| Field Test |
So you've started shopping for a heart-rate monitor and now you're thoroughly confused. Take heart—we've ferreted out a few that will meet your needs, and then some. See our picks below. |
| HEART MONITOR |
 |
| GEAR |
YOU GET... |
YOU'LL LOVE/HATE... |
BRAG ABOUT... |
| 1 Sigma Sport PC 3$50; 888-744-6277; www.sigmasport.com |
The bare necessities—heart rate, stopwatch, and clock, in a three-button, idiot-proof unit |
The PC 3's no-brainer operation/Only three basic functions, which are quickly outgrown by serious athletes |
The largest numerical display among this batch of HRMs |
| 2 Physi-Cal Mio $119; 877-566-4636; www.gophysical.com |
A transmitter-less HRM that takes readings from your fingertips |
Not wearing a constricting chest strap/Trying to take an accurate reading mid-ride or in inclement weather |
Its futuristic, self-contained style |
| 3 FreeStyle ECG4 $120; 800-776-6449; www.freestyleusa.com |
A sharp-looking, well-appointed HRM that goes from workout to theater in style |
Its comfy ergonomic design/The absence of key high-end functions, such as a calculator for average heart rate or percent of MHR |
The calorie tracker, which, based on your weight, tallies just what you're burning off |
| 4 Cardiosport Advanced $149; 888-760-3059; www.cardiosport.com |
A dependable unit with enough features to make you feel (or at least look) like a pro |
That it automatically converts BPMs to a percentage of your max heart rate/Painstakingly programming your target zones to the exact digit |
Being savvy enough to buy a watch with sophisticated, but not over-the-top, functions |
| 5 Polar S510 $240; 800-227-1314;www.polarusa.com |
A state-of-the-art supercomputer for type-A multisport athletes |
The bike attachments that calculate cadence, distance, and speed/Feeling pressured to analyze every minute aspect of your workouts just because now you can |
The do-it-yourself VO2 max test; your advanced degree in applied mathematics (which you completed to help you operate your HRM) |
| 6 Acumen TZ-Max 100 $299; 800-852-7823; www.acumeninc.com |
A fully loaded rig from one of the top names in the business |
The raft of functions and the PC-compatible software/The price and the Bible-size manual that reads like a precalculus textbook |
Its water resistance (use it while swimming); the "Nite Site," which automatically illuminates display in the dark |
