Our Picks for the Best Target Heart Rate Calculator

Garmin Forerunner 305

Our Rating:

Voted Best Target Heart Rate Calculator Overall by Gean-Edwards.com

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Timex Ironman Road Trainer

Our Rating:

Voted Best Budget Target Heart Rate Calculator by Gean-Edwards.com

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Polar FT60

Our Rating:

Voted Best Heart Rate Monitor for Women by Gean-Edwards.com

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Target Heart Rate Calculator – Features, and what to look for

One of the most overlooked aspects when buying a target heart rate calculator is intended use, and information you will need the device to provide you with during your workout. If your just looking for something simple without all of the major gadgets involved (I.E Chest strap), then our suggested budget target heart rate calculator would be best. However, you’ll have to stop exercising when using these devices when you are trying to get a read out on your stats. According to consumers and exercise enthusiasts, its best to purchase a heart rate calculator with a chest strap because they are more accurate, and you don’t have to stop exercising to get a readout.

What to look for:

1. Chest Strap – Make sure that your desired device comes with a chest strap if you want accurate, “on the fly” results. The chest strap needs to be snug, and tight without much wiggle space. Also, sometimes the chest strap can make your skin chafe when your working out, and you havent worked up much of a sweat, but usually once you’ve started sweating your skin will be fine. To prevent chafing, try to apply some sports lubricant to the area where your chest strap is. A great lubricant is “Body Glide”, which can be purchased by clicking here.

2. Fitting – There have been reports of the watch (and sometimes the chest strap) being too small. To make sure that you get the correct fitting for your body, try to see if the desired unit has any fitting guidelines to help aid you in your selection. If you cant find a fitting chart, then try going to a sports store and trying it out before you buy it online (online is always cheaper).

3. Display Unit – Make sure that your display unit has a large monitor, with backlighting that is be colorful when you touch it. Usually when reading the monitor, the display will be at arms length, so it needs to be large enough so that you can read it without any problems.

4. Button Size – The bigger the buttons the better. Keep in mind you will be pressing these buttons WHILE you exercise, so If the buttons are big, they will be simple to find, and easy to touch without stopping your workout. Bigger buttons are also good when your fingers are sweaty, because it make sit a lot harder for your fingers to slip.

5. Battery – Try to find a device that has a user replaceable battery. Some devices need to be sent in to the manufacturer in order to get the battery replaced, and this can be an additional fee. So to prevent having to send the device in when the battery dies, having to wait a couple weeks, AND paying for it, try to find a heart rate calculator with a user replaceable battery.

6. Owners Manual – Make sure you keep this handy! According to a lot of consumer reviews most people overlook the manual, and mistakenly throw it away only to realize that they need it when trying to sort out all of the features. The owners manual is key in learning how the monitor will work.