How to Choose a Heart Rate Monitor – Part 1Our 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.

Heart Rate Training Decoded Part 1: The BASICSToday we are starting a multipart series on how to train with a heart rate monitor. Jennifer Lynn, who joined us as our newest guest blogger, will be covering this topic. To learn how to use your heart rate monitor while training, all that you need to know is how to measure your heart rate using a heart rate monitor watch, and Jennifer will teach you everything else.

Greetings to all of you fellow fitness enthusiasts out there and thank you for subscribing to this fun new blog! My name is Jennifer Lynn and I am hoping to help introduce and explain some general principles of Heart Rate Training to both novice and seasoned athletes! I have been asked many questions about Heart Rate Training throughout my years as a fitness instructor especially during my spinning classes since the true essence of Spinning embraces the brilliance of a well rounded repertoire of multi-level heart rate training. Throughout this series, I will repeatedly be citing 3 excellent reference guides. These books are amazing and if you are anxious to have a more in-depth understanding of heart rate training, check them out!

1) The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook to Heart Zones Training by Sally Edwards2) Heart Zones Cycling: The Avid Cyclist’s Guide to Riding Faster and Farther by Sally Edwards and

Sally Reed3) Fitness Cycling: Programs for all Levels, Interests, and Distances by Dede Demet Barry, Michael

Barry and Shannon Sovndal, MD

Sally Edwards outlines a 7 step system to get you started on your way to HR Training success. Let’s get excited! Today your heart rate journey begins!

1) Identifying your own true heart rate zones happens by collecting some key data: Resting Heart Rate, Ambient Heart Rate, Recovery Heart Rate, and Max Heart Rate.

What????? Ok…here’s the break down…and your assignment for next blog….

Step 1 Find your resting heart rate by sleeping in your heart rate monitor. You must do this test on a day when you can wake up naturally because the jarring sounds of an alarm clock will ruin the results.

When you wake up naturally, immediately look at your heart rate reading (or have your significant other check it out for you while you are sleeping). This number is know as your resting heart rate. I suggest checking the reading 2 or 3 times to ensure accuracy.

Step 2 Wear your heart rate all day long and notice your heart rate numbers when you are in a relaxed but awake state. This number is know as your ambient heart rate.

Step 3 Go to the gym or go for a walk or run or bike ride….do some “cardio.” Observe your heart rate during the most taxing sections of your workout and record this information.

Step 4 What is Maximum Heart Rate? According to The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook, “Your maximum heart rate by definition is the greatest number of times your heart can beat within a one-minute period. Your heart can only contract so fast and not one beat faster–that’s why it’s called your maximum heart rate……EVERYONE’S maximum heart rate IS DIFFERENT. Two individuals who are both fifty years old could have a difference AS HIGH AS 40 BEATS between their maximum heart rates.”

The definition and information in the previous paragraph is of KEY importance. It is quite common for people to say, “What should my max heart rate be?” The answer is not black and white! Every single person has a different heart beat so the magic of heart rate training begins when you can recognize this and train within your heart rate zones.

How do I find my max heart rate?

There are several methods we will discuss today. After you read the descriptions, pick one or two of these methods and test out your max heart rate. This information will prepare you for Part 3 which will discuss training zones and periodization.

1. The most common method is known as the “talk test.” During the “talk test,” you exercise until you find talking uncomfortable and then add 30-40 beats per mimute (BPM) to that number, resulting in a guesstimate of your maximum.” (The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook)

The talk test is a good starting point; however, there are several other tests that can give you more accurate information.

2. Take a sub-max test. A sub-max test is what it sounds like…a way to determine your maximum heart rate without getting at all close to your maximum heart rate. This method is much safer than actually attempting to reach your true max heart rate. Also, while on the topic of safety, never exercise unless you or your doctor deems you fit to take these tests. This blog is just a guide to understanding heart rate training. Before implementing such a plan, as always, seek the advice of a physician.

