The Best Heart Rate Monitor – Here’s How To Find It

Finding the best heart rate monitor can be challenging. Read on for some tips on how to do it.

Fitness buffs have long known about the benefits of using a heart monitor while working out. They know a monitor can improve the quality of their workouts, by monitoring heart rate. That allows for an intense workout but always at a safe level.  If you think they might be onto something, here’s how to find the best heart rate monitor for you.

Heart rate monitor watches are available for people at all levels of fitness. There are monitors with a few basic features for those just getting started, through to monitors with lots of advanced features for elite level athletes.

Monitors can be unisex, but some models are made specifically for men or women. There are also heart monitors that have features needed for a specific sport or activity. One example is a built-in GPS for cyclists or distance runners.

So how do you narrow all these choices down and find the best heart rate monitor for you?

First you have to decide what sport or activity you are going to use it for. Then think about what information you’d like to track and measure. Finally, consider what your long term goals are.

It would be nice to get a one size fits all kind of monitor that you could use for almost anything. And while that may be possible, it may not be the best idea.

When you start looking, you’ll be amazed at just how many different features there are for every conceivable sport or fitness activity. To try to get a monitor that “does it all”, you could spend a small fortune and still not have just exactly what you need or want.

So it’s best to eliminate what you absolutely don’t need now and probably won’t need in the future. For instance, going back to the GPS feature, if you primarily workout in a gym, this is not something that will be useful for you. 

But don’t leave out features that you may want once you step up your level of fitness. For example, right now, you may not see the need for personalized training suggestions. But as you get more into your workouts, you may want this feature.

Another way to quickly eliminate some heart monitor watches is to only look at monitors that are specific to your chosen sport. Although some features will be on all heart monitor watches, manufacturers do design monitor watches that are sport specific. Cyclists for instance, need different features than swimmers or runners.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the features you have to choose from. Remember to think about both short term and long term goals while you are deciding. Basically, the more features a watch has, the more complex it will be to set it up and use it.

Most monitors have a few standard features like tracking speed and distance, lap times, and of course heart rate. It’s nice to have the alarm feature which lets you know if you fall below or go above your optimum heart rate during your workout.

Once you go beyond the basics, there are a whole range of options available. You can track your workouts from day to day to compare results. You can also set up multiple training zones and interval training sets.

Some monitors have the capability to download data to your home computer so you have a permanent record of your results over time.

For outdoor workouts that feature any kind of distance, there are watches that come with a compass, altimeter, and/or GPS.

Endurance athletes may want a monitor that offers continuous heart rate monitoring, so any change is noted immediately.

If you do your training primarily in a gym, you need different features. You will need your heart rate monitor to be compatible with the equipment in the gym or it won’t work properly. Also it’s worth noting that you will need a monitor that is coded so there is no interference from other near-by monitors.

As you can see, there is a wide variety in the type of features available. Some are basic while others can be quite complex.

Generally, the more sophisticated the heart monitor watch, the higher the cost. But the best heart rate monitor for you is not necessarily going to be the most expensive. What’s important is choosing the monitor that will best fit your fitness needs.