Heart rate monitors come in all shapes and sizes. They are the perfect workout companion, since heart rate monitors will give you an idea of the intensity of exercise that you have been doing by monitoring the number of heartbeats per minute. The general rule of thumb is that the higher your heart rate, the faster and harder you workout. Thus, you will receive maximum results as you exercise with the use of a heart rate monitor. However, you need to be able to interpret and use the results given out by a heart rate monitor so that you would know about the benefits of having one. Some heart rate monitors measure, aside from the heart rate – the maximum and minimum heart zone or level, as well as the number of calories that you have burned during a particularly strenuous workout session.

Before learning what to look for when purchasing a heart rate monitor, it is good to have an idea of the benefits of using a heart rate monitor as you workout. First, it is easy to use and accurate. Using even the most basic of heart rate monitors will eliminate the need to interrupt your own training or exercise session. If you will monitor your heart rate by manually recording the number of heartbeats per minute through your pulse, it will be quite tedious and may also results into getting inaccurate results and losing your momentum.

Second, a heart rate monitor where you can set the highest and lowest heart rate will help you monitor your fitness. Cardiovascular or heart rate based exercises will increase your endurance, strengthen your lungs and provide additional benefits so it is important to keep track of your heart rate as you perform such activities. Third, you will have some sort of an alarm so that you can stop when you are overexerting yourself, or work harder when you see that you are below the minimum heart rate that you have set for yourself.

When purchasing a heart rate monitor, it is important to consider the price, the brand and the number of features. If you are not a serious health buff, you may just want to get the lower-end or middle priced heart rate monitor. For the more serious physical fitness enthusiasts, you can buy mid-level or high-end heart rate monitors. Advanced heart rate monitors are usually used by coaches and training athletes since more factors are being displayed here, and they usually have a host of other features available. If you would like to make the most out of your workout or physical fitness training, a heart rate monitor is the way to go so that even the most avid health and fitness buffs can take advantage of the benefits to be gained from exercising with a heart rate monitor.