I need a crash course in heart rate monitors

[El_Guapo]

Mrs. Guapo has asked for one for Christmas. I did a bit of searching on e-bay and these suckers range from like $50 to $300. wtf?

What do I get for $300 that I don't get for $50? Is it worth it? What's a good brand? Some outfit called Polar seems to be a major player.

Any advice?

 

[hornimal]

get a polar. they seem to be compatible with a lot of gym equipment.

I don't personally own one, but my father does...and I have an uncle that uses them on horses.

unless she's training for a marathon I would recommend you stay under $190.

 

[MilkmanDan]

Polar would be the safest bet. There are a few other brands that make transmitters (the chest belt) that are compatible with gym equipment; I own a Sigma Sport HRM.

The higher end models have features that let you transfer data to your computer for analysis, avoid interference from other transmitters, display bike speed, etc.

What sport/training is she doing? That can help you narrow things down a little. If she only wants to know her current heart rate and the time spent in a given zone, a basic model is all she needs.

 

[Traffic]

I have the Polar S210. It cost around $190 at RunTex. I know you can get it cheaper at other places (probably around $165 or so). In addition to monitoring heart rate and run times, this one also counts calories burned based on your personal info (height, weight, age, sex, Vo2Max, Max heart rate). I don't believe all heart rate monitors have the calorie counting function, so take that into consideration when buying for your wife.

If you spend a little more, you can get a model that allows you to download your exercise info to your PC. For that function, I would have needed to get the Polar S610 which costs closer to $250, I believe.

My model is geared more for runners. There are other models designed for triathletes and cyclists. So, you should take that into consideration when making your purchase.

Here's the Polar website. They have the watches listed by exercise category: Polar USA

 

[Texas007]

Polar is the way to go.

 

[The Dog]

anything beyond a Polar A1 is window dressing IMHO.