# Does anyone have a heartrate monitor watch?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-heartrate-monitor-watch/448682>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 9, 2008, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-heartrate-monitor-watch/448682 "2008-05-09T11:59:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-heartrate-monitor-watch/448682/1 "2008-05-09T11:59:45Z")

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My SO wants one and his birthday is in a few days. I haven’t had time to research them so I turn to the SDMB for help. He wants one that counts calories burned, too.

Good brands? Anything to avoid? I plan on spending up to $100, maybe more if it is really nice.

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**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-heartrate-monitor-watch/448682/2 "2008-05-09T12:17:12Z")

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'im indoors bought one recently, I think it’s one of the Polar range and he got it from [here](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-0956961-8014309?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=heartrate+monitor+watch&x=0&y=0)

It’s one of the variety that has a chest-strap to wear which does the monitoring bit, and the results are viewed on the watchface. He’s tried it a couple of times and seems quite pleased with it.

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-heartrate-monitor-watch/448682/3 "2008-05-09T12:34:35Z")

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I have owned a couple of Polars over the years and like them. You won’t find calories burned in a base watch, you have to go up a few steps.  
[Here](http://www.rei.com/product/773462) is the least expensive Polar I found with calories burned (check the spec page)

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-heartrate-monitor-watch/448682/4 "2008-05-09T13:42:06Z")

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I’ve used HR monitors for years. A “calories burned” function will be very inaccurate. Look for a watch that gives average heart rate,maximum HR rate achieved and time spent in different training zones.