What Heart Rate Monitor Watches Can You Buy For Under 100 Bucks? Updated

May 302012
 

A few more of you wrote in to tell me that I neglected a few popular HRM watches in my list, so today I thought I’d post an update with these watches added. – John

A few of you who are new to training have written in and asked if there is a good heart rate monitor training watch that doesn’t cost hundreds of dollars. I thought I would pop up a quick post that covers the most popular watches under $100.00. Actually, the highest price for the watches shown below is $129.99, but this is the retail price of the watch. If you look around, you should be able to find them cheaper.

 

 

 

Here is the short list:

Polar FT1 – In depth review here

  • Retail price $69.95
  • For the first step into heart rate-based training.
  • Shows heart rate on large and easy-to-read display
  • Helps improve your fitness with manual heart rate target zone
  • Displays a summary of your latest workout
  • Simple one-button start and coded heart rate transmission to avoid cross-talk
  • Safely exercise within your target zone
  • Records average and maximum heart rate

 

Polar FT2 - In depth review here

  • Retail price $89.95
  • For recreational exercisers who want an easy start to fitness.
  • Shows heart rate on large and easy-to-read display
  • Helps improve your fitness with automatic age-based heart rate target zone
  • Displays a summary of your latest workout
  • Simple one-button start and coded heart rate transmission to avoid cross-talk
  • Records average and maximum heart rate

 

 

Polar FT4 - In depth review here

  • Retail price $99.95
  • For those who want basic heart rate-based features to keep their fitness training simple.
  • Shows when you’re improving fitness based on your heart rate
  • Displays calories burned
  • Comes with comfortable fabric transmitter and coded heart rate transmission to avoid cross-talk

 

Suunto M1 – In depth review here

  • Retail price $99.00
  • Real-time guidance: heart rate and calories burned
  • Automatically switches between three heart rate zones to help reach personal exercise targets
  • Suunto M1 comes with comfortable Suunto Basic Heart Rate Belt, compatible with most gym cardio equipment
  • Easy to use
  • 9 languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish and Finnish
  • With easy and comfortable monitoring of real-time heart rate and calories burned, Suunto M1 is equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals.
  • It monitors you while you exercise to ensure you stay within the most effective training zone. If you’re going to burn those calories, make sure every move is a smart one.

 

Suunto M2 - In depth review here

  • Retail price $119.00
  • Real-time guidance: heart rate and calories burned
  • Automatically switches between three heart rate zones to help reach personal exercise targets
  • Suunto M2 comes with Suunto Dual Comfort Belt: comfortable textile belt, compatible with most gym cardio equipment and Suunto Fitness Solution
  • Easy to use
  • 9 languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish and Finnish
  • With easy and comfortable monitoring of real-time heart rate and calories burned, the M2 is equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals.
  • It monitors you while you exercise to ensure you stay within the most effective training zone. If you’re going to burn those calories, make sure every move is a smart one.

Timex Personal Trainer

  • Retail price $70.00
  • Target Heart Rate Zones
  • Time in Zone
  • Percentage of Max Heart Display
  • Calories Burned
  • Recovery Heart Rate Timer
  • Automatic Activity Timer

 

Timex Zone Trainer

  • Retail price $100.00
  • Target Heart Rate Zones
  • Graphic Heart Rate Zone Display
  • Average Heart Rate for Workout and Lap
  • Time in Zone
  • Percentage of Max Heart Display
  • Calories Burned

 

Timex Ironman Road Trainer

  • Retail price $110.00
  • Target Heart Rate Zones
  • Graphic Heart Rate Zone Display
  • Average Heart Rate for Workout and Lap
  • Time in Zone
  • Percentage of Max Heart Display
  • Calories Burned

 

Blink 1 

  •  Retail price$74.99
  • One button functionality – easy to use
  • Only HRM watch that has a blinking multicolor LED to let you know if you’re in your optimum heart rate zone
  • 3 color zones
  • Blue LED blinks to indicate below the training zone (low intensity effort)
  • YELLOW LED blinks to indicate the mid training zone (a moderately intensive effort)
  • RED LED blinks to indicate the high training zone (high intensity effort)

 


Blink 2

  • Retail price $84.95
  • Flashing light that is the color of your heart zone
  • Average, current, and peak heart rate
  • Out of zone alarm with audio off function
  • Calories burned during your workout (kcal)
  • Blue LED blinks to indicate below the training zone (low intensity effort)
  • YELLOW LED blinks to indicate the mid training zone (a moderately intensive effort)
  • RED LED blinks to indicate the high training zone (high intensity effort)
  • Stores time in each of the three training zones
  • Comes with ZONING program inside

