Cardio heart rate monitors are used during a workout to track target heart rate. By accurately monitoring your heart rate you can stay in the best zone to efficiently derive the most benefits of you exercise. There are 5 heart rate zones that are defined during this type of zone training; each is based on a percentage of the maximum heart rate which can be calculated based upon a simple formula. Zone 1 is a Warm-up zone , Zone 2 is Aerobic Development – Medium, Zone 3 is Aerobic Development – Hard, Zone 4 is Anaerobic Endurance – Very Hard and Zone 5 is Speed & Power – Very Hard.
The first step is to calculate you maximum heart rate is to deduct your age from the number 220, so if you are 40 you are left with 180. Another method is 208 minus .7 times your age, so if you are 40 this will also be 180. During you workout you will use your heart monitor to maintain a heart rate that is between 65 and 75 percent of this figure. If you have calculated the maximum to be 180 you want to exercise at a rate of 117 and 135. This will keep you around Zone 2.
The heart rate monitor will allow you to track your progress as you become more fit. An example would be to track your heart rate as you run, either on the road or on a treadmill. If you run at a consistent pace, say a 9 minute mile, over time you will find you heart rate will improve as it gets lower for the same workload.
Cardio heart rate monitors are available at many different price levels. Higher price point monitors have more bells and whistles, some even containing GPS devices. There are basic models that sell for approximately 60 dollars that in addition to measuring you heart rate will also give you distance, pace and calories burned. Polar rs300x and polar heart rate monitor ft80 are the best deals you can find out there.