83 Responses

1. Cheap, simple & easy to use

   March 16th, 2009

   I’ve used the Omron HR-100C three times so far and it is cheap, simple and easy to use. All you have to do is “wet” the contacts on the chest strap and it starts reading immediately. The Omron gives a reading exactly equal to or w/in 1-2 beats above that of the electronic readings on my gym’s treadmill and elliptical machines. The readout is large and easy for my nearsighted eyes to read and the watch comes with a convenient carrying case in which to store the watch, strap and instructions. It doesn’t have a coded signal to prevent conflict with other monitors (but I haven’t had any problem with this yet) and it doesn’t come w/any memory or readout features (but I don’t need them). However, it only costs $32.49 and does all that you need to do to monitor your heart rate while you workout and, if that’s all you need, I highly recommend it.

2. Omron HR-100c heart rate monitor

   March 16th, 2009

   The heart monitor worked just as described. I am pleased with the device and recommend it to anyone wanting a basic monitor.

3. works great, but watchband is stiff

   March 16th, 2009

   As long as I moisten the chest strap, this reliably reports my heart rate. I checked it by comparing with gym machines that detect my pulse from handlebars. Most gym machines will also pick up the signal from the chest strap, so the watch receiver isn’t necessary in that place. Some of the gym machines will display random glitches even when nobody else is nearby and the wrist receiver shows a believable pulse. The main problem is that the watchband is stiff. With my narrow wrists, it won’t lie flat against the wrist near the buckle. It’s not uncomfortable, it just doesn’t fit right.

4. A Great Heart Rate Monitor

   March 16th, 2009

   I bought the Omron HR-100C heart rate monitor after putting up with the Polar brand monitors for many years. The Polar monitors worked well, but the display unit and the chest belt each had built-in batteries that, when they died, could be replaced only by Polar. You had to send it to Polar for replacement – a nuisance, and costly. This Omron system is different in that the batteries in both the display unit and the chest belt are easily replaceable by the user. Aside from that, the Omron system works as well as the Polar, and appears to be well built. However, I do have one minor caveat: If your heart rate exceeds the maximum that you set the system for, the resultant alarm is only visual, not audible as with Polar.

5. Great Value

   March 16th, 2009

   I have been using the Omron HR-100C for a couple of months and I am really satisfied with it. It just do what it is suppose to do: measures heart rate. I don’t need any more. I have used other more (a lot more) expesive monitors with many functions, but I did not really need all those functions. I use this monitor while excercising in my house or the gym, where the belt sincronizes automatically with exercise machines and I can double check the heart rate. Now I am going to use it while swimming. I hope it works ok too.

6. Perfect for its purpose

   March 17th, 2009

   This heart rate monitor does exactly what it’s supposed to do–continuously measure your heart rate accurately. I’ve used this unit every day for 40 days. I had a $110 Polar unit for 12 years with more “bells & whistles” than this Omron unit, but most people don’t need all the extras. I purchased this unit skeptically after reading all the negative reviews about it here. Some of the reviews made no sense, such as the reviewer that was told units were shipped with almost worn-out batteries??? Why would a company do that? Omron may have a huge quality-control problem if all the defective complaint reviews are accurate. However, I have nothing but positive results to report: Unit is extremely accurate–wet the strap where it contacts your chest, as recommended by Omron, and you will get very accurate readings. (When all else fails, read the instructions.) Tighten the chest strap so it’s snug, but not too tight. The readings are right on after numerous accuracy checks. The built-in HR monitors on gym equipment are NOT very accurate, if you don’t know that already. The transmitter belt is compatible with any Polar-compatible gym equipment so it will work on many pieces of common gym equipment. It’s nice that this transmitter belt’s battery is easily replaced, but that’s not that big a deal. My Polar transmitter belt is using the original battery–12 years later. I have replaced the Polar watch battery once in 12 years. For $32.49 through Amazon, this unit’s a bargain. The uppper and lower HR zone alarms are not useful; you can’t hear the alarm in any gym setting. However, once you start using a HR monitor you will soon know your 3-4 important zones by memory and can adjust your workout accordingly. If you’re wondering why I exercised for the past 40 days, I just read a GREAT book, Younger Next Year, which states we should exercise at least six days a week for optimal health and fitness. The book explains in detail the proper use of a HR monitor. I can’t recommend this book enough if you want to maximize your health and quality of life.

7. Excellent purchase

   March 17th, 2009

   I am not really a pro runner or anything, so I don’t think my review will be as helpful as some other ones here. Despite that, I have to say i really like this watch. It fits comfortably on my wrist and the heart band does not bother me at all. From I have researched this is a pretty standard watch, but for this price I think it’s a pretty good choice for anyone who wants to start practicing exercices and feel the need to have a heart monitor.

8. Excellent Monitor

   March 25th, 2009

   The Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor has functioned perfectly from the moment it arrived. It does not have a lot of bells and whistles but it does just what I purchased it for–to monitor my daily cardio exercise routine. Most importantly, for me, the price was right.

