Heart Rate Monitors

Heart rate monitors are serious fitness-training tools that have trickled down from the athletic elite to the exercising public. More and more amateur exercisers are using heart rate monitors to gauge the intensity of their workouts. Experts agree that manually taking your pulse during exercise is extremely unreliable, and your perception of how hard you're working out is almost invariably wrong. A heart rate monitor is the only way to construct a truly scientific workout regimen based on your heart rate.

The simplest heart rate monitors do one thing: measure your heart rate. Increased public interest in more advanced models, combined with progress in technology, has resulted in heart rate monitors that can download data to your PC, analyze physiological parameters that used to require a laboratory, attach to accessories that enable custom workouts based on activity, and track your position, distance and speed. Many monitors now come with additional accessories, called pods, which are designed to work with the heart rate monitor by transmitting activity-specific information to the wrist device. For instance, cyclists have bike pods, runners have foot pods, and all athletes can use GPS pods, which locate, track and often record your location. They are available as accessories to specific heart rate monitors at an additional cost, ranging from $80 to about $150.

Because of the range of heart rate monitors available today, we divided our report into two sections: one for beginning exercisers or those who just want the basics, and the other for amateur or serious athletes for whom price may not be as much an issue.

Best basic heart rate monitors

We found good reviews for some simple, basic heart rate monitors. The Omron HR-100C (*est. $40) measures heart rate through a chest transmitter, sending data to a receiver on your wrist or mounted to cardio equipment (mounting bracket included with the monitor). The receiver can pick up data up to 98 feet away. It has a high/low heart rate alarm to help you maintain proper heart rate. The backlit display also includes a clock and alarm. The Omron HR-100C has received over a hundred owner-written reviews on Amazon.com. There are some complaints of erratic readings, but the majority of owners agree that the Omron HR-100C is the best basic heart rate monitor for the money.

Outside magazine names the Oregon Scientific SE102 (*est. $40) as a Killer Value in its 2007 Buyer's Guide, but a lack of judging criteria or detailed review, in addition to very few user reviews, made it difficult to choose as the best basic heart rate monitor in our report. The Outside magazine review merely states the monitor's basic functions, and though the four Amazon user reviews were relatively positive, the Omron HR-100C has far more support among owners.

The other basic heart rate monitor worthy of mention in reviews is the Polar FS-1 (*est. $60) . When Outside magazine editors were asked by a reader to suggest a good reasonably priced heart rate monitor, the first basic model they endorsed was the Polar FS-1. The difference in functionality between the Polar FS-1 and the cheaper heart rate monitors above is in the amount of data that can be recorded. The Polar can record total exercise time and your average heart rate. Its extra-large digits are also easier to read. Owners say the Polar FS-1 is easy to use, but replacing the battery is a pain -- you actually have to ship the watch back to Polar for battery replacement.

If you're looking for something in between the basic heart rate monitors discussed above and the $400 wrist-top computers covered below, we found very good reviews for the Polar F11 (*est. $160) . This model is a happy medium between basic heart rate monitors that do little more than tell the time and take a heart rate, and advanced models that provide a dizzying array of information for maximum training benefit. The Polar's Keeps U Fit Workout Program serves as a guide to tell you how long, how hard and how often to work out, based on personal goals. Its Own Index helps determine fitness level and track improvement. An Own Cal tracker counts calories and fat expended, and Own Zone determines each day's daily heart rate target. A women's version with a narrower band and smaller watch face is also available.

As with all Polar heart rate monitors, the Polar F11 also features the WearLink Coded transmitter, which works to eliminate interference from other heart rate monitors in the area. Introduced in 2005, the F11 was recognized that year by both Men's Fitness and USA Today. Owner reviews at Amazon.com are very good overall. A few owners say they wish they'd bought something cheaper, since they find they don't use all the Polar F11's functions. One reviewer complains of a lack of flexibility in the software that accompanies the monitor, stating that the data is plotted as a range instead of as an exact value, which limits how it can be used for training purposes. The other common complaint about Polar monitors in general is the hassle of battery replacement.

