If you're looking to step up your training, one of the easiest methods is to monitor your heart rate. But before you can start to analyse the numbers, you need a reliable computer to record those beats per minute.
Here, we round up five of the best heart rate monitors we've reviewed on BikeRadar in the last few years. With prices ranging from below £30 (US$50) to above £250 (US$400), you can match your training needs to your budget and find the right device for you.
BHip 9
£28.99 / US$45.38
While it comes from the same company that make CardioSport heart rate monitors, this one is branded BHip – which accounts for its budget price. You can set high and low heart rate limits, and the BHip 9 flashes an up or down arrow and (optionally) bleeps to let you know if you’re not in the zone you’ve specified. Click here to read our full review of the BHip 9.
Sigma PC-15
£49.95 / US$59.99
The PC-15 packs a hefty punch for its price. A graphic shows your intensity alongside the HR figure, and both the amount of time and the percentage of your session spent in each zone are available on screen too, along with your average and max HRs and the number of calories used.Click here to read our full review of the Sigma PC-15.
Suunto M4 heart rate watch
£100 / US$149.99
Suunto's M4 sports watch acts as a heart rate monitor and a personal trainer. We found the heart rate strap (included in the box) to be a comfortable fit and were impressed with the simplicity of the watch’s setup. It doesn’t have room for a huge amount of data but it’s a good value option.Click here to read our full review of the Suunto M4.
Garmin Forerunner 310XT
£259.99 / US$249.99
There’s a lot going on in this neat little package. Once you get back from your ride, all of your data can be transferred easily onto your computer using the wireless USB stick and fed into the Garmin Training Center software.Click here to read our full review of the Garmin Forerunner 310XT.
Polar CS600X
£229.50 / US$419.95
This is a serious piece of cycling-specific kit. As with all Polar products, setup is simple and inputting user information, heart rate zones and fitting the bar mount and speed sensor took no time. As you’d expect from a cycle-specific monitor, display size was excellent and, even in driving rain, always clear.
