Buy Heart Rate Monitor

Heart rate monitors are very popular features in wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers. Many of these devices also connect wirelessly to smartphones and computers. That allows users easy access to review their heart rate data. Heart rate monitors see common use for the following purposes:

buy heart rate monitor

Depending on the type of device, you may need to use them differently. Some you wear around your wrist or forearm. Others are rings you wear on a finger. The chest-strap devices have their sensors in the strap. Depending on the mode, some connect with a cable or wirelessly to a device that you can clip onto your clothing or you can carry in a pocket, and many of the newer models use wireless connections to your phone or another device. To learn the best way to use your device and get the most accurate results, be sure to read the instruction manual completely. Most of these devices also have websites with user forums, where you can ask questions and share information about how these devices can best help you.

Regardless of whether or not they measure your heart rate or your pulse rate, the results try to convey the same thing: How many times your heart beats per minute. Depending on the device, they may also measure and display other metrics, like heart rate variability. Some also use apps that offer you that data in ways that you can tailor to your uses and needs.

Chest strap monitors typically use electrocardiography to measure the electrical activity of the heart, while armband and watch-style monitors use small LED lights to measure blood flow through the skin in a process called photoplethysmography. With both types of monitoring, the collected data is then transferred to a receiver, such as a watch or an app, so you can view your heart rate in real-time.

The most common styles of heart rate monitors are chest straps, armbands, and wristbands. While chest straps are typically more accurate, armbands and wristbands are usually more comfortable and convenient. Newer products, such as earbud monitors or fitness rings, are less cumbersome but tend to be pricier and less reliable than other styles.

i KHC, White FA, Tipoe T, et al. The current state of mobile phone apps for monitoring heart rate, heart rate variability, and atrial fibrillation: narrative review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019;7(2):e11606.

With so many at-home pulse rate monitors available these days, it can be hard to choose. It may help to start thinking about what you would like from your monitor. For example, if you do a lot of exercise and are trying to build your fitness, you may be interested in a device with recovery heart rate mode or time in target zone modes. But if you want to keep it simpler, a more basic device may suit you better and save you money.

If you are using a smartphone, an app that requires you to put your finger on the camera and light on the back of your phone is likely to be more reliable at monitoring your heart rate than one that uses the camera to look at your face.

Chest strap heart-rate monitors have a reputation for being uncomfortable to wear during exercise, but we found a few that passed the wear test. Below, you'll find our picks for the best chest strap heart-rate monitors. We update this list periodically as new models become available.

The Polar H10 is ideal for outdoor activities. You'll need to download the Polar Beat app to get the most out of it. The app is available for both iOS and Android, and uses Bluetooth and ANT Plus connectivity to pair with different devices. The Polar H10 can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once, so you can connect it to both your smartwatch and a compatible piece of fitness equipment, like some treadmills or exercise bikes. The heart-rate monitor is easy to clip on and adjust and comes in a variety of sizes to fit most users. The battery on this heart-rate monitor lasts up to 400 hours.

Once you're in the app, it's easy to go into settings and connect to the heart-rate monitor as long as your phone's Bluetooth is on. In the app you'll see you can select from 19 different activities to measure your heart rate, including some that don't use GPS, like strength training and treadmill running, tennis, badminton, indoor cycling or other indoor activities. This heart-rate monitor can also be used for swimming, as it's waterproof.

I tested this heart-rate monitor during my Future app strength training sessions and during a couple of walks. Since Future automatically connects to my Apple Watch too, I was able to compare my Apple readings against Polar's. I found that I didn't get much information recorded during strength training on the Polar app with the exception of how long the workout was. But when I dove into the Apple Fitness app I was able to see that the Polar H10 captured my average heart rate and it matched with the data my Apple Watch collected. However, for my walks both indoors and outdoors, the Polar H10 was able to show me a detailed reading of the distance I walked, my average heart rate, calories burned, max heart rate, pace and fat burn percentage of calories. A line graph chart is also included that shows you a display of your heart rate and time during the activity.