Determine your fitness level based on the descriptions below via Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook:

a. Low Shape–if you do not exercise at all, or if you have not exercised recently (8 or more weeks), follow the low shape guidelines.

b. Average Shape–you walk a mile 3x/week,or participate in any aerobic activity 3 times a week for 20 minutes.

c. Excellent Shape–you regularly have training sessions that total more than 1 hour a week, or you walk or run at least 5 miles a week.

Now that you have an idea of your level of fitness pick one or more of the following tests and get to gettin’!!

We are honing in on the precision pieces of Heart Rate Training mastery. Today you will use your maximum heart rate to calculate your training zones. What are training zones? Training zones allow you to categorize your workouts into a 5 tiered system. Level 1 is the lowest level of exertion and level 5 is the highest level of exertion. Here is a brief explanation of each zone’s benefits and it’s correlating percentage points in relation to your maximum heart rate. The five zones descriptions below were developed by Sally Edwards in The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook.

Zone 1 is “The Healthy Heart Zone.”The Healthy Heart, Zone 1, is 50-60% of your Maximum Heart Rate and it is a great starting point for a true beginner with poor fitness. To find your Zone 1, Take your maximum heart rate and multiply it by 50%. That is your lower Zone 1 threshold. To find your upper Zone 1 threshold, take your maximum heart rate time 60%.

For example, if your maximum heart rate is 200, then your Zone 1 would be 100-120 beats per minute or 50-60% of Maximum Heart Rate.

200×50%=100

200×60%=120

Sally Edwards does a great job of explaining the benefits of Zone 1 when she says,”For years, many have said that there’s simply no benefit to exercising in this zone…HOWEVER, there IS noticeable improvement in several other wellness categories: blood pressure lowers, cholesterol levels improve, body fat decreases or stabilizes, and muscle mass increases.”

Wow! That is tremendous! If you are looking to improve your health, this is step one.

Zone 2 is “The Temperate Zone.”The Temperate Zone, Zone 2, is 60-70% of your Maximum Heart Rate. To calculate Zone 2, take your Maximum Heart Rate times 60% and 70% to find your lower and upper thresholds for this Zone.

The Temperate Zone is so-called for a simple reason: It’s a moderate and comfortable zone. In zone 2, approximately 70%-85% of all of the calories that are burned come from fat and the rest from carbohydrates.” (The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook)

Zone 3 is “The Aerobic Zone.”The Aerobic Zone, Zone 3, is 70%-80% of your Maximum Heart Rate. To calculate Zone 3, take your Maximum Heart Rate times 70% and 80% to find your lower and upper thresholds for this zone.

“The aerobic zone gives you the most “bang for your buck.”…it is at this point that you begin to realize substantial cardiovascular benefits…once you cross over from the Temperate to the Aerobic zone…you’re shifting into the zones that use more carbohydrates as their fuel source… It’s also the first zone where performance training effects begin. …It’s a training zone that enhances the features of all the other zones, and it’s a wonderful place to be.” (The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook)

Zone 4 is “The Threshold Zone.”Zone 4, the threshold zone is 80-90% of your Maximum Heart Rate. To calculate your lower and upper thresholds in this zone, simply take Maximum Heart Rate time 80% and 90% to find your range.

(This is very important) If you are unfit and your threshold heart rate point is within your low zones, you can’t train in Zone 4 or Zone 5. It is too difficult at this point in your training.

Zone 4 is considered a performance zone and it is to be utilized once an individual achieves a baseline fitness level. Here are some cool facts about Zone 4: “your threshold heart rate number changes with your conditioning. This is a moveable and trainable heart rate number–not a fixed one like maximum heart rate–threshold heart rate is dynamic. If you are interested in high performance, one of your goals must be to raise your threshold as close as you possibly can to your maximum heart rate. ..your goal is to improve your

maximum sustainable heart rate….researchers have discovered that maximum sustainable heart rate is one of the best predictors of your success….to improve the threshold heart rate…a large percentage of your “time in zone” needs to be at/about/ around your threshold.” (The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook)

Zone 5 is “The Red Line Zone”Zone 5 is the most taxing and intense of all zones. It is 90-100% of your maximum heart rate. To calculate your red line numbers simply take your maximum heart rate times 90% and of course 100% is your max heart rate!

