Fitness buffs everywhere have discovered the benefits that come with using heart monitor watches in order to get the most out of a workout. If you’re one of those fitness buffs, the next step is to find the best one for you. Here’s what to do to choose the right one.
There are many functionality levels in a heart monitor watch. Basic monitors track things like heart rate while advanced models are almost like mini computers that are worn on the wrist. Heart rate monitors are made for different kinds of sports, for a weekend warrior or an elite athlete, as well as for men and women.
In order to make a decision about which monitor is for you, start off by thinking about how you plan to use it. Next try to decide what specific information you’ll want to track and what you’ll want to measure. And be sure to think about your fitness goals, both short and long term.
Not all heart monitors work for every sport. When you’re deciding on features think about the goals you will aim to achieve in six months or a year.
Although you won’t want to spend on features that you won’t use, you also won’t want to get frustrated if you don’t have a certain feature you need in six months. This could happen if you’ve moved on to another level in your training.
For runners, the selection of watches is huge. But if your sport is swimming or cycling, you’ll have a much smaller number of watches specific to your sport. You’ll be able to eliminate some monitors once you’ve decided on the sport or activity you’ll mainly use your monitor for.
It’s important to think about the specific features you’ll want in a monitor.
Would you like to have the ability to track your workouts over a specific period of time, and download the results onto your computer at home? Or are you content to simply view your current performance on the watch screen?
Do you want basic information like distance, speed, and heart rate? Or are you looking to get more detailed data, as well as workout recommendations customized for you?
Think about where you’ll be doing your training. You need different features if the monitor is used primarily indoors on rowing machines or treadmills for instance. If you train outdoors you may need other features because conditions and terrain are so variable.
Are such navigation features as an altimeter, a compass or GPS important?
The cost of heart monitor watches varies a lot and is dependent on what you want. For fitness buffs, monitors are as important as other fitness gear. Be sure to consider all options before you buy. That way you’ll be sure to get the right heart monitor watch complete with every feature you want.
Be sure to choose a reliable manufacturer of heart monitor watches to avoid disappointment. This is a case of getting what you pay for. You can’t go wrong with a polar heart rate monitor watch. This company has a reputation for producing top quality heart monitor watches.