ruskko

need suggestions under 200

fishymamba

two fingers and a stop watch......

or this:

https://www.amazon.com/Timex-T5G971-U...f=cm_lmf_tit_1

Da Sherm

My vote goes to the Garmin 305. You can use it for more than just cycling, and is well under your $200 limit, you can even get the cadence sensor and bike mount and still be under $200. The Garmin Training Center software it comes with is a joke, the Garmin Connect website is much better IMO.

Yotsko

Yep, garmin 305 is the ticket. Its big and ugly, but it gets the job done very well.

merlinextraligh

The 305 doesn't give you the option of adding a power meter some day, and i don't believe is supported by Garmin anymore.

If you're going the Garmin route, pony up for the 500.


That said, the question is what do you want the HRM to do. Figure out the functions you need. For most purposes, it's likely all you need is your current HR, average HR, and maximum HR. For that, you don't need to spend $200. The cheapest Polar you can find will work.

If you want more functions, then it makes sense to buy a Garmin, rather than spend $200 on just a fancy HRM.

webist

Using Garmin 305 with cadence and HR. Very satisfied.

urbanknight

With that budget, you can start to specify which features you want on it. If you just want something that can tell you your heart rate, a $40 Timex as mentioned above works great (mine is wonderful). From there, you can add quite a few features before you reach your budget.

laimbeer

Have this, it's inexpensive and works great. It's also not cycling specific so if you're a runner or just like tracking your fitness while working around the house or during the day, it's perfect.

gregf83 

I think they're talking about the forerunner 305 which is still being sold by Garmin. I picked one up last xmas for $99 and use it for running and the odd organized ride I do when I need route info.

dgraham2038

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/Timex+-+...&skuId=9279149

Good Ole Timex (best buy on sale for $89) works for me if all you need is a heart rate monitor...plus you get a watch out of the deal. However, my buddy has a Garmin and I am quite jealous of the online tracking of workouts, cadence, elevation and other features. If I hadn't invested in my wireless Cateye and the Timex, I would have spent the extra money on the Garmin.

Right Said Fred

I bought one of these a couple of weeks ago and I'm very pleased with it. Have used it on a couple of bike rides and a few spin classes and it has proven very useful to keep track of the relative effort of the workouts.

The spin bikes in the classes I take have built in watt meters and the HRM is quite useful for tracking HR zone to wattage output during intervals.

Yotsko

Thats actually a really good point. I've just started looking into training with power and kinda wish I'd gone with something like the 500. However, when I bought the 305 I ran a lot more, so it was good for me at the time.

Phil85207

The Garman forerunner 305 is a bullet proof great HR monitor except for the handy bar accessory. Keep it on your wrist or you may loose it like I did. It got run over by an SUV after 4 1/2 years of great service. If you want it on the bar, don't trust there clips to keep it on. Use some rubber O rings too.

jontmiller

Wahoo Fitness for the Iphone, talks to several different riding apps, but I am new to riding, ymmv

John_V 

Just some more options to look at. I have a simple HR monitor that is also a wristwatch, stopwatch, lap counter and more and has more functions relevant heart related functions than the simple Timex on Amazon and is priced at $79.95. It's the Sigma PC 15 and the best part that I like is that the batteries on the watch and chest strap are the same and are both user changeable, which many simple HR Monitors are as well. I had to call them because the watch wasn't keeping a connection to the chest sensor and they sent me a new chest sensor, overnight with no questions asked. Didn't have to send the other one back.

My wife has the Garmin Forerunner 405 CX HR Monitor and cost her $255.00 (with the speed/cadence sensor, $219.00 w/o) from Amazon and she absolutely loves it. I just checked Amazon and it's still the same price or you can add the bicycle mount for an extra $12.56. From what I am told, the 405 CX is the newer model of the 305. The only issue that she has with it is the battery life is only good for around 8 hours before you have to recharge it and the batteries are not user changeable, as with most Garmins that we looked at.