I just recently got back into exercising and wanted to monitor my heart rate to confirm I'm in the proper "zone" for losing weight. This HR monitor works great. And the strap - which I thought would be a problem -is extremely comfortable. I usually forget I'm wearing it. Also, the indigo light is perfect for spinning class, since they turn the lights down low.
I highly recommend this monitor.

I USE THIS HEARTRATE MONITOR WHEN I BICYCLE. THIS IS USUALLY A 20 - 25 MILE RIDE.
THE MONITOR IS COMFORTABLE AND A GOOD VALUE.
SOME OF THE MONITORS IN THIS PRICE RANGE DO NOT HAVE A WATCH FUNCTION AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION ALONG WITH THE HEARTRATE FUNCTION.
WHO WANTS TO HAVE MORE THINGS TO DEAL WITH?
I WOULD LIKE IT BETTER IF THE TIME FUNCTION AND HEARTRATE FUNCTIONS WERE ON THE SAME DISPLAY.
I WOULD THEN RATE IT A "5"

After many years going to the gym, this is the best tool I've ever used to keep myself fit. It does what it promises: monitors your heart rate pretty accurately and it's a great value for the money.

At first, especially if you're a male, you have to get use to wearing the chest strap which carries the actual transmitting sensor. It was a bit uncomfortable for me the first couple times but I got over it quickly. No one has told me anything at the gym yet, but I think that (from the back) sometimes it looks like I'm wearing a bra.

I found that all stationary bikes, elliptical machines and treadmills at my school's gym can pick up the signal from my strap. This feature itself is worth every single dollar that I paid for this watch. I no longer need to interrupt my workout to keep holding the machine's handles to check my heart rate once in a while. For example, I just get on the treadmill, set it to the fat burn program, set the target heart rate to my 70% maximum and start working out. The treadmill will do the rest by automatically adjusting the inclination and speed to keep my heart rate to the specified range without me having to worry about it. It does the same thing with the other machines at the gym too.

Considering that the machines read your heart rate off the strap, you don't really need the wrist watch anymore, but I still use it because at the end of my workout it tells me the average and peak heart rates that I achieved during the time spent at the gym. Just the basic information but that's actually all you need if you want to make sure you're not wasting your time at the gym.

This is my first heart rate monitor and I'm sure there are better ones out there but for me this is a great value, it does what it promises and it truly helps me make the best of my visits to the gym.

I like this product because it is incredibly easy to use. The chest strap is a little bit tricky on the first try, but easy after that. The watch is so simple to use... you push the button and it starts displaying your heartrate in about 10 seconds. You can check your total workout time with one button push. It also has an Indiglo® light. One feature I absolutely love is that you can change the battery yourself (although Timex strongly suggests you have a dealer do it) unlike other products. Another cool feature is that after you turn it off, you can recall your last workout. It displays your total workout time, average heartrate, and peak heartrate.

I have noticed some glitches like when I'm doing dips (registers really high - over 200) and pushups (seems way too low). One thing I don't like is that sometimes the watch strap comes out of the little loop thing (whatever it's called) that's supposed to keep the strap end from flopping around.

Other than the little issues above, I love it. For the price (I paid $31), you can't go wrong.

Overall, I'm fairly happy with my Timex heart rate monitor but I wish it had some basic features.

Pros:
-chest strap fits snuggly, doesn't move around and is comfortable (I'm female so I had to adjust it to the tightest possible and that fits me fine but would probably not work for petite women)
-chest strap transmits consistently and picks up your heart rate within seconds
-heart rate is easy to read on the watch
-most recent exercise time as well as average and high/low heart rate are recorded and can be easily accessed

Cons:
-it has a chest strap... a strapless heart rate monitor would be nice but they're notoriously inaccurate from the reviews I've read
-you have to press a button to see the current time while exercising
-there is no audible alarm--this is almost a show-stopper for me and I don't think I would have bought this if I had realized it didn't have this feature. The watch gives you no guidance as to whether you are in your target zone, when you need to slow down or pick up your pace, etc. That makes it very hard to use it as a serious fitness tool since you have to manually check the watch every couple of seconds and make sure your heart rate is where it should be.

Overall, it works well for the money and it does allow you to monitor your heart rate but if you're really serious about your workouts and are trying to do interval training this will probably not be sufficient.

Well worth the price paid. Large display makes it easy to read. Can also be used with treadmills with heart rate detection (i.e., Timex chest band can be used in lieu of the treadmill chest band). Very comfortable to wear.

