Timex Personal Heart Rate Monitor Watch T5G941

Suggested Retail Price: $49.99

Rating: 8/10

Top Features

• Automatic activity and workout review
• Large, easy to read display
• Transmitter belt battery can be replaced by user

Product Specs

• Displays heart rate, average and peak heart rate, and exercise time
• Full clock and calendar function with timer
• INDIGLO® night-light
• 2 year average battery life
• Water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters)
• 1 year limited warranty

Disadvantages

• Few extra features
• You have to program your own target heart rate zone
• No computer or software support

Review

The Timex Personal T5G941 is the most basic heart rate monitor made by Timex, and they describe it as an affordable, entry-level model.  Indeed, there are very few extra features to be found on it.  It's certainly not the best heart rate monitor for everyone, but for those that want a monitor to simply measure their heart rate, it does the job accurately and easily.

Many people who choose this heart rate monitor do so because it's one of the easiest to read if your eyesight is less than perfect.  It has an extra large display, and the INDIGLO backlight makes the reading clear in dark conditions.  Truly, you'll be hard pressed to find a heart rate monitor that is simpler to read than the Timex Personal.  Another positive aspect of this model is the user replaceable battery, meaning you won't have to send the chest strap transmitter to the manufacturer, which is often the case for heart rate monitors. 

Although there are not many extra features for this monitor, it can still be useful in athletic training.  You'll still be able to get a workout review after your work out session, which will give you pulse rate statistics, such as average, minimum, and maximum heart rate.  However, it lacks some fairly basic functions, like zone settings.  Also, it doesn't not calculate calories burned, which is something that most heart rate monitor models can do.  So if you're looking to lose weight or are on an intensive workout program, this won't be the most helpful of models.

Considering the lack of versatility for the Timex Personal heart rate monitor, it may seem surprising that the overall rating for it is so high.  This is because it's intended for those who primarily want to measure their pulse rate, and don't care about advanced features.  In fact, this heart rate monitor will be quite insufficient for many people.  But if it meets your needs, it's a very good value at a very low price.