I'm contemplating buying a HRM. I'd prefer to keep the investment under $75. Of the makes I'm looking at include: Impulse 9, dBase 500, Sigma Sport 1300/1600 and the Polar A5 if I can find one that fits my budget. I would appreciate hearing from anyone using these models as to their satisfaction with the features and performance.

I use the Sigma 1600 and am quite satisfied with it. It is well built and has most of the functions you need (provided you also have a cyclocomputer). The only problem so far was interference with other Sigma users (resulting in spectacular max. heart rates).

Don't know about the other models.