I'm a fairly new runner and would like to purchase a good heart rate monitor that is under $100.00. (If that is possible.) I feel kind of overwhelmed when I look at all the different ones out there. Anyone have a suggesting?
Thanks!
Forums » General Training » Running
heart rate monitors
(9 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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The HRM I have has features that I found most HRMs have: per lap max/min HR, avg HR, recovery HR (difference in heart rate one minute or two after stopping...bigger is faster recovery), a setting for HR zone workouts (beeps when you are under or over your target HR zone). I don't even have the model anymore but it's a basic Timex. I keep a history of the data gathered when training so I have to manually record it using a spreadsheet. I know there are HRMs that are able to store history as well as monitors with software that help you track the data. You might consider those but it depends on how you want to use the HR monitor in your training. My recommendation is to figure out how you want to use the HRM in your training before buying the HRM. There are many HR training programs out there...while they all use your HR as the basis for the training they each vary in their approach and may require you to track your HR a certain way. Good luck!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I have a basic Polar HRM that I got for around 100. I like it for the calorie count. How I use it in my running is that I jog until my HR is in the 150s and then slow down or walk until I am back in the 130s then speed up again. This has been working well and I am up to 6 min jogs with 1 min walks.
Posted 4 years ago # -
thank you both for you help!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I can only tell you from my limited personal experience that I would NOT ever buy a Mio again.
I bought one a few months ago and so far, it has resulted in more instance of me ripping it off of my wrist and tossing it during a run than it has ever proved to be anything near accurate.
I have changed the battery.
I have set the resting heart rate accordingly.
I am not, as a general rule, a complete idiot and believe that I am using it correctly.
However, after running for oh, say 45 minutes or longer, my Mio will often decide to tell me that I am at 44% of my max heart rate, for example. Isn't that nice? It then ADJUSTS the calories burned - meaning that calories burned will wind BACKWARD - because of this new reading that is not even close to correct.
Interestingly enough, if I take my heart rate again immediately, IF it reads correctly that time, I can't get the calories burned reading to go anywhere near the correct reading again.
For example, this morning I tried to use the stupid thing again. I had been running for approximately ten minutes, so I thought that would be a good time to take the first heart rate reading on the Mio. It read 43% of my max heart rate and immediately adjusted my calories burned down to 48 calories.
Now, wait a minute! Until that point, it had been calculating my calories burned according to my RESTING heart rate (because I hadn't taken the heart rate reading since my run began) and was at 100 calories or better BEFORE it took the wrong reading. Once I checked my heart rate, fully a mile into my run, it was WRONG and set me back to 48 calories burned.
I tried it again immediately and it read 91% max heart rate....and my calories burned went up to a whopping 58. See what I mean? It would never be accurate again for the entire run once I got the first inaccurate heart rate reading.
I hate the stupid thing and I'm already shopping for one that WORKS.
Posted 4 years ago # -
wow! sorry! That sounds frustrating! I hope you find one you like.
I ended up buying a Sports Instrument Pro 7 off of Amazon. I got a really good deal on it and am really liking it. It seems pretty accurate -though I've notice a few readings that don't make sense. But it's not bad -especially for only paying $20 for it. :P I guess, they were last manufactured in 2003, so some people have complained of receiving them with dead batteries.Posted 4 years ago # -
This is a completely bewildering thing for the new athlete to get their head around. I personally am struggling just now with trying to pick one thats good enough to do what I need. price isn't a huge concern but I do not need an HRM that has stuff like built in atimeters, pressure etc. I definitely think there should be a comparison on this site somwhere of the major players and their models etc.
PS also bought a MIO as an "entry level" HRM. It sucks, innacurate, hard to get it to read, hate it
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'm a big fan of my Timex. It was about $90. It's one of the Ironman series and has all of the functions of a normal Ironman 30 lap watch, plus the HRM features. You can do average, max, and min HR. It also has 5 different training zones and beeps at you if you go out of the selected zone. It also can give a fairly accurate calories burned number. You can see how long you were in target HR range, and set HR checks for recovery times after your workout. My battery died a couple months ago and I can't for the life of me remember to buy a new one. That's my fault though, not the watch. here's the link to the watch I have.
Posted 4 years ago # -
jkdcubed, if you're new to running, are you sure you "need" a HRM at all? If you have a heart issue that you have to monitor, then by all means do what your doctor tells you. But if not, I assure you that you don't need an HRM to run well. Or to tell you if you're running well.
Take it easy on yourself and just go running. Run at a pace at which you can carry on a conversation. If you find that you're huffing and puffing to get a sentence out, then SLOW DOWN. If it's too easy, then speed up a bit.
I've trained with and w/o HRMs and I found that sometimes an HRM had me so focused on my stupid wrist that I wasn't focusing on my body as a whole.
I still have a nice Polar S120 that works great, but I use it about twice a year, and then only to see what my heart rate is after a couple of my hardest speedwork sessions. It's just a curiosity thing.
The most important thing about running: have fun. If you're not having fun, you're not going to run.
Posted 4 years ago #
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