The Best Heart Monitor Watches

Here's what makes the best heart monitor watches, according to fitness experts.

As fitness becomes increasingly important as a means to achieving better health and a higher quality of life, heart rate monitor watches are gaining more recognition as an important piece of fitness equipment. But the question that is often raised is what to look for in the best heart monitor watches. Here’s what the experts think.

Here are some of the factors you may want to think about when you're deciding on a fitness heart monitor watch. First off, you may want to look at the activity or sport you're playing, the features you think you may need, the style that suits you, along with the cost.

Some heart rate monitors are considered to be multi-purpose. These are generally those that are used in general fitness activities. Multi-purpose monitors are often used with exercise equipment such as rowers, exercise bikes, or treadmills, found in workout facilities.

You will also find heart monitors that have been designed for specific sports or activities such as cycling, running, or swimming. 

For instance, heart monitor watches that are designed for runners can be set up to calculate things like respiratory rate and oxygen consumption. Monitors used by cyclists can measure speed and distance and will have a GPS to help you get home when riding an unfamiliar route. Heart monitors for swimmers will have a water proof function built in.

When you're just starting into a fitness program, you may only need a few basic features like a zone alarm and a timer. These let you track how you're doing during the course of your entire workout. A heart monitor with these features will also ensure that your target heart rate is being maintained safely throughout your workout.

For fitness buffs who would like more detailed information, there are many features to measure progress as well as record this progress over time. Some monitors have an option to assist in the planning of your future workouts so you’re able to meet some longer term fitness goals. An option that has proven to be quite popular is the one that measures the number of calories that are burned during the course of a workout or event.

If a lot of your workouts are in a gym, an annoying problem is interference from other monitors that are being used in your vicinity. Now though, there are coded monitors available so this interference is eliminated.

A lot of the more advanced monitors come with the built-in capability of downloading your workout data to your home computer. They will even make recommendations to design a personalized workout routine to help you better meet your goals.

Not surprisingly, with quality monitors, the more features you get, the greater the cost. These monitors are also a lot more complex to set up initially. To get the best deal possible, think about which features will best help you to reach your goals and then look at the monitors which have those features.

There are several styles currently available. The majority of monitors come with a chest strap, along with a watch to display data. But not everyone is comfortable wearing a chest strap.

Women in particular may find it difficult to get an accurate reading when using a chest strap. For those who can't or don't want to use a chest strap, a wrist heart rate monitor will both measure and display heart rate.

There is no one size fits all when it comes to a fitness heart monitor. Experts advise choosing a heart monitor watch that best fits your needs. If it doesn't have enough features for your particular activity, it won't really help you. Just as frustrating is choosing one that has too many features if you're just a casual exerciser.

The best heart monitor watches are those that enhance workouts and help to improve your level of fitness. With the wide variety, the hardest part may well be figuring out which is the right heart rate monitor for you. Remember to look for one that has the features you'll use. If you do that, you can be sure you're making the right choice.