Reebok Hybrid Plus Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Suggested Retail Price: $99.99

Rating: 8/10

Top Features

• Checks pulse rate with either the touch of a button or with a transmitter strap
• Programmable heart rate zone with audible and visual alarms
• Estimates calories burned
• Estimates total fat burned
• Transmitter belt battery can be replaced by user

Product Specs

• Displays heart rate, average heart rate, and time spent within target heart rate zones
• Full clock and calendar function with alarm and 100 hour stopwatch function
• 1 year limited warranty

Disadvantages

• Some reliability issues when not using the transmitter belt
• No advanced features or software support

Review

Reebok has cleverly designed the Hybrid Plus heart rate monitor to function with or without a chest strap transmitter.  This is a very good idea, since some people will want to use both modes at different occasions.  However, to get full use of all of the features on the Hybrid Plus, you will need to use the transmitter belt, which Reebok admits is also more accurate that measuring your finger's pulse with their "pulse technology".

For some uses, the pulse technology in this heart rate monitor will work just fine.  If you are using it for less intensive physical activity, where you are able to freely pause or slow down, then you will be able to get a fairly accurate reading.  It's also useful for cardiac rehab patients who don't want to, or shouldn't, wear a chest belt.  Also, the pulse technology will alert you if your heart rate falls outside the heart rate zone you have programmed, and even without the transmitter belt you can still take advantage of the clock and stopwatch functions of the Hybrid Plus.

While you can use this model without the chest strap transmitter, to take full advantage of this heart rate monitor you will need to wear it.  The chest strap not only gives a slightly more accurate reading, but it also gives a constant reading that is needed to use the advanced features.  Assuming you wear the belt, you can learn your average heart rate, and what percentage of the time you are in your heart rate zone.  Additionally, the heart rate monitor will calculate both your calories and fat burned during a workout session.

The Hybrid Plus is a recommended heart rate monitor for anyone who will want to take advantage of the dual reading methods.  Should you plan on always wearing the transmitter strap, then the Hybrid Plus does lose a lot of its appeal.  If this is what you plan to do, then you can probably find a different heart rate monitor that offers more features or that is less expensive.