There are two batteries in each Polar heart rate monitor. One is in the receiver (the wrist unit) and is guaranteed for two years. The other is in the transmitter (the chest strap) and is also guaranteed for two years. However, if the battery or any other component wears out while under warranty, you'll void your warranty if you take your Polar heart rate monitor to any facility besides the two authorized Polar service centers. This means you have to mail in the transmitter or receiver for the battery to be changed. Polar seems to be making a concerted effort to address this complaint. The chest strap of the Polar F11 comes with a user-replaceable battery, which many owners appreciate.

Polar's main competitor among heart rate monitors is Suunto. All Suunto monitors show time with dual time, date, alarm and stopwatch with split times and laps. Although it's more expensive, the Suunto t4 (*est. $205) competes with the Polar F11. In February 2007, the Suunto t4 won the Runner's World/ispo award in Accessories. However, the judging criteria for this award were vague. The Suunto t4 has similar functions as the Polar F11. The Coach function monitors progress and makes recommendations on frequency, duration and intensity of workouts. Should the athlete reject any of these recommendations, the Coach adapts and continues to maintain up-to-date plans based on user feedback.

Beyond the functionality of the Polar F11, the Suunto t4 is one of the least expensive heart rate monitors that can be used with pods. The foot pod (*est. $110) and bike pod (*est. $70) can be used to measure speed and distance. The GPS pod (*est. $170) can be used to track speed and distance with any sport, including running, biking, skating, skiing, kayaking and more. Despite the strong praise, we found consistent complaints about the watch band, which users say gets "gunky" quickly. Some also complain that the watch face scratches easily. We also found concerns about the user interface and manual, which could be easier to understand and use. However, most users agree that Suunto's accuracy and technical training features are worth the learning curve.

Pro-level heart rate monitors

The Suunto t4 (*est. $205) , discussed above, also fits into this group, especially because of its pods, which can be added to track speed and distance. If speed and distance tracking is a priority, another solution is the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS watch (*est. $220) , which also functions as a heart rate monitor. When you consider the additional cost of adding pods to the Suunto t4, the Garmin solution is less expensive, but since the GPS receiver is built into the wristwatch, the unit is larger and bulkier than the Suunto t4.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is recommended in reviews at The Wall Street Journal and Runner's World, and it gets a huge amount of feedback from owners posting reviews to Amazon.com. Nearly 300 postings contribute to the Garmin heart rate monitor's extremely high overall rating. Owners say the GPS is sensitive, keeping its signal lock even when under a canopy of trees, and the watch and chest strap are both comfortable to wear, despite the watch's large size. We were curious about women's opinion of the wrist unit, but we found far more praise than complaints for its size. One caveat is that the wrist unit does not include a clock.

The Garmin Forerunner tracks heart rate, speed, elevation, distance, pace, calories, position and more. The Training Center software allows the user to create quick, interval or advanced workouts to be downloaded to the device, which then records data, automatically logs performance updates and provides a detailed post-workout summary. A unique feature of the 305 is its multi-sport capability, which enables the user to make transitions between sports without resetting the unit. We read accounts from triathletes who wear this model under a swim cap for use while swimming, but although the Forerunner is water-resistant (to IPX7 accidental-immersion standards), it's not rated for swimming. Power comes from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; a charging dock is included. Users loved its core functionality, accuracy, user interface and customizable data screens, but some wish initial GPS satellite acquisition didn't take so long (currently from 30 seconds to two minutes).

