We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
The heart rate sensors on smartwatches are usually good enough for casual training (and some of them are really good), but to get the best possible accuracy, you want a separate heart rate monitor—ideally a chest strap. Fortunately, fitness trackers and smartwatches aren’t the only wearables on sale right now. Heart rate monitors from Polar, Coospo, and more are available at discounts, and here are the best deals I’ve found.
The Polar H10 chest strap is $20 off
All electrical chest straps are good, but the consensus in the fitness world is that if you want the best, you get the Polar H10. It’s the chest strap that Apple used in its own heart-rate accuracy testing; it’s also the one I recall being put on me when I did a VO2max test in a lab. It retails for $104.95 but goes on sale from time to time, and now is one of those times: You can pick up a Polar H10 for $84.74.
The Polar Verity Sense armband is also $20 off
OK, personally I wouldn’t get an armband in place of a chest strap; armbands use optical sensors, the same technology as in your watch. Optical sensors are more error-prone than electrical chest straps. But even though they’re not my favorite, armbands like the Polar Verity Sense are popular and their accuracy is good enough for most people. If you hate the feeling of a chest strap, or just prefer the convenience of an armband, the Verity Sense is a great alternative, and it’s $85.46 right now, down from a regular price of $104.95.
My favorite budget brand, Coospo, is 29% off
I love when a budget option works as well as the top-of-the-line model, and that’s why I swear by my Coospo heart rate monitor. Full disclosure, the H6 model I used for over four years finally gave up its ghost, so I’ve moved on to a newer model, the H808S. Both are on sale: the H6 for $23.99, down from $29.99, and the H808S is $26.26, down from $36.99.
The Wahoo Trackr is $TKTK
Wahoo is another solid line of fitness products, and the Trackr heart rate monitor is another excellent choice. It’s on sale for $84.99, normally $99.99.
How to use a heart rate monitor
Heart rate monitors connect to your watch or to gym equipment wirelessly, usually with Bluetooth and sometimes with an older protocol called ANT+. (Many heart rate monitors can do both.)
You’ll need to set up the heart rate monitor to either broadcast your heart rate or to pair to another device. (Usually you broadcast to gym equipment, but pair to a watch or phone.) The specifics vary by brand, but it’s usually pretty straightforward. If you have a fitness watch like a Garmin, or an Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch, pairing a chest strap is a simple job. Pixel Watches, unfortunately, can’t pair a heart rate sensor.
But even without a watch, you can use a sensor with your phone. I like the Polar Beat app as a simple heart rate tracker, but there are plenty of other options. The Apple Fitness app can use third-party heart rate sensors, and so can Strava.
