Learn About Heart Rate Monitors

When You Are Ready to Buy, Look for These Features

Updated January 29, 2018
Polar H7 Bluetooth Chest Strap and Polar App
Polar H7 Bluetooth Chest Strap and Polar App. Wendy Bumgardner ©

A heart rate monitor senses and displays your heart rate. Walkers can use their heart rate to adjust the intensity of their walk -- speeding up or slowing down to stay in their chosen heart rate zone. Two walkers going the same speed may be in different zones -- one barely working at all, the other near maximum and straining. As your fitness improves, you can walk faster at the same heart rate.

Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitors: ECG-Accurate

The most accurate heart rate monitors use a chest strap which fits snugly around your chest just below the breast. The transmitter detects the electrical activity of your heart just like an ECG. It relays this to a display, usually worn like a wristwatch, or transmit to cell phone apps via Bluetooth. It is important for the strap to maintain contact with the skin on your chest or you will get wild readings.

    Continuous Heart Rate Monitors Without a Chest Strap

    These devices are worn as a wristwatch or armband and use optical sensors on the back of the device to continuously read your pulse through the skin. You get a real-time readout of your heart rate, just as with the chest strap monitors. However, there are limitations.

    Those using infrared get interference from muscles, while those that use only green light (such as the Apple Watch) may not be able to get readings through tattoos or dark-pigmented skin.

    Some, such as the Scosche Rhythm+ use a yellow light sensor as well to overcome that problem, according to Dr. Steven LeBoeuf of Valencell.
    Can You Trust Heart Rate Readings from Wearable Fitness Bands?

      Heart Monitor Features

      Basic models display only your heart rate, and perhaps elapsed exercise time. With increasing price, you get a variety of useful features such as:

      • Heart rate zone alarm: Set the zone and it alerts you when you are high or low.
      • Timers: Countdown timer, stopwatch, interval timers, clock, alarm.
      • Calories burned.
      • Time in zone splits.
      • Fitness test.
      • Computer/app link.
      • Pre-programmed workouts.

      Display and Ease of Use

      Besides features, shop for how easy it is to use. Can you read the numbers easily? Does it have a backlight for use in low light? Are there so many features that you will have to carry the manual to figure out how to use it each time? Are the buttons well labeled and easy to find and push?

      App Considerations

      If you use a chest strap that has no monitor other than the cell phone app, how easy is it to use? Does it give you regular audio updates or do you have to check the screen? Can you use a variety of apps with the chest strap?

        Price

        Once you have chosen which features you want, it comes down to price. Sales are common and you can find a wide variation in the price of the same model. Shop around and you may be pleased to find your dream monitor for much less than suggested retail price.

        Pulse Monitors

        These monitors work by detecting your pulse -- usually by placing one or two fingers on sensor buttons. They cannot give you a constant reading of your heart rate, you have to take it on demand instead. They are also trickier to use than the chest strap monitors -- cold fingers, etc. can give you no reading or wild readings.