Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch

If you’re beginning an aerobic fitness program, one of the basic pieces of equipment, besides a good pair of sneakers, is a heart rate monitor (HRM).  These devices are a great way to manage the intensity of your workout, providing you with a continuous heart rate reading and notifying you when you exceed your target heart rate zone.

Although the most accurate HRMs require a chest strap, strapless HRMs are the latest in heart rate monitor technology and users are pleased with the results.  Most are made to look like wristwatches, and in addition to the HRM function, many provide time of day, calendars, alarms, backlight for night vision and are water-resistant.  Of course, the more features provided, the pricier they are.

So what should you look for when shopping for a strapless HRM?  Well, that depends on your fitness level, your needs and goals, and of course, how much you’re willing to spend.

• For the techno-challenged, the Bowflex basic HRM is a simple-to-use strapless non-continuous heart rate monitor which gives you heart rate and time, with a large LCD display.
• For weight loss, try an HRM that provides a calorie counter, target zone alarm, low and high heart rate reading, and quick touch technology, such as the Bowflex Fit Trainer.
• Walkers and joggers may prefer the Fit Trainer Plus – a heart rate monitor and pedometer combined.  This unique HRM includes a workout timer, backlight, low and high heart-rate readings with a target zone alarm, and it monitors your steps, distance and speed, and includes a calorie counter.
• For the athlete who wants the choice of continuous heart rate monitoring by using a chest strap or measuring heart rate through Quick Touch Technology without the chest strap, try the Hybrid Plus. It includes lots of great features, plus has the first buttonless sensor, so all you need to do to display your ECG heart-rate is to touch it anywhere on the watch case.

So, if you want to get the most out of your aerobic workout, use a heart rate monitor.  They’re easy to use and will help you exercise safely and effectively.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 10:28 am and is filed under Shaping Up. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.