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The heart rate monitor, a device once used by professional athletes, in recent years has become a popular gadget, eagerly bought, especially by runners. What should you consider when choosing a heart rate monitor for yourself? Have a look at our men's and women's sports watches with a heart rate monitor at a glance.

Contents:

  1. How does a heart rate monitor work?
  2. What functions should the heart rate monitor have?
  3. Heart rate monitor and mobile applications
  4. Heart rate monitor prices
  5. Sports watches for men and women

The heart rate monitorhas become one of the equipment of many amateur athletes. Runners or people exercising at the gym care not only about spending their free time actively, but also about constantly improving their results, the best possible control over the effort and intensity of training, as well as reading signals from the body during exercise. And it's much easier when you havesports watch .

How does a heart rate monitor work?

A heart rate monitor, also known as a heart rate monitor or a heart rate monitor, works similarly to an ECG test - it reads changes in electrical voltage caused by the work of our heart muscle. The result is shown on the EKG on the graph, in the case of a sports watch - on the display.

Before putting on some heart rate monitors, it is necessary to apply a special gel to protect against abrasions.

There are three types of popular heart rate monitors:

  • Classic heart rate monitor- consists of a band (sensor) that binds the chest and a sports watch. A signal is transmitted from the band via radio to the receiver, which in turn allows you to perform and read the heart rate measurement. This two-part design ensures highly accurate results from the device. Heart rate measurement can be continuous or instantaneous. Classic heart rate monitors often have many additional functions: measurement of time and speed of performed activities, calorie counter, clock, stopwatch, backlit display, they are often waterproof.
  • One-piece heart rate monitor- consists only of a wristwatch or resembles a ring with a small screen, put on a finger. In the opinion of many people it may be convenient because it is notyou have to tie your chest around when using it, but its measurements are not as accurate as in the case of a classic heart rate monitor. It is recommended for people who like to walk, march, do not engage in intense exercise and do not care about breaking (their own) records.
  • Heart rate monitor with counter- made for cyclists. One of its elements is put on the body, and the other is mounted on the bicycle handlebar. Heart rate monitor with counter measures your heart rate and kilometers traveled.

What functions should the heart rate monitor have?

1. HRmax maximum heart rate measurement

In good heart rate monitors, we have the option to enter the value of your maximum heart rate. They are usually calculated using a formula created by triathlete Sally Edwards:

WomenHRmax=210-0.5 x age - 0.022 x weight
MenHRmax=210-0.5 x age - 0.022 x weight + 4

Thanks to these calculations, we will be able to better control the course of the effort and divide it into zones. The heart rate monitor, by means of a sound, will inform us about exceeding the heart rate value - lower or upper - which we have planned for a specific moment of exercise. It is worth remembering that there are 5 heart rate zones:

  • 50-60 percent of your maximum heart rate - recovery zone,
  • 60-70 percent of your maximum heart rate for fat burning zone,
  • 70-80 percent of maximum heart rate - oxygen transformation zone,
  • 80-90 percent of maximum heart rate - the zone between aerobic and anaerobic changes,
  • 90-100 percent of your maximum heart rate - anaerobic transition zone.

2. Time and distance measurement

Although the basic function of the heart rate monitor is to measure the heart rate, a very useful option, especially for runners, is the ability to measure active time and distance traveled, as well as the last lap run (lap). This allows you to evaluate your progress. A useful function is also measuring split times, especially in people who perform intervals and those who want to achieve a specific time over a designated distance.

3. GPS and computer synchronization

A feature that runners appreciate very much in heart rate monitors is GPS, thanks to which you can accurately track the distance traveled on the map. Synchronization of the device with the computer allows you to download this data to the device and analyze it in detail. After putting on the heart rate monitor, you have to wait for a whilethe device has connected to the GPS signal and is starting to record the route.

It is worth remembering, however, that cheaper GPS models are often larger, more "irregular" than those that do not have this function. Sports watches with a nicer design and GPS are definitely more expensive. In heart rate monitors with this option, the battery is also used up faster.

4. Clear display

The display is a very important element of every sports watch - after all, we read all the information from it. First of all, the data displayed should be written using appropriate large and clear numbers / letters. The backlight function is also useful, which most devices of this type have, allowing for convenient data reading during evening / winter training.

5. Other functions

Other functions that are useful in the heart rate monitor are:

  • calories burned counter,
  • stopwatch,
  • calculate cadence, i.e. the number of steps per minute,
  • virtual opponent function,
  • waterproof,
  • temperature measurement and barometer,
  • records the altitude you are at.
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Heart rate monitor and mobile applications

If you are a fan of new technologies, you like to compare your results with other training people and you want to constantly improve them, pay attention to whether your sports watch works with mobile applications, thanks to which you will visualize your training. However, it is worth remembering that heart rate monitors with this function do not cost less than PLN 500.

Heart rate monitor prices

In stationary and online sports stores, a whole range of heart rate monitors is available, in various price ranges. It is possible to buy equipment for as much as PLN 50 - in this case, however, it is not worth hoping that it will serve us longer. Of course, the price of a sports watch depends not only on its manufacturer, but also on the intended use of the equipment and its functions. Depending on the level of our training advancement, we have to consider which functions will be necessary for us, and without which we can easily manage. A suitable heart rate monitor for an amateur can be purchased in the range from 200 to 1000 PLN, professionals will look for a model for themselves in higher price categories.

Worth knowing

Sports watches for men and women

Manufacturers are creating more and more different types of heart rate monitorsenjoy the greatest possible success among athletes, including non-professionals. It was created, among others division into heart rate monitors for women and men. The operation is identical, the only difference being the wider choice of shapes and colors among ladies sports watches. These for men are more like classic watches.

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