When have you been in the red line zone? Have you ever run so fast and so hard that you feel your heart pounding in your chest and breathing is so difficult you can no longer speak? That’s pretty much the red line zone. It is not for everyone! Also, it is a zone that requires precision training and planning. If you train too much in Zone 5, bad effects will happen. If you don’t train enough in Zone 5, too few results will happen….so….your training in Zone 5 must be “just right.” When you are in zone 5, you would be unable to sustain this for more than a minute. Your body draws from alternate fuel sources. It is primarily utilizing glycogen which is a fuel that only lasts your body for a short time and thus when you run out of fuel…your body stops functioning properly.

Wow! What a mouthful of information! For next time, it is your assignment to decide your personal training goals/purposes (i.e. heart health, weight loss, improve athletic performance). Also, write out your Zone Chart so you will be able to apply your heart rate numbers to your new training plans and program your heart rate monitor with these numbers.

Heart Rate Training: The Next EpisodeHello again!!! I am hoping my latest blog finds you all are doing many fun and exciting activities with your heart rate monitors! Throughout the course of these blogs, we have discussed a step-by-step scientific method to achieve your peak fitness! Today, we will once again give credit to the amazing Sally Edwards who has relentlessly educated the world on how to train smarter and more successfully using heart rate monitors. As I mentioned in my previous blogs, Sally Edwards has written multiple articles and books on this subject matter. In my blogs, a great deal of my data comes from The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook to Heart Zones Training. It is extremely detailed and an excellent resource for any athlete or fitness enthusiast. All of that being said, let’s get on with it!

In our previous blogs, it was your assignment to collect heart rate numbers (resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, ambient heart rate, threshold heart rate) and also to decide what your personal fitness goals will be. This information will be applied today to the “training tree.” In The Heart Rate Monitor Guidebook, Sally discusses a 10 step method that works from the ground to the top of the fitness tree! We will learn about the 10 branches and how to make them work for you.

The lowest section or base of the tree is designed to build your base (roots of the tree). This is often know as the endurance phase. This is the starting point of any program. Base training takes place in Zones 1,2, and 3 only. During base training you can workout for sustained periods of time without a great deal of fatigue and muscle soreness. During this phase of training, you will see the following physiological changes: improved VO2 max (VO2 is the volume of O2 that you can consume in one minute), improved movement efficiency (balance, coordination), enhanced fat burining, strengthening of the joint system (ligaments and tendons that connect bones, muscles, and joints become more capable of securing you during weight bearing activity) , and improved stamina. In this first phase (branch 1), you will practice 3-5 workouts for 15-30 minutes for 2-4 weeks in Zones 1-3.

The middle part of the tree, or second phase, is a little more difficult. In this strength focused phase, you will implement 2 strength workouts per week (strength workouts can be weight lifting or focused on hill climbing, for example). The purpose of strength focused workouts is to allow you to develop more power which will allow you to become faster and stronger! In addition to your 2 strength workouts, you will also be performing 3 endurance workouts (long walks or rides in steady state). All of the workouts during this phase are slated to last between 20-60 minutes. The benefits of phase two training are: improved VO2, more distance per calorie (miles per gallon), increased amount of fat burned while at rest, thickening of connective tissues that hold the joints together, extended aerobic endurance/stamina.

