These Are the 3 Best Chest Strap Heart-Rate Monitors for Your Workouts

Pros

• Adjustable strap (for a 58 to 95-cm chest) that you barely feel when it's on
• Easy to connect to app
• Bluetooth and ANT Plus connection
• Good for multiple forms of activities

Cons

• Expensive at a full price of $105
• May not give all the data for indoor activities

Pros

• Affordable at under $40
• Syncs to multiple apps, smartwatches and GPS units
• Athletes who train for distance will enjoy it
• Strap is comfortable and has a barely-there feel

Cons

• Best for long-distance activities
• Doesn't have a universal app of its own

Pros

• Easy to set up and connect to app
• Has both chest and wrist strap
• Connects to various fitness apps

Cons

• Expensive at $160
• Battery life of 3-6 months could be longer for the price

Pros

• Adjustable strap (for a 58 to 95-cm chest) that you barely feel when it's on
• Easy to connect to app
• Bluetooth and ANT Plus connection
• Good for multiple forms of activities

Cons

• Expensive at a full price of $105
• May not give all the data for indoor activities

Why we like it: The Polar H10 is ideal for outdoor activities. You'll need to download the Polar Beat app to get the most out of it. The app is available for both iOS and Android and uses Bluetooth and ANT Plus connectivity to pair with various devices. The Polar H10 can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once, so you can pair it with both your smartwatch and a compatible piece of fitness equipment, such as a treadmill or exercise bike. The heart-rate monitor is easy to clip on and adjust, and comes in a variety of sizes to fit most users.

Once you're in the app, it's easy to go into settings and connect to the heart rate monitor as long as your phone's Bluetooth is on. In the app, you'll see you can select from 19 different activities to measure your heart rate, including some that don't use GPS, such as strength training, treadmill running, tennis, badminton, indoor cycling and other indoor activities. This heart rate monitor can also be used for swimming, as it's waterproof.

Denise Chakoian, owner and founder of CORE Cycle.Fitness.Lagree, a certified master-level personal trainer, also recommends a Polar chest strap heart-rate monitor with GPS, explaining, "Polar has always been the best at monitoring heart-rate training using a strap at the chest line. It picks up the most accurate data from your heart and gives out the best output for your overall heart-rate training, caloric output and can help when someone is looking to really keep track of their daily intake and output."

Nic Wilson, one of the F45 Training Athletes, agrees, stating, "When it comes to chest strap heart-rate monitors, the Polar H10 is widely regarded as the gold standard for accuracy and reliability."

And yet another expert supports this choice. Tara De Leon, CSCS, NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year, says, "I love a Polar heart rate monitor. Polar was one of the first companies to develop wireless heart-rate monitoring technology, and they have stayed at the front of the pack. Their monitors (like the H10) are comparable to ECG-level accuracy. Plus their whole ecosystem of training, HRV and sleep tracking is really good and user-friendly."

Who is it best for: I tested this heart rate monitor during my Future app strength training sessions and during a couple of walks. Since Future automatically connects to my Apple Watch too, I was able to compare my Apple readings against Polar's. I found that I didn't get much information recorded during strength training in the Polar app, except for how long the workout was. But when I dove into the Apple Fitness app, I saw that the Polar H10 captured my average heart rate and matched the data my Apple Watch collected.

However, for my walks, both indoors and outdoors, the Polar H10 showed me detailed readings of the distance I walked, my average heart rate, calories burned, max heart rate, pace and the percentage of calories burned as fat. A line graph is also included, showing your heart rate over time during the activity. 

If you plan on using it mainly outdoors for activities like running, jogging, hiking, skating, skiing or rowing, you can't go wrong with this heart rate monitor. In fact, if you already own a Polar watch, you may get even more out of it when paired with this monitor.

"It features a comfortable, secure fit with silicone grippers, dual Bluetooth/ANT Plus connectivity, onboard memory and waterproofing -- making it ideal for everything from HIIT to swimming," adds Wilson.

