How to choose a heart rate monitor for sports?

It's no secret that the best way to use a heart rate monitor is both during regular training and during competitions. To choose a heart rate monitor to suit your taste and budget, it is advisable to immediately decide on the user category, depending on your preferences for an active lifestyle. Typically, the following three types of categories are distinguished:

1. I'm not an athlete, but I keep fit to control my weight and stay healthy;
2. I am a sports enthusiast, I jog or do regular endurance training several times a week, and sometimes participate in competitions;
3. Sports and running are an integral part of my life; I regularly train and participate in competitions.

It is important to understand how to choose a heart rate monitor for sports... To do this, you need to clearly determine which of the above groups you belong to... Using a heart rate monitor for the first category of people allows you to control training loads and avoid overtraining. The effectiveness and interest in training will be much higher if the GPS navigation function is used in conjunction with a heart rate monitor in the device. This allows you to take into account the distance covered during your run and, according to your heart rate readings, control the increase in speed.

Experts often recommend heart rate monitors with a GPS navigator function from the most advanced manufacturer of such devices: Polar M400 and Polar M200. The Polar M400 heart rate monitor is a perfect device not only for beginner runners. It is successfully used by both beginners and more experienced athletes. A special application on the Internet home page allows you to carefully analyze the progress of your training and plan subsequent sessions.

Polar M200 is a cheaper device that allows you to record heart rate readings using optical sensors located on the athlete's hands. This fairly advanced measurement method makes it possible not to use a chest belt, which is usually placed on the athlete’s body to more accurately record the heart rate.

Let's consider options for users of the third category, for whom regular exercise is an integral part of life. Experts believe that in this case it makes sense to choose only the best samples from leading manufacturers. Devices such as the Garmin Forerunner 735XT and Garmin Forerunner 630 are considered an excellent choice for the “serious” athlete. These convenient mobile assistants make it possible to scrupulously analyze the data received and monitor the implementation of the training plan.

Forerunner 630 is a model specifically designed for runners. Accelerometers are built into the chest belt for measuring heart rate to record some dynamic running parameters. The device has a mini display that is clearly visible in all weather conditions, which some consider an advantage, while others consider it a disadvantage.

The Forerunner 735XT is ergonomically very comfortable and easy to use with a built-in heart rate monitor, although the device includes a chest strap for more accurate measurements. The device’s functions make it possible to contactlessly transfer data to the free Garmin Connect app, where you can analyze it and, if desired, discuss it with like-minded people. Accelerometers located in the chest belt of the device make it possible to record the biomechanical parameters of running movements: data on the rational placement of the foot on the surface of the track, the frequency of steps and the amplitude of vertical oscillations of the runner’s overall center of gravity.

In conclusion, one cannot fail to note the obvious picture of today - the rapid development of mobile technologies and the constant improvement of biometric information sensors. All this does not pass by such an important sphere of human activity as sports and health training. The entire range of heart rate monitors and fitness bracelets from Polar, Garmin, Suunto will help you disassemble and choose the right model of sports watch.

The heart rate, number of steps and speed monitoring devices from leading manufacturers discussed in the article have certain advantages and disadvantages. At the same time, there is huge competition in the market for such equipment. New and new models of “smart” fitness watches and trackers are constantly appearing, surpassing old models in functionality and ease of use.