How do I Choose the Best Swimming Heart Rate Monitor?

To choose the best swimming heart rate monitor, athletes should look for a waterproof device that records their long term progress, is usable with other forms of exercise like running and weight lifting, and is equipped to interact with online tracking software. This type of device can be used to create a workout program that helps athletes achieve their personal fitness goals. It can measure heartrate as well as distance traveled and calories burned to gauge the effectiveness of the exercises being performed. It can also transition from the swimming pool to the race track, mountainside, or bike path.

A swimming heart rate monitor should track an athlete's workout performance on a weekly and monthly basis. This type of monitor can be used during training exercises to help determine whether the user is reaching his body's full potential during a workout, and how frequently that potential is met. An individual's peak performance heart rate should typically only be met once in ever 48 hours of exercising, and should not exceed 15% of the total exercise time. A monitor which keeps track of an athlete's performance over a long period of time can help that individual gauge how often he is reaching this peak level on a weekly and monthly basis and how long he should remain there. This information can then help the athlete to structure his workouts for the following week to help improve both his strength and overall endurance.

Athletes who enjoy a diverse workout routine that includes swimming as well as jogging and using exercise equipment may benefit from purchasing a multi-use swimming heart rate monitor. The device is typically worn on the wrist where it monitors the wearer's vital statistics and is also waterproof for use in the pool. These monitors can track the wearer's heartrate, the amount of calories being burned, and the distance traveled while swimming or running. They can also interact with other electronic pieces of gym equipment, allowing users to sync two devices and record other workout items of relevance.

These features, when combined with an online fitness log, create a long term workout strategy that helps athletes accomplish their physical goals. Some swimming heart rate monitor manufacturers offer online software that is included in the price of the monitor that allows any stored information to be uploaded into a fitness diary. At the completion of each workout the athlete can connect his monitor to his computer and store information regarding his heartrate during that day's workout, his median pace, how long he spent exercising, and the distance he traveled. The software then analyzes these statistics and presents them in a way that helps the user determine what steps he needs to take to improve his exercise experience and achieve his long term goals. These steps can include increasing the athlete's max heart rate, exercising for longer periods of time, and challenging himself to swim more laps for a greater distance.