Hi folks,
I’m starting to seriously think about purchasing a HR monitor. Since I need a new sports watch, I figured why not go all out and get something with all the bells and whistles.
For those of you that use them: How often do you use it? Has it helped? What do you like most? What brand/model do you suggest?
I suspect there are other threads about HR monitors – I’ll try to go dig those up, but any new input or insight you have would be so helpful!
Thanks!
Yes.
I’ve found the biggest benefit is keeping me honest so I do not go too easy on the hard days, or to hard on the easy days. I can sometimes get in a rut where I’m just going through the motions of working out, and my mind is on other issues. The HR monitor helps me focus on getting the intended benefit out of each workout.
Totally worth it, and you don’t have to spend mega-bucks on a mega-model to derive real training benefits. I use a basic Polar model on all my workouts and found that staying in my “zone” has really helped build my endurance and speed. Since I tend to go out too hard, the monitor is a great way of reminding myself of where I need to be for the long haul…
I used a HR monitor for a short time, and found that my perceived exertion levels corresponded very well with the HR zones. So I no longer use it. For some one that doesn’t have an extensive background in athletics, though, it’s a good tool to start out.
It does about the same for me.
I use the Polar S120. Not too expensive and has the split time function.
jaretj
Now that I have trained with one for awhile, I realize that I could have gone forever without training with one, by simply using RPE or breathing as a guide.
Now, especially on the bike, there are many days that I train without one. I;d rather have the tan-line-free tan than the average heart rate. I guess that speaks volumes.
Too many things affect HR for me, …lack of sleep, not eating, dehydrated, high temps, etc.
I’m rapidly getting to the point that I would prefer to “just train” … and do it with nothing more than a stopwatch.
I use the Polar S120. I would like have one that does not have a chest strap … do they make those? Actually if they do they are probably in the price range where I would rather go without a HRM than get raped buying one.
How else do you know what zone you are in w/out one. Perceived effort doesn’t work for me.
I would pay up and get the 625X. The foot pod works great and you always have the option for a powermeter.
I would also look at the GPS based ones too.
Read Jack Daniels Running Formula book, do your LT test and then follow the workouts based on HR.
One more thing - I am not average. I’m a little below, but moving up 
Hmm, By the question I am assuming you are a relative newbie…
Therefore:
DO NOT go all out and get one with all the bells and whisltes. It will just be a waste of your time and money. Go for one with your standad function and ppossibly some lap timers and lap memory functions. Maybe an average HR function if you like.
Personally, I found a HRM invaluable for learining how to run at a consistant effort. I could never do a run over 1 hour without feeling like total s—. The HR montior showed me that I was constantly pushing too hard during longer runs. I learned a great deal about my own percieved exertion by having that HRM.
Having said all that, once you have your PE nailed down they’re really not worth the mony IMHO. Me personally, my HR drifts like a mofo after 15 minutes. It also lags to much to be of any use for timed intense efforts.
Others experiences may differ. Some people like having as much data as possible to download on their computer. Which is fine. But if you aren’t sure you’re this type of person, don’t go for a fancy-shmancy expensive model.
i wear one during just about every workout on the bike and run. i’m not a total slave to it. if i’m feeling stronger than normal and want to “push” during a workout, i will. even if i drives me out of whatever zone i’m in.
i consider it valuable feedback and another bit of data i can use to chart my progress, or lack there of. granted it’s not perfect, but beyond perceived exertion, it’s the best thing going for the money.
i use mine for every ride or run. just this morning i got on the bike and i couldn’t get my hr up even though i was working at a decent effort. i was tired from staying up late last night. the low hr confirmed what i really knew - i should go back to bed. the numbers alone aren’t as important as the ability to cross check what you think is happening via rate of percieved exertion. the key is figuring out your zones so they’re not just numbers.
i use just a simple polar s120 ($89).
Totally. I am like you in profile, and I have been using a HRM since April. Doing base work now, I find that I can put together 4/5 run weeks without trouble or injury, whereas in the past I would never have been able to do this. The reason is that my RPE was off - I thought I could sustain faster paces than I actually can. Using my HRM basically stops me from smashing myself. The result is more consistent workouts, less lingering fatigue, and {hopefully} better race performances.
you need to think about what you want to use it for. Cycling? running? or both?
That being said, there is no research that shows that training in a particular zone directly translates into improving performance. Most of the research using HRM’s use them to keep people w/in a certain % of Vo2max. But to say that you’ve improved b/c you’ve stayed in X zone is a fallicy. Most people improve b/c they are more consistent, increase their volume or increase their frequency or a combination of the above.
I like using one just to keep me honest on the bike, my percevied exertion on the bike is rather off compared to my HR, so i find it helps alot…
Additionally its super useful in determining if your overreached… I was getting abnormally low readings for the past two weeks, took a week really easy and vola, HR’s jumped back to where they should be.
I use a polar S210, (which i just bought to replace my old polar coach), i got it because it has a backlight, (the S120 doesn’t) and i run alot at night… i tried using an S710… but honestly found it was way to much info for me… some nifty features, but i don’t care that much… I just like lap functions with avg HR for each… and the S210 had that. - I do reccomend it, it also has the cool new Wearlink strap, it honestly feels like your wearing nothing on your chest - very cool
hope this helps
-david
I use the Polar S120. I would like have one that does not have a chest strap … do they make those? Actually if they do they are probably in the price range where I would rather go without a HRM than get raped buying one.
Earlier this week I got some advertisement in the mail for such a device. Unfortunately I barely looked at it and cannot remember the particulars. It had what looked like a wrap around the wrist and some type of finger sleeve. My gut reaction was that it might be somewhat annoying to have that finger sleeve, especially on a hot day but who knows?
**I think this link might show the device **
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/mark_of_fitness_heart_monitors.htm
I think it depends on how you are able to use the information. If you understand how to employ the data it can be a very valuable tool.
I think the most important thing to have before a heart rate monitor is a “know how”. yu have to buy a couple books on study on line to gain a good understanding of what that number on your wrist really menas in the grand scheme of things and specific to your body.
If you can learn to do the testing to establish your max heart rate, Anaerobic Threshhold and then you calculate your various exertion levels from there then you have some useful data. Combine that with your knowledge of how to train from books like Rob Sleamaker and Ray Browning’s excellent “SERIOUS Training for Serious Athletes” and you will learn the HRM is very valuable to optimizing your training time and avoiding overtraining.
Absolutely worth it. Especially for someone just getting into the sport. The ability to accurately gauge effort (when combined with perceived effort, hours of sleep, etc) is important to keep the hard workouts hard and the easy workouts easy. I agree with Tom’s post that how you use the data also factors in; however, even if you’re not being completely data driven and recording everything, it’s a great feeling to find that months down the road your pace running may be 20-30 seconds faster, but your heartrate will be the same.
I’d say that when used properly, the average athlete gets for more value out of it than does the exceptional athlete, for a lot of reasons.
T.