Keep an eye on your heartbeat
Some personal trainers say that obtaining biofeedback is the best way to get the most out of your cardio training. Consisting of a chest strap that uses electrodes to detect your heart rate and a wristwatch readout that displays it as beats per minute, a heart rate monitor encourages you to stay in a heart rate target zone that is challenging enough to increase your fitness, but easy enough to avoid injury or exhaustion. The models cited below are moderately priced and water resistant and have biofeedback features usually found on more expensive equipment.
Not for nighttime runners
Acumen Eon BASIX: Lots of features for the price.
Likes: Attractive design with large, easy-to-read red-tinted numbers. A 60-minute in-zone goal countdown timer tells you how many minutes to go. Includes a calorie counter, unusual at this price. Daily alarm. Simple two-button operation. A spare wristband.
Dislikes: Unlike other models, this one lacks a light, so it’s more difficult to see numbers during nighttime runs. No date or seconds on the clock.
Price: $50. www.acumeninc.com; (800) 852-7823.
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For women on the move
Cardiosport GO-10: Basic functions, designed for women.
Likes: Stylish four-button watch with big numbers and clear directions. It includes an exercise stopwatch, a daily alarm and a scan function to show maximum, average and minimum heart rate readings.
Dislikes: None.
Price: $79. www.cardiosport.com.
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Chic, but lacks extras
Nike Imara: Designed for women with common-sense functions.
Likes: Includes a calorie counter, a stopwatch, two interval timers (for run/walk programs and hard/easy running) and time and date for two time zones. “Data” mode allows you to review exercise time, average heart rate and time in target zone. Bike handlebar mount. Chic narrow wristband.
Dislikes: Lacks some features normally found at this price.
Price: $99. www.niketown.com; (800) 344-6453.
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You’d better be sharp-eyed
Ekho E-300: Lots of features, little numbers.
Likes: Logical four-button operation. Calorie counter allows you to input personal data and the specific activity you’re doing -- walking, hiking, jogging, aerobics. Includes five heart rate “training zones”; provides current, average and maximum heart rate. Other features include a stopwatch and countdown timer; a comfortable, tiny chest strap; low-battery indicator and bike mount. Chest strap and monitor fit in convenient zip-up package.
Dislikes: Small, hard-to-read numbers on three-line display, especially while in motion at night.
Price: $99. www.ekho.us; (612) 922-3766.
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-- Roy M. Wallack