Recommended inexpensive heart-rate monitors? Since I last used a heart rate monitor (about eight years ago), wrist-watch only monitors seem to have increased in popularity (based on the offerings at Amazon) **update** apparently these watches come with a chest strap, although the chest-strap is not included in the product description.. In the 90's and early 00's, heart rate monitors never lasted me more than a year or two before the signal or the contacts started to fail. My primary question is ... can you recommended an inexpensive (<$50) monitor?

I can't speak about HRM's that do not use a chest strap as that's the only type that I have used (other than to play with in the store). I find the ones with a chest strap to be completely hassle free, and I don't have to contort into a weird position to get a reading.

I've had great luck with HRM's from Timex and Nashbar in the $50 range, and like Polar but have never owned one.

If you do go with a chest strap type, the primary thing to watch out for in the lower-end range is the ability to change the strap battery. Some have a sealed chest strap, so you either have to tear it apart and super-glue it back together, or replace the strap entirely.