The Best Heart Rate Monitors For Women- Find Out What The Experts Say
For anyone serious about fitness, a heart rate monitor can be as important as the right pair of shoes. But a heart monitor isn't a one size fits all piece of equipment. And women have different requirements than men. The best heart rate monitors for women are quite different from the best monitors for men.
Let's face it. Most men can comfortably wear a regular heart monitor watch with a chest strap and get an accurate reading. This is more of a challenge for many women.
The chest strap is what transmits data to the heart monitor watch. It does that by picking up impulses from the heart and then transmitting this information. If there is not good contact with the skin, the transmission is flawed.
If you are relatively flat chested, you will most likely be able to get good contact between skin and strap. That means you can probably use a monitor that has a chest strap.
Women with larger cup sizes may have problems when they try to wear a strap. That's because in order to get good skin contact, the strap has to be worn so tightly that it is both uncomfortable and too restrictive.
If you fall in this group, there may be a suitable alternative to the traditional heart rate monitor. The strapless heart rate monitor is becoming increasingly popular among women in particular. This type of monitor measures heart rate and does it without the need to wear a chest strap.
Reviews about heart rate monitors have proven to be mixed. Some experts in the fitness field think that the readings these monitors provide are not as accurate as you'd get with a traditional monitor. Other experts think the technology comes close to that of a traditional monitor. Most are in agreement that models made today are head and shoulders above older models.
So, if you can't wear a regular heart rate monitor, look for a strapless model that comes recommended, made by a company that specializes in heart monitors. There are a number of designs to choose from in a strapless heart monitor.
Many of the strapless type of monitors are worn on the wrist. Other types may have a ring type sensor which is worn on a finger. Other models are designed with a strap that is worn on the upper part of the arm. Lastly are those strapless monitors that can be carried in the hand.
A wrist heart rate monitor, for instance, has one or possibly two sensors located on the watch. When you put your finger on the sensor, it collects data about your heart rate and displays this information on the watch.
It's difficult to say which are the best heart rate monitors for women. The two most important factors are accuracy and comfort. Otherwise you probably won't wear it anyway.
Specialty heart monitor watches are available for many different sports and activities. If you are a cyclist you may want to have a look at a cycling heart rate monitor.
