Finding the best heart rate monitor depends on the type of training and workouts that you carry our. There are so many heart rate monitors on the market that it can be difficult and time-consuming to search through all the products and features to make sure you buy the right one. As you would expect, someone who exercises strenuously or is naturally athletic would probably want to buy a monitor with many features since there is more relevant data that they want to keep track of. However for the less fit or older person it is the basic heart rate that they want to concentrate on and all the additional features will just serve to confuse them. When it comes to someone who has had heart problems this is particularly so, the ability to monitor heart rate alone and to be able to set a warning level are all that is needed.
Before you buy a heart rate monitor it is best to fully understand all the important features of heart rate monitors so that the most appropriate one is chosen. There is nothing more frustrating than buying a product only to find that an alternative one has a particular feature that would have been useful and that it is available for a lower price.
Hear Rate Monitor Features -- Obviously the features will be a major factor in your choice of heart rate monitor and also the cost. The best hear rate monitors will have the following features as a minimum: Heart Rate Monitor, Chronograph, Thermometer, Calorie Meter, Zone Monitor. Any other features that you are looking for would probably be dependent on where you want to use it, if you will be exercising outside then you might want an altimeter and compass as well.
Your Budget -- Your budget is something to think about when buying a heart rate monitor. Probably 95% of people can get what they need for a very modest price. The trouble is that it is easy to get carried away and go for features that will neveer be used. If you stick with the fundamental features you will save money.
What Will You Use it For -- If you are only going to be exercising in a gym then there are certain features you will never need but there are others such as a zone indicator that you should bot be without.
How Does it Feel -- You need to bear in mind bow comfortable you will be wearing the different kinds of heart rate monitor. Would you prefer to wear a heart rate wrist monitor or maybe a heart rate chest monitor would be better. Don’t ignore these factors as it can be distracting wearing something that is uncomfortable while exercising.
The best heart rate monitor brands are probably well known to you and you can see the heart rate monitors that we rated top of the list. As long as you stick with Polar, Timex, Nike or Garmin you won’t go far wrong.
I have been waiting with patience to be able to check out the latest heart rate monitor from Polar. I was out store shopping last wednesday when I decided to purchase the monitor rather than wait for a model to review.
I have been really impressed with the Polar FT60 Men’s Heart Rate Monitor, which actually has a number of excellent features taking into account the cost. In my opinion it really is a complete personal training computer that will almost certainly be a bestseller for years.
As you can see from the photo it’s a great looking heart rate monitor. Please leave a comment if you want to leave any feedback.
Highlights of the Polar FT60 Men’s Heart Rate Monitor:
Acts as a complete personal training computer
Sleek design and nice color
Recently reduced in price
Black men’s heart rate monitor watch that has several unique training features
Amongst other things it displays your heart rate as a percentage of max, bpm, and within target zone indicator
The Polar OwnCal mode will tracks single and accumulated energy expenditure
Offers 2 additional modes -- ZonePointer and Polar OwnZone
Polar Star training program provides personalized feedback plus targets for weekly training
Easy to Set Up
Despite the Polar FT60 being a pretty complex device, it is easy to set up and you should be ready to start your first workout within 5 minutes or so. All you need to do is enter your demographics, test your fitness at rest and then set you goal, in other words your final objective. Unlike a lot of heart rate monitors the screen on the FT60 is very easy to read in all light levels. You soon get the hang of changing the display in the middle of your workout without missing a beat. There is a very useful manual available if you need to refer to it.
One of the great features is the way it defines 3 personal fitness zones automatically. These are 80-90%, 70-80% and 60-70% of maximum heart rate. These are calculated from the figures that you entered when setting it up. It then provides you with an overall fitness plan as it indicates how many hours per week you need to workout in each zone in order to meet your goals. The FT60 is the perfect motivational tool.
Talking of motivation, many people are driven because of the need to lose weight and the Polar FT60 once again meets your requirement. It will track your weight loss from week to week and provide a graphical representation of your progress. It is clever enough to adjust your weekly goals on the fly as you lose weight.
Very Easy to Use Both During and After Workouts
You will soon be an expert at operating buttons during your workouts. When you are ready to start just press the center button to prepare the display and press again when you start. All you need to do from now on is operate the up and down button in order to show the data you want. It is totally intuitive and you will soon find yourself in a routing as you go through the displays during your workouts.
The displays show you all you need to know about your current workout. You can see the calories burned, average and maximum heart rate, percentage of fat burned as well as other information. The FT60 will provide surprisingly accurate calorie information according to the type of workout you are doing whether it be cycling, indoor bike, Wii, running and so on.
Progress updates are available after each workout and also weekly. These are all you need to motivate you to perform your workouts during the following week.
Comfortable to Wear
One of the problems that afflict some otherwise great heart rate monitors is the discomfort caused by the heart rate strap. In the case of the Polar FT6 the strap is so comfortable that you will forget that it is on. You need to remember to dampen the sensors so that they work correctly and that is all you need to do. The battery in the strap and the watch are easily replaceable with the use of a small screwdriver and there is no need to go to a dealer to get either of them replaced.
The PolarPersonalTrainer.com Website is Also Excellent
Simply upload your speed, distance, heart rate and exertion data to the free PPT website. This is an online fitness community where you can track not only your own results but those of friends and family thereby adding to the fun and providing a lot of motivation.
A 5-Star Heart Rate Monitor
As I said earlier in my review, this is more like a Personal Training Computer than simply a heart rate monitor! It will adapt to your personal exercise habits giving you regular feedback and up-to-the-minute goals. Once the FT60 has assessed your initial fitness level it will guide you to the ideal training intensity according to your age and fitness level.
Having all this information to hand helps you reach your personal fitness goal. Just as important is the fact that it makes sure you train at the appropriate intensity level. While working out the FT60 will monitor your heart rate and if it should exceed or dip below your target zone it will sound an alarm
The Polar FT60 also supports the G1 GPS sensor that measures your aerobic fitness at rest in just five minutes. Operating modes include a ZoneLock mode where you can activate a target zone during your workout, and the OwnCode mode that stops crosstalk from other heart rate monitors in the vicinity.
Finally it is worth mentioning yet another great feature which is the recording mode where you can track and store your average and maximum heart rate, calories burned, distance, and total exercise time. In a black housing with a white display, the Polar FT60 is a must for all people who are serious about attaining and keeping to their target fitness levels…Buy Polar FT60 Men’s Heart Rate Monitor
Watch this video from Polar that shows you all you need to know about the FT60:
More Information
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/hr.html
Lately, a common question heard in the locker room and on the roads is “what kind of heart rate monitor are you using?” You see them in magazines.
http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/
At heart, we are all about getting people fit and improving their physical performance and lifestyle. Heart rate monitors are a great motivational tool
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