 

 

Garmin FR70

  • Retail price $129.99
  • Tracks your time, heart rate and calories burned inside or outside, while running, cycling or during other fitness activities
  • Calculates speed and distance when paired with our optional foot pod
  • Includes ANT+™ technology, which allows it to connect to other ANT+ compatible devices, such as the included heart rate monitor, optional foot pod or ANT+ compatible fitness equipment, and then share data wirelessly with your computer
  • Offers advanced training options, such as workouts, intervals and Virtual Partner®, when paired with our optional foot pod
  • Tracks weight, body fat, body water and 6 other measurements when used with the Tanita BC-1000body composition scale
  • Features 2 time zones, alarms, 20 hrs/100 lap memory, configurable training pages with Auto Scroll, Auto Lap®, 5 heart rate zones and alerts
  • Transfers data to your Windows® or Mac® computer wirelessly when in range. You can then use Garmin Connect to analyze, categorize and share in our online community

 

So what do you get in a watch in this price range? Here is a quick comparison of the watches:

FT1 FT2 FT4 M1 M2 FR70
Heart Rate x x x x x x
Average Heart Rate x x x x x x
Max Heart Rate x x x x
Heart Rate Zones x x x x x x
Percentage of Max Heart Rate
Graphic HR Zone Display x
Color LED HR Zone Display
Time in Zones x x x
Calories Burned x x x x
Multiple Stored Workouts x x
Optional Foot Pod x
Wireless Transfer x
Vitual Partner x
Optional Bike Speed/Cadence Sensor x
Interval Training x
Customizable Screen x
High End HRM Strap x
Training Alerts x
Price $69.95 $89.95 $99.95 $99.00 $119.00 $129.99

 

 

Timex Personal Trainer Timex Zone Trainer Timex Ironman Road Trainer Blink1 Blink2
Heart Rate x x x x x
Average Heart Rate x x x
Max Heart Rate x x x
Heart Rate Zones x x x x x
Percentage of Max Heart Rate x x x
Graphic HR Zone Display x x
Color LED HR Zone Display x x
Time in Zones x x x x
Calories Burned x x x x
Multiple Stored Workouts
Optional Foot Pod
Wireless Transfer
Vitual Partner
Optional Bike Speed/Cadence Sensor
Interval Training
Customizable Screen
High End HRM Strap
Training Alerts x
Price $70.00 $100.00 $110.00 $74.99 $84.95


Standout Features and things to look closer and check out 

  • I really liked the Suunto M2 comfort strap. It is definitely comfortable
  • I also liked the Polar FT4 comfort strap
  • I like the look of the Suunto  watches the best
  • The Blink 1 and Blink 2 uses an LED, which is very easy to see, to tell you that you are in your optimum training zone
  • The Timex HRM units make nice watches
  • The Garmin FR70 has the most features. I particularly like being able to download and connect to Garmin Connect, and I also really like Virtual Partner, and the capability of connecting an optional footpod. Of course, this watch is also the most expensive of the group.  If you don’t know what Virtual Partner is, check out the video below

Overall, if you are just starting out training, you can’t go wrong with any of these watches. Look closely at the features, and make sure you get the features that you really care about. You can also check out our more in depth reviews on these watches.

I hope this is a quick answer to your question.

Happy Training!

 

Here are a few videos of some of the watches:

Polar FT1:

Polar FT2:

Polar FT4:

Garmin FR60/FR70 Stup:

Garmin FR60/FR70 Heart Rate Monitor Strap Use:

Garmin Virtual Partner:

Using A Timex Ironman Heart Rate Monitor:

Programming the Blink HRM’s:

Suunto M2 – First Settings:

Suunto M-Series Exercise:

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What Heart Rate Monitor Watches Can You Buy For Under 100 Bucks?

May 252012
 

A few of you who are new to training have written in and asked if there is a good heart rate monitor training watch that doesn’t cost hundreds of dollars. I thought I would pop up a quick post that covers the most popular watches under $100.00. Actually, the highest price for the watches shown below is $129.99, but this is the retail price of the watch. If you look around, you should be able to find them cheaper.

