Heart Rate Monitors

If you frequent our blog, chances are you’re interested in fitness, monitoring your heart rate and overall healthy living. But, are you using your heart rate monitor to determine the best heart rate your heart should be at while training?

Heart rate training is, simply put, a range your heart rate should be at during aerobic exercise where your heart and lungs can get the most benefit. Everyone’s training heart rate is different, so it’s important to calculate it on an individual basis, and better the overall intensity of your workouts as you do the math.

The following calculations should help you calculate your target heart rate zone:

• 220 – your age = Maximum Heart Rate
• Subtract resting heart rate from maximum heart rate = Heart Rate Reserve or HRR.
• Multiply HRR times the percent that you want to train at.
• Add back resting heart rate

Use the zones below as a guide when deciding how intense your workouts should be, and as time progresses and your fitness level improves, you may consider moving on to other zones.

Training Zones:

Healthy Heart Zone (Warm Up): 50-60% of maximum heart rate. This is the best zone for those just beginning a fitness routine.

Fitness Zone (Fat Burning): 60-70% of maximum heart rate. This zone is a little more intense than the warm-up zone.

Aerobic Zone (Endurance Training): 70-80% of maximum heart rate. This is the zone to consider when training for a competition or big fitness event. This zone helps develop your cardiovascular system.

Anaerobic Zone (Performance Training): 80-90% of maximum heart rate. Training in this zone is great for developing your muscles and bones and is usually done in short intervals: weight lifting, running or swimming sprints, or a game of tennis.

The Red Line Zone (Short Period Training): 90-100% of maximum heart rate. This zone is for interval running and developing your speed. Only those in good overall shape are able to train in this zone.

By using heart rate monitors and knowing what zone your workout is in, you can get a real-time look at the intensity of your workout and think of ways to improve your experiences. For instance, if you’ve been working out a lot lately and are meeting your target heart rate in a particular zone, you may consider moving on to another level of fitness.

Also, you may consider varying your workouts based upon length and intensity to allow for breaks in your routine throughout the week. Getting on a weekly schedule with different level of work outs can help a lot in the long run, too.

Suunto Ambit

Suunto is set to release a new game-changing GPS watch for explorers and at Heart Rate Monitors USA, you can bet that we’re gearing up for it already.

Set to ship sometime in late April, the Suunto Ambit GPS watch will change the way you monitor your adventures. This GPS sports watch from Suunto offers sophisticated data tracking for backcountry skiers, hikers, trail runners and mountain climbers with optional heart rate monitoring available.

The Suunto Ambit boasts a robust GPS navigation system, altimeter, and 3D compass, so you know where you are, where you’ve been, and exactly where you’re going – no matter what your adventure. Record-breaking extreme ski mountaineer, Greg Hill, describes the Suunto Ambit as “awesome product that should be on the wrist of anyone who heads into the outdoors.” In fact, the Suunto Ambit’s altimeter and GPS navigation system makes it a potentially life-saving survival tool.

The Suunto Ambit GPS watch also includes advanced training functions, specialized outdoor functions, and a durable construction, so you know that it’s built to last. Features include:

• Real-time training effect
• Highly responsive pace with FusedSpeed technology
• Compatibility with online sports diary and planning tools at Movescount.com
• Full-featured GPS (SIRF IV) navigation
• Find Waypoint functionality with route planning, tracking, and track logging
• 100 waypoint creations in watch and on Movescount.com
• Military scale 3D compass
• Temperature readings

Plus, a long-lasting battery, sleek design, and water resistance up to 100 meters.

To get more info about the Suunto Ambit or to preorder yours today, check out the official product page at Heart Rate Monitors USA.

Timex Ironman Global Trainer GPS Watch

Consumer Reports has spoken, and the magazine known for its expert product reviews proclaims some of our favorite pedometers and GPS watches as the best. What made the list? Well, we’re proud to say that five of our favorite products made the cut.

Consumer Reports’ top three  pedometers had a few things in common: ease of use, affordability, and accurate step counting. The top picks were  the Omron HJ112, Yamax CW-701 Digiwalker and the new Mio Trace. All of these pedometers are solid picks for anyone who enjoys walking, wants to start walking, or is conscious of how many steps taken in a day. These are also great picks for 5K walks and walkathons!

In addition to pedometers, Consumer Reports also named two of the top GPS watches, both of which we have ready in our selection – the Timex Global Trainer and the best-selling Garmin Forerunner 210. The Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS watch includes a $50 mail-in rebate and comes feature packed for easy monitoring of distance, heart rate, and other important fitness metrics. As for the Timex Ironman Global Trainer, this GPS watch with heart rate monitoring offers all the power you need to train for your next triathlon. The Timex Ironman Global Trainer GPS watch includes industry-leading GPS technology and monitoring for pace, speed, distance, heart rate and more in real-time on a customizable screen.

