PUBLISHED 10/13/2005
Given enough time, electronic products-from PCs to DVD players-all seem to get less expensive. Heart-rate monitors are no exception. No longer do you need to spend $500 for a runner-friendly monitor that's also gadgetized with everything from zone alarms for gauging heart rates to programs for charting fitness levels. The seven here all sell for $150 or less, letting you monitor your ticker without giving it palpitations at the cash register.
1. Nike Triax C5 $89
Solid-feeling and cool-looking, the Triax nicely handles basic monitor functions, such as target heart-rate and out-of-zone alarms. It features an easy-to-read angled face and a durable, scratchproof construction. The large stopwatch numerals are cool, too. The C5 does lack a calorie counter, and the heart-rate numbers seem small when used in tandem with the stopwatch.
2. POLAR FS2 $70
Superlight (1.6 oz.) with extra-large digits, the FS2 is easy to read when racing or just working out. A single button keeps clutter to a minimum; you scroll through features-time, target heart-rate zones, stopwatch, and maximum and average heart rate-by pressing the button right, left, or center. It also saves past workouts. The one hitch: It's easy to mis-hit the button if running at full gallop or in gloves.
3. ACUMEN Eon Basix Plus ES $69
With heart-rate and stopwatch functions on the same screen, the Basix Plus eliminates the need to toggle between them. Other nice benefits are a fitness mode, which measures how quickly your heart rate declines after a workout, and a memory function that lets you compare your fitness from one workout to the next. The Basix Plus could use a backlight that lasts longer than two seconds.
4. HIGH GEAR Loft Altimeter HRM $150
With built-in altimeter and thermometer, the Loft is great for trail running. Along with current and accumulated altitude, it charts ascents and descents on a graph as you run. This monitor is a bit heavy (2.6 oz.) but offers a convenient three-line display. It also has a three-second backlight and the tallest screen numbers (half inch) in this review.
5. TIMEX Ironman HRM $89
The Ironman's on-screen prompts and five-button navigation make
it very user-friendly. For instance, you can set up five target training zones, which is great when training plans call for easy, hard, or in-between workouts. It comes with 30-lap memory and digital transmission between the chest strap and the wrist unit. Our one quibble: The digital transmission doesn't work when both units are in water.
6. SPORTS INSTRUMENTS Fit 3 $75
The Fit 3 is loaded with useful features, starting with a rare (at this price) three-line display of time, heart rate, and percent of time spent in a particular heart-rate zone. There's also a bar graph that displays up to seven days' worth of past workouts, so you can track your progress. The five-second backlight extends for another five seconds when any key is pressed.
7. Mark of Fitness MF-180 $120
The MF-180 works without a chest strap, a comforting bonus. It's part of a half-glove that Velcros to the back of the hand and takes your pulse from the left index finger. But it's sensitive to the cold; unless you're exercising at high intensity, it won't read heart rates in sub-60-degree temperatures. Also, you can't use it when swimming or doing any hand-intensive exercise, like cycling.
