Heart rate monitors

DISCOVER YOUR NEW HEART RATE MONITOR AT RUNNINGXPERT - CHECK OUT OUR SELECTION

With a good wireless heart rate monitor, you can easily keep track of your heart rate during workouts and various fitness contexts. At RunningXpert, you can find monitors in different styles suited to different needs. Our wide range of modern sports and GPS watches typically come with optical heart rate monitors standard (measuring your pulse at your wrist via LEDs). You will find both simpler and more advanced watches, and we also have other gear, like chest straps and Garmin Running Dynamic Pod, for heart rate measurement. RunningXpert's range caters to both elite and recreational athletes.

HEART RATE MONITORING – WHAT DOES A HEART RATE MONITOR ACTUALLY MEASURE?

When you're running or exercising, your heart rate typically rises. Each time your heart contracts, it sends a wave of blood through your body via your arteries. This briefly expands your arteries, and that's the wave you can feel as a pulse. Heart rate is measured in beats per minute. It shows how fast your heart is beating. You likely know that at high intensity, you can feel your heart beating more clearly. Your heart rate can also be measured at rest, though not as prominently as after pushing yourself in your running shoes up a steep hill or sprinting to the finish line. Place your index and middle fingers over the inside of your wrist or on the left side of your neck near the windpipe, and you will feel clear and rhythmic beats. A heart rate monitor records your heart rate when worn. Whether it's a watch or a chest strap. Measuring your heart rate manually can be difficult, demanding, and extremely impractical, especially when moving. A wireless heart rate monitor, on the other hand, constantly measures your heart rate, providing a more accurate and comprehensive picture of your heart rate fluctuations.

HEART RATE MONITORING: OPTICAL MONITOR IN THE WATCH OR CLASSIC CHEST STRAP?

The two main heart rate monitors are chest straps and sports watches with built-in monitors. Each has pros and cons regarding convenience and accuracy. It's important to consider your needs and priorities and how a monitor can contribute to your health before adding one to your cart. Also, understand what each monitor offers so you get the best one for your needs.

Optical Monitor:

An optical heart rate monitor is found in modern fitness and GPS watches. It measures your pulse at the wrist through small LEDs on the watch's back. The LEDs shine through your skin into your blood vessels. The light is reflected back to the watch's sensor, providing a reading of your heart rate. You can read more about wrist-based heart rate monitoring and watch a short video on correct watch placement on our website. The article provides a technical and detailed explanation of optical monitoring and includes information about using chest straps.

Chest Strap:

With a chest strap, heart rate measurement works a bit differently. The strap is close to the heart and can detect muscle contractions as your heart beats. It's the heart's electrical signals created when it beats and pushes blood that are measured. If you run intervals, you'll get quick heart rate spikes. Not all monitors can accurately capture these rapid changes. A good chest strap can detail these fast spikes more effectively. At RunningXpert, we have various chest straps. For instance, the Garmin HRM comes in three editions: Garmin HRM-Pro, Garmin HRM-Dual, and Garmin HRM-Run. If you're a serious runner, the Garmin HRM-Run is a great choice. The Garmin HRM Tri is discontinued, but we recommend three other alternatives. The Garmin HRM-Pro is a Garmin chest strap with built-in memory, replacing the HRM-Run and HRM-Tri models. (See the article link about choosing the right chest strap at the document's end.)

CHOOSING A HEART RATE MONITOR - SELECT CHEST STRAP OR WATCH BASED ON YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS

Different heart rate monitors serve different purposes. For many athletes, a fitness watch's standard equipment suffices for heart rate monitoring. This way, you avoid wearing a chest strap, offering a more flexible and natural heart rate measurement. Via your Connect app, you have easy access to your heart rate data around the clock. If you wear your watch all day, you can easily view your heart rate and its fluctuations at any time. If you have specific needs for precise monitoring, RunningXpert offers a selection of chest straps with varied capabilities. Whether you run intervals and need the most accurate readings, participate in triathlons requiring multi-discipline data without changing monitors, or simply wish to track your heart rate throughout the day or in specific situations, our monitors can assist. Training by heart zones requires a monitor that clearly indicates your current zone.

HEART RATE MONITORING – WHAT CAN AFFECT YOUR HEART RATE?

Physical activity isn't the only factor affecting heart rate fluctuations. Several parameters apply. Something as simple as coffee intake can make a difference for some. Stress hormones and brain nerves can also influence heart rate. Certain illnesses or heart electrical system issues, as well as age, gender, medication, and air temperature, can be factors. However, physical exertion typically increases heart rate as the heart needs more oxygen. A monitor can track fluctuations and provide data on resting, working, and situational heart rates. You might notice situations previously thought insignificant actually affect your heart rate. Both low and high heart rates can indicate different things, but since it's individual and complex, conclusions should be based on personal parameters. Your fitness level can also reflect in your heart rate. A low resting rate generally indicates good fitness, as exercise and high-intensity training impact the heart muscle, making it larger and able to pump more blood. Again, heart rates should always be interpreted individually.

KEEPING A FINGER ON THE PULSE – USE HEART RATE MONITORING AS A TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

At RunningXpert, find the right Bluetooth heart rate monitor as a watch or chest strap, easily assessing your training's impact and development with app connectivity. Whether monitoring maximum heart rate, resting rate changes, or identifying situations affecting your pulse, a monitor can help. Maximal heart rate. Resting heart rate. High heart rate. Low heart rate. Working heart rate. Heart rate monitor. Heartbeats. Heart rate zones. These words are common in heart rate and training contexts. If you wish to explore your heart rate and fitness during training or as a development indicator, a monitor can assist with insights and effective training variants and intensities. Optical monitor. Chest strap. Bluetooth monitor. Heart rate watch. Garmin Running Dynamic Pod. These terms are also relevant when choosing a monitor. Clicking on a product lets you read about specific features and check if it meets your expectations and needs. Searching words like “heart rate measurement,” “chest strap,” or “heart rate monitor” in our search field leads you to different monitors. Entering these in our inspiration page search field brings up articles about heart rate monitoring.

ARTICLES WITH GUIDES AND INSPIRATION ON RUNNINGXPERT

If still unsure about which variant to choose, explore our articles on heart rate monitoring for insights and inspiration. You can read about choosing the right chest strap or Jesper's article on the difference between using a watch's optical monitor versus a chest strap. Likely, you'll feel more informed and better equipped to choose a new heart rate monitor and embark on pulse-pounding running adventures.