Get these Consumer Reports top picks today at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com and stay on top of your training in 2012.

Garmin FR70

Did you know that the Garmin FR70 is one of the most powerful and user-friendly, non-GPS fitness watches out there? As an update to the FR60, this Garmin watch features a new design as well as plenty of features to make any athlete happy. If you’re looking to kick start your New Year’s resolution with a brand new heart rate monitor, then why not take a closer look at the Garmin FR70? Here’s the scoop on this customer favorite:

The FR70, as we mentioned, is an update of the FR60. The new model now includes a tear-resistant band with encapsulated buttons, as well as options for both men and women’s styles. Just choose your preference on color/style and bam! You’re ready to go. Okay, not quite. You have to do a bit of setup – but that’s where things really get interesting.

Unlike other higher end GPS models, the Garmin FR70 is versatile and powerful without being overwhelming. Within the easy setup process, you’ll get acquainted with the features. Here are some of the things the Garmin FR70 can do:

• You can update the watch with firmware wirelessly for free – so you can stay up to date with Garmin’s new features and improvements without the hassle of a corded upgrade.
• You can wirelessly upload your workout to the Garmin Connect network.
• It’s water resistant up to 50 meters, making it
• You get 5 different customizable screens with up to three fields per screen. To put it simply: you see what you want to see and can choose from over 20 fields to display. Talk about options!
• Want to get running speed and distance? Just add on a foot pod.
• Want cycling stats? You can also add on a bike speed/cadence sensor to get speed, distance, and cadence on your bike.

Did we mention that this model of heart rate monitor is also water resistant up to 50 meters, making it ideal for triathlon training when used with a foot pod and bike speed/cadence sensor?  Unlike the Garmin Forerunner 310XT, the FR70 does not have a multisport mode so a triathlon will show as 1 event in the summary and on Garmin Connect (the swim, bike, run and transitions will only be separated as laps). This makes it easier to train because you can see exactly what you did, when you did it, as a whole – not as separate sports.

If you’re ready to see the power of the FR70 GPS watch, check it out now on HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com.

Garmin Forerunner 405

For the past few weeks, we’ve been sharing our gift ideas both here and in our emails. You’ve seen what to get your athlete as well as some of the hottest items to ever grace our warehouse, like the Garmin Forerunner 910XT heart rate monitor.

This holiday season, we want to help you save on your holiday favorites, so we’ve put together a whole list of holiday sale items that you can take advantage of special pricing on. Garmin heart rate monitors in particular have AMAZING pricing going on today, not to mention, sale prices for the rest of the month. If you’re looking to grab a Garmin Forerunner 110 or a Garmin Forerunner 405, today is the day to do it – we’ve got the lowest prices of the season running!  As for the other models, you can check out our Holiday Deals page to get the skinny on what Garmin heart rate monitors are on sale (the Holiday Deals section also has other great finds from Deuter, CamelBak, and Polar too!).

In addition to these amazing prices, we also want to give you a gift. For a limited time, we’re giving away a free Garmin Foot Pod when you order the Garmin Forerunner 310XT, the Garmin Forerunner 210, or the Garmin Forerunner 610.  Just add the Forerunner and the Foot Pod to the cart, use coupon code GIFT, and the cost of the Foot Pod ($45.00) will be deducted automatically from your order total. Your order will get a free overnight shipping upgrade, too!

Treat yourself today with an item from our Holiday Deals selection. Happy Holidays from us to you.

Garmin Forerunner 910XT

Shopping for an athlete can be tough, especially if you’re not entirely familiar with what goes into training for that particular sport. Luckily, you can always head to Google to look up different gift guides and suggestions so that you know your gift is something he or she will actually like!

Well, to make holiday shopping a bit easier on you this year, we’ve put together a handy gift guide for endurance athletes. If you know someone who likes to compete in triathlons or is active in multiple sports, consider some of these suggestions the next time you’re looking for the perfect present:

A Garmin Forerunner Heart Rate Monitor: This is absolutely your best friend when you’re an endurance athlete. Able to give you valuable training data, a Garmin Forerunner heart rate monitor is like having a coach along with you at every step of the competition. Our picks? The Garmin Forerunner 610, The Garmin Forerunner 310XT, and the brand new Garmin Forerunner 910XT. The Forerunner 910XT is the superman of GPS heart rate monitors.

