How to buy heart rate monitors
Heart Rate Monitors (HRMs) are sleek. You don't feel wired up like Frankenstein. They're easy to use, and the benefits are numerous regardless of your fitness level. You can use your HRM to help lose weight, to boost your fitness level, and to train for performance.
Components of a heart rate monitor
An elastic chest strap with a small disc-like transmitter measures the heart's electrical activity (or EKG), and sends the information to a watch-style display that you wear on your wrist, or hang on your bike's handlebars. The display will tell you how fast your heart beats per minute. Here's what you should look for in a HRM:
Display unit
This is the brain of the machine. It's a mini-computer and can store and recall all kinds of information at the touch of a button. Most are easy to use and all come with easy-to-read manuals.
Look for some degree of water resistance to prevent sweat and rain damage. Well-lit displays will help you see at night.
Heart rate display
This monitor will not only tell you your current heart rate and the time, but it also allows you to set training zones with alarms when you go above or below the target heart rate. Numbers should be large enough to read on the run.
Multi-functional displays
Time, laps, calories burned - your HRM can tell you a lot more than just your heart rate. Pick a model suited to your workout needs.
Wrist strap
Make sure it holds securely to your wrist. Look for versatile wristbands, which allow the strap to expand so you can put it over a jacket for cold weather workouts.
Chest strap and transmitter
The adjustable straps should sit snuggly and comfortably around your chest, holding the sensor near your heart.
The ABC's of HRM use
A) The only way to meet your fitness, weight-loss, speed or performance goals, is to train at the right intensity. And the only way to measure intensity is to train with a heart rate monitor.
B) The more your heart beats per minute, the harder you're working. With the help of your doctor or an exercise physiologist, you should set a maximum heart rate. From there, monitor the intensity of your workouts using your HRM.
Light to moderate - 60 to 70 per cent of your maximum heart rate. Improves health and controls weight.
Moderate - 70 to 85 per cent of your maximum heart rate. Improves cardiovascular fitness.
Heavy - 85 to 90 per cent of your maximum. Increases your speed and performance.
C) On top of your heart rate, HRMs can provide and track other information - from lap times to your altitude - to make your workout that much better.
Shop Smart
Don't forget the other seasons. Choose features and styles that suit all of your section.sports. For example, you might want a mountable HRM with a speedometer for your bike in the summer, and a water-resistant model with lap times for swimming in the winter.
