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Best Heart Rate Monitors You Can Buy

Corey Majeau

Whether you need to track your heart rate on a regular basis due to medical reasons, or you want a wearable device to help push you along your fitness routine, there are so many different devices to choose from. From comfort to accuracy, there are plenty of reasons to purchase a heart rate monitor, and so many of these devices will provide so much more than just a standard heart reading.

A lot of these devices pair as a smart device as many of them easily connect to smart phones or other devices by Bluetooth connectivity. Whatever the reason you may be in the market for a heart rate monitor, first you may want to ask yourself what some of the key benefits are you’ll get from your heart rate monitor device.

RankProductHighlights
#1AliveCor KardiaMobile Personal EKG

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  • Type: EKG Machine
  • Size: 6.3 x 3.5 x 1.2 inches
  • Weight: 2.4 ounces
  • Warranty: Free 30-day returns through Amazon
#2LETSCOM Fitness Tracker HR

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  • Type: Wristwatch Sports Tracker
  • Size: 5.4 inch – 7.6 inch
  • Weight: .84 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon
#3Garmin HRM-Dual

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  • Type: Sports Band Tracker 
  • Size: Module size- 2.4″ W x 1.3″ H x 0.4″ D; Strap Length – Adjustable from 25″ to 52″
  • Weight: 1.9 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon
#4Scosche Rhythm+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband

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  • Type: Armband Monitor  
  • Size: Module size- 8 x 9 x 10 inches
  • Weight: 6.4 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon
#5Garmin Forerunner 35 Easy-to-Use GPS Running Watch

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  • Type: Running Watch device with a strap
  •  Size: Watch – 1.40 x 0.50 x 1.60 inches
  • Weight: 3 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon
#6Polar Ft1 Heart Rate Monitor

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  • Type: HRM with straps      
  • Size: 5 x 4 x 3 inches
  • Weight: 7.2 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon

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Benefits of a Heart Rate Monitor

There are so many great benefits of a heart rate monitor, you may be surprised at just how powerful these devices are. While there are so many reasons why you may want to purchase a heart rate monitor, we’ve nailed down some of the most popular reasons to buy a heart rate monitor.

— Medical Use

One of the most common reasons to buy a heart rate monitor is for medical uses. If you are someone who has a sensitive heart or you simply need to be mindful of overworking your heart, an EKG device is most commonly used to track the heart for medical reasons. With these types of machines, you can easily get a heart rate reading anywhere you are at any time you need. These are used to send results back to your doctor or to keep records for your own personal reference. This is important for anyone who is elderly or anyone who has a history of heart complications or heart disease.

— Sport Tracking

Heart rate monitors are commonly used as a wearable device to help track your sports workouts. These nifty devices pair as a smart device and can be used with any smart phone or other smart devices. If you are into soccer or basketball, these wearable devices in the form of an arm band, a chest strap or a wristwatch type device will easily track, not only your heart rate, but also your endurance spikes, calories burned, and distance moved.

— Burn more calories

Just like the uses within the sports tracking category, you can use these heart rate monitors to track calories burned. This will help push you to go that extra mile if you are on a strict workout goal or you are adhering to a new workout routine. With the help of these heart monitors, you can easily tell when it’s time to push yourself harder during a workout for even more calories burned. This will test your strength and endurance, but the payoff is great when you’re burning calories and noticing all the weight you’re losing.

— Elevate the Heart Rate

Elevating your heart rate is great for not only losing weight and burning calories, but it also strengthens the actual heart muscle. The more you work your heart out, tougher it becomes and the harder it’s able to endure excessive use. Having a healthy, strong heart will only benefit you and your body in so many different ways, it’s important to realize that the heart is one of the most important muscles in the entire human body. With heart rate monitors, you can easily keep track of the health of your heart and know when to push it harder or when to slow it down for optimal health.

 Best Heart Rate Monitors

To help you with your heart rate monitor hunt, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best machines you can buy now. From a wearable device to a more traditional pulse machine, we have found the best of the best when it comes to finding a reliable heart rate monitor.

