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In this report

See Also

Heart Rate Monitors: Ratings of Sources
Total of 18 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Feb. 2009
Heart-Rate Monitor Ratings
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment ConsumerReports.org provides the best professional reviews of heart-rate monitors. Their testing is detailed and thoroughly explained, and each heart-rate monitor receives an overall score and rating for accuracy and ease of use. Full details are available to subscribers.
2. Which? magazine
Not Dated
Heart-Rate Monitors
by Editors of Which? magazine
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Which? magazine is the British equivalent of Consumer Reports. Editors test five heart-rate monitors, scoring each one on instructions, ease of use and comfort. The Nike Triax C6 posts the best results in testing.
3. The New York Times
Aug. 18, 2009
Marathon Tech Review: Watches
by Danielle Belopotosky
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Danielle Belopotosky at The New York Times enlists the help of some fellow marathon runners to test several heart-rate monitors. This review on NYTimes.com's Gadgetwise blog is more balanced than most, and Belopotosky lists the pros and cons of each monitor.
4. Los Angeles Times
Feb. 11, 2008
Monitors Can Go Strapless
by Roy M. Wallack
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Roy Wallack, an endurance cyclist and frequent gear reviewer, evaluates strapless heart-rate monitors. He lists pros and cons for each of the four heart-rate monitors he tests, and his reviews are detailed and balanced. Of the four, only three are said to be suitable for serious exercisers, while the LifeSpan MyBeat Heart Rate Ring is deemed a "novelty" that would be a good gift for nonexercisers.
5. Which? magazine
Not Dated
Fitness Gadgets: Compare Fitness Gadgets
by Editors of Which? magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Only a few of the fitness gadgets tested in this report are heart-rate monitors, but Which? magazine gives an expert's and user's view of each one. Reviews are balanced, but the products are not rated. Two Polar monitors are top rated.
6. Amazon.com
As of Aug. 2009
Heart Monitors
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Some heart-rate monitors get hundreds of individual reviews on Amazon.com. While the top-rated monitors get similar average ratings (around four stars), it's easy to see which heart-rate monitors don't impress reviewers.
7. Runner's World
July 2009
Times Are Changing
by Bob Parks
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this lengthy article, Runner's World tests several heart-rate monitors and sports watches with the help of four runners. Author Bob Parks details each user's experience with a heart-rate monitor, and while this represents only one person's opinion, it does give useful information on ease-of-use and reliability.
8. BikeRadar.com
As of Aug. 2009
Heart Rate Monitors
by Editors of BikeRadar.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The U.K.'s BikeRadar.com reviews a good number of heart-rate monitors, some of which are not available in the United States. Each monitor is tested and scored, and the reviews can be quite detailed. Not surprisingly, the reviews are geared towards cyclists.
9. Women's Adventure magazine
April 2009
2009 Editor's Choice Awards
by Editors of Women's Adventure magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The Polar FT40 Heart Rate Monitor receives an Editor's Choice award from Women's Adventure magazine, but there are no details to let us know why this particular heart-rate monitor won the award.
10. FeedtheHabit.com
As of Aug. 2009
Gear Reviews
by Jason Mitchell
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Jason Mitchell at FeedtheHabit.com is a prolific gear reviewer. His reviews are based on extensive personal testing -- often over the course of several months -- and he gives a good amount of detail on the… all the products he reviews. Analysis is balanced and the pros and cons of each product are listed. We'd rate this source higher if he tested more heart-rate monitors and provided a rating system.

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11. Outside Magazine
Summer 2009
2009 Summer Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews
by Will Palmer
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Outside magazine reviews a lot of gear for their annual buyer's guide, including six watches. Most are sports watches, but Will Palmer does review two heart-rate monitors. The Timex Ironman Road Trainer Digital HRM gets a Killer Value designation.
12. Bicycling Magazine
As of Sept. 2009
Bike Computer Reviews
by Editors of Bicycling
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Bicycling reviews a number of cycling computers, but few are dedicated heart-rate monitors. The site does include a lengthy review of the Polar FT60, which receives a Gear of the Day accolade. The review is based on personal testing, but few drawbacks are noted.
13. National Geographic Adventure
Jan. 2009
Best of Adventure: Must-Have Gear
by Steve Casimiro
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Reviewer Steve Casimiro reviews National Geographic Adventure's must-have gear for 2009. Few heart-rate monitors are included, with the exception of the Polar FT80. The review is short and there are no drawbacks noted.
14. About.com
April 22, 2009
Best Overall Heart Rate Monitors
by Paige Waehner
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Five heart-rate monitors are reviewed here by Paige Waehner, About.com's guide to exercise. It appears that only the Polar F6 has been personally tested, as Waehner notes that she has used this monitor for more than a year. Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.
15. Daily Mail (United Kingdom)
Not Dated
Consumer Test: The Best Heart-Rate Monitors
by Tania Alexander
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This test from the U.K.'s Daily Mail is pretty good -- each heart-rate monitor has been tested by at least one person, and the author details the pros and cons for each monitor. However, the two top-rated monitors are not available in the United States.
16. Snewsnet.com
April 13, 2009
Polar FT40 Heart Rate Monitor
by Editors of SNEWS
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this detailed, single-product review, the editors of SNEWS -- a source for outdoor and fitness news -- give the Polar FT40 heart-rate monitor four "hands clapping" (out of a possible five). The review is based on personal testing, and there's quite a bit of detail, but the monitor isn't compared to any others.
17. T3.com
Aug. 8, 2009
101 Gadgets You Can't Live Without
by Editors of T3.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In an article trumpeting the "101 Gadgets You Can't Live Without," this British magazine picks the Polar FT60 as an "essential." Like other reviewers, the editors of T3.com like the fitness test that personalizes the settings to your current levels. Still, there's not much detail or balance in this short review.
18. Buzzillions.com
As of Sept. 2009
Heart Rate Monitor Reviews
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Buzzillions.com has far fewer heart-rate-monitor reviews than Amazon.com, with most monitors receiving only a handful of reviews. Buzzillions.com compiles owner-written reviews from various online retailers.

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