HEART ZONES TRAINING TREE CHARTMaximum Heart Rate

(beats/min)Base/Recovery Endurance Strength Speed/Interval Peak

Z5 Red Line 90-100% of Max - - - 6 mins 6 minsZ4 Threshold 80-90% of Max - - 6 mins 6 mins 12 minsZ3 Anaerobic 70-80% of Max - 30 mins 42 mins 36 mins 36 minsZ2 Temperate 60-70% of Max 42 mins 24 mins 6 mins 12 mins 6 minsZ1 Healthy Heart 60-70% 18 mins 6 mins 6 mins - -

Examples of how to distribute your training time through a progression of training phases for a one hour exercise period

The third phase, close to the top of the tree, is the speed phase, which hopefully seems pretty straightforward….just focus on moving faster. It is at this point that you will really have to mentally prepare for a shift in exertion. This is the first time you will train in your upper zones. You will be pushing toward your maximum heart rate and working to achieve an improved threshold heart rate. This phase will include 2 workouts in Z1-Z3 (strength or endurance) and 2-3 workouts in Z3-Z5. All workouts will last 20-60 minutes. Your benefits in this phase are as follows: improved VO2, improved lactic acid buffering ability (ability to tolerate “the burn” a little better), improved biomechanics (enhancement of structural alignment and enhanced coordination), enhanced glucose and fat burning, and now the ligaments and tendons that connect the bones, muscles, and joints become more capable of securing you during weight bearing activity. Additionally, you will be recruiting different muscle fibers for the first time in this phase. Your body has fast twitch and slow twitch fibers. The body uses both during this phase. Finally, you will see improvement in your overall body economy by being able to maximize your fuel burn, oxygen uptake, muscle recruitment etc.

The next phase, as we climb higher on the tree, is peak. This puts all of the previous branches together into one: endurance, strength, and intervals. Wow! Once you get here your should throw yourself a party! During this phase, your will perform 6-7 workouts per week (2 endurance, 2 interval, 2 strength, and 1 recovery workout)!!!! Holy cow! That’s awesome and exciting . In the peak phase, your workouts will last between 30-120 minutes, and because this phase is so intense, your will only do this phase for 2 weeks through the entire season. The benefits of this phase are a combination of all the benefits from all of the aforementioned phases.

Branch 5 is know as the racing phase. This phase requires constant recuperation and rest!!! During this phase, 4 workouts per week if it is a race week and 6-7 workouts per week if not racing. This period can last up to 12 weeks with workouts in all zones lasting from 30-120 minutes. The benefits are again a combination of all phases.

A VERY IMPORTANT AND OFTEN IGNORED PART OF TRAINING IS RECOVERY

During your exercise regiment, a recovery period is critical and could last 4-8 weeks depending on how intensely your are training. All recovery workouts are in Z1 and Z2. and should be very relaxed and last only 15 min to 1 hour 4-6 times per week.

The secret to training is being revealed right here….it’s not that complicated….start out easy…get hard…..go back to easy! It’s a cycle just like life. We work hard then we vacation. Think of your training in that way. Work hard and then take a vacation to reward your efforts.

Here is a 10 step way to recap all we have learned:

1. Determine your maximum heart rate.2. Calculate and set your five heart rate zones3. Decide and write down your fitness goals.4. Determine your current Training Tree Branch5. Determine your weekly training time in minutes6. Calculate your time in zone based on the Training Tree Branch7. Fill out the Heart Zone Training Planner (see image below)8. Do workout as planned9. 9 Keep a log of each workout.10. Complete monthly self-tests.