In this category, we found an equal number of reviews for the Suunto t6 (*est. $400) .The official heart rate monitor of the U.S.-based Carmichael Training Systems (made famous by celebrity-athlete clients such as Lance Armstrong, Ed Moses and Heather Gollnick), the Suunto t6 claims to measure physiological parameters that used to require a sophisticated sports laboratory. Suunto developed the t6 with the help of Firstbeat, a company that developed a way to extrapolate a host of training-specific information from heart rate alone -- such as energy consumption, ventilation, oxygen consumption, respiratory rate, training effect and EPOC (Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption). These are especially helpful for runners who are closely monitoring their max VO2, a measure of athletic endurance. The Suunto t6 also includes a barometer, a thermometer and an altimeter, which Business Week's reviewer says is much easier to use than Polar's version (discussed below). Owners like the user-replaceable batteries of both the watch and the chest band (a notable advantage over Polar), and its accuracy. However, one professional review agrees with some owners that Polar has a software advantage over Suunto. Polar allows custom display screens, while Suunto users need to switch between preprogrammed screens to find the data they want to view. The Suunto t6 does not include a GPS, but you can add pods to calculate speed and distance.

Polar's RS800sd Running Computer (*est. $470) has won a number of awards this year, including Runner's World Running Accessory of the Year award and a Design Excellence award from the iF International Forum Design in China, along with National Geographic Adventure magazine's 2007 Best of Gear award. The Polar RS800sd is designed specifically for runners, and works in conjunction with Adidas adistar running apparel and shoes. The RS800sd collects information recorded from sensors that are located in the running apparel, then transfers it to the wrist unit. However, you have to pay extra for the Adidas gear; they're not included with the RS800sd.

In addition to all the features found in Polar monitors, the RS800sd measures intervals between heartbeats to analyze run recovery. A stride sensor measures cadence, speed and distance. The software includes charting for all this data. Most runners like the Polar RS800sd, but we did find a few who compare it to the Garmin Forerunner 305; some prefer the less expensive Garmin for its larger, easier-to-read display. Despite the touted compatibility with Adidas running gear, we couldn't find any reviewers who actually use the RS800sd with Adidas apparel. This heart rate monitor is clearly overkill for most people, but gadget geeks seem to like it.

Important Features: Heart rate monitors

According to experts, there are only a few absolutes for a good heart rate monitor:

• A snug chest strap. If the strap doesn't fit properly, the reading won't be accurate. This is often a problem for women in particular because most straps are designed to fit a man's chest. Special sports bras are available to combat the problem; a wide hem is designed to hold the transmitter. Models include Polar's Heart Bra (*est. $35) , or the Numetrex Sports Bra (*est. $50) which was named one of Sports Edge's top five sports products for 2006, and was listed in New York magazine's Best Bets section. You may also want to consider heart rate monitors that are designed for a woman's torso, such as the Acumen Eon Basix (*est. $40) or the Nike Imara (*est. $100) .

• A big, bold display. Remember, you'll be reading your display at arm's length while you're running. If you're a cyclist, the monitor will be mounted on your handlebars. While smaller watches may be more fashionable, larger displays are easier to read.

• Big buttons. You need buttons that are easy to find and push with your fingers while you're on the move.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
3	Suunto t6 (*est. $400)	details
3	Garmin Forerunner 305 (*est. $220)	details
2	Polar F11 (*est. $160)	details
2	Omron HR-100C (*est. $40)	details
2	Polar RS800sd (*est. $470)	details
1 each	Suunto t4 , Polar FS-1 , Oregon Scientific SE102

Suunto heart rate monitors have quickly emerged as viable competition to Polar's domination of this product market. Though they each only have one product among ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, they had other models that clearly held their own in other categories, with the Suunto t4 strongly challenging the Polar F11's position as best overall monitor. We included the Omron HR-100C in Fast Answers as a budget pick because of an overwhelming number of high ratings from owners posting comments to Amazon.com. The Polar F11 is included in Fast Answers as a more advanced alternative to the very basic Omron HR-100C and Oregon Scientific SE102 monitors. We found more popular support for the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS heart rate monitor than any other. Even though the Suunto t6 is recommended in a few professional publications, its support among owners is not as firm, and it's far more expensive. However, it's compatible with running, biking and GPS pods, which give it some extra flexibility.

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