1. AliveCor KardiaMobile Personal EKG

SPECS:

  • Type: EKG Machine
  • Size: 6.3 x 3.5 x 1.2 inches
  • Weight: 2.4 ounces
  • Warranty: Free 30-day returns through Amazon

This EKG on the go machine by AliveCor allows you to take unlimited medical grade EKG’s anytime, anywhere. You can take this to the mall, to your car, use within the home, wherever you can think of. Best yet, no subscription is required when using this machine.

You can easily store your EKG history on your phone and email the results to your doctor with a simple press of a button. You can also save these records for your own personal history and keep within your medical files. This is an FDA approved device to detect atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia or normal heart rhythms in thirty seconds.

This is an easy to use device – you simply place your fingers on the sensors without having to use any wires, patches or gels. This device works with most smartphones and tablets and comes with a list of compatible devices. This device is not recommended for use with pacemakers or ICD’s and comes with 200 hours of operational time.

ProsCons
  • Works with smartphones and tablets
  • Stores medical history
  • Can easily send medical records to the doctor
  • Takes 30 seconds for results
  • May not be necessary for those without medical conditions

Who should buy this?

The AliveCor KardiaMobile personal EKG machine is best for anyone who needs to check their heart rate regularly more so for medical reasons. This is an easy pack and goes machine for professional medical results.

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2. LETSCOM Fitness Tracker HR

SPECS:

  • Type: Wristwatch Sports Tracker
  • Size: 5.4 inch – 7.6 inch
  • Weight: .84 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon

The LETSCOM fitness tracker HR has so many different things, but this heart rate tracker is number one on this list of cool features. This handy wristwatch type device is also a sleep monitor and can track real time heart rates automatically and continuously automatically tracks sleep durations patterns. This device offers consistency with a comprehensive analysis of sleep quality data that helps you adjust your patterns for a healthier lifestyle.

This is an all-day activity tracker that accurately records all-day activities like steps, distance walked, calories burned and active minutes as well as sleep status. This can be used in multi-sport modes and easily connects to GPS. The fourteen exercise modes help you better understand specific activity data and connect to the GPS on your cellphone. This device can even show you a mat of your workout route, along with running stats like pace and distance.

You can also receive calls, calendar notifications, SMS and SNS notifications on display on your wrist so you will never miss any notifications. This device also comes with a built-in USB plug so you can easily change this with a USB block and computer. No charging cables or docks are needed, and a single charge will last you up to seven days.

You may be interested in: Best Sleep Trackers and Monitors Reviews

ProsCons
  • Is a handy wristwatch device
  • Easily tracks heart rate and sleep rate
  • Easy to use device that sends various notifications
  • A single charge lasts up to seven days
  • May be too complex for some

Who should buy this?

This device is perfect for anyone who likes to track their activity and fitness routines. It’s a device that is ideal for anyone who wants to burn more calories as this is more like a sports tracker.

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3. Garmin HRM-Dual

SPECS:

  • Type: Sports Band Tracker 
  • Size: Module size- 2.4″ W x 1.3″ H x 0.4″ D; Strap Length – Adjustable from 25″ to 52″
  • Weight: 1.9 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon

This Garmin HRM-Dual machine features a soft strap that is comfortable and adjustable to help you track your heart rate while wearing. This imported strap makes tracking your heart rate during a workout or exercises easy and comfortable.

This strap is completely washable after you remove the heart rate module. The battery within this device lasts up to three and a half years, so no need to worry about when you’re going to need to replace the battery. This is a premium heart rate strap that transmits real time heart rate data over ANT connectivity and Bluetooth low energy technology.

You will receive consistent accurate heart rate tracking on this Garmin device that is ideal for online training apps and easy to use for any type of gym class. This will track your heart rate over any amount of training or exercise. The strap is also adjustable so you can make sure it is tightened securely for every workout.

ProsCons
  • Comfortable adjustable strap for the gym or home workouts
  • Tracks heart rate in real time
  • Washable strap, just remove the device
  • Uses Bluetooth and ANT connectivity
  • May be too simple for some

Who should buy this?

This Garmin HRM strap device is ideal for anyone who needs to track heart rate for a better workout. The easy to adjust strap is washable and can be worn during any type of gym workout.

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4. Scosche Rhythm+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband

SPECS:

  • Type: Armband Monitor  
  • Size: Module size- 8 x 9 x 10 inches
  • Weight: 6.4 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon

This Scosche Rhythm Heart Rate Monitor Armband is an easy to use heart rate monitor armband that features a large and small black strap. This bonus pack features one additional free orange armband. This is not orange theory compatible.

