Guide to Buying the Best Heart Rate Monitor

An excellent introductory guide comes from Running Times, titled Guide to Heart Rate Monitors, based on tests of 10. According to the report:

Selecting a monitor can be as overwhelming as buying a computer - the selection of options is staggering. All of them provide the key data you want - your continuous heart rate during exercise. Some advanced features provide valuable data, while others are toys for the technogeek. The bottom line is how much gadgetry you are comfortable with.

A comparative chart of the 10 models is here.

The Prevention.com website carries a brief report on heart rate monitors, with a poster (pdf file) of its favorites. These were as follows (listed in order of price):

Acumen Eon Basix ES – “Tops for Beginners: It’s the least expensive, and the display panel is easy to read. The monitor doesn’t have a lot of extra functions to confuse you.”

EKHO E-15 – “Most Comfortable: That’s the vote of the majority of testers; however, smaller-chested testers found the strap too loose even when tightened.”

Timex 58401 – “Best-Looking: ‘It looked so good, I wore it all day,’ said one tester. It also rated high in comfort and ease of use.”

Oregon Scientific Wireless – “Easiest to Use: There are no buttons to push, making this monitor super-simple to use.”

Cardiosport Go 10 – “Overall Favorite: Its directions were the clearest and most concise. Just one hassle: To replace the watch battery, it’s best to send the watch back to the manufacturer.”

Polar M61 – “Best Splurge: This monitor ranked highest for accuracy and fit. Like Cardiosport, the manufacturer recommends sending the watch back to replace the battery.”

FitSense FS-1 – “Gadget-Lovers’ Fave: This one has it all. ‘You can even buy an accessory to download the information to your computer,’ raved one techy tester.”

The Runner's World website carries a report, Don't Skip a Beat: High-End Heart Rate Monitors at Low-End Prices, with recommendations on seven monitors costing less than $150. The British Runner's World has an article, "Heart-Rate Monitors - The Basics".

ConsumerSearch carries an analysis of product reviews. Wikipedia has an article on heart rate monitors. The Cycling Performance Tips website has a lengthy article. Tri-eCoach has a report, "Heart Rate Monitor Use". Another good source is Marathon Guide.com, which includes an analysis of the various types.

A brief but useful guide, How to Buy a Heart Rate Monitor, is at the websites of several commercial sales companies, and Buyer's Guide to Heart Rate Monitors is at RoadCyclingUK.

The HowToBeFit.com website has an extensive series of articles on heart rate training, including some – several of them from the Polar company – about heart rate monitors.

Here are links to reports I've written, summarising reviews of the most popular models:
 

Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor
Polar F4 Heart Rate Monitor
Polar Heart Rate Monitors
 

The ubiquitous “About” website provides the following articles:

Before You Buy a Heart Rate Monitor

Top 5 Heart Rate Monitor Makers

Top 5 Heart Rate Monitors
Top 10 Heart Rate Monitors

Top 10 Heart Rate Monitors under $100

Top 7 Heart Rate Monitors over $100

Using a Heart Rate Monitor

The “About” site also has the following heart rate monitor reviews:

LifeSource XC 300 Heart Rate Monitor

Mio Wristwatch Monitor

Polar A3 Heart Rate Monitor

Polar A5 Heart Rate Monitor

Polar S-410 Heart Rate Monitor

Polar S520 Heart Rate Monitor & Cycle Computer

Reebok Active Trainer Heart Rate Monitor

Company Websites

Acumen

Ekho

FitSense

FreeStyle
Garmin

Mark of Fitness
Mio

Nike

Omron

Oregon Scientific

Polar

Reebok

Suunto

Tanita

Timex

November 13^th, 2005
Updated: March 26th, 2007
Updated: November 9th, 2007