Heart Rate Monitors

Tom Wigginton • December 8, 2013

We like Polar brand heart rate monitors. There are a few other very good brands (like Garmin, Suunto and Timex) but Polar made the technology accessible to the general public first and have become the industry standard. They have an ENORMOUS variety of monitors/watches and choosing the right one can be confusing. It comes down entirely to budget AND your capacity to absorb data and how that data can be translated into performance improvements. (Also, only Polar Heart Rate Monitors work with our indoor bikes. If you use another brand, you have to wear the watch that came with it.)

So, if you’re curious about using a monitor but aren’t sure about how much you’ll get out of it, go for the least expensive model. Online or in stores, you’re in for about $50 – $70. If you decide you really enjoy the bio-feedback, you’ll find it to be a great entry-level option. If you decide you don’t have time for it, you’re only out $50 – $70 and you got a cheap watch out of the deal.

Three models that probably offer the best options for the best price are the FT7, the FT60 and FT80. These models run $119, $179 and $319 respectively. The FT60 and FT80 have the ability to add GPS and Stride Sensors to give you even more feedback about your training. (Note: the GPS only records where you go to help you track where you went and how fast got there. It does not display maps or tell you how to get from here to there.) All three models come in a variety of colors, too.

Another very good option is to buy just a heart rate sensor strap that links to your iPhone 4s or newer and most gym equipment. The Polar H7 Bluetooth strap is an excellent value for $80. The app for your iPhone is free. This strap is way more comfortable than the cheap ones and is compatible with most of Polar’s watches. The iPhone app adds GPS and many other functions available for free that are otherwise only available with the more expensive watches.

When I grow up to be a professional bike racer, I will get their tip-top of the line RS800CX and all the bike attachments for power, cadence and GPS guidance. That’ll be a drop in the bucket for me at $800ish when I’m making my cool 7 figure pay check.

It’s super important to acknowledge that the only thing you’ll get from a heart rate monitor is bio-feedback and data. You still have to do the work and you have to invest the time to learn how to make the data work for you. If you do invest the time, your workouts will be smarter, more effective and more efficient overall.

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