A heart rate monitor watch is a very useful piece of equipment if you are starting an exercise and fitness program.

The first decision you need to make before you buy one is to decide whether you want to wear a chest strap during your exercise. Heart rate monitor watches that come with a chest strap are more accurate at measuring your heart rate, but are also typically more expensive. However, some people are uncomfortable wearing a chest strap underneath their clothing when they exercise, and so prefer watches without one. Watches that come without a chest strap require you to place your fingers on a button for 10 seconds or more in order to get a heart rate from your pulse. This makes them less accurate than chest strap watches, because they only measure your pulse for a short time, and they are also prone to mistakes if jostled. This also means that you need to interrupt your exercise to place your fingers on the button whenever you want your heart rate. That said, strapless watches are typically less expensive, and are fine for casual exercise or for exercises with natural breakpoints.

To learn more about choosing a heart rate monitor watch, and for reviews on the most popular heart rate monitor watches, visit the heart rate monitor watch web site.