December 17, 2025
A practical guide to the best heart rate monitors for different training styles, with clear recommendations for runners, lifters, and hybrid athletes.
Chest straps are still the gold standard for accuracy, especially for intervals and strength work.
Wrist-based monitors are more convenient but less precise during high-intensity or dynamic movements.
The best heart rate monitor for you depends on your training style, comfort, and the apps or devices you already use.
These recommendations are based on device type (chest strap vs wrist vs armband), independent accuracy testing reports, sensor technology, comfort and fit for runners and lifters, battery life, connectivity (Bluetooth, ANT+), ecosystem compatibility (Garmin, Polar, Apple, Strava, gym equipment), and real-world usability for intervals, long runs, and strength sessions.
Heart rate monitors help you stay in the right zone for your goal—fat loss, endurance, speed, or recovery. The right device gives reliable data without getting in your way, so you train smarter, avoid overtraining, and actually see progress instead of guessing.
Widely regarded as one of the most accurate consumer HR sensors, highly comfortable, durable, and compatible with most training ecosystems.
Great for
Combines high accuracy with advanced running dynamics and seamless integration with Garmin watches and apps.
Great for
Provides more reliable readings than most wrist sensors with a comfortable armband form factor.
Great for
Chest straps handle rapid HR changes and upper-body movement better than wrist sensors, and the H10 is the most reliable of the bunch.
Great for
Not as precise moment-to-moment as chest straps, but offers deep recovery, strain, and sleep analytics tailored to training load.
Delivers reliable chest-strap accuracy with strong app compatibility at a lower price point than premium models.
Great for
Not as accurate as chest straps, but provide low-cost, all-day HR tracking and basic workout data.
Chest strap accuracy plus a training ecosystem that supports detailed metrics for both endurance and strength.
Great for
Excellent smartwatch features plus decent optical HR, with the ability to pair a chest strap when higher accuracy is needed.
Chest straps are consistently the most accurate across high-intensity intervals, strength training, and dynamic movement, which is why they dominate top rankings for serious runners and lifters.
Optical sensors (wrist or armband) are improving and offer excellent convenience, but they still struggle with rapid HR spikes, cold weather, poor fit, and heavy arm movement.
The best device is rarely the most feature-rich; instead, it’s the one that integrates smoothly with your existing ecosystem, is comfortable enough to wear consistently, and matches your primary sport.
Recovery-focused wearables like WHOOP shine for long-term trend analysis but should ideally be complemented with a more precise monitor for high-intensity performance sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Chest straps use electrical signals from your heart (ECG) and are generally more accurate, especially during high-intensity intervals, heavy lifting, or when your arms move a lot. Wrist sensors use optical light-based technology (PPG), which is more prone to errors from motion, sweat, and poor fit. For precise training zones and intervals, a chest strap is still the best choice.
If you mostly do steady-state cardio or easy runs, your watch’s optical sensor might be good enough. If you do a lot of intervals, sprints, CrossFit, or heavy lifting, adding a chest strap or armband will significantly improve accuracy. Many watches can pair with an external HR monitor, automatically using the better data during workouts.
Runners often structure training around zones: Zone 2 for easy runs and base building, Zone 3 for tempo, and Zones 4–5 for intervals. Lifters may use HR mainly to monitor conditioning segments and recovery between sets, aiming to let HR drop to a target range before the next set. Specific zones depend on your max HR and goal, so testing or using age-based estimates is a starting point, but individual calibration is ideal.
It should sit snugly, just below your chest muscles, but not so tight that it restricts breathing. The sensor area should be slightly moistened for better contact (unless the manufacturer says otherwise). The strap shouldn’t slip during running or lifting. If you see erratic readings, try tightening it slightly, adjusting its position, or cleaning the electrodes according to the manufacturer’s guidance.
Wrist-based watches and straps like WHOOP are designed for all-day wear and can track resting HR, HRV, and sleep. Chest straps, however, are intended mainly for workouts—they’re less comfortable long term and continuous wear can cause skin irritation. For 24/7 tracking, use a watch or recovery strap; for workouts, use a chest strap or armband for best accuracy.
For runners and lifters who care about accuracy and progress, a chest strap like the Polar H10 or Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is the most reliable foundation, especially when paired with a good GPS watch or training app. Choose the form factor and ecosystem that you’ll actually use every week—because consistent, trustworthy data beats flashy features you never turn on.
Track meals via photos, get adaptive workouts, and act on smart nudges personalised for your goals.
AI meal logging with photo and voice
Adaptive workouts that respond to your progress
Insights, nudges, and weekly reviews on autopilot
Convenient wrist-based HR in a running-focused GPS watch with good sensor performance for steady-state runs.
Great for
Great for
Secure armband design handles upper-body movement better than most wrist sensors with solid optical accuracy.
Great for
Great for
Great for