9. Great for recovery or exercising in general

   March 26th, 2009

   I had a heart attack at 36 years old. My cardio rehabilitation requires me to work out below certain heart beats (120, 130, 140, etc.). So I got this watch for walking around the neighborhood. Doing the cardio rehab, I noticed that the chest strap syncs up with equipment that states it will do the same for Polar watches. Now I am hitting 24 Hour Fitness and it syncs with all of their equipment. This allows me to monitor my heart rate while exercising, reducing the risk of another heart attack. This allows me to work out at a rate just below my max allowed, but high enough to benefit from the workout as much as possible. I’ve been using this for a couple of hours per day for the past 4 weeks and it’s still going strong. Even if the battery fails, I can replace it without sending it to the manufacturer. It even has a low and high pulse alert with audible warning. Another awesome thing is that it updates the watch real time without having to push a button. The only down side is no compatability with computer software and ocassionally if you are bent over or dry it can drop the signal; however, at the very low cost that I paid, I wasn’t expecting that function. This serves my needs and my therapist all have commended me for using this during my workouts.

10. strap too big

    March 27th, 2009

    I like the product for simply monitoring my heart rate and its pretty easy and straight forward to use .It comes with a little bag to carry it in and it has a neat piece that can be clipped on to a bike – you can tie the watch around this piece and have your heart rate right in front of you on the handle bars instead of having to look at your wrist. Great for spinning class . The only complaint I have is that the strap is not made to be small enough for someone who is petite. ( 34″ at chest). Even when I adjusted the straps I could not get to it to fit snug so I wear it under a sports bra that helps hold in in place.

11. great monitor at a great price

    March 27th, 2009

    Very happy with this monitor. I recommend changing the batteries right off the bat. No way to tell how long it sat in the warehouse. Price is very good. Ten dollars less than I could find one for anywhere in stores near me.

12. Great Heart Rate Monitor

    March 31st, 2009

    This is a great heart rate monitor. Only problem was that it is slightly too large for me. So if you are a woman, you may want to look at monitors made specifically for woman. However if I wear it under my sports bra, it seems to stay put. I’ve never used a heart rate monitor before so I don’t have anything else to compare it with. I like this one though and think it’s a good price too.

13. Heart Rate Monitor

    March 31st, 2009

    Great product. Works as advertised, nice side effect was that the chest strap also transmitted to the treadmills I use at my gym.

14. Omron Heart Rate Review

    April 2nd, 2009

    I purchased this product to make my aerobic workouts more effective. It has been perfect for that. It was easy to set-up, reasonably priced, and easy to use. It was a perfect combination of price and function for how I wanted to use it.

15. Works great-simple

    April 3rd, 2009

    This is simple and works just as it should. Even displays on our treadmills at the gym if they are “heartrate monitor” ready.

16. Highly accurate

    April 4th, 2009

    I wear the Omron 100C all day long because of health problems with my heart. At the doctor’s office the other day I was wearing this Omron device while at the same time my finger was in the doctor’s heart-monitoring device. The doctor wanted to see how accurate the Omron was, in order to make sure I was getting an accurate reading at home. (The doctor’s device was a lot more expensive than this $35 watch you can get off of Amazon.) In about 5 minutes of monitoring, the doctor’s heart monitor and my Omron were never more than 2 or 3 bpm apart. In other words a very acceptable margin of accuracy. So I’m happy with my purchase. The only real downside is that the battery runs out after about 30 days of all-day use. Also the chest strap can be a bit of a pain. But other than those two things (which are probably unavoidable downsides), I recommend the Omron 110C because of the aforementioned high amount of accuracy.

17. Chest strap was too big

    April 8th, 2009

    I like the watch but the chest strap is too big for me. This is definitely a heart rate monitor that is better suited to men.

18. Great watch

    April 9th, 2009

    Works exactly as I expected. Has just the features I want. Omron is a good company and makes a product that costs about 60.00 less than a timex or equivalent.

19. Good Monitor- Using for Pregnancy Heart Rate Monitoring

    April 15th, 2009

    I like this and the price was right! I’m using it to monitor my heart rate during pregnancy to ensure it doesn’t go over 140 bpm and the readings seem on target. The readings stay within a pretty small range during my workout which increases my confidence in the product. It’s comfortable and I appreciate the included stand to mount it on my treadmill. The setup was fairly easy (only problem was it forces the upper end of your range based on the lower number and there seems to be no way to change it). I would recommend this monitor to others including pregnant women.

20. Not completely satisfatory.

    April 16th, 2009

    Pros: It arrived quickly and it comes with a really good case. Easy to use (to set max and min rates, for instance). The transmitter sends the information to the treadmill so you wouldn’t have to look at your wrist to check the HR. Cons: It started to show rates of 222 bpm and got back to correct information in the screen but I lost my patience when it happened in the 4th time in the same run and gave it to my brother :p But maybe it is random.

21. Works Great! So far.

    April 16th, 2009

    Purchased this a few weeks ago. I have only used it a few times and have not had any difficulties with it so far. I gave it 4 stars cause it does everything I expected and the craftsmanship is acceptable (but not great).

22. Awesome deal!!

    April 23rd, 2009

    This is a basic, simple, easy to use heart rate monitor. And a bonus- my treadmill picks up the signal. No problems with signal. Very good for the money!