For those not wanting the chest strap...You will be sorely disappointed in the accuracy of units that don't use one. This item is an excellent value, and very accurate. It is half the price of it's Polar competitor, and the competitor does not have a backlight, and must be sent in for batteries! I don't even use the elastic part of the strap. I just tuck the sensor under the band of my jog top, and it stays, working great!

I've had this product a week and find it works well and is simple to use. I wanted to make a point of reviewing it since the previous reviews were so helpful in steering me to buying this item--Thank you!--and because I wanted to clarify a few points. This monitor is helping me keep motivated and work out at the proper level. It's also sort of fascinating to wear it and have the monitor on occasionally as you go about your daily business--you'll develop new respect for your heart as you see it make subtle adjustments all day long in quick response to your activity levels.

Positives include simplicity of use and a good price. You have to wear the chest strap--feels like a bra, ladies, and is inconspicuous under a tee shirt. Took me a few minutes to figure out how to put it on but it's easy really. (Let me emphasize--a few minutes, like 2 or 3, not a few hours.) You are supposed to wet the plastic disk thing near your heart--doesn't mean you are going around soaked--a little touch with a moistened finger seems sufficient. The watch feature is nice. You get constant continuous feedback, just need to glance at your wrist. Also, after a workout you will get info about how long you exercised, your average heart rate, and your peak heart rate, and that is available until you turn on the monitor the next time.

Negative--it doesn't beep when you are out of the zone. As long as that's not important to you this is perfect.

All in all--I'm glad I bought this, would buy it again.

Product performed excellent, however the description does not stress nough the fact that you must wear a chest strap continuous if you desire a heart rate.

I bought this because I want to watch my heart rate right now that I'm preganant. So when I take my walks in the afternoon I don't overdo it as per my doctor. I have not had problems with this product at all and would recommend it in a heart beat, no pun intended.

This is an awesome monitor for tracking BPM. I have been working out for a couple of months at the gym and trying to track my BPM on the various cardio machines that have heart rate monitors built in. They haven't been working well and adjusting my hands on the sensors is always a pain. Once I bought this monitor, as soon as I'd step on a treadmill, it would read the monitor on me and get my rate. This is great because I can now run on the machine without holding on. The elliptical machines are the worst at monitoring (seem to act up when hands start to sweat), so this solved all my problems. I only need the watch when I'm not at the gym. The price is great compared to some of the others and if all you need is BPM, there's no reason to spend the money any of the others.

For $40 - this is a great heart monitor... nothing fancy - just an easy to read heart rate monitor plus some basic watch functions.

I use a HRM for road bicycling and just got this one for an incredibly low price, which seems to have more than doubled since I bought it - strange! I gave it the 5th star because of the amazing deal I got.

Have been using a Polar F1, but wanted to be able to see Max HR after a ride. F1 doesn't record this, but the Timex does! Overall, I think I like the Timex better, and it was about half the cost of the Polar F1.

What I like...
- Records Max HR
- User-replaceable battery on chest strap
- Nice looking watch
- Easy to use

What I don't like so much...
- Chest strap is a little bulky compared to the Polar, and makes a quiet beeping sound when on that is a little annoying
- Lacks ability to program zones and alarms, which the Polar does

.... so good. I have no complaints. It's pretty basic heart monitor with not much to it. It's a good buy for only 25 dollars.

This Timex watch and heart rate monitor does serve its purpose. Its light weight and durable. If you're like me and just want the basics, this is the right choice. I haven't had a problem with it thus far and I use it all the time during my workouts especially cardio making my sessions more extensive and easier to maintain my goal.

Since I've had the Timex Heart Rate Monitor Watch #T5G941 I've used it on my morning bike ride. I'm really happy with the way it works and the information that it provides. I had a Polar Heart Monitor for years and when it died I got the Timex. I especially like the fact that with the Timex I can change the battery on both the watch and the sending unit. On the Polar the sending unit battery had to be changed by the factory which was a pain. I made the right choice getting the Timex for my use. I got a great price from Amazon, shipping was prompt and the whole experience was 5-Star from start to finish.

The fact that it has a plastic piece that needs to be wet that goes around the chest that must touch the skin was not mentioned. I haven't used it for this reason. I will use it eventually for heart rate feedback.

the watch has a strap band.. which is inconvinient.. i wanted one which worked on pulse...

havent tried it but it's good. n I know that :)

If only it wasnt bulky