This works with most popular health and fitness apps including digifit, run keeper, mapmyfitness, Strava and many more. This nifty armband works well with all Bluetooth capable devices and smart or ANT enabled devices and equipment watches, fitness equipment, smartphones and tablets. This is a breathable arm band so no need for a bulky chest strap.

This waterproof construction can be submerged for up to one meter in the water. This Rhythm plus device is ideal for anyone who wants to keep track of their heart rate during sports activities, as it will keep up with you.

ProsCons
  • Great to use during runs or gym workouts
  • Convenient and comfortable adjustable arm band
  • No need for a chest strap
  • Uses Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity
  • Not everyone may like the arm band feel

Who should buy this?

This armband device is ideal for anyone who is a fitness nut and loves to track his or her workouts. You can easily track heart rate in real time with this device through the use of smart phones or other Bluetooth capable devices.

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5. Garmin Forerunner 35 Easy-to-Use GPS Running Watch

SPECS:

  • Type: Running Watch device with a strap
  •  Size: Watch – 1.40 x 0.50 x 1.60 inches
  • Weight: 3 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon

This super sporty Garmin Forerunner running watch uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you run. This is a perfect watch for sports enthusiasts that will accurately estimate heart rate at the wrist all day and all night. This uses Garmin elevated wrist heart rate technology and has smart notifications, automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, live tracking and music controls when paired with a smartphone.

This is an all-day activity tracker that will accurately track steps, calories and intensity in minutes as well as sends you reminders to move. This product comes with an HRM soft strap for tracking the heart rate which is comfortable and easy to adjust. Make sure you select the heart tracker option and not the watch only device if you want the added strap.

This HRM tracker is completely washable, you just have to remove the heart rate tracker first. The battery within the heart rate monitor device will last up to three and a half years. These two devices will work in conjunction to give you the most accurate heart rate monitoring sent right to your smartphone.

ProsCons
  • Great to use during runs or gym workouts
  • Convenient and comfortable adjustable HRM monitor strap
  • Pairs perfectly with smartphones
  • Strap is washable
  • Maybe too pricey for some

Who should buy this?

This GPS running watch and heart tracker device is perfect for anyone who is focused on burning calories and likes to track their activity.

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6. Polar Ft1 Heart Rate Monitor

SPECS:

  • Type: HRM with straps      
  • Size: 5 x 4 x 3 inches
  • Weight: 7.2 ounces
  • Warranty: Free returns through Amazon

This Polar Ft1 Heart Rate Monitor accurately shows your heart rate on a large easy to read display. This device helps improve your fitness routine with manual heart rate target zones and contains a display of summaries of your latest workouts. 

This simple one button starts, and coded heart rate transmission helps you toa void cross talk. You can safely exercise within your target zone to lose weight and burn more calories. This can be paired with the Polar T31 coded transmitter chest strap for easier tacking to go even further within your fitness journey. 

It’s also so easy to use; while you’re working out, the FT1 will display your heart rate in beats per minute. When you exercise out of your preset heart rate zone, the FT1 gives a visual and audible alarm. It’s like a personal coach on your wrist telling you when to slow down or speed up. 

ProsCons
  • Wrist and chest strap for comfort
  • Keeps track of HRM during workouts
  • Gives visual and audio alarms to push through the comfort zone
  • Straps are washable
  • Maybe too pricey for some

Who should buy this? 

This heart rate monitor with a strap is ideal for anyone who likes to track workouts and keep workout routine numbers at hand.

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The Wrap Up 

As you can see, there are so many amazing products to choose from that will accurately and efficiently track your heart rates. It all just depends on which kind of device is the best for you. If you are needing a heart rate tracker for medical reasons only, you may want to go with that nifty EKG finger press machine for quick, easy to understand readings. If you are looking for a  heart rate monitor to push you within your workout routine, any of the wearable devices will push you along your way. 

Whatever reasons you have to purchase a heart rate monitor, all of these devices are top of the line and have been featured on best selling lists. They also all have stellar customer reviews and have many stars behind them. Any of these amazing devices you choose will surely make you happy in the long run.