23. good value

    April 23rd, 2009

    Product is sturdy and well made. Has occasional fits of wacky readings, but 97% of the time it works just fine. Interfaces well with the gym equipment – stepper, treadmill, bike etc. all pick up the monitor readings. Comes with a nice zippered carry case.

24. Poor Quality

    April 28th, 2009

    This is the second HeartRate monitor I’ve owned. My first was a Polar model, which I unfortunately lost during a move. I bought this Omron HR-100C model primarily due to its price, and also seeing that it was a best-seller on Amazon. Unfortunately I’ve found the quality lacking. Particularly when trying to switch between HeartRate and other modes, the watch will beep when the button is pressed, but won’t always change modes. (It takes repeated presses of the button to change.) This is especially frustrating when you’re riding and trying to fiddle with the fool thing. If all you need is a basic HR monitor, this will work. But if you also want to see the time, or use the stopwatch, I would look elsewhere.

25. too big...

    May 1st, 2009

    I haven’t had a problem with it yet, it is pretty accurate, but not the most comfortable fit. I bet it is a lot more comfortable on men, or on a thicker built. I have to make it as small as possible and make sure my sports bra has a good grip on it, otherwise it becomes more of a problem than anything else. Even so, halfway through the activity I have to readjust it.

26. great heart rate measurement

    May 1st, 2009

    The Omron HR -100c heart rate monitor gives a very accurate reading. It’s one of the best watches I’ve ever worn. The chest strap is necessary for the more precise reading. Whatever you do don’t waste your money on a more expensive brand.

27. Another positive review to add to the pile

    May 4th, 2009

    This is my first HRM and I have to admit I was concerned about what I was getting myself into. I read a lot about HRM’s and there was simply so much information I was at a loss. After 2 weeks of use (4 days per week) I can now say that this was an excellent purchase. ACCURACY – I read reviews that said this HRM was not the most accurate and as I had a doctors appointment three days after it arrived I took it with me. The monitor was 2 beats higher in a sitting position and 2 beats in a standing. I consider that variance extremely negligible and just factored it in to my workout rotation. **** I have not taken this HRM biking or swimming. **** COMFORT – The HRM was much more comfortable than I had anticipated and stayed in place without irritation during a 30 min road run, a 45 min tread mill run, and a 45 min Plyometric workout. During the treadmill run I did attach the watch to the treadmill itself and it seemed to read as accurately as if it was on my wrist. I had some chest irritation from a weekend sunburn and the monitor did chafe a little due to the slight movement up and down when a good sweat started but donning a light runners shirt solved the problem and there seemed to be no change in the ability to read my HR. Ease of use – It is very easy to get started with the product. It was ready to go out of the box and with a quick strap adjustment for chest size I put the monitor and watch on, pressed the red button and the number quickly came up. *** Large number display was easy to read even during frantic movement. Some of the other functions were not as intuitive as setting the time and starting the monitor but this is certainly not the hardest watch I’ve ever set. Aside – - Most ppl want an HRM to make sure they are in there zone. This HRM helped me realize that there were places in my routine where I was moving over 185 and I was able to scale back in those areas. That’s a dangerous place for your heart and I’m glad I bought this product and found out I was putting myself in harms way. ————— Conclusion – I’m very happy with the product. It is a very inexpensive introduction to the HRM world and fits my uses perfectly. A buddy of mine purchased this for P90x at the same time and has the same affection for it as I do … He likes it much better than his original Rebok due to the easy of reading the display and comfort. There is no calorie counter but … I really don’t think buying the HRM’s with them are worth the added cost considering the performance of this ‘base’ model. ***** I did not test this in the water. ++++++++++ If your trying to figure out why to get a strap rather than just a watch, it’s because the strapless HRM’s require you to stop moving in order to take a reading. They are also less accurate (although some of the newer $300+ ones are said to be better). Just thought I’d throw that in since I spent alot of time trying to figure that out. The straps are much more comfortable than I thought.

28. What I expected.

    May 5th, 2009

    I only used it a couple time, it seems to doing what it should. I hope it will last if I use it more.

29. Heart Rate Monitor Works Most of the Time

    May 7th, 2009

    The Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor works, most of the time. During a workout, the monitor can suddenly display a 0 (zero) heart rate. Pressing the chest strap contact pads against the chest will usually restore the display of the actual heart rate. The monitor comes with a convenient storage case, and a block for attaching the watch portion of the monitor to most any bar on your exercise equipment.

30. Cheap plastic broke

    May 14th, 2009

    The only issue I have with this product is the quality of the plastic used on the watch. My watch broke where the strap meets the watch. It just chipped off even though I have had it for a year with minimal use. So now I am left with the watchface that I must hold in my hand while I run.