Day Date Sport/Activity Time in Zones Daily Points

Z1 Z2 Z3 Z4 Z5

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Sat

Sun

Zone Name Zone Points % of Max HR

Weekly Points total

Red Line Z 5 100-90% Z1 Z2 Z3 Z4 Z5

Threshold 4 90-80% %

Aerobic 3 80-70%

Temperate 2 70-60%

Healthy 1 60-50%

Types of heart rate monitor measurement methods – PART 2

Pulse Wave DetectionThese devices are the units that slip over your finger that you find at your local hospital. A sensor slips over your finger, or clips on your ear, and measures heart rate using some sort of pulse wave detection, like measuring the doppler shift of a transmitted signal. They can also use transmitted light, and look at the received light to determine heart rate.The issues with these type of detectors is that, in the past, they usually use more energy, so you need a rechargeable battery or other power source. The issue for an athlete is that with all of the movement, it is hard to keep the sensor from coming off. There are some novel technologies out there; one of them being technology from Valencell called V-LINC. V-LINC measures heart rate using technology that is built into audio earbuds.

Standard Heart Rate Monitor StrapBy far the most popular method of measuring heart rate during exercise is by using a heart rate monitor strap. Here are pictures of typical heart rate monitor straps:

These heart rate monitor straps attach around your chest, and transmit the heart rate signal to either a heart rate monitor watch, bike computer, or smartphone, such as the iPhone or Android phones. The straps that work with iPhones and Android phones typically do not work with heart rate monitor watches, and vice versa. This is changing, but check to make sure the HRM works with the hardware that you want before you buy.

We assume that if you are in the market for a heart rate monitor, you will buy an HRM strap/watch combination, or an HRM that works with a smartphone. You may have heard of ANT, ANT+, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Power, or Bluetooth 4.0. These are different protocols that are used to communicate between the HRM and watch or smartphone. Different manufacturers use different methods to send data, so it’s important to understand whether your hardware is interchangeable and compatible. We will cover the different protocols next time.

How to Choose a Heart Rate Monitor, Part 3 – Bluetooth Heart Rate MonitorsToday, we are discussing widely available heart rate monitor strap options that work with smartphones.

Back in part 2, we covered a few simple ways that heart rate can be measured. The two options that most people choose when buying a heart rate monitor are to buy a HRM watch (maybe with GPS), or they will buy a heart rate monitor strap that works with a smartphone. If you buy a HRM watch , you are typically limited to the software and analysis tools that the manufacturer supplies, or a few third party apps. If you decide to buy a HRM strap, and use your smartphone as the display, you may have more apps and analysis options to choose from. This doesn’t mean that the apps are better or higher quality; on the contrary, the big three watch manufacturers, Garmin, Suunto and Polar, make some pretty good software analysis tools. But if you want other app and logging options, or you really only want to spend money on a HRM strap and use your phone to display and log your workout, then this post about HRM strap options may be of some interest to you.

This post is meant to give you an idea about what HRM strap options are available. We will cover the the most popular heart rate monitor straps that work with the most popular smartphones. Remember, this is

meant to be an overview, not a review. Reviews of these heart rate monitor straps and the apps that they work with with be the subject of future posts.

Here are some of the most popular and widely available HRM straps:

1 - The Wahoo Run/Gym Pack for iPhone is a heart rate strap made to work with all iPhones. It uses an ANT+ dongle that plugs into the iPhone 30 pin connector. The unit is powered by a 3V replaceable coin cell. The Wahoo Run/Gym Pack works with over 83 iPhone apps. You can find the full listing here. The retail price is $119.99.

2 - The Wahoo Fitness Blue HR heart rate strap is a Bluetooth Low Power heart rate strap made for the iPhone 4S. It is not compatible with earlier 3G and 4 iPhones. The unit is powered by a 3V replaceable coin cell, and the unit is waterproof up to 5 feet. The Wahoo heart rate strap works with over 83 iPhone apps. You can find the full listing here. The retail price is $79.00

3 - The Sports Tracker Bluetooth heart rate monitor strap is a Bluetooth heart rate strap made to work with Android and Nokia Symbian phones. The unit is powered by a rechargeable battery, and a USB charger is included.The Sports Tracker HRM is compatible with the Sports Tracker Android app. The retail price is 69.90 euros.

