How to Buy a Heart Rate Monitor

Monitoring your heart rate is easy: If you're living, you've got one. A heart rate monitor allows you to effectively train at your target heart rate for optimal results during competition.

Instructions

1. Understand how monitors work. Most look like wristwatches and combine timekeeping functions with heart monitoring. For constant heart rate readout, purchase one with a chest strap transmitter that sends heart data to the wrist unit. Devices without a chest strap provide heart rate data but only when you are touching the unit with your hand.

2. Basic units cost about $75, more sophisticated units about $120. Popular brands include Polar, Reebok and Lifesource. You can buy online, but a knowledgeable shop can better educate you about the devices. Read the instructions.

3. Then...

Tips & Warnings

• Get a unit with an audible signal if your heart rate falls above or below your specified range.

• Some monitors can store data and download it to a computer to chart your progress.

Resources

• Online heart rate Calculator tool