31. GOOD FOR PRICE

    May 15th, 2009

    THE DEVICE WORKS WELL, THE TRANSMISSION IS CORRECT AND I DO NOT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE READING ONE

32. It is good for price

    June 30th, 2009

    This heart monitor was a good price and it works just fine. It was fairly easy to program following the directions in the booklet that comes with it. What it doesn’t do which I thought it would is notify you when you are over or under your personal range for where your heart rate zone should be: it doesn’t! The band is also not small enough for me and it did not come with a smaller band so it slips down while I am working out. My chest is about 34″ so if you are bigger than that it should be fine. Ultimately it works and if you are ok with constantly looking at your watch while working out to know if you are in the zone then it will be good for you.

33. Omron HR 100C Heart Rate Monitor

    June 30th, 2009

    Product was very easy to use, & very helpful in keeping heart rate in target zone.

34. Great monitor

    July 6th, 2009

    Have used for several weeks now. Works beautifully and is a steal compared to other brands.

35. Great Beginnings

    July 6th, 2009

    I have been working out in a gym and wanted a really good basic heart rate monitor to help me adjust my workouts and maximize my time at the gym. This unit is easy to use and easy to wear, easy to understand and gets the job done. I have several Omron products and they are true workhorses and of good, durable quality.

36. Heart Monitor

    July 15th, 2009

    I am somewhat disappointed with this product because it seems to be taking in water whenever I go into a pool. This doesn’t seem to be affecting its operation, but the screen fogs up until the moisture evaporates. It’s supposed to be water resistant; the pool is only 5 feet deep.

37. Works great at the gym

    July 30th, 2009

    I’ve been a bit frustrated by the Precor cardio machines I like to work out on at the gym since they only have heart rate pads on the stationary grips and not the moving ones. I use the moving grips during the higher intensity intervals of my workout so that meant I wasn’t able to see my heart rate during those periods. I’d move my hands to the stationary grips during thet low intensity intervals but it’d sometimes take 20-30 seconds for it to start showing a number which gave my heart time to slow down so I didn’t know what rates I was actually hitting. Also, on many of the machines at the gym the heart rate pads either would read abnormally low or not work at all. The chest strap worked perfectly with all of the Precor machines I’ve tried it with and it neatly avoids all of these problems. Now I can keep my hands on the moving grips for the entire workout and I also don’t have to keep switching machines trying to find one with a good set of heart rate pads. The chest strap is comfortable to wear for my hour long workouts. It’s very motivating for me to be able to see instant and continuous feedback on my exercise. As far as the watch… Well, I don’t think Omron could have made the watch any cheaper feeling or dorky looking if they tried. It does seem to work well enough though. To be honest I bought this mainly for the chest strap anyway — the watch will be spending most of its life in the case.

38. Great buy for $32

    July 31st, 2009

    This was the best deal I could find when I was looking for a heart rate monitor. I found a new oregon scientific for the same price but reviews were bad, and later found this to be ranked as number 2 after Polar FS. Pros: Water proof watch, ease of Use and seems accurate. Cons: Does not have vibrate mode for alert, does not have any profile meory or download to computer(but you don’t really need the computer hookup or profile options). Overall very happy with the product, been using it since a month and no complains.

39. A Great Fitness Aid

    August 8th, 2009

    I’ve been using the HR-100C for about a week now and am completely satisfied with my purchase. Following the manual it was easy to set up and begin using. I use it to keep myself in the aerobic exercise zone while walking. To get going all you need to do is strap on the transmitter and the wrist receiver monitor and begin your exercise. Place the transmitter in the center of your chest with the Omron logo facing outwards a few inches below the nipples as shown in the manual. The transmitter must be in good contact with your skin. Press the Time/Heart button (lower right) to view your heart rate. It may take a few seconds for the monitor to begin showing a rate. I’ve also run into situations where the monitor briefly stops showing a heart rate and believe this is due to local radio interference since it’s always at the same location. It doesn’t last for long and isn’t a problem. You can also set the time, date and day. The unit arrived with the correct time and date but incorrect day of the week. This is easily corrected during set up. The instruction manual shows you how to compute your desired heart rate limits – lower and upper – and enter them into the monitor. During a workout a small blinking heart appears below a larger beating heart icon if you are below your lower limit and above the icon if you are above your upper limit. You can also activate a heart rate alert that double-beeps when you are out of your desired heart rate range. I found this to be more of an annoyance than a help since it beeps all the while I’m coming up to my desired rate and again while I’m cooling down. Also, the beep is the same for both below and above limit. So I keep this feature turned off. However, if you want to use this feature you must remember to turn it back on for every workout since it seems to go off by itself after a period of inactivity. I’ve worn the Omron transmitter in the gym and the Nautilus treadmills there pick up the signal automatically and show your heart rate on their display. The unit has a stopwatch function which I don’t use that much but I’ve noticed that if you are timing yourself and currently monitoring your heart rate and wish to stop the stopwatch, you must first exit the monitoring function before the ST/SP button can be pressed. This means that you need to press two buttons. There is a $[...] rebate out there for this item. I found a rebate coupon with my Omron blood pressure monitor purchased earlier this year.

