Best HeartRate Monitor for the money?

[Trump]

Looking to invest in a heart rate monitor. Last one I had was a Polar from the mid 90's that went kaput.

Started looking around and things sure have changed since the days when I bought my first one

Looking for the best value/most features bang per buck.

Thanks.

 

[Trump]

bump.

For shame! No one here uses a heart rate monitor to get the most out of their cardio time?

 

[Mudge]

Thought of one, you can get one in a watch form - if it goes over the finger I'm only going to use it for cardio, and thats built into the bike.

 

[I Are Baboon]

I have a Timex Ironman which I bought in Wal-Mart of all places. I love it. It's got tons of features and a nice backlight. I really only use it when I attend spinning classes. I believe I paid $80 for it.

This was the one I bought:

http://www.timex.com/bin/detail.tmx?item=048148515611

$125 at the Timex website, but like I said, I paid $80 at Wal-Mart about a year ago..

 

[guy]

BTW. People are not that focused on cardio on this board.

Polar makes a billion HRMonitors that are pretty cool.

I use the lower end one that just has stopwatch, current HR, time and HR features. similar to the A5. costs around 80 bucks.

Between 80 and 150 dollars there are things that compute averages and recovery times... but the next step up are ones that let you download.

These are some much 'cooler' ones and they can estimate V02 max in the 150 dollar range and up, and even download stuff to your computer. Polar S210 for instance. Polar M-series looks like a better value though.

there are sales on the web. look around.

 

[Mudge]

IAB is more of a biker than a lifter type, but overall the males on the board in general care more about muscle to SOME degree yes. There is at least one marathoner here though, as well as again the mountain bikers.

On almost any board not directly cardio related, I'd say people are not cardio-centric, just like many people dont train calves as hard as they "should" because its not seen.

 

[Trump]

Thanks for the info guys

...and IAB, where do you do spinning? My YMCA has it, and I was thinking of getting into it...

 

[Dale Mabry]

I own a Polar M52. It is pretty cool and the features are nice, but part of the display shit the bed fairly quickly. I could have sent it back, but I was lazy and it still works pretty good. It still works though, and I use it 4-5 days a week. I paid like $170 for it, but I bet you can get it on Ebay for alot less than that. Unless you are a serious athlete, I would not invest in anything above the M52. I had a client who bought the s210 and only uses half the features that are even on the m52. I am waiting for her to get frustrated and give it to me.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Originally posted by Trump
Thanks for the info guys

...and IAB, where do you do spinning? My YMCA has it, and I was thinking of getting into it...

I go spinning at my gym (Powerhouse Gym), but only during the winter months. Otherwise, I am either riding my road bike or my mountain bike. Spinning classes are painful, but a great workout.

To expand on what Mudge said, I am definitely more of an endurance athlete than a bodybuilder.