Heart rate monitors

[AAK]

I want a heart rate monitor, actually I bought one, but haven't opened it yet because there are so many options, I can't really decide if this one is the best for me. So, what options do you use and which do you think are a waste. Is that bodybugg worth the $$$$. The one I bought (can't remember brand) was about $100 and included a watch & chest band. It tells the time, has instant read out for heart rate, and a calorie spent counter. The guy at the store didn't rec. any w/o a chest strap as he didn't think they worked as well.

Amy

[NewDirections]

I have a Polar HR monitor. I love it! It is really helpful to me to see my heart rate when I'm working out. It lets me know how hard I'm working and if I should increase or decrease the intensity. With my hr monitor you can program in your age, gender, height, weight, and fitness goals. With this info, it will design a workout program for you. It also tells you the heart rate rang your hr should be in during that workout to achieve your goals.

My favorite thing is that is tells you how many calories you are burning during the workout, this is so motivating. It also totals up the calories you burn for each week and keeps a record of past weeks.

I totally agree with the sales person on only getting a hr monitor with a chest strap. Those without are not accurate. Another good thing about having a chest strap is if you are working out on some cardio machines they can pick up the signal that the chest strap is sending out so that you can see your hr on the screen of the cardio machine and you don't have to keep looking at your watch.

I don't know anything about the Body Bugg, but I see ads for it at my gym all the time. Is it a heart rate monitor?

[SugarAndSun]

I got the Garmin 305 w/ heart rate monitor on sale for $150. So awesome!

Too bad I lost the HR monitor. :

[CathToria]

I love love love my HRM. I have a Polar F6. It retails around 125, but i got mine for $90 on sale. I use it daily. I try to keep my HR between 120 and 160 for most workouts. any lower, and IMO I'm not working hard enought, much higher than 160 for too long, adn I bonk in teh afternoon. It also tracks my calories burned, which is very motivating to me.

On tues, I am taking the resting and cardio/VO2 testing to see where my AT is, adn what zones I burn fat in. ANd to find out my resting HR an dhow many calories I burn a day. This testing is my 41st Bday present!

I looked at the F4, F6, and F11. I chose the F6 over the F4 b/c teh transmitter is coded and doesn;t interfere/pick up other gym user's HR's. I dedided that I did not need teh extra F11 features.

GPS woudl be very nice for outdoor runs. FWIU, Polar is just releasing a GPS model. But those Garmin's look completley droolable for outdoor runners.

A body bugg does not measure HR. FWIU, it measures by movement, change in skin temp and humidity (I think). Polar is also coming out with an activity monitor, which I assume is to compete with bodybugg

Based on my research, Polar is teh most accurate for HR and is teh "standard" to work with gym machines. But Garmin is best for the GPS for outdoor activities. IME, Polar has great CS too.

Here's a pretty good deal on teh Gramin 305 .

HTH