40. What's up with this? OMRON HR-100C

    August 8th, 2009

    I have had the omron HR100C for about five months. It has been reliable, as far as I can tell. It agrees well with my elyptical machine pulse counter. Today, it started to read about one half my pulse rate. There was no warning, no battery signal, which is a feature with this unit. I am curious if it needs a battery, again, no indication of that. Do the ‘conductive pads’ need cleaning? This is the first sign of failure for the device. It is troubling, this sort of failure, in that it might encourage someone to over-exert themself, to make up for the ‘low’ indication of the device. This is rather shocking. It is lucky I had the elyptical machine-generated pulse rate at twice the rate, obviously a failure of the Omron device, to gauge my work out. Heaven knows what might have happened otherwise. Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor Is this a common problem? There was no indication of low battery, yet a dangerously low HR indication… exactly one half my HR!!!

41. Heart Health

    September 14th, 2009

    As a heart patient I was looking for something to help me in my exercise program. This monitor is the thing. Its operation is simple and accurate. It is reliable and unlike some more expensive monitors that are out there it allows you to change your own batteries instead of sending it away for a battery change at a “nominal” fee. Plus it eliminates the time lost in sending it away. Overall a great bargain.

42. Just what I needed

    September 14th, 2009

    I needed an accurate heart rate monitor so that I could “control” my rate while doing my aerobic exercise and the HR-100C completely satisfies this need. I have not used any of the other functions.

43. Great heart monitor!

    September 21st, 2009

    This is my first heart monitor, which I bought after carefully researching different products and reviews. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy or too expensive. I must say that I’m very happy with my purchase and that for the price this product provides great value. I read some complaints about the product not working properly if the sensor was not wet, but this is in the instruction manual, so it’s not a surprise or a product defect. You just have to make sure to moist the sensor a bit with water before starting your work-out. In short, the product works great, provides the features I need (nothing too fancy) and it’s great value at a reasonable price. Would recommend it to anyone looking for a basic heart rate monitor at a reasonable price.

44. Omron HR-100C

    September 22nd, 2009

    Easy to use. Gives you constant pulse rate. Works with machines at my fitness center where their machine counters often or out of order.

45. Good for the Price

    October 13th, 2009

    After about a month’s worth of use this monitor seems like a good, entry-level monitor. It works well with all of the machines at the gym with built-in heart rate receivers, and for the price I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase again.

46. Exactly what I needed

    October 13th, 2009

    I have been using this HRM now for about 3 weeks and I love it. This is the first monitor I have ever owned and it does exactly what I wanted it to do, tell me my heart rate. I have been using it for running and it has helped me keep up a good pace and I’ve found that I am actually running faster because I can keep myself in a tight zone. I have not used the alarm setting but rather I just glance down at the watch to see whether I am above or below my target and I am able to quickly adjust my pace more or less depending on the reading. I also make use of the stopwatch function, however, you cannot see your HR and time on the same display. This is not really a problem as far as I’m concerned because you just have to press the red button once and cycle between the two screens. There is no logging capabilities which might be nice but for $34 you really can’t ask for anything more. I have not had battery or detection trouble as others have described so I was happy with that. The case it comes with is also a nice feature. The chest strap is not uncomfortable but it does have a tendency to loosen up over time so be sure to adjust before every use. Also, the strap is fairly large which is ok for me but would be a problem for smaller people. Overall I am completely satisfied with this purchase.

47. Good Heart Rate Monitor

    October 24th, 2009

    I’ve had this since Aug. 09 and have been very happy with its performance. I use it on a stationary bike in my basement. It comes with a gizmo that allows you to mount it (the watch) to the handlebars on the bike. In the old days when I used the much overpriced Polar I had to use double sided tape to mount it. The other thing I like about it is that u can replace the battery yourself on the transmitter (The part that attaches to your chest). You simply insert a coin in the slot on the back of the transmitter and remove the quarter sized cover to gain access to the battery. It uses a common type of watch battery available at Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc. With the polar u had to ship the whole transmitter to them and they had to break the harmetic seal and replace it. This is not cheap and the batteries only lasted around 12-14mos. Not to mention the delay in recieving it back from them. I highly recommend this product for its performance, convenience and reasonable price. Below is the exact model I purchased. Go ahead and click on it for more info: Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor

48. Great product for price

    November 7th, 2009

    I purchased this heart rate monitor to kick up my cardio workouts. It works great – with just a few minor issues. the first is that it was advertised as a woman’s monitor, but the strap is pretty large. I’ve got it adjusted to the smallest possible length, and still have to tuck it up under my workout tops. The other issue is with the warranty. To get the warranty, you need to fill in the serial number, which is supposed to be on the back. I have not found it yet and will need to call the company. Small stuff. Overall, a very good product.

49. wonderful tool for the gym

    November 18th, 2009

    This is a great tool for use in the gym. I use it during spin class and it keeps me on track. Easy to use. Comfortable. Nice way to keep on pace. Have since started using it during other exercise, such as stairmaster and biking. It has helped me to get to know my body better and it’s a great way to see how much healthier my heart has gotten, getting back to “resting” pulse quicker and quicker each time.

50. simple & effective

    November 24th, 2009

    All I wanted was a heart rate monitor and a watch. Because I didn’t want all the extra fancy feature, I was worried I would have to purchase a piece of junk that would die after a year. However, I am very happy with this simple, inexpensive item. It’s exactly what I wanted and looks and feels like a quality item.