4 - The Zephyr HxM Bluetooth heart rate monitor is a Bluetooth heart rate strap that works with Android 2.0 and later phones. The unit is powered by a rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery that lasts 30 hours between charges.It comes with a USB charger cradle, and takes 3 hours to fully recharge the battery. The unit is compatible with Endomondo, Run GPS, Athlosoft, Bike Dashboard, SportsTrackLive, eCoach, and ZephysOpen software. The retail price is $99.00.

5 - The Polar WearLink+ heart rate monitor with Bluetooth technology works with Android phones.. The unit is powered by a 3V replaceable coin cell, and is water resistant. The unit is compatible with Endomondo, Cardio TRAINER, SportsTrackLive, RunKeeper, Runtastic, i do Move, Sportypal, Run.GPS software. The retail price is $79.95.

6 - The SmartHRM Bluetooth heart rate monitor strap for Android works with Android phones. The device can store data up to 7 days of data. It vibrates to let you know whether you are under or over your target heart rate zone.The unit is compatible with JogTracker, JogTracker Pro, Jogger, and SmartHRM Fitness apps. The retail price is $99.00.

7 - The SmartHRM WiFi for iPhone heart rate monitor connects to iPhones via WiFi, not Bluetooth. Because of this, it works with all models of iPhones. The unit is compatible with SmartHRM Fitness, CardioMapper, and SportyPal software. The retail price is $129.00.

The wireless protocol that is used for the HRM straps listed above is ANT+, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Power, also called Bluetooth 4.0. So what is the difference, and why is this important? Well, if you buy an HRM strap that is ANT+, you will probably need to connect an external dongle to your phone. The Wahoo Fitness Run/Gym Pack for iPhone works with all iPhones, but it requires a dongle that plugs in to the phone.

This can be an issue depending on how you carry your phone. To eliminate the dongle, Wahoo Fitness also makes the Bluetooth BlueHR, which uses the Bluetooth Low Power protocol, but it only works with the iPhone 4S (and probably new unreleased models). This is because Apple only supports Bluetooth Low Power in the 4S model.

SmartHRM WiFi uses WiFi to connect to all Apple iPhones via WiFi. This may limit the number of apps that work with the SmartHRM WiFi.

Sports Tracker, Zephyr and the SmartHRM Bluetooth all use the older Bluetooth standard, and only work with Android phones. They do not work with Apple phones.

So confused yet? Well, you should be. There are many different protocols out there. Do you get a HRM strap and use it with your phone, or do you buy a dedicated HRM watch? If you are in a hurry to buy, and know that you want a HRM strap to work with your phone, and are ready to pull the trigger, then “How do you choose?” Well, one way would be to choose a model above based on whether it works with your phone.If you decide on one, make sure to look at the compatible software apps. Many apps can be downloaded , and you can find more information about each at the software developers site. Research before you buy. Because of the sheer number, and their complexity, there is no way to quickly cover everything in one or two posts and do it justice. We will be covering individual HRM strap reviews, and also individual app reviews in future posts. One thing to note is that, if you have an iPhone, the Wahoo Fitness HRM straps are compatible with the most apps, 83 and growing. This gives you a lot of flexibility.

And last, to wrap things up for today, a few final things to consider. If you change phones often, make sure your HRM choice works with your phone choice going forward. If you are a die hard iPhone or Android user, and are going to stick with your current platform, you should be ok going forward. Otherwise, you may be buying new hardware in a year. Also, are you sure you want to carry your phone on every workout or run? Try carrying your phone with you on your workouts before going out and purchasing hardware. Check the display. Can you see it or hear it during your workout? After trying this out, you may change your mind. Also, remember that your phone is not waterproof; typically a HRM watch is.

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Sportstracker Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitor – In Depth Review (ANDROID)

Polar H7 Bluetooth low Power Heart Rate Monitor In Depth Review (IPHONE 4S)

Wahoo Fitness Run/Gym Pack In Depth Review (ALL IPHONES)