Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor Review

November 14, 2008

Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor Review (0 Comments)

Is this what wearing a bra feels like except without the cups? Okay, let's not go there. I prefer to imagine my new heart rate monitor as a fancy batman-esque utility gadget that can shoot laser beams from my chest. Yes, folks - I'm 28 years old, and I still enjoy playing "make believe". The thing does look pretty sleek, though.

I bought an Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor from Amazon for $32.49. I was debating between this versus a body fat tester, and I decided I'd check my heart rate more often than my lard to muscle ratio (that's the technical term, of course).

From the reviews I read, there are a number of affordable monitors on the market, most of which combo clock, stop watch, and heart rate functionality just like the Omron HR-100C. Popular models come in two parts. There's the "wrist watch" portion that displays measurements, and there's the chest strap that wraps right below your manly and/or womanly cleavage. It makes sense that you want a comfortable chest strap that doesn't chafe while you workout. This Omron monitor also comes with a bike mount, which I think will come in handy.

I did my first test run on an hour of P90X Plyometrics. Overall, the chest strap stayed in place. I just needed to get used to the pressure of having something wrapped around my rib cage. As I was warned, this monitor, like many others, takes a little while to rev up and deliver accurate heart rates. But it only takes 30 seconds to a minute to get steady readings. Some of my extreme jumping did seem to throw off my reported heart rate (sometimes going above 200 beats per minute), but would go steady with less bouncing around.

I'd say this was a worthwhile investment. You want to read the manual first in order to figure out how to set your lower and upper heart rate indicators. The watch will beep whenever you go below or above your optimal heart rate. It's very interesting to see how your chest muscle varies it's blood-pumping duties during a rigorous workout. Definitely give it a try!

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I'm an entrepreneur who's steadily become interested in health, nutrition, and fitness over the last couple years. With this blog I'm hoping to keep motivated to get ripped and beyond!