowflex Hybrid Watch. You can touch any area of the watch for a heart rate reading or perform continuous monitoring with the use of a chest strap. It also has time and date readings, stopwatch functions and target heart zone alarms.
Considerations
Keep in mind that strapless heart rate monitors may not be practical for all activities. For instance, you may not want to stop running or cycling to measure your heart rate with the sensors. Also, because you need to stop exercising to take the measurement, it may affect the accuracy of your reading.
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