 

 

 

Here is the short list:

Polar FT1 – In depth review here

  • Retail price $69.95
  • For the first step into heart rate-based training.
  • Shows heart rate on large and easy-to-read display
  • Helps improve your fitness with manual heart rate target zone
  • Displays a summary of your latest workout
  • Simple one-button start and coded heart rate transmission to avoid cross-talk
  • Safely exercise within your target zone
  • Records average and maximum heart rate

 

Polar FT2 - In depth review here

  • Retail price $89.95
  • For recreational exercisers who want an easy start to fitness.
  • Shows heart rate on large and easy-to-read display
  • Helps improve your fitness with automatic age-based heart rate target zone
  • Displays a summary of your latest workout
  • Simple one-button start and coded heart rate transmission to avoid cross-talk
  • Records average and maximum heart rate

 

 

Polar FT4 - In depth review here

  • Retail price $99.95
  • For those who want basic heart rate-based features to keep their fitness training simple.
  • Shows when you’re improving fitness based on your heart rate
  • Displays calories burned
  • Comes with comfortable fabric transmitter and coded heart rate transmission to avoid cross-talk

 

Suunto M1 – In depth review here

  • Retail price $99.00
  • Real-time guidance: heart rate and calories burned
  • Automatically switches between three heart rate zones to help reach personal exercise targets
  • Suunto M1 comes with comfortable Suunto Basic Heart Rate Belt, compatible with most gym cardio equipment
  • Easy to use
  • 9 languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish and Finnish
  • With easy and comfortable monitoring of real-time heart rate and calories burned, Suunto M1 is equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals.
  • It monitors you while you exercise to ensure you stay within the most effective training zone. If you’re going to burn those calories, make sure every move is a smart one.

 

Suunto M2 - In depth review here

  • Retail price $119.00
  • Real-time guidance: heart rate and calories burned
  • Automatically switches between three heart rate zones to help reach personal exercise targets
  • Suunto M2 comes with Suunto Dual Comfort Belt: comfortable textile belt, compatible with most gym cardio equipment and Suunto Fitness Solution
  • Easy to use
  • 9 languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish and Finnish
  • With easy and comfortable monitoring of real-time heart rate and calories burned, the M2 is equipped with the essential tools you need to reach your fitness goals.
  • It monitors you while you exercise to ensure you stay within the most effective training zone. If you’re going to burn those calories, make sure every move is a smart one.

 

Garmin FR70

  • Retail price $129.99
  • Tracks your time, heart rate and calories burned inside or outside, while running, cycling or during other fitness activities
  • Calculates speed and distance when paired with our optional foot pod
  • Includes ANT+™ technology, which allows it to connect to other ANT+ compatible devices, such as the included heart rate monitor, optional foot pod or ANT+ compatible fitness equipment, and then share data wirelessly with your computer
  • Offers advanced training options, such as workouts, intervals and Virtual Partner®, when paired with our optional foot pod
  • Tracks weight, body fat, body water and 6 other measurements when used with the Tanita BC-1000body composition scale
  • Features 2 time zones, alarms, 20 hrs/100 lap memory, configurable training pages with Auto Scroll, Auto Lap®, 5 heart rate zones and alerts
  • Transfers data to your Windows® or Mac® computer wirelessly when in range. You can then use Garmin Connect to analyze, categorize and share in our online community

 

So what do you get in a watch in this price range? Here is a quick comparison of the watches:

FT1 FT2 FT4 M1 M2 FR70
Heart Rate x x x x x x
Average Heart Rate x x x x x x
Max Heart Rate x x x x
Heart Rate Zones x x x x
Calories Burned x x x x
Multiple Stored Workouts x x x
Display Backlight x
Optional Foot Pod x
Wireless Transfer x
Vitual Partner x
Bike Speed/Cadence Sensor x
Interval Training x
Customizable Screen x
High End HRM Strap x
Training Alerts x
Price $69.95 $89.95 $99.95 $99.00 $119.00 $129.99

 

 

 

Standout Features and things to look closer and check out 

  • I really liked the Suunto M2 comfort strap. It is definitely comfortable
  • I also liked the Polar FT4 comfort strap
  • I like the look of the Suunto  watches the best
  • They are all easy to use
  • The Garmin FR70 has the most features. I particularly like being able to download and connect to Garmin Connect, and I also really like Virtual Partner, and the capability of connecting an optional footpod. Of course, this watch is also the most expensive of the group.  If you don’t know what Virtual Partner is, check out the video below

Overall, if you are just starting out training, you can’t go wrong with any of these watches. Look closely at the features, and make sure you get the features that you really care about. You can also check out our more in depth reviews on these watches.

I hope this is a quick answer to your question.

Happy Training!

 

Here are a few videos of some of the watches:

Polar FT1:

Polar FT2:

Polar FT4:

Garmin FR60/FR70 Stup:

Garmin FR60/FR70 Heart Rate Monitor Strap Use:

Garmin Virtual Partner:

Suunto M2 – First Settings:

Suunto M-Series Exercise:

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Swimsense Watch Update to Add Custom Display Options

Apr 162012
 


For those of us who own a Finis Swimsense swim watch, and have always wanted to customize the display, the wait is over. On Friday, Swimsense released a firmware update that allows users to customize the swim mode screen. You can choose 1,2,or 3 different swim metrics on the screen, with up to 5 screens of data.

