Thinking About Buying a Heart Rate Monitor
What Functions to Look Out for When Making a Purchase
© Kim Ford
Sep 1, 2009
For the serious exerciser owning a heart rate monitor can become as essential as wearing the correct running shoes. A heart rate monitor allows the exerciser to keep track of how hard he is working throughout the workout. This allows the exerciser to ensure he is working out within the correct heart rate training zone and that the workout will have the desired results.
Different Functions of a Heart Rate Monitor
Heart rate monitors can have many different functions which can become extremely confusing for the buyer. The buyer should look at his own fitness needs and budget before deciding which heart rate monitor he should buy. Most decent heart rate monitors will include average heart rate and training zone functions along with some degree of water resistance and will display the number of calories burned.
Other functions available on heart rate monitors include those often found on a watch or stopwatch. They can include timers, clocks, settable alarms and lap timers. It is not always worth paying for these extras especially if the exerciser can monitor this easily or has a coach with a timer.
Average Heart Rate and Calories Burned Functions
The average heart rate function will measure the heart rate throughout the training session and provide the exerciser with the overall average heart rate. The calories burned will tell the exerciser how many calories were used up during the course of their workout.
Both of these functions can motivate an exerciser who likes to keep track of the statistics relating to his workout.
Water Resistant Heart Rate Monitors
Heart rate monitors come with varying degrees of water resistance. Nearly all come with at least a minimum level of water resistance as the exerciser will not want it to break down because he got sweaty during a training session.
If the exerciser is likely to train outside in the rain it is a good idea to choose a waterproof heart rate monitor. Swimmers are able to take their normal waterproof heart rate monitor in the pool during their training sessions therefore this may become the most important factor when it comes to choosing theirs.
Training Zone Function on Heart Rate Monitors
A training zone function is another option many exercisers value in their heart rate monitor. The function allows the exerciser to set the heart rate training zone he wishes to work out within and the heart rate monitor will beep if the heart rate becomes either too high or too low.
This function is extremely useful to swimmers or outdoor runners who would otherwise have absolutely no idea how hard their hearts were working unless they stopped to manually check their pulse.
The Price of Heart Rate Monitors
Heart rate monitors vary in price ranging from about twenty pounds to well over two hundred pounds. A serious exerciser should consider spending around fifty pounds on a decent heart rate monitor. Cheaper heart rate monitors often tend to be inaccurate or will break down after a time while the more expensive versions are just not worth the extra expense.
It is always best to go with one of the more popular brands such as Polar or Timex but ultimately the exerciser must decide which functions he requires and what his budget will allow.
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