If you are serious about fitness, then a heart rate monitor is as important as the right pair of shoes. And like shoes, a heart monitor isn’t one size fits all. Women need different things in a monitor than men do. The best heart rate monitors for women are very different from monitors that are best for men.
Let’s face it. Most men can comfortably wear a regular heart monitor watch with a chest strap and get an accurate reading. This is more of a challenge for many women.
The chest strap is what transmits data to the heart monitor watch. It does that by picking up impulses from the heart and then transmitting this information. If there is not good contact with the skin, the transmission is flawed.
Now if you are a relatively flat chested woman, you can probably get that good solid contact between skin and strap. So you will be able to use a monitor with a chest strap.
But for women who have bigger cup sizes, wearing a strap can present problems. To get solid contact with the skin, the strap has to be worn very tightly which can be quite uncomfortable.
If you find yourself in this group, there is another option to the traditional type of heart rate monitor. Strapless heart rate monitors have become increasingly popular, particularly among women. These monitors measure heart rate without having to wear a chest strap.
Reviews on strapless heart rate monitors are mixed. Some experts in the field of fitness feel that they don’t provide as accurate a reading as a traditional monitor. Others feel that the technology is approaching the traditional monitor. They do agree that today’s models are much better than earlier ones.
So if for any reason you can’t wear a traditional heart rate monitor, then look for a strapless model that has high recommendations and is manufactured by a company that specializes in the manufacture of heart monitors. There are a lot of different designs to choose from when looking for a strapless heart monitor.
Many strapless monitors are worn on the wrist. Others may have a ring sensor that you wear on your finger. Still other models have a strap that is worn around the upper arm. Finally there are strapless monitors that can be held in the hand.
A wrist heart rate monitor, for instance, has one or possibly two sensors located on the watch. When you put your finger on the sensor, it collects data about your heart rate and displays this information on the watch.
It’s not easy to say what the best heart rate monitors for women might be. But we know for sure that comfort and accuracy are among the most important factors. If you don’t have these, there may be little point in having a monitor anyway.
Whether you are a serious athlete or a casual exerciser, heart monitor watches can help boost performance and improve fitness levels. Although monitors can be worn by anyone, women may find it more comfortable wearing a wrist heart rate monitor.