If you plan on using it mainly outdoors for activities like running, jogging, hiking, skating, skiing or rowing, you can't go wrong with this heart-rate monitor. In fact, if you already own a Polar watch, you may get even more out of it when paired with this heart-rate monitor.

The Wahoo Tickr X is one of my favorite heart-rate monitors because it's comfortable enough that you forget you're wearing it. The heart-rate monitor is easy to strap on and adjust, and the chest strap fits chests from 23 to 48 inches. It's also waterproof, so it'll function even at your sweatiest. You'll need to download the Wahoo app (available for iOS and Android) to connect the heart-rate monitor, but it's also compatible with more than 50 third-party fitness apps, and Garmin watches. It uses simultaneous Bluetooth and ANT Plus technology, which makes it easy to connect to a smartwatch and your phone. According to the Wahoo website, this heart-rate monitor offers over 500 hours of battery life.

I tested this heart-rate monitor out during a Future strength training session and a couple of walks on the treadmill. I found the Wahoo Tickr X to be most appropriate for distance activities like walking, running or cycling. It can track running, treadmill, cycling, Kickr and exercise bike use. Although it doesn't have an option for other forms of activity, it did detect my strength training workout. I compared it to what my Apple Watch recorded during the workout as well and found that the average heart rate was the same as the Wahoo Tickr X recording. Other than that, it didn't offer much insightful information, which is good to know if you're looking for additional details on your exercise.

I'd recommend using this heart-rate monitor if you're training for a race, since the data recorded during my walks gave a detailed look at pace, elevation gain, laps, time and miles. The Wahoo Tickr X is also a solid choice if you want a heart-rate monitor that stays put and feels comfortable no matter the distance of your training activity.

If you're a loyal Garmin user or want a heart-rate monitor with a long-lasting battery, you'll like the Garmin HRM-Pro. Impressively, this heart-rate monitor can last about a year, as long as you only use it an hour per day. The chest strap can comfortably fit chest sizes ranging from 25 to 43 inches, but there is an optional strap extender that goes up to 56 inches. It's also waterproof so it's appropriate for swimming. The Garmin HRM-Pro has both Bluetooth and ANT Plus, and its app is available for iOS and Android. It's easy to connect your device via the app, and it's also compatible with third-party fitness apps like Zwift or Strava, as long as they're paired with Bluetooth.

Garmin is known to be running and cyclist friendly, but for the price I would've hoped that it would be versatile for other types of exercise too. I was able to test out the Garmin first during a strength training session via the Future app, which already syncs up with my Apple Watch. I'm not sure if this was a user error, but what stood out to me is that the data it provided seemed exaggerated. During a workout that was 45 minutes long, it told me that I'd burned over 4,000 calories, while my Apple watch told me I'd burned a total of 241 calories. Discrepancies like this go to show you that you shouldn't always rely on the data provided by your wearables.

If you aren't looking to spend a lot of money on a heart-rate monitor, consider the CooSpo H808S. The CooSpo H808S chest strap uses ANT Plus and Bluetooth, has its own app (CoospoRide), and it can also connect to various third-party fitness apps like Polar, Wahoo, Endomondo, UA Run, Garmin, Peloton and more. This heart-rate monitor offers 300 hours of battery life, which is not the highest, but is appropriate if you're an average exerciser.

Besides the MyZone MZ-Switch, this is the only other heart-rate monitor I tested that flashes an LED light to signal that it's connected. To activate it, you have to wet the sensors on the strap before securing it on. Speaking of which, it's waterproof, which is ideal if you tend to sweat a lot or want to use it for swimming.

I connected it to my Wahoo account during a couple of walks and it functioned well for that purpose. Based on the other compatible apps, you may enjoy this heart-rate monitor if you're training for a long-distance race or taking a cycling class. When I used it for strength training I don't believe I got as much out of it as I would have liked compared to if I was training for a race.

However, what's great about the CooSpo H808S is that you have the ability to connect it to various apps and Bluetooth devices so you can get your readings across multiple platforms. The CooSpo H808s proves that you don't need to break the bank to get a good chest strap heart-rate monitor. 041b061a72