surgtech1956

I'm thinking about buying a heart rate monitor. What do you recommend? What features are a must have? I don't need gps and don't want to spend more than $100(approx +/-). I'm getting back into running also. I've ordered from pricepoint.com in the past - they have their brand, Sette, rather cheap $29.95 - looks like it has alot of features. Thanks

NOS88

$30 seems like an reasonable expense to see if you like using one. I can't think of any under $100 that I've had experience with that had qualitative differences worth arguing about. But there are a lot out there and maybe others have a better sense of choices.

Edit: I did have one from Oregon Scientific (I think that was the name) that I couldn't get to work despite trying and trying. Anything within 20 yards that was wireless caused problems with it.

cyclinfool

All I want out of mine is heart rate, I don't care about the other features. The only thing I insisted on was being able to change the battery in the chest sensor, some you have to send back to the manufacturer for battery replacement.

chinarider

I use HR as information and feedback, not to control what I'm doing. Therefore, I don't need/use hi/low alarms. Depends on what you want to do with it. If all you want is HR, get the cheapest one you can find. As CF says replaceable batteries are nice. Even if you don't want gps, you can get one that doubles as a bike computer pretty reasonably priced, but you may need to skip that if you want one you can wear on your wrist for running too.

oilman_15106

Do you want a HR monitor or a bike computer with a HR monitor built in?

Option 1: HR monitor with watch on your wrist. Can use running or cycling. Wally World or Dicks Sporting Goods. Do not buy Nike brand no matter how cheap, junk.

Option 2: Look on Scambay for Blackburn Delphi 5.0 has HR and cadence option built in. Last years model and can be had for less than your target price.

Retired

I have a Sportline HR wrist type. I paid $50 bucks for. It died 6 months after I purchased it. I called customer service and they sent me 2 more. The second one died a month after the first and the third died 4 months after that. I took that one apart and got it back together and it's been working since. I cannot use the ones with the chest strap because of my ICD implant. It knocks my heart rythms out of wack.

billydonn

For option 2 there is the Polar CS100... non-serviceable chest strap though. I have had reliable service from this unit and it can be had or $100. Cadence costs extra with this one.

gapwedge

I am partial to Polar HRM's. I use mine for feedback only as I have mine set to % of HRmax. For example I know that if I am in the 75-80% range I can keep that pace for an extended period. Hitting 95% and I am good for a short time without any recovery. My chest strap battery can easily be changed. The kit comes with a handlebar attachment for the watch. But mine cost a little more than $100.00.

Pat

I have a polar heart rate monitor. It does not have bells and whistles. All I use it for is heart rate for right now. I like the chest strap. I think the chest strap gives a more reliable reading.

tony2v

I have the Blackburn Neuro 6.0, heartrate with replaceable battery (shows L1-L5 zones times, average and max HR) and wireless cadence, plus sensor is on the chainstay so you can use it with a trainer.

Steve530

I have two HRM:a Timex T5G941 and a Pro-Form Precision XT.

The Timex is simple - 3 buttons and one of those is the backlight. It keeps track of the average and maximum heart rate and the activity time. The Timex seems to get a strong signal from the chest strap and seems reliable. This was a gift a couple of years ago, so I'm not sure what the price was then. I think you could find one less than $40 now.

The Pro-Form Precision XT has many more features: chronograph, user info input, time in zone, time above zone, time below zone, activity time, calories burned, and more. The Precision XT HRM is not as reliable as the Timex. I wore it on a 45 mile ride and got a minimum HR of 0 BPM and a maximum of 220 BPM with an average of 142. Since I'm still alive, I don't think the 0 or 220 BPM were accurate. This HRT was sold as various brandslike Pro-Form, Reebok, and others. I paid $25 and shipping for it from someplace like Woot.

IMO, the Timex is a better HRM and the Precision XT is a better watch, but both are adequate for basic info to assure you're not over-reving the heart.

stapfam

Do you want basic or with whistles and bells?

Both can be had but I always use Polar- Except I now have a garmin aswell- and never had any problems with them. But have heard good things about Timex aswell.