Finding a Heart Rate Monitor That Works

Bought three heart rate monitors before finding one I actually trust. The first gave wildly inconsistent readings. The second died after two months. The third has been on my wrist (and occasionally my chest) for two years now. Here’s what I learned shopping for them.

Chest Strap vs Wrist

Chest straps are more accurate. They measure electrical signals directly — the same method as a medical ECG. For serious training, interval work, or data you actually trust, chest straps win.

Wrist sensors are more convenient. No strap to wet and position correctly. Just wear your watch. But optical sensors struggle with rapid heart rate changes, darker skin tones, and certain lighting conditions.

I use both. Chest strap for structured training where accuracy matters. Wrist for general tracking and recovery monitoring.

Monitors Worth Considering

Polar H10

The gold standard for chest straps. Accurate, comfortable, long battery life (400+ hours). Works with ANT+ and Bluetooth so it pairs with almost anything. Stores one session internally if you forget your phone.

Garmin HRM-Pro

Similar accuracy to Polar, adds running dynamics data. Useful if you’re a runner using Garmin ecosystem. Stores data and syncs later. Premium price for premium features.

Apple Watch (any Series)

Best all-around wrist monitor for daily tracking. The ECG app adds useful health data beyond heart rate. Works seamlessly if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. Not ideal for intense intervals but good enough for most people.

Garmin Forerunner Series

Wrist-based monitors designed for athletes. More accurate during activity than typical smartwatches. Pairs with chest straps when you need better data. The 265/965 models have improved sensors.

Wahoo Tickr

Budget-friendly chest strap that performs well. Less feature-rich than Polar or Garmin but accurate where it counts. Good entry point if you’re unsure about chest straps.

What I Use It For

Training zones matter for structured workouts. Heart rate tells you if you’re actually in zone 2 or just thinking you are. Power data is better for cycling specifically, but heart rate adds context.

Recovery tracking is the underrated use case. Morning heart rate trends indicate fatigue and adaptation. Elevated resting rate suggests stress or incomplete recovery.

Common Problems

Erratic Readings

With chest straps, usually a fit issue. Wet the electrodes, adjust position, check that the strap is snug. With wrist monitors, usually a fit issue or motion artifact.

Dropouts

Chest strap batteries last forever but eventually need replacement. Wrist sensors can struggle with cold hands or poor blood flow. Both can have Bluetooth interference issues in crowded gyms.

Inaccurate Zones

Default max heart rate formulas are often wrong. If your zones feel off, do a field test to find your actual max and adjust from there.

Integration

Most monitors work with multiple apps. Check compatibility before buying. Garmin works best with Garmin. Wahoo works with everything. Polar has its own ecosystem but plays well with others.

Data from heart rate monitors flows into training platforms like TrainingPeaks or Strava. This is where the information becomes useful — trends over time rather than single sessions.

Worth the Investment?

For structured training, yes. Heart rate data improves workout quality and prevents overtraining. For casual fitness, wrist sensors on smartwatches are good enough. For serious athletes, a chest strap adds precision that matters.