Best heart rate monitors in Australia

Read more detail on our methodology below.

Coospo H808S-B-B Heart Rate Monitor

Best overall heart rate monitor

• Value for money

Cons

• Several customers said it disconnects after a few minutes
• Flimsy chest strap

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Our pick for the best overall heart rate monitor is Coospo's H808S-B-B Heart Rate Monitor. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

The Coospo H808S-B-B is a chest heart rate monitor that collects real-time heart rate data while you work out. It is compatible with third-party apps, including Peloton, Nike+ Running, Strava and Wahoo Fitness. It also has Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity as well as 300 hours of battery life. It features a soft adjustable chest strap to fit most body types too.

Customers gave positive feedback on the device's ease of use, durability and value for money. It is also dustproof, waterproof and provides accurate heart rate.

Its adjustable chest strap is comfortable to wear even when doing vigorous exercises. Some customers reported effortless connection with their favourite apps and smart devices, while others had disconnection issues during exercise.

Fitbit Inspire 2 Fitness Tracker

Best fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor

• Reminders help keep you moving

Cons

• Lacks support for Fitbit Pay
• Tiny and unimpressive display

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For the best fitness tracker option, we chose the Fitbit Inspire 2. It has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 from over 700 Amazon reviews.

Fitbit's Inspire 2 offers all-day tracking, allowing you to get on top of your health with ease. It allows users to track their steps, distance and calories burned. It also features 24/7 heart rate monitoring and up to 10 days of battery life. Additionally, its SmartTrack technology automatically recognises and records your exercises. It is swim-proof up to 50 metres as well.

Despite being more expensive than other fitness trackers in the market, Fitbit is a crowd favourite. It's a versatile little device, offering accurate heart rate readings, sleep tracking and step counts. Customers said it is easy to set up and connect to their other devices.

It also comes with a free 1-year Fitbit Premium subscription, which offers step-by-step fitness and nutrition programs. A few buyers said the band is quite uncomfortable, but this seems to be a minor concern.

Xiaomi Mi Band 5

Best heart rate monitor watch

• Affordable

Cons

• No option to turn off Bluetooth connectivity
• Sleep monitor is inaccurate according to some

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With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, we recommend the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 as the best heart rate monitor watch.

Xiaomi's Mi Band 5 features 24/7 heart rate monitoring, music playback, sleep tracking and up to 14 days of battery life. The brand claims that it can monitor your resting heart rate, rate curve and manual heart rate. The device also features call and message notifications, alarms, remote photo-taking and Bluetooth broadcasting. It supports various exercises, including power walking, running, cycling and rowing.

The general sentiment is that this is an affordable and versatile smartwatch if you're on a budget. It offers tons of features at just $43.56. Customers said it provides accurate heart rate data, while others added that it connects seamlessly with their mobiles. However, if you're looking for a smartwatch to track your sleep, this may not be the best option. A few customers said its sleep tracker is inaccurate and occasionally stops working.

Garmin HRM-Dual Heart Rate Monitor

Best heart rate monitor chest strap

• Value for money

Cons

• You need to moisten the sensor pad before wear
• Not suitable for swimming

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With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, we picked the Garmin HRM-Dual Heart Rate Monitor as the best chest strap option.

This Garmin heart rate monitor provides real-time heart rate readings transmitted over ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity. It can be used for outdoor and indoor workouts, including rowing, running and cycling. It also comes with a soft, adjustable and machine-washable chest strap. It is compatible with most third-party apps as well.

Customers gave positive feedback on the device's value for money, ease of use and comfortable fit. The monitor is powered by a CR2032 lithium coin cell battery that lasts up to 3.5 years. It is also water-resistant up to 1 metre. Customers loved its plush strap and easy set-up, adding that it provides accurate heart rate data during exercise.

However, it's not suitable for swimming. You also need to moisten the sensor pads before use, but this isn't a deal breaker for most buyers.

Wahoo Fitness TICKR FIT Heart Rate Monitor

Best heart rate monitor armband

• Comfortable to wear according to customers

Cons

• Flimsy armband
• Not versatile

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For the best heart rate monitor armband, we chose the Wahoo Fitness TICKR FIT Heart Rate Monitor. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The TICKR FIT Heart Rate Monitor features an adjustable armband for convenience. It has an LED light indicator and up to 30 hours of battery life. It also pairs with various fitness apps, smartphones and smartwatches. It is water-resistant up to 1 metre and has Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity.

Apart from being stylish and easy to use, customers praised the product's accurate reading and durability. It syncs with third-party apps and comes with its own comprehensive app, allowing you to keep track of your progress anytime. The device supports various exercises and has a timer and GPS.

However, it has no step counter or sleep tracker. Some customers also said the armband is quite flimsy, but this is a minor concern.

Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor

Best heart rate monitor for working out

• Easy to clean

Cons

• Difficult to set up
• Not suitable for swimming according to some

Buy now

Polar's H10 Heart Rate Sensor is our pick for the best model for working out. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

The Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor works with many sports and smartwatches. It is also compatible with Nike, Strava and other apps. The brand claims that this is their "most accurate heart rate sensor", providing top-quality heart rate measurement. It can also be used during various exercises, such as rowing, running, indoor training or swimming. The sensor is fully waterproof and has an internal memory for 1 training session.

Customers praised the device's high-quality design, accuracy and comfort. The chest strap is adjustable and secure, even during a sweaty workout session. It is also machine washable. It shows the number of calories burned during a workout. It also has superb battery life, lasting up to 400 hours.

But despite being advertised with accurate reading during a swim, several customers said its measurement is all over the place and inconsistent.

How did we pick this list?

Why you can trust our picks

We considered the following brands of heart rate monitors:

• Amazfit
• Bryton
• Contec
• Coospo
• Fitbit
• Garmin
• Huawei
• JIKKO
• Lifespan
• Lilla Fitness
• MorePro
• Polar
• Powr Labs

• Scosche
• SoundPEATS
• Suunto
• TicWatch
• Vormin
• Wahoo
• Withings
• Xiaomi
• Yamay
• Youngdo
• Zacurate

For this list, we carefully picked products with the highest customer ratings on Amazon. We ended up with a total of 87 heart rate monitors to compare.

We then researched each product and its features. We also considered ratings and customer reviews on Amazon. We came up with what we believe are the 6 best heart rate monitors available in Australia right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are heart monitor chest straps better than wrist-based heart rate monitors?

Chest straps are more cumbersome than wrist-based monitors. However, they have minimal lags, offering better consistency and accuracy than wrist heart rate monitors. Wrist-based models offer better comfort but some models are only consistent and accurate at low intensity.

Can you wear a chest strap heart rate monitor all day?

You can wear a chest strap monitor all day, but it might become uncomfortable after a few hours.

Are heart rate monitor watches accurate?

Heart rate monitor watches provide accurate and reliable measurements of your heart rate during walking and running activities. However, some models might become inaccurate at high intensity because of faster arm action.

Is wearing a heart rate monitor during a workout beneficial?

Wearing a heart rate monitor during a workout lets you keep track of how fast your heart is beating. The higher your heart rate, the more calories you are burning. By monitoring your heart rate, you can adjust your energy output to burn more fat.

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