10 Best Heart Rate Monitors (Review) In 2020

Now that we've considered some of the best heart rate monitors on the market as selected by our team of experts, we thought it might be helpful for you to take a look at some of the aspects that are key to our selection process. We've also outlined some of the main types of heart rate monitors as well as answering some of the most common queries you might have.

Features To Look For In Best Heart Rate Monitors

Type Of Sport - Depending on the kind of sport or exercise you wish to undertake to wear your heart rate monitor, different models might be more/less suitable for you. For example, heart rate monitors watch options might be great if you want an easy option but can slip around while running or undertaking a HIIT workout. Heart rate monitors with chest straps tend to provide more accurate readings and move around less, but can also be very uncomfortable if they slip out of position while running or jogging. If you intend to participate in a water-based regime, you're going to need something waterproof. Thinking about the type of sport or exercise at the beginning will save you getting an unsuitable option.

Comfort - If you're shopping for the best heart rate monitors on the market, chances are this is because you want to track your heart rate while exercising. Similarly to how you wouldn't work out in a pair of skinny jeans because they will simply be uncomfortable, you should consider the comfort levels of your chosen heart rate monitor. An unpleasant or poorly fitting option will just distract from the workout as you constantly have to readjust or suffer irritation on your skin.

Style - Although this might not be a significant consideration for everyone, there's no reason a piece of sportswear can't be stylish as well. Heart rate monitors come in a vast range of styles, so you can find something that works for you in aesthetics as well as practicalities.

Target Zones - One incredibly useful feature many of the best heart rate monitors will contain is the ability to see what heart rate 'zone' you fall in. That way, you know whether you have a healthy heart rate or whether you might have over/under exerted yourself in your workout. Heart rate monitors that are also able to track your resting heart rate can be awesome for this, too, as you'll be better able to track your recovery rates.

Accuracy - The accuracy of your heart rate monitor will depend on several factors. Generally, heart rate monitors with chest straps that attach close to your heart will be far more accurate than those worn on your wrist, with arm straps being a nice middle-ground for those concerned with accuracy. That said, you probably don't need to know the exact BPM most of the time, and simply being aware of which heart rate zone you fall in will be suitable for most users.

Connectivity - If you're not going for a smartwatch option, you'll likely find most of the best heart rate monitors should offer some sort of connectivity to download your heart rate data to your smartphone or be downloadable to a PC. They usually connect via Bluetooth or AMT+.

Additional Features: Many heart rate monitors will contain other features to help you with your fitness journey. These could include step counters, information on calories burned, or other features. Naturally, smartwatches come with a whole host of additional features. They are so much more than a heart rate monitor, while in-ear options usually come as part of Bluetooth-enabled headphones so you can listen to music while tracking your BPM.

Types of Heart Rate Monitors

Wrist - An increasingly popular choice for heart rate monitors, watches, or wrist-based options are incredibly useful. They are also comfortable monitors. They also have the benefit of often being worn all day so you can get a full view of your BPM throughout the day and night. They use optical technology (simply put, a light that shines into the skin and registers what's returned to translate the data into a pulse reading) that's increasingly accurate.

Chest - Heart rate monitors with a chest strap that sits close to your heart are the best option for accuracy as it uses a small electrical pulse to read your heart rate and is quicker at picking up any changes. They're also less likely to move around during exercise, so are great for thigs like HIIT workouts. That said, they are much less convenient to put on/take off and can be uncomfortable if not worn correctly or if they do slip.

Armband - An armband-based tracker offers a middle ground between wrist and chest options. They also use optical technology but tend to give a more accurate reading than those worn on the wrist. You can wear an "armband" monitor on the forearm, upper arm, or thigh, depending on what's more comfortable for you. They are much easier to slip on/off than a chest strap as well as being more convenient to adjust should they slide out of position during an intense workout or run.

In-Ear - Finally, in-ear heart rate monitors are a relatively new addition to the family and provide some accurate readings. They also use optical technology, but as they do this directly into the thin skin in your ear, they tend to be able to easily spot changes to your pulse and offer some detailed readings. They also have the added benefit of not needing anything you wouldn't normally wear as many people workout with headphones in, and this way, you can listen to your music as well as track your heart rate with ease.

Heart Monitor FAQ

Q: What is a heart rate monitor?

A: Heart rate monitors are handy tools often worn during cardiovascular exercise to monitor how fast your heart is beating. They're able to provide immediate feedback (in most instances) on how hard you're pushing yourself, so you know when to push harder/less and can even help you see your recovery rate in real-time. They can be worn in several ways and are features of many modern smartwatches.

Q: Are heart rate monitors accurate?

A: The accuracy of your heart rate monitor will depend on a few different things, including the position on your body, how firmly it's attached to the skin, and what recording technology it uses. A 2019 study in the Journal of Sport Sciences found most watches featuring a heart rate monitor showed a margin of error of 2.4%-13.5%. So although they might not be detailed enough for a medical procedure, almost any wearable heart rate monitor should be more than accurate enough to help you establish a thorough and productive workout regime.