Heart Rate Monitors

[Browatt]

Looking for a simple heart rate monitor. Anyone have one they like; or a model to avoid? Also, has anyone tried a HR monitor that detects HR at the wrist instead of using a chest strap? If so, did it work? Thanks and Happy Holidays.

[Texjd]

I've used Polar and Garmin HRM's in the past and I'm sure there are other companies which make a good product. I've never used a product which measures at the wrist. There are so many options out there that I'm sure you'll find one to meet your needs.

[dkggpeters]

DC Rainmaker has done a couple of reviews on the wrist HR monitors. I remember someone saying that you have to wear it pretty tight and that their hand went numb.

I think Polar makes the best HR monitors that tend to be the most reliable and don't spike and/or drop as much as some of the others. I use a Garmin 920XT now and had a 310XT previously, The 310XT was great for a while and all of a sudden it would spike and/or drop all the times. I replaced the strap, batteries, and even used the lube for HR monitors with no success. My 920XT is working just fine though.

[Clell]

My daughter uses a $55 Polar HR monitor. It does have the chest strap. But works great. 2 years running. She uses a Garmin 210 for GPS.
She loves it.

Clell

[Browatt]

Thank you all for the responses. I ended up getting a Timex Easy trainer, mostly due to price @$40, and I was not sure if I would even like or be able to get used to a chest strap. I've used it 4 or 5 times without issue and its great. Confirmed (not surprisingly) that I was running my easy normal runs too fast/hard and my hard runs not hard enough by HR. Thanks again.

[Tinman]

Browatt -

Is the chest strap comfortable enough?

And, what about using the functions on the watch?

For example, is the display easy to read as you run?

And, are there any functions that you like or don't like?

Thank you!

Tinman
Thomas Schwartz
www.runningprs.com