Heart rate monitors....

[faith4u]

I am looking for a good heart rate monitor.

So, I thought I would ask and see if anyone here has a favorite.

Thanks!

[VSL]

Not into my HRM's at the moment, but I know plenty about them, so I'll try and help...

Firstly, what do you want it for?
If you want it for running or cycling, would you also like a speed/distance monitor?
If so, you might want to look into the following:
- Garmin Forerunner 305
- Polar s625x
- Suunto t6
These are, by and large, considered the best HRM + S/D monitors.
(There's another Polar one, but I cannot remember the name!)

Or are you looking for something simpler?
If so, the Polar F11 is pretty good, and there are other Polar monitors which fit the 'nice, easy and straightforward description'.

You might also want to think about getting a book about HRMonitering. There are a few, but it depends what your goals are.
If you're a runner you might be interested in either Parker's 'The Compleat Idiots Guide to Heart Rate Monitors' (yes, it's spelled complete) or you could check out 'Hadd's Approach to Distance Training' (a long, [in]famous running thread which can be found on www.letsrun.com - go to the messageboards and the stickied 'best threads' thread).

My favourite HRM?
Well, I'm a runner, so I love my Garmin 305 (although I'm just using the 205 at the moment). But I've loved all my HRM's :D

[cattail]

I have 2 Polar ones (very, very old - the first finally died). The first was basic heart rate display with timer, the second has that plus time spent in the programmed zones, etc. Personally, the first was fine for me and easier to deal with (I'm not much on all the programming and button pushing). My only annoyance is that they are tremendously ugly. I can only hope newer models are nicer (I've not looked in a while, as the other still works - this is with years of off and on use). At one point I had to send it back to polar for a battery switch and had no complaints with service.

[fruit]

I say the polar one that only shows the heartrate and no other programing was my favorite.It has been the best one i have found and although i no longer use it because i can no longer exercise.

[faith4u]

Thanks everyone!

No, I am not a runner but do all kinds of vigorous exercise.

Hey Fruit, why can't you exercise anymore?

[fruit]

Thanks everyone!

No, I am not a runner but do all kinds of vigorous exercise.

Hey Fruit, why can't you exercise anymore?


Faith4u,I can not execise because i have a severe heart arryhthmia and i get dizzy,nausea,palpitations and lots of other symptoms if i get my self physicaly exausted.

[faith4u]

Wow, Fruit, that sounds scary.

Can you do things like aerobic breathing? Do you have a limit that you can go or is everything including walking out?

[fruit]

I can walk i just can't walk fast.
I will be having another heart procedure done so maybe i can get my heart rate a little more regulated and then i will be able to do more.
Because i have had 2 heart procedures and a pacemaker and it has already improved my quality of life,I just dread getting another procedure but its that or be on medication for the rest of my life.

[faith4u]

I can walk i just can't walk fast.
I will be having another heart procedure done so maybe i can get my heart rate a little more regulated and then i will be able to do more.
Because i have had 2 heart procedures and a pacemaker and it has already improved my quality of life,I just dread getting another procedure but its that or be on medication for the rest of my life.

Wow, I feel for you! What a cross you are bearing. I will be praying for you. I hope that you will be able to get back to a more "normal" life to where you don't have the stress of worrying about all of that.

Take care!

[fruit]

Thank you soo much faith4u :)