Heart Rate Monitor Reviews

Mio Shape Heart Rate Monitor

The Mio Shape heart rate monitor, which also monitors calorie consumption, works through a finger reading. Users do not need to wear a chest strap. These features, along with a series of sleek designs, have attracted many users.

Mio at its corporate website presents details of several dozen media appearances for its products. Also on the site are customer endorsements and testimonials from several celebrity health personalities. These include –

Trainer Tom Seabourne:

MIO always intrigues personal trainers because it can be used in so many ways. Whether clients are monitoring their heart rate between sets of strength exercises or checking intensity on the stationary bike, MIO is versatile enough to be used in every fitness endeavor. Quieting the heart rate during a yoga pose or adding a few beats at the end of a cycling workout are just a couple of the ways clients can use MIO.

And motivational speaker Deepak Chopra:

Monitoring your heart rate allows you to burn calories efficiently and increase your aerobic capacity. Getting reliable calorie feedback is essential for developing a reliable exercise program. In fact, I am so convinced of MIO’s value that I include this watch in our anti-aging and weight management kits and other tools used in my workshops.

The Gadgeteer website, in a lengthy review, said of the Mio:

During my testing period, I would take my pulse while doing various activities such as sitting, walking, etc. I almost never had a problem where my pulse was not displayed and required a 2nd try. Just as a double check, I pulled my Polar heart rate monitor out of the drawer and put it on one arm and the Mio on the other. The Polar shows a continuous read out of my pulse, so I could test my rate with the Mio at anytime and compare the two. They were always 1-2 beats different, faster or slower. I rarely noticed one or the other being wildly different. This led me to trust the measuring capabilities of the Mio.

The main way that the Mio differs from other heart rate monitors is that it does not continually display your heart rate and warn you when you're leaving your target rate zone. But, not having to wear that uncomfortable strap really makes this watch more convenient than the others in my opinion.

The About website said of the Mio heart rate monitor:

The Mio Shape is a lifestyle monitor. You wear it as a wristwatch all day long and enter into it the calories as you eat them. Then during exercise, the Mio tracks the calories you burn as determined by your heart rate and time. At the end of your workout, you subtract those from the total for the day. The heart rate is read with two fingers on the MioSensors on the watch. Some people have trouble getting a reading, but I had difficulty only when going at fast speeds. I found the heart rate to be very accurate, without the inconvenience of wearing a chest strap. You can also log your data manually in Mio's online diary. A good motivation tool.

* Get the Latest Prices on Mio Shape Heart Rate Monitors.

February 27^th, 2006 
 

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