51. great price, kind of BIG...caution to the small-boned!

    November 28th, 2009

    The GOOD: * amazingly low price. other heart rate monitors seemed quite pricey and i did not know if i really needed one. this is a great monitor for the first-time user * works with gym electronic bikes and treadmills. the heart rate automatically displays in front of you on your machine. cool! * watch depicted heart rates are analogous to the treadmill/bike machine’s heart rate readings The BAD: * well, unless i read the instructions wrong, it seems like you can only go one direction when programming things into the watch. for example, if you want to put in a maximum heart rate, you have to keep pushing the up button until you peak 220, then keep going through the low numbers until you reach your target max heart rate. a little bit of a pain. * if you are small-boned, it is a tad big. i feel like it is more of a man’s watch but i still use it anyways. i have to have the watch flipped so the facing is against the bottom of my wrist to keep it comfortable. the manual says the chest strap can go to 22″ as the smallest setting. let’s just say, i’m on the smallest setting and i have not lost the weight i want to yet. overall, this product appears to be made for larger people but works for the tiny if you are on a budget * i don’t use conductive gel. sometimes the heart rate monitor loses grip and does not read onto my watch. it just says “0″. but, once i work up a sweat, it works quite well. nothing to worry about. The UGLY: * nothing yet. i have only been using it for 1 week. i think it’s a great buy

52. Great Product Great Price

    November 29th, 2009

    Great value Comfortable (Also, Large range of adjustment for fit, maybe 1″ more than Timex on wrist) Simple to use Simple Data (time/date/alarm, stopwatch, current heart rate, min\max alarm) NO history or data logging. Most of the time when you only spend $30 on something you think it’s going to be poorly made and feel like no one put any time or effort into the design. This product although very simple has a nice look. Your wife won’t let you wear it to church but it isn’t distracting. Also the buttons have nice travel and a soft push, think opposite of the original Timex Ironman. The wrist band is generous, I normally can’t wear sport watches because my wrists are to big but this one has room to spare, also rare for $30. The transmitter is simple plastic on the front 12″ and then an adjustable elastic band, again I’m a big guy and this would fit someone bigger. The battery on the chest strap is easy to get to and the watch would need jeweler’s screwdriver. Just got it today so I don’t know about battery life. The watch seems to know when it isn’t moving and stops update HR this is a plus because it will save batteries.

53. Replacable batteries - Beats Polar Heart Monitors by a mile.

    November 30th, 2009

    I bought this monitor for one reason, the replaceable batteries in both the chest strap and wrist receiver. I have had two Polar Heart Monitors and was sick and tired of throwing out the chest strap when the batteries failed. The Omron works the same, if not better, than the Polar and now I can count on a device that will last several years with it’s replaceable batteries.

54. works maybe 60% of the time

    November 30th, 2009

    shakey, shakey, shakey, reading all over the place, then for extended periods of time it stops all together. how do i get my money back?????????????

55. Does what its supposed to do, interference sucks

    December 6th, 2009

    Why pay $50, $60 or over $100 dollars for a heart rate monitor? I have to say most of the extra features on more expensive models such as ” fat loss calculator ” are inaccurate and use very outdated formulas that are laughable and flat out inaccurate, Knowing these facts I decided I would go for a model that just measures my heart rate, that’s all I need and for some reason I had a hard time finding just that until I ran into the Omron HR-100C. I don’t usually go to the gym when its crowded, so I had no problems with electronic interference , but I can notice that when someone happens to jump on the cycle or treadmill next to me, his machine is reading my heart rate too, I’m sure if someone wearing another heart rate monitor comes next to me I wouldn’t like this model so much. I guess I just have to keep reminding myself ” hey its less than $40 ”

56. not reliable

    December 11th, 2009

    Worked great for a week. Then stopped picking up HR. Not sure why but I only used it to go on elliptical and did sweat alot. I was glad that Amazon refunded it promptly. I ordered the Timex thru Amazon and so far, very pleased.

57. Great Product

    December 13th, 2009

    Often times people either exert or under work their heart while exercising and I never did trust my Gym’s cardio heart rate monitor. When I seen this product i had to give it a try. I’m glad i did, it gives your heart rate displays on the wrist watch. Make it even better some cardio machines actually picks up HR signal and displays on the cardio machine without requiring you holding the heart rate metal connections on the cardio machines. I definitely recommend this product.

58. Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor a great deal!

    December 16th, 2009

    This wrist watch/ heart rate monitor with chest band works exactly as advertised! It doesn’t have all the bells & whistles that many much more expensive brands offer – but if what you really need is just a stopwatch/ timer to keep track of your exercise length & an accurate heart rate monitor that’s OK for SWIMMING this is it! I purchased a cheaper model (KYTO brand) that said it was water resistant to 30 meters, then when I opened up the packaging, it said that the chest belt was NOT water resistant for swimming. So, you swimmers out there – this one DOES work for swimming laps.

59. A good buy

    December 16th, 2009

    Item is as good as some of the costlier ones. It is typical that we look for a lot of bells and whistles when we buy a product but end up using basically for the primary reason for which we buy the product. I bought the Omron HR-100c Heart Rate Monitor to monitor my heartrate when I’m exercising. It works perfectly well. I’m satisfied.

