Good heart rate monitor suggestions please

[Scarlet38]

I can't remember if I've asked this already but I'm looking for a good hrm that won't break the bank, would love a Garmin but they are too expensive at the moment. Anyone use another kind? Chest strap or strapless the best? Would like to use it for other things as well as running x

[Tomas Graduate]

Hi Scarlet, a heart rate monitor (HRM) is a fairly simple device, and they don't need to cost a lot. Before you make your purchasing decision, though, you might want to think ahead a little and consider whether you are likely to buy any other fitness monitors over the next 3-6 months.

Sadly it is not the case that all HRMs will work with all running watches or all mobile phones. Are you likely to want to buy yourself a running watch as a graduation present when you graduate c25k? If you do, you'll probably want your HRM to work with the watch so you can see how your heart rate varies with your speed or distance. If this is the case, it could be false economy to buy the cheapest HRM today and then have to go out and buy another one in 3 months time. On the other hand, if you don't foresee any other purchases, then there's no point in paying for future compatibility today.

What other things as well as running would you like to use the HRM for? The chest strap ones are crap for swimming. In fact, anything that transmits via bluetooth or ANT+ will have a hard time transmitting while being under water.

So.... very few answers, but only more questions. Sorry

[Unfitdad59 Graduate]

Hi Scarlet, I also have been looking for a hrm and was considering one of the new Epsom range. However, I trundled into my local Aldi last week and they had one for £12.99. It uses a chest strap and a wirelessly connected watch. It seems to work fine (it was meant to be used by cyclists) and I have used it twice. I really just wanted to see how high my pulse rate went and how quickly I recovered after the run. You can use it in rain but not underwater. It is dead simple, offers no features as described in another post, but it depends what you want to use it for. So what with that and runkeeper on my phone, who needs an expensive Garmin?

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

I got one from ALDI - for $20!!! Works fine -- tells me my HR as I am running and that is all I need

[BloomingEck]

I saw some in my local Aldi this week. I already use a Polar FT4 HRM, which doesn't have GPS. This cost me around £60. I wear it regularly and find the HR and cal feedback to be very useful. My OH has a Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS watch (without the HRM) and this is also useful. Ideally I'd like a decent GPS + HRM in the same watch, of my own, and am investigating. They aren't cheap, though. The Garmin 110 (inc. HRM) is discontinued now, but can be bought for around £90. The current models seem to be priced at around twice that!