Heart rate monitors have been popular for some time now; however, the latest technology has enabled them to be combined with pedometers. This advancement has meant that both keen athletes and health conscious people can both monitor their steps as well as their heart rate. Being able to monitor these things will make you more aware of how your body is coping with any given situation. Although devices such as these should never replace your doctor they can, however, help you to look after your body better.

Multifunction watches are the smallest and easiest way to combine both a heart and pedometer monitor. They can be worn easily on a day-to-day basis, or when you do any type of training. The watches range in design; however, there are many that can be worn as your normal wristwatch, and look very stylish. Often these very small pieces of technology are amazing, and can monitor so many different elements of your body at once. Although they are great the watches are not without flaws, and you need to understand the good and bad points to this type of monitor.

The pedometer works on the basis of movement, and if worn on the arm, this is where it will detect the step from. If you choose to run, or walk with very little arm movement, it may not detect every step you take. This will give a false reading, and is not always 100% accurate when moving faster. However, this style of monitor is far less invasive than other methods, and you can wear it on a day-to-day basis. They are also very affordable, and can be bought in several different makes, styles, and sizes.

At a single glance you can see exactly what your heart rate is doing, enabling you to base your routine around your health. The transmitter for the watch is placed on your chest and will monitor your heartbeat. The accuracy of the beats per minute will determine how successful your training is going. It can also help to pick up if there are any irregularities in your heart rate. This is ideal if you have a family history of problems, or if you are concerned about your heart.

The many different designs of the watches and monitoring equipment allow you to keep a track of several different elements to your training. You can purchase watches that not only monitor your heart rate, but also lap counters, stopwatches, and pedometers. There are some wireless options available that can record the data onto your PC or laptop.

The style that you choose will often depend on your needs, and budget. For keen athletes there are heart monitors that can give you additional information as well as setting target heart rates for you to be guided by. If your heart rate drops or peaks the watch will alert you to know if you need to intensify or decrease your training. This is ideal if you have targets to meet, and need your heart to remain at a healthy rate. You can also monitor how many calories you are burning on your workout, which can help you calculate your daily intake. You can set yourself even more targets to achieve during your workout.

Although these heart monitors are ideal for training, they should not be used to determine medical problems. If you are in any doubt about your heart, seeking professional help is essential. View our top 10 pedometer and heart rate monitors list and find the one that best suits your needs.