WHAT HR MONITOR SHOULD I BUY?

Q: I’d like to buy a heart rate monitor but I’m not sure what to look for or how much to spend.
A: Approach buying a heart rate monitor with the same way you might buy a car or computer. Don’t pay for a lot of expensive options you’ll never use, but acquaint yourself with what’s out there before you take the plunge. A basic heart rate monitor displays how many times your heart beats each minute, is simple to operate and the least expensive. The next step is a monitor that has a stop watch and tells you how much time you spent in or out of your targeted heart rate zones, as well as the time it takes your heart to recover. Most of these models will let you program in timing for interval training. A third type of monitor is downloadable, so you can track the progress of your training program and share data with your coach. The most sophisticated models also contain a GPS unit that calculates distance, and the download provides a graphic display of your heart rate step-by-step throughout the workout. Polar, Timex and Garmin are the leaders in the field.