Best Heart Rate Monitors

Heart rate monitors, whether wrapped around your torso or your wrist, can give you an accurate assessment of how many beats per minute your heart is pumping at any point during the day. Most heart rate monitors on the market these days also offer a lot more than just tracking your heart rate. They can track a variety of different fitness related endeavors such as steps taken, activity level, and sleep patterns.

With so much utility built into these monitors, choosing the best one for you might feel a bit daunting, especially if you don’t need all the additional bells and whistles. So let’s strap up and find a pulse on which heart rate monitor is best for you.

Editor’s Pick

Large screen, long battery life.

Pros:

• Includes GPS connectivity for more accurate distance tracking.
• Great battery life — a 2.5 hour charge offers 10 days of usage.
• Compatible with smartphones, allowing usage of apps and music control via the tracker.

Cons:

• Sleep tracking may be inaccurate if laying in bed for any reason other than sleep, e.g. reading.
• Reconnection to a smartphone may be required if the phone is turned off.
• Slightly more expensive than comparable options.

Contender

High tech and color coded.

Pros:

• Built-in reminders to move will signal if sedentary for too long.
• Includes 14 different tracking modes for different sports, e.g. hiking, spinning, field sports, etc.
• Sleep monitor keeps track of light sleep vs. deep sleep.

Cons:

• Battery life may be weaker than other options.
• The set-up instructions can be confusing.
• Connection to a smartphone happens via an app rather than bluetooth.

Best For Tracking Blood Pressure

Extra health conscious.

Pros:

• Tracks blood pressure consistently unlike most competitors.
• Physiological period reminder option for female users.
• Offers full control of the camera on the phone the monitor is connected to.

Cons:

• The app may disconnect from the monitor after a long enough period of inactivity.
• Instruction manual uses a very small font that can be difficult to read without assistance.
• The touch screen’s hypersensitivity might take time to get used to.

Best For Teenagers

Stylish and water resistant.

Pros:

• 2 hours of charge offers up to 7 days of use.
• Built-in USB charging is wirelessly connected.
• Includes a camera remote control option to control the camera from a distance when taking a photo.

Cons:

• May not integrate with apps other than the VeryFitPro app.
• The pedometer may become less accurate when heart rate is 100bpm or above.
• The display may be dimmer than competitors.

Best For High Intensity Sports

Accurate and unique.

Pros:

• Can operate in both low and high temperatures — 14℉ to 122℉.
• Compatible with most items that utilize bluetooth, e.g. smartphones, Pelotons, etc.
• Internal memory for a full workout can determine more accurate monitoring.

Cons:

• May not be comfortable to wear during times of non-activity.
• More expensive than competitive options.

Best for Athletics

For the active gym-goer.

Pros:

• Single charge can offer up to seven days of working time.
• Built in USB plug makes for better compatibility with other devices.
• Can connect to most social media accounts to more easily share exercise data.

Cons:

• Heart rate during periods of rest may be prone to inaccuracy if improperly fitted.
• The setup instructions may be overly complicated.
• Sleep tracker can track inconsistencies from tossing and turning.

Best Luxury Option

Specific and feature loaded.

Pros:

• A two hour charge can provide five days of battery life.
• The band is made from durable elastic material for a better fit.
• Includes feature that offers insight into light and deep sleep stages.

Cons:

• A potentially more complex user interface than many comparable options.
• May encounter some difficulty syncing with other devices.
• More expensive than other competitive options.