A Hydration Pack: Does your endurance athlete like to go on long runs or bike rides? Be sure that he or she has enough water to keep hydrated with a hydration backpack. Not only are these comfortable water carriers a great way to stow away H20, but they’re also great for packing along those other things you might need along the way, like energy gels. Our recommendation? Go for a lightweight CamelBak hydration pack to suit the sport (in our selection, we have it sorted by activity to make it easier).

Workout Clothing: Tank tops with moisture wicking, base layer running clothing, running gloves, a nice hat to run in, new track pants, bamboo socks…these are all great ideas for a triathlete or endurance athlete. Find out what he or she needs and equip their wardrobe with the essentials. If they’re seriously into their sport, they’ll go through the gear quickly. Besides, when you’re a runner, there’s always room for a new pair of socks or base layers.

What do you plan on buying for your athlete this holiday season?

Cyber Monday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year and at Heart Rate Monitors USA, we’ve been gearing up for this event for quite awhile.

If you’ve checked your inbox recently, you’ve already seen some of the great deals that we have in store for Cyber Monday. But if not, here are some of the things you can look forward to all day long:

• Polar CS500 cycling heart rate monitors as low as $227.44!
• The Fitbit Ultra Wireless Activity Tracker as low as $99.95!
• The Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Personal Trainer with Premium HR Strap as low as $289.99 – PLUS you can receive a $50 mail-in rebate.
• The Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS Sports Watch with heart rate for $184.00!
• The Mio Breeze Unisex Strapless Heart Rate Monitor for as low as $33.88!

Plus, we also have blood pressure machines, Oregon Scientific weather gear, multi-function pedometers by Omron, and more on sale for Cyber Monday.

Want to get in on the savings? Check out our official list of all Cyber Monday deals at Heart Rate Monitors USA. We’ve got gifts for everyone in the family (especially athletes!)

Not sure what to get for your friends and family? Not to worry. We’ve put together a few handy gift guides for you to check out if you’re having trouble finding the right gift for that tough-to-shop-for person on your list:

• Gifts for Him
• Gifts for Her
• Gifts for the Office, Friends, and Family

Polar RS800CX

We’ve got a hot new item in stock that we’re really excited about.

The Polar RS800CX Multi-Sport Heart Rate Monitor is an awesome tool for those who love to push themselves to the limit, whether they’re competing in the Ironman or earning personal bests in a triathlon.

This limited edition Polar heart rate monitor includes three sensors, including a G5 GPS,  to cover all endurance sports. You’ll get data for running, biking, and heart rate, plus lots of cool training features to help you take advantage of every minute and every mile, including the Polar Fitness Test. This feature measures your aerobic fitness level at rest and tells you your progress as you continue to go further, faster, and harder.

The Polar RS800CX also includes the Polar ProTrainer 5 software to help you plan and analyze your workouts while keeping a comprehensive training diary. It’s never been easier for you to get detailed information about your progress – as well as how far you’ve come toward meeting your fitness goals.

The best part about this monitor? It helps you train at the right intensity. That’s right. No more over or under training. Just precise results for multi-sport athletes.

We’ve got the Polar RS800CX in stock in our store. Are you ready to take it to the next level?

If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, heart rate monitor training may be just what you need. This fitness method helps you get the most out of your cardiovascular exercise and improves your health, fitness and lifestyle. In order to begin heart rate monitor training you’ll need a dependable heart rate monitor that can measure your heart rate.

We have a variety of heart rate monitors, but choosing the right one for you can be simple, as long as you know what you’re looking for. Most heart rate monitors do more than measure your heart rate. Some additional features you may be interested in include:

• Recording how many calories you’ve burned
• Coded heart rate transmissions
• A timer that records how long you’ve exercised
• EnergyPointer, which tells you whether the main effect of your training session is fat burning of improving your fitness
• Target zone features
• iPod or music hook up

After you’ve decided which heart rate monitor is right for you it’s time to create a heart rate monitor training system. In order to do this you must consider how often you’ll be exercising, how long each exercise session will last, how difficult each session will be, and what type of exercises you’ll be doing. Choose a form of exercise that you enjoy. We have heart rate monitors for cyclists, runners, swimmers, and other types of sports and fitness plans.

The most important part of heart rate monitor training is keeping to a pace that’s right for you and your body. Don’t push yourself to far, or you may hurt yourself. Improving your fitness and health takes time, but as long as you maintain a regular exercise routine you’re well on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

This is just the quick and fast overview of heart rate monitor training for beginners. What tips would you offer someone who is just starting out with heart rate training?