Heart Rate Monitor purchase advice

[Lazarus52980]

I have been running more and more (and by more and more, 2-3 times a week at about 2 miles a shot). I have been able to prove to myself that I am going to keep up with the running, and I would really like to get a heart rate monitor to track how I am doing and to know when I might need to push harder, or lay off. Does anyone have any advice on what to get? What features should I look for, and what brands are good or bad?

Any advice is, as always, greatly appreciated.

 

[CPA]

Make that two of us who would like to hear opinions on heart rate monitors.

 

[highland145]

Bought this one a couple of months ago. It works. Watch and stop watch.

 

[RagingBITCH]

You're better off getting a GPS watch with a HR monitor. I advocate the Forerunner 305 - you can get them new clearanced out at Best Buy for about $77 now, or refurbed on eBay for ~$100.

Certain coaches advocate HR training - I've tried it, and personally, care more about quality workouts, knowing my pace, distance, etc, than I do heartrate.

 

[killster1]

i bought a 3$ one on ebay from china wahahahha works same as 70$ one that has o2 sensor on it.. just got it to wear when i sleep so i can see my heart rate when i wake up

 

[QueBert]

http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_news-en_US/2011/01/05/introducing-the-nike-sportwatch-gps this Nike watch has GPS and Nike + built in, and it works with the Polar heart rate monitor +. I played with one and the screen was phenominal looking, I dunno if it's E-Ink or what. But it looked great out in the bright sun and it gives you lots of data. I'm in the same boat as you, I started jogging a few months ago and I'm not tiring of it. I dunno what your budget is, but this watch is $199 and the heart strap is about $60, so it's kind of pricey. But this thing is cool as hell IMHO. What's making me lean towards buying one is the screen, it looks so much better than any of the Polar or other brand heart rate monitor watches I've seen. I like Nike + too, I know it's not perfect but I have it on my iPod Nano and it really pushes me to step it up each time I go out jogging.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XqELGTGXNM&feature=related - video of it on Youtube.

 

[Capt Caveman]

You're better off getting a GPS watch with a HR monitor. I advocate the Forerunner 305 - you can get them new clearanced out at Best Buy for about $77 now, or refurbed on eBay for ~$100.

Certain coaches advocate HR training - I've tried it, and personally, care more about quality workouts, knowing my pace, distance, etc, than I do heartrate.

I also recommend a Garmin Forerunner 305. It's your best bang for your buck GPS/HRM available.

 

[kamper]

You're better off getting a GPS watch with a HR monitor. I advocate the Forerunner 305 - you can get them new clearanced out at Best Buy for about $77 now, or refurbed on eBay for ~$100.

Certain coaches advocate HR training - I've tried it, and personally, care more about quality workouts, knowing my pace, distance, etc, than I do heartrate.

This.