 

 

 

 

The update is easy to install. First, plug your watch into your computer:

 

Next, run the SwimsenseBridge program:

The program will open, and the text along the bottom of the window will tell you that a new firmware upgrade is available. Click on this text to upgrade your firmware: 

You will get the warning that all of your workouts will be erased, so make sure you have uploaded any workouts you want to save before updating your firmware:

Once your watch is updated you need to undock it to finish the install. Once this is done, you will get the”Update Successful” screen:

Plug the watch back into the dock, and click on “Screen Builder”.  By clicking the “Workout Metrics” and “Interval Metrics” buttons, you can check out the different metrics you can use in any of the screen displays. Remember that you can have up to three items per screen, and up to five screens of information. Here are two images that show the different swim metrics available. This one shows the “Workout Metrics”:

This one shows the “Interval Metrics”:

So, you are almost there. Grab a Screen Template, with either 1, 2, or 3 display areas, and drag it onto the main middle screen. Then grab the metrics that you want displayed, and drag it to each screen location:

Do this for up to 5 screens, and click save. That’s it! It’s very easy, and the whole update and configure process takes less than 5 minutes. The hard part was figuring out what metrics I wanted to display on what screens.

The Happy Training!

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How to Choose a Heart Rate Monitor – Part 1

Mar 232012
 

Our website covers all types of electronics and tech stuff used by runners, triathletes, and all kinds of athletes, but overwhelmingly, most people come to our site to check out heart rate monitors and GPS watches. So who are these people? We have beginners looking for a simple heart rate monitor, all the way up to the seasoned runners and triathletes looking for advanced GPS watches and multisport GPS watches that work with power meters. We try to cover products that are of interest to all of these people. Today, we are starting a multipart series on how to choose a heart rate monitor watch or GPS heart rate monitor watch. This should be applicable  whether you are a beginner or a seasoned athlete/triathlete. If you already have a heart rate monitor, and you are looking for new ways to use it, check out Jennifer’s blog series Beginning Heart Rate Monitor Training. Even though it is called “beginning”, there is a great deal of advanced training in her weekly blog posts.

So today we are going to start with just a few simple questions. These questions are very basic, but they’ll get more complicated and cover more info in future posts.By the end of the series, hopefully you’ll know exactly what you want, and you should be able to pick your hardware based on what you’ve learned in the posts. As always, before we get started please remember, “Always consult your physician before undertaking any exercise plan.” So enough with the legal warning stuff.

Here goes:

“I am not a runner or serious athlete, so why do I need a heart rate monitor?” Well, if you are just out for general exercise, and want to know if you are in your aerobic target zone, a simple heart rate monitor can tell you that. Many of these devices can tell you how long you were in each heart rate zone, which can help you to improve your fitness. If you want to know if you are working too hard, or not hard enough, it’ll tell you. If you are trying to lose weight, most heart rate monitors can tell you how many calories you burned during your exercise. If you want to know how far you’ve gone, and whether you are getting faster, a GPS heart rate monitor watch can tell you that.

“How does a heart rate monitor work?” Most heart rate monitors have a chest strap that pick up electrical heartbeat signals on the skin of your chest, and transmit this data wirelessly to the watch, where your heart rate is displayed. There is a battery in the heart rate monitor strap to power the transmitter, and on in the watch to power the watch. On many watches, the heart rate data can be stored and downloaded to a computer later for analysis. This is great if you want to track your progress over time.

“Is using a heart rate monitor watch complicated?” There are simple ones, and there are watches that display and log just about anything you can imagine. Typically, the more features, the more complicated it will be to use, and the more expensive it will be. It’s like buying anything; you can get the basic model, or you can get all the bells and whistles. Just remember that as you get more into training, the more features you may want. There are also different models for different sports. Don’t worry – we’ll help you choose the right model. That’s what this series is all about. Using a heart rate monitor can be a blast, and you’ll get more fit and confident about your capabilities.

That’s it for this post. If you’re new to HRM’s, and are confused about features and how to use them, were are here to help. If you are a seasoned pro, and want to keep up on all of the latest in technology, check out our in-depth reviews. Above all, if you have any questions, let us know and we’ll try to get them answered.

Next time, we will talk about all of the different ways that are available to measure heart rate. We will also cover different methods of storing and displaying your heart rate. We will cover a relatively new way that is becoming more popular,  using a heart rate monitor strap with your iPhone or Android phone instead of buying a watch. We will also be covering the basic features you will need, and more.

Happy training!

 

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