Nowadays it seems unlikely to go running, cycling, swimming or hiking in the mountains without a gadget in the form of a smartphone, fitness tracker, cycling computer or sports watch with GPS. The purpose of any of these devices is to constantly monitor activity with the aim of improving your performance in each workout.
You may be interested in reading: Which heart rate monitor should I buy?
This article, unlike the other, we wanted to focus and direct it towards those people who are faced with the dilemma of buying their first heart rate monitor as a complement that will help them to progress in their favorite sport. However, there are specialized Heart Rate Monitors & Sports Watches on the market today: some are exclusively for running, others are ideal for triathlon and combine specific functions for swimming, running and cycling and there are also those that have been designed for the mountains and people with a more adventurous spirit.
We have selected half a dozen Heart Rate Monitors & Sports Watches or heart rate monitors that cover the entire spectrum of sports disciplines for which they are usually used and whose quality - price ratio is beyond doubt.
Garmin Forerunner 310 XT
An ideal training tool for triathletes. This is how I could define this sports watch from the well-known Garmin company. This device with integrated GPS makes a complete monitoring of distance, pace and heart rate, thanks to the chest strap included as standard, when you run or ride a bike. In addition, you can also time your swimming sessions and calculate both distance and average speed, due to its water resistance to a maximum depth of 50 meters.
With this heart rate monitor you can make transitions between different sports disciplines at full speed and without losing hardly any time. The autonomy of its battery reaches 20 hours and allows wireless data transfer to the Garmin Connect website to analyze them in detail and, if you wish, to share them through your favorite social networks.
Polar RC3 GPS HR
A sports watch with GPS and integrated heart rate monitor through a wireless textile belt, perfectly compatible with stride, cadence and speed sensor for modalities such as running and cycling. With this Polar RC3 heart rate monitor you can measure the distance, speed, and calculate your route through GPS. You also have the possibility of knowing more detailed data such as altimetry during and after the training session.
But as if this were not enough, Polar has included in this Polar RC3 a trio of 7 intelligent training functions in order to motivate you and make you improve your performance in each of your outings. Its battery has an autonomy of 12 hours with the positioning function activated and is rechargeable.
Suunto Core
This sports watch from the prestigious Suunto firm incorporates compass, barometer, altimeter and weather information, making it a tremendously useful device for all those adventurers and mountain explorers. The Suunto Core is a watch designed to 'get lost' and get in touch with nature. With this gadget on your wrist you can always know the temperature, sunrise and sunset, be alerted to the possibility of storms and dive into the water with a snorkel.
The various navigation menus are very intuitive and the configuration options are simple. This elegant sports watch incorporates a highly resistant yet very soft strap. Its weak point is perhaps the backlighting of the display, which is somewhat lacking.
TomTom Runner
A multi-sport watch capable of monitoring multiple fitness parameters, thanks to the integration of GPS and heart rate monitor. Its large high-resolution display lets you know the distance, time and pace of the race at a glance.
The TomTom Runner offers you the possibility to compete against yourself, set goals to motivate you and moderate your running pace to train in a certain area, always under the monitoring of your heart rate. Also, it includes graphics on the screen that will contribute to improve your performance in each training session.
This sporty watch is compatible with numerous sports apps and online platforms for running, where you can store statistics, analyze and share them. Tom Tom Runner is waterproof up to a depth of 50 meters, its autonomy reaches 10 hours with GPS activated and its screen is resistant to possible bumps and scratches.
Garmin Forerunner 10
A simple and sporty watch from the Garmin family that includes GPS and with which you can keep a precise control of your training sessions by measuring speed, distance traveled, average running pace and the approximate number of calories burned during physical activity.
This Garmin Forerunner 10 includes two training functions that are extremely useful for beginner runners. On the one hand, it has a function that combines running and walking, taking into account breaks during physical exercise. And on the other hand, it is able to compare your actual running pace with the one you have set yourself as a goal to achieve.
If you go to the Garmin Connect website and register, you can consult the data relating to your runs over the last year, visualize them on a map and share your records with your friends and family.
Polar RS300X
This sports watch from the Polar brand is designed for those athletes who are satisfied with having some basic functionalities when it comes to training. The RS300X includes useful functions such as stopwatch, heart rate monitor and other intelligent functions that will make you enjoy and progress when you exercise.
With OwnCal you will know the number of calories burned in each training session and through the Fitness Test function you will know in just five minutes how your fitness evolves through a comparison of the results of your last sessions. It also has the OwnZone guide to adapt your training to an appropriate intensity, depending on your heart rate.
This Polar RS300X watch is specially designed for running, allowing you to measure distance, pace and speed. In addition, it incorporates a chest strap to monitor heart rate. It is also worth mentioning that it is water resistant to a depth of 50 meters.
The Finnish brand has launched the polarpersonaltrainer.com website so that users can save their data there for later analysis and comparison. Also, the website has specific training plans and objectives adapted for different levels.
