Polar M61

$169

Chris Bartlett

If you want a serious heart-rate monitor, there's simply no getting around that chest strap. Many chafe and leave red marks, but POLAR's new M61 ($169) employs a soft fabric electrode to more comfortably tune in to your ticker. The unit also sets up your own target exercise zones, whether you want to get faster or just burn fat.

2010 Winter Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Adidas Performance Heart Rate Monitor and Watch System Killer Value	$100
Victorinox Swiss Army AirBoss Mach 3	$695
Garmin Forerunner 405CX	$370
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Grande Date	$900
Freestyle Navigator 2.0	$125
Timex Expedition Rugged Field	$70

2009 Summer Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Timex Ironman Road Trainer Digital HRM Killer Value	$110
Victorinox Swiss Army Night Vision II	$425
Casio Rose Gold G-Shock MGT	$500
Tissot Sea-Touch	$1100
Freestyle Stealth Tide 3.0	$110
Suunto T4C	$239

2008 Summer Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Casio G-Shock GS1100	$300
Origo Granite Peak Titanium Sleek	$290
Nautica Ocean 50	$295
Polar RS800G3	$500
Victorinox Swiss Army Alpnach	$750
Nixon Tide Rover TI	$400

2008 Winter Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Adidas Adistar Pro Curve	$99
Timex Ironman Triathlon Hi-Ti	$120
Casio Pathfinder	$350

2007 Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Polar CS 300 Killer Value	$220
Reactor Graviton	$300
Victorinox Swiss Army ST 5000	$495
Timex TX World Time	$395
Suunto Vyper2	$590
Quiksilver Yeti	$160

2006 Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Polar F55	$220
St. Moritz Momentum Topograph	$325
HighGear PulseWare Duo	$125
Rip Curl Titanium Tidemaster	$400
Timex Trail Runner Bodylink	$350
Suunto X6M	$449

2005 Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Garmin Forerunner 301 Gear of the Year	$325
Timex Bodylink System	$300
Polar S625X	$350
Suunto t6	$499

2004 Buyer's Guide Watches Reviews

Nike Triax Elite HRM/SDM Gear of the Year	$369
Limes 1Tausend Auto	$1095
Acumen EON-202TRT PYR	$269
Garmin Forerunner 201	$161
Tag Heuer Formula 1	$600
Oakley GMT	$650
Hamilton Khaki Field Multi-Touch	$550
Polar M61	$169
Timex Mega-Lap Sleek	$70
St. Moritz Nereos	$395
Nike Oregon Series Alti-Compass	$199
Kobold Polar Surveyor	$2650
Tissot Silent T	$410
Casio Solar Triple Sensor	$250
Swiss Army Star-Tech 4000	$395
Breitling Super Avenger	$3375
Suunto T6	$449
Nixon Ticket	$200
Luminox Ultimate Field Chrono 824	$650

Related Gear Features

• The Adventure Envoy’s Hardware… Outside Magazine April 2004
• I, Cyborg Outside Magazine May 2004

  With these intelligent devices, going digital is the fastest way to hotwire that great big analog world outside

• The Goods: Road-Race Day Outside Buyer's Guide Summer 2008
• Time: Victorinox Vintage Chrono Outside Magazine, December 2008

The Gear Guy on Watches

• Know of a watch with both a pedometer and an altimeter?
• Is there a sleek watch with loads of ski features out there?
• Which sports watch is the best for backpacking trips?
• What’s the most durable digital watch on the market?
• Can you steer me toward a reasonably priced heart-rate monitor?

The Gear Blog on Watches

• Suunto Mariner sailing watch