Heart Rate Monitors -- which one?

The light bulb has finally come on.  If I get the cardio training right, as in get my heart rate up enough and keep it there, I actually get that 'good' feeling I hear people talk about.  Which previously I didn't believe existed, either that or my body was just broken.

I know the readings on the gym equipment heart rate monitors is not very acurate, usually.  As it wildly fluctuates from machine to machine.  So I figured I'd get a heart rate monitor.....God there are so many and varying prices!  I don't want to pay a lot and don't need tons of features, just the basics really.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which 'brand, model'?  I'm in the UK so products may differ from those over the other side of the pond.  I was looking at a CardioSport BHip9 or BHip12 or a Polar FS2C.  If anyone knows anything about either of these models, brands.

Thanks

Tank :o)

I don't have the ones you are asking about but I do have a polar 150 (I'm onthe other side of the pond).  I'm a bicyclist and most of us use polar monitors.  I have had mine for about two years and haven't had any trouble with it.  My wife has a less expensive model 120 and it works well too. Dan

I started out on a very basic Polar - probably F4 it just gave heart rate and that was it.  I upgraded last Christmas to one that does calories and more custom for me and my physical condition.

I don't know if the UK has what we call "Box Stores" cheap discount merchandisers- but the WAlmart here sells a basic hrm that doesn't even have a strap you just put on a watch type thing and it too gives just heart rate.  Its pretty cheap too.

Check if the machines can handle the polar sensor. Some will display the results from the sensor so you don't need to wear the watch.

I ended up with the AXN300. Not becuase I need 90% of the functions but because locally I could  get a good deal on it. The F11 would have been a better fit for me with all the bits I need but it would have cost more. Which made no sense.

Bioss from France is $50 its less expensive and just as good as any of the polar units. Mine has a stop watch, heart monitor that overrides any gym heart rate monitor and post your heart rate on their machine. I use it to do high intensity interval training getting my heart up between 120 &140 beats per minute. It works well for me

Correction my monitor is called Bion not Bioss as I previously stated. Sorry but I got an low grade in French!
M