good heart monitors??

I never quite know where my heart rate is, and I've been wanting to buy a monitor for a while. I was wondering if anyone had some good suggestions about good quality heart rate monitors. I am a college student, so money is a bit tight.

Is there any place specifically that I could find one for sale? And are there any specific things I should look for?  Thanks for all suggestions. 

If you want a basic starter model Walmart has them for about $40.  All it gives is heart rate no cals burned etc...

Now if you want all the bells and whistles I recommend a Polar.  I think alot of folks use a F6 I don't know what that one does exactly but my F11 tells me my heart rate cal burned tests for VO2 and tells me how long I worked in each zone.  It about 150. 

Reebok I hear makes a good one too.  I am sure there are several others out there.  Try Ebay for a sale maybe.

I hvae a Polar (dont know what model) that calculates HR of course, cals burned, your target heart rate, if you are lower/higher and for how long.....i love that thing...it was $85 at Target

for me spending that much money on something is motivation to use the darn thing :D

what about the bodybug? in the forum yeserday someone mentioned it. it sounds facinating. ( i looked it up) the problem for me is wether i would have the time or the inclination to use this web site which has been a life saver . i like the people here and i am so grateful for all of you  :)

I have the light blue Polar one, also from Target, probably the same one because I think I paid around $80. It is awesome!!! I find it especially helpful when i'm doing my strength training to see my heart rate and how many calories i'm burning. Definitely worth the investment!!!!

The polar model I've seen at Target is the F4.  That's probably the model you Target shoppers have.    ;)  sounds like the right price range.

Personally, I'm STILL shopping for a Polar F6.  It retails for $99.99 or so.  I waited out Christmas and my mom gave up trying to get me a black 'women's' model (slightly smaller band on the inside of the wrist- available in black or pink.  otherwise its the same) so she's sending me a check so I can just buy what I want.  Waiting sucks!

I bought my Polar F6 from eBay after searching the forums and getting feedback.

I love it. I mainly focus on calories burned and such, so I am sure I didn't need to get this exactly model and could have done with a more basic one, but hey....it was eBay and a good deal :)  I think I paid $70 WITH shipping.

Good luck!

$70 with shipping is a good deal for F6 (hi MC ^^)
I heard there are 2 different type of strap (one is better than the other. Have to look it up which one though). I will check ebay for it. If I can spot a deal like yours I will spur for it. Otherwise I am looking for a smaller model. F6 too bulky for my liking.

The kind of strap you want is the "31 coded" its to help prevent "cross talk" with other HRM's that might be nearby - so if you work out in a gym or with a buddy and persons nearby are wearing HRM you get your reading and not theirs.

Do the Polar F4 and F6 have the 31 coded strap?  Anyone?  This was a main concern for me as I work out at the gym next to machines.