"The polar device would be for anyone looking to improve their fitness level or keep track of their workouts, heart rate training improvement or an athlete who is closely monitoring their daily exertion level," says Chakoian. De Leon agrees, adding that this monitor would also be great for anyone curious to explore more data while exercising.

Who should not get it: This device is best for outdoor activities, so it may not be right for those who exercise indoors. It is also on the expensive side. Chakoian adds that she wouldn't recommend this device to "someone who could potentially abuse this device or is only looking to move their body without any tracking of calories or workouts."

De Leon agrees, stating, "People who are recovering from an eating disorder or anyone who will obsess over hitting their numbers probably should skip the heart rate monitor." She adds that if you’ve had heart issues, such as arrhythmias, you should check with your doctor first before purchasing.

Pros

• Affordable at under $40
• Syncs to multiple apps, smartwatches and GPS units
• Athletes who train for distance will enjoy it
• Strap is comfortable and has a barely-there feel

Cons

• Best for long-distance activities
• Doesn't have a universal app of its own

Why we like it: If you aren't looking to spend a lot of money on a heart rate monitor, consider the CooSpo H808S. The CooSpo H808S chest strap has its own app (CoospoRide) and can also connect to various third-party fitness apps, including Polar, Wahoo, Endomondo, UA Run, Garmin, Peloton and more.

Who is it best for: Besides the MyZone MZ-Switch, this is the only other heart-rate monitor I tested that flashes an LED light to signal that it's connected. To activate it, you have to wet the sensors on the strap before securing it. Speaking of which, it's waterproof, which is ideal if you tend to sweat a lot or want to use it for swimming. 

I connected it to my Wahoo account during a couple of walks, and it functioned well for that purpose. Based on the other compatible apps, you may enjoy this heart rate monitor if you're training for a long-distance race or taking a cycling class. When I used it for strength training, I don't think I got as much out of it as I would have liked, compared to when I was training for a race. 

However, what's great about the CooSpo H808S is that you can connect it to various apps and Bluetooth devices so you can get your readings across multiple platforms. The CooSpo H808S proves you don't need to break the bank to get a good chest strap heart-rate monitor.

Who should not get it: If you're looking for a chest strap heart-rate monitor that has its own universal app, this isn't the device for you. Also, if you're considering this monitor for anything other than long-distance activities, we would recommend another product on this list.

Pros

• Easy to set up and connect to app
• Has both chest and wrist strap
• Connects to various fitness apps

Cons

• Expensive at $160
• Battery life of 3-6 months could be longer for the price

Why we like it: The MyZone MZ Switch is one of the easiest chest strap heart-rate monitors to use if you're a beginner. The kit comes with a wrist and chest strap, so you get even more accurate results. It also includes a carrying case so you can keep everything neatly together. 

The wrist strap has a round ECG and PPG sensor that resembles a watch without the numbers. The sensor has a button that controls the on/off switch, which lights up. The wrist strap has velcro so you can fasten it to your liking, while the chest strap is easy to secure with some buttons.

In addition to MyZone's app, you can connect to your Apple Watch, Samsung or Garmin devices or to third-party apps like Strava, My Fitness Pal and MapMyRun. I used the MZ Switch during strength training workouts via the Future app and had no issues collecting my data after the fact.

MyZone uses MyZone Effort Points to tell you a percentage of your maximum heart rate in different zones, which are broken up into colors -- from blue to yellow, light gray, dark gray, green and red. I found that this aspect made it easy to follow because MyZone also includes a rubric explaining what each zone means and why knowing your max heart rate is important.

Compared to the data from my Apple Watch, the MyZone MZ Switch's average heart rate, active and total calories were off by a few points, but I expected this since MyZone uses its own rating system.

Who is it best for: Regardless, I think the MyZone MZ Switch is the ideal heart rate monitor if you want to easily track how hard your heart is working during interval training, strength training or just about any activity.

Who should not get it: Note that this device is on the expensive side at a full price of $160 and may be out of budget for some. Battery life could also be longer