Heart Rate Monitors: Buying Advice, Tips, and News

Whether you use an armband or chest strap, add some smarts to your exercise and training routine with one of the top heart rate monitors we've tested.

The Wahoo Trackr Heart Rate is a rechargeable chest strap that's easy to use and offers accurate readings, but has few extra features.

The Peloton Heart Rate Band easily connects with the company's equipment and app—as well as third-party machines and software—to accurately track your pulse and show your heart rate zone at a glance.

Much more than a heart rate monitor, the Wahoo Tickr X doubles as a run tracker, works indoors and out, and even counts reps during strength training.

The entry-level Polar H9 is the best heart rate monitor for anyone with basic needs, with a wide range of compatibility and an excellent companion app.

Garmin's HRM-Dual chest strap heart rate monitor can connect to just about any device or app. It's reliable, accurate, long-lasting, and comfortable, although it doesn't include any special features.

Setting up and using the Wahoo Tickr Fit armband to measure heart rate during exercise couldn't be easier, making it a top pick among heart rate monitors.

The Omron HeartGuide has an inflatable blood pressure cuff built into the watch strap, and it's received clearance from the FDA as a medical device. We tried it out at CES.

Scosche's Rhythm24 armband heart rate monitor is a welcome alternative to chest straps, but be sure to set aside time to study the instructions.

The Polar OH1+ is an optical armband heart rate monitor rather than a chest strap, and is one of the better devices in the category.

Versatile, comfortable, and highly accurate, the Polar H10 is one of the best heart rate monitors money can buy.

The HRM-Run is the heart rate strap to buy if you have one of the Garmin fitness trackers that work with it. It's a data junkie's dream come true, giving you advanced stats, such as oscillation and ground contact time.

The Polar H7 Heart Rate Sensor is one of the best and most accurate HRMs for sports and fitness you can buy.

The Wahoo Fitness Tickr Heart Rate Monitor is a good and reliable device that provides steady Bluetooth connectivity to both Android and iPhone apps for running and other activities. It isn't as innovative as some of the more tech-forward devices hitting the market, but its low price is compelling.

Twenty-first century fitness enthusiasts no longer have to suffer the discomfort of chest strap heart rate monitors. The Scosche Rhythm+ armband collects your heart rate data and works with ANT+ and Bluetooth devices. It's not the most innovative device, but it's a reliable and reasonably priced option.

If you're in the market for a new heart rate monitor and are sick of wearing a chest strap, the MIO Link is a reasonably priced wristband that will meet your needs rather precisely, and that's all you should expect from it.

For running, cycling, and plenty of other endurance sports, the MIO Alpha BLE represents a major upgrade in comfort and ease-of-use in heart rate monitors, but it's also quite expensive in comparison.