60. Works and its comfortable

    December 17th, 2009

    it does exactly what I need. give me my heart rate and it comfortable. also came with an attachment to put on a bike so you can monitor your heart rate while riding. I found the reading to be accurate and quick. able to set upper and lower target zones (beeps). currently doing the P90X program and it really lets you know where you are, if you should slow it down or pick it up.

61. Works great

    December 23rd, 2009

    This heart rate monitor works great right out of the box. You may need to dampen the back side of the sensor to make correct contact, but I have had not problem at all with it showing my heart rate.

62. "98 foot range" = false advertising ?

    December 26th, 2009

    The one factor that made me decide to get this one, rather than the competitors, was that the amazon.com description said … “Chest transmitter belt sends data to the receiver at a distance of up to 98 feet (30 meters)” But when I got the actual product, and looked in the instruction manual, it says on page 12 … “Effective Range: The Transmitter and Wrist Receiver Monitor should be worn or mounted within 50 centimeters (20 inches) from each other.” Kinda seems like false-advertising to me :\

63. AT Last!

    December 29th, 2009

    This Omron heart rate monitor does it all and does it simply. The others I have owned require the skills of a programmer to get the desired results. With this instrument you can have as many or as few functions as you wish with a minimum of fuss.

64. Wonderful product

    January 7th, 2010

    After reading several of the previous reviews, I decided to give this HR monitor a try. It was a great decision. I find myself working harder at the gym. I’ve always wetted the sensors per instructions and have yet to have a problem with it working. It works perfectly with the gym equipment! No more trying to hold the sensors while running on the treadmill. Yipee! It doesn’t have all the features of more expensive monitors but for someone like me that just wants to stay in the correct zone for a great workout, it’s perfect.

65. User friendly product

    January 10th, 2010

    I purchased it a couple months ago and use it daily. I needed a basic heart rate monitor without all the fancy features. It is easy to use and seems accurate all the time. BTW I found out that all the work out equipment at the YMCA that I go to pick up the signal from chest strap, so I do not have to even wear the watch when I work out at Y. Recommend it to everybody.

66. It's Kind of Mediocre

    January 15th, 2010

    I got it to track my heart beats when I’m bicycling for pleasure. I just need it to know when I’m “in the zone.” I guess it does tell me that, but it’s extraordinarily erratic, bouncing up and down 20 or so beats per minute several times per minute. I can get a fairly decent idea of whether I’m in the 105 to 115 zone versus the 130 to 150 zone, but it can’t do much more than that for me. It may be that I have the world’s most erratic heart, but my hunch is that it just isn’t all that great or precise an instrument. I can even sit still, meditate, and watch it vary by 10 beats per minute in the course of a minute, up and down, up and down. But hey, I bought the low price spread so I can’t complain that it’s not butter…..

67. a worthy investment for training

    January 31st, 2010

    I’m very happy with this product. I’m training for a triathlon, and vacillated about whether I should get a “strapless” model or not. If you’re doing heart-rate training, I like having an instant readout to glance at, whether you’re on your bike or while running (or it says you can swim in it…). I couldn’t imagine having to place my fingers on the strapless watch electrodes and waiting a few seconds for a readout while training. I had to play around with the strap until I found where it “rode” comfortably without slipping–it actually seems to be a little lower down on my torso than it’s “supposed” to, but I find the readings to be accurate. This product has a relatively simple design and isn’t loaded with features, but I find it be a great training companion–probably one of the single-most valuable training tool I have, and it’s revolutionized my experience.

68. works great for great price

    January 31st, 2010

    I just needed a basic heart rate monitor. It works great with the watch and links up with gym equipment. love it.

69. Just what i was looking for......

    February 1st, 2010

    Very good product for the price. Never had any problems using it. Set up was quick and painless. Only minor problem, The straps are too big. Im kind-of small and had to tie back strap in a knot because it slips down when i am doing hard core cardio. But would definatly recommend!!!!

70. Good Value in a Heart Monitor

    February 5th, 2010

    I use a heart monitor with my exercise program at least 4 days of every week. I bought the Omron HR-100c over a month ago and have been using it regularly. It seems to serve my purposes without a glitch. Amazon had it reasonably priced and it was delivered in rapid fashion. I’m sure you can find more expensive monitors, though not sure you’ll need to spend any extra money over this Omron.

71. Pretty good little device

    February 5th, 2010

    Heart Rate Monitor. I does what it’s supposed to. You know, you strap it around your chest, wear the watch, and work out. The watch beeps when you are out of the range that you set for your heart rate. The two components involved seem to be sturdy, and well made. I would not go diving with the watch, but that’s why I have a dive watch. I do wish it had some sort of memory feature so that I could look back at previous heart rates. For reasons of personal competition. But I also wish it had a compass, gps, mph, and iTunes. I bet someone would make me one that did all that for the right price. But I bought the near bottom of the line device, because I’m new at this stuff, and didn’t want to spend a whole lot of money. I do not regret my decision. I enjoy this little doohicky with great fervor.

72. doesn't work at the gym

    February 7th, 2010

    there’s an interference with gym equipment and it doesnt pick up a signal. I returned it.

73. too much interference with gym machines and other HRMs

    February 8th, 2010

    Works great when there aren’t other HRMs or electric gym equipment around, however there is a lot of interference in a workout room. Since I work out primarily in a gym this didn’t work for me, I would get readings that were +/- 60 bpm from one second to the next. I am returning it and buying an HRM with a coded transmitter/receiver. On the positive side the watch is very functional and gets the job done for someone looking for a simple HRM without a lot of bells and whistles. I am a pretty big guy and had no problems getting the chest strap to fit.

74. Happy with purchase

    February 12th, 2010

    Item functions well and is easy to program & read. Only disappointment is the wrist band is a little large for a petite person.

75. Erroneous Readings

    February 18th, 2010

    Purchased based on good reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere. Just needed basic HRM. Battery in transmitter dead on arrival. Replaced battery. Works correctly for about 10 minutes and then indicates heart rate 30-50 below actual for 5-10 minutes then it will read correctly-cycle repeats. I tried ky instead of water, shaved area where monitor is placed, and tightened straps all with same results. Either I am too picky or I got one of the duds. I purchase a Garmin FR 60($129) and it works for me just fine although it has more features than I need.

76. Heart Rate Monitor - well sometimes

    February 20th, 2010

    This heart rate monitor works well…at times. A lot of times is goes offline or can’t find my heart rate. When’s its working, its great. So far, no other issues. I think you are getting what you pay for – a cheaper heart rate monitor that functions that way. I utilize this at the gym daily. Once I get a strong sweat going, it tends to be working.

77. Excellent in-use functionality, but poorly designed for monitor battery replacement.

    February 21st, 2010

    This monitor gives consistent reading of heart rate during workout. When a workout is finished the monitor can provide you with your maximum heart rate during the session, as well as your average heart rate during exercise, and the total time of exercise. Its functionality as a monitor is excellent. The reason for the less than five star rating is the unfortunately poor design and planning for battery replacement in the monitor. The chest strap battery is easy to change, just insert a coin, remove the battery compartment cover, install a new battery and replace the cover. Unfortunately, the battery in the wrist monitor is not so easy to change. It requires releasing a watch strap pin where the watch strap connects to the monitor, so the watch back can later be removed. Four small screws must then be removed from the back so it can be taken off. Then an even smaller screw, it is quite small, must be removed from the battery cover so a new battery can be reinserted. This process must be reversed to close the watch monitor. This is quite a tedious process requiring jewelers screwdrivers to work with the monitor’s small screws. This process clearly presents some significant problems for the end user. In fact, the manual states in capital letters, “TIMEX STRONGLY RECOMMENDS TAKING YOUR MONITOR TO A LOCAL RETAILER OR JEWELER TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED”. The batteries have proven to be quite long-lived, so perhaps some of the five star reviews may have been made before the batteries needed changing. For a relatively inexpensive monitor to require visiting a retailer or jeweler to replace a battery or risk damaging the monitor is simply poor design. The bottom line: five stars for information display and functionality, two stars for monitor battery replacement design.

78. Stopped working after three months!

    February 22nd, 2010

    This thing stopped working after three months of use. I only used it three times a week too.

79. As Advertised

    February 26th, 2010

    Have owned this unit for 3 months now. So far it is easy to use, no problems.

80. Completely defective

    February 27th, 2010

    Buyer beware. Watch was not even a week old. I had used it during my workouts two times when suddenly I looked down and saw that the time had frozen on the screen. The watch was completely defective after minimal use. Spend more money and purchase a more reliable item.

81. Works exactly as advertised - and price is right!

    March 2nd, 2010

    Omron makes all sorts of measuring devices including ones for medical application, so I figured they ought to be able to make a decent HRM. This one is decent and probably has all the functionality that most folks will ever need. Comes with the chest belt, transmitter, wrist receiver, handlebar adapter, and a nylon fabric case. The wrist receiver has modes for: 1) 24 h time with month, date, day. 2) 24 h alarm. 3) heart rate with lower and upper limit alarms. 4) stopwatch in .01 s. It’s not the most stylish I’ve seen, e.g., part lines on the case, but it does have a traditional wristband assembly so that you can change the wristband if it breaks or offends. Chest belt is comfortable and essentially undetectable during periods of duress. Transmit/receive range is effective to at least full arm’s length or any position on the bike with receiver on the bar – the adapter fits a 1.25″ section easily and should accommodate most any round section bar from about 7/8″ to 1.5″. And, the transmitter works great with the RealAxiom trainer.

82. it's okay

    March 3rd, 2010

    this watch is an entry-level HRM with practically no bells and whistles except for the alarm and HRM out-of-range alerts. what is frustrating with the watch is its frequent loss of connection with the chest sensor. i believe this is because the connection is analog, as against digital with the more expensive HRMs. so, you get what you pay for.

83. Don't Waste Your Time

    March 8th, 2010

    I bought this watch as a replacement for one being repaired it (different brand) didn’t last a month. The screen froