myRatings.info

Does exactly what I need it to do!

Being a person who hasn’t ever joined a gym, I never knew stuff like this existed. I was very interested in this item because I’ve been walking for exercise but wasn’t really sure I was reaching my target heart rate consistently.

The monitor, which displays the time as well as your heart rate on a watch, works in conjuction with a gizmo that you strap around yourself, just under your chest. (I will tell you, since I was concerned about this, that it’s hardly noticeable once it’s in place…it’s a 12″ or so long piece of plastic with an adjustable elastic strap…not very bulky at all!) The monitor also features a stopwatch and an alarm, so that after you set your minimum & maximum desired heart rates, you can be alerted when you are out of range. The alarm is a “beep-beep” that I can hear over the book on tape I drag along with me. Your heart rate is updated every second or two so you will always know if you need to pick up the pace a bit.

Although I have not yet had to do so, the chest strap has a removable backing, and you apparently can change the battery yourself (this is a big deal, I guess, since some of the more expensive monitors require that you send them to the factory for a battery change). The elastic strap is also completely removable, which makes it very easy to wash (and you will need to if you’re exercising!).

The monitor comes packaged in a small, zippered carrying case, and includes an attachment that allows you to place it on a bicycle handlebar.

This does everything I need it to, and I recommend it for anyone who is just getting started in an exercise program.

Update (7/28/2010): This item is currently on sale here for the lowest price I’ve seen. I also found some auctions for this item here.

The featured review for this product, Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor Health and Beauty Jul 1, 2005, was written by Favorite Children’s Books.

The average rating for this item is 4.3 out of 5 stars, according to 3 reviews.