Everything about heart rate monitors and fitness bracelets, from choice to popular models

Buying a heart rate monitor on your hand is another task. The market offers a variety of devices. Cheap Chinese nouns or prohibitively expensive Apple Watch? Market leaders Polar and Garmin or cheaper Xiaomi? It all depends on the purpose of use. Those who want to lose weight need a small convenient gadget with which you can swim and sleep, because they do not have to part with a bracelet. But the runners will use a GPS tracker that can plot a route, show movement, and inform the satellite if the marathon participant is lost.

Apart in this world are heart rate monitors, which are used exclusively for monitoring the functioning of the heart during a workout, and life style models that are synchronized with training applications and popular calorie counters.

Moovnow

Moovnow

Key features - stylish design, water resistance, 6 months of battery life, laying the route in the application, many colors

Price: from 600 rubles.

This is the best activity counter on the market in terms of price and quality. Compatible with both Android and iOS. It does not respond to household mechanical movements of the hand, vibrates if you do not move in space for more than half an hour. This model is a “source of inspiration” for numerous Chinese no-names with no screen and heart rate monitor.

The device can not be called a heart rate monitor in the usual sense of the word. It measures only activity, not heart rate. But you can set different types of fitness from rowing to boxing, and the application will calculate calories.

Cons: there is no heart rate monitor and is not suitable for big sports, there is no display

Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro

Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro

Key features - adaptive fitness heart rate monitor with tonometer, sleep monitor, the ability to count steps and plot routes in the application. There are watch functions and a stylish AMOLED display.

Price: from 10 000-12 000 rubles, depending on the retailer.

This watch is good for those who take training seriously. Measure the pulse at rest and under load, allow you to set the sound signal for the peak pulse, so as not to overtraining, have a built-in tracker. The device is for those who prefer running and are engaged in it at a good, almost professional level. Loses “Garmina” on the possibilities of navigation, but it is not so expensive.

Samsung is compatible with all smartphone operating systems, and does not require the purchase of a monobrand phone. The battery lasts 3 days, which is typical for models with autonomous navigation.

Cons: expensive, the price can reach up to $ 200 from some sellers, it is quickly discharged, and how to set up this heart rate monitor, you will have to deal with the instructions.

Huawei Band 2 Pro

Huawei Band 2 Pro

Key Features - VO2 Max, heart rate, and sleep monitoring, heart rate monitor, pedometer with calibration sensor.

Price: from 3999 rubles.

The fitness bracelet with heart rate monitor from Huawei is compatible with all operating systems. Suitable for those who take weight loss seriously, and is engaged not only in walking or jogging in the park, but also in interval-style strength exercises. It helps to calculate the so-called metabolic response from training, monitors the frequency of respiration and oxygen consumption. The top model for crossfiters or lovers of functional training. Batteries in standby mode are enough for 21 days, if you are actively training, the clock runs out a little faster.

Suitable for monitoring daily activity, is heart rate monitor, counts steps, breaths, the number of hours of sleep, and monitors its quality. One of the most accurate calorie counters on the market.

Shows time, displays the main data on the monitor. There is a vibration function, and a setting for peak pulse values. If they are exceeded, the clock signals the need to reduce the intensity of the workout. At Aliexpress, you can buy an original bracelet for $ 50-60.

Cons: application from "Huawei". It may be unstable, and does not have an intuitive interface. This minus is not so significant, because the watch has its own display that displays data. It’s convenient to track sports training, but keeping records and a weight loss diary is not very good.

TomTom Spark3

TomTom Spark3

Key features - monochrome display, activity tracker and sports heart rate monitor. There is a function of playing music

Price: from 13 100 rubles.

This tracker is suitable for runners and cardio lovers on the track. With it, you can not be afraid to break the phone, because music can be downloaded to it separately. It works with any bluetooth headphones, and is equipped with an application for Android and Ios

It has a separate navigator, and is suitable for taking into account everyday activity, as well as for running training. Most users consider it a device for tracking normal heart rate while walking. The battery lasts 2 weeks, and is practically not consumed in standby mode.

Cons: menu. It resembles a maze with a bunch of questions and many unknowns. In addition, the sound quality of this watch is not very good.

Amazfit bip

Amazfit bip

Key Features - waterproof tracker with heart rate monitor and step counter, built-in navigation, vibration signal

Price from 3967 rubles.

The device resembles an Apple watch for measuring heart rate, the company's engineers do not deny it. The difference is a monochrome monitor and less price requests. Yes, and the device’s software allows you to use it with Android.

A good option for those who attend training at the club, runs and tries to walk more. Counts calories, activity and allows you to get a complete picture within a week.

Cons: sold only on the manufacturer's website. You can hardly find it in the store.

Garmin vivo fit

Garmin vivo fit

Key features - year of battery life, pedometer, water resistance, color display.

Price: from 6210 rubles.

The youngest device in the line of trackers of the company costs on most sites up to $ 50. And this is a rather high price, because the device is not equipped with almost nothing. Suitable for those who need a pedometer for walking with the calorie counting function in the application. The pulse does not measure the pulse, but it looks stylish, and is in almost all colors of the rainbow. Will remind you of daily activity with unobtrusive vibration, and show time

Cons: cost, money is clearly taken for the brand, and not for the function. In fact, this is an ordinary bracelet to control activity.

Garmin vivosport

Garmin vivosport

Key Features - Keeps track of the pulse and counts steps, waterproof case, built-in navigation

Price: from 17500 rubles.

Before us is a direct competitor to Fitbit and the younger brother of Garmin running trackers. The model is equipped with a basic GPS, which is enough to complete the tracks in civilized conditions. It is the smallest navigator in size, and more designed for fitness, not for sports. The water resistance of this device is exaggerated. You can’t swim with him, he can only withstand rain. For fitness, this heart rate monitor will be good, but more advanced models with track-laying functions will help professional runners.

Cons: traditional "Garmin" complex menu settings and calibration, high price, and lack of models for swimmers

Polar M430

Polar M430

Main characteristics: a watch for runners with a function to monitor activity and fitness, a large screen, allow you to count distances, speed, step frequency, heart rate, and build training programs

Price: from 11 500 rubles.

“Polar” is the leader of this market, only a price of almost $ 200 or higher and a “classic” design can not be liked here. The device resembles the Soviet watch “Electronics” in appearance. But its functionality exceeds expectations. From purely “running” functions like measuring a circle, step frequency and intensity, to a trivial activity tracker and heart rate monitor in training, this device can do almost everything. Not suitable, except for triathletes, since they are not very “friendly” with swimming.

Cons: complicated setup, and a peculiar design

Fitbit Charge 2

Fitbit Charge 2

Key features - pedometer, heart rate monitor, stylish design, compatibility with all operating systems.

Price: from 5900 rubles.

This is an original fitness tracker from which "it all started." Suitable for activity monitoring and fitness training. As a navigator is weak, GPS is only through the phone. FitBit is accurate in measuring steps, an accessible menu, and simple calibration. You can choose a bracelet for every taste, in almost any color.

The device can track movement in three planes, and allows you to exclude accounting for excess activity to make the calorie count accurate.

Cons: the display in the sun is poorly visible, a little expensive for the basic functionality, not waterproof.

Xiaomi Mi Band 3

Xiaomi Mi Band 3

Key Features: Water-resistant tracker with step counting, heart rate, calories, and sleep monitoring

Price: from 2290 rubles.

The cheapest model that allows you to monitor sleep, and combine the functions of a heart rate monitor and pedometer. Xiaomi is sold by most retailers for $ 40-50. Stylish design, all the necessary functions and good quality have made it the most popular fitness tracker in Russia.

Cons: not suitable for runner athletes, as deprived of navigation

On the video, how to choose a heart rate monitor for your needs:

A simple formula will help reduce weight and remove excess fat. You need to spend more energy than you consume with food. A fitness tracker or bracelet with a heart rate monitor is designed to tell you exactly how much energy is burned during the day with training or household activity.

The needs of losing weight are simple:

• Heart rate measurement at rest and during training;
• Pedometer function;
• Calculation of calorie consumption;
• Smartphone Sync

Tip: do not overpay. The choice of a high-quality heart rate monitor is also possible in the price category up to $ 100. If you do not need the GPS functions, routing, or distance control, products for runners can be left on the shelf. The most basic models will do. The pedometer is worth taking for those who know that they will not cross the threshold of the fitness club, and are going to lose weight with the help of household activity.

Heart rate monitors

So, if you are losing weight with training, we choose a pedometer and a heart rate monitor in one model. Just a pedometer is a good option for those who want to become more healthy and gain the necessary daily activity or can not do it. Counting calories with him will be very approximate.

According to PRO Hi-Tech, the Apple Watch is a model designed more for fashionistas than for athletes. Of the advantages over Xiaomi and Huawei - more perfect synchronization with "apple" phones, and the possibility of Apple Pay. If you suddenly wanted to buy some water, after being in the store after a run, you should get a card in your hands. More precisely, Apple Pay from the clock. Otherwise, the heart rate monitor, water resistance and fitness tracker with a bright display and a rather expensive price.

The selection allows you to make the following criteria:

• For serious jogging, “Polar” and “Garmin” are preferred, due to the navigation capabilities.
• Fitness is available with almost any model with a pedometer and a heart rate monitor.
• “Waterproof” models for swimming should have a special mark that you can train with them in the pool. In other cases, it is about rain and soul.
• It is better for triathletes to stick to the Polar models, as they allow you to quickly switch between types of activity and allow you to adequately plan a route

Many people ask how accurate the readings of heart rate monitors and trackers are. "Polar" is comparable in accuracy with medical devices.Chinese products with “Ali” simply did not pass this test. Well, for the needs of weight loss and health, the accuracy of smart watches and heart rate monitors is enough. After all, it is important to simply observe the norms of physical activity, and maintain a calorie deficit.

Does it make sense to buy a watch if training is not your “specialty” yet? Yes, for those who like to count and track everything, the tracker can be an incentive to start classes. If a person does not gravitate to data collection, you can try to start with an inexpensive model and see how it will help in achieving results.

Follow the instructions for calibrating the device to get an accurate count of calories and steps, and enjoy more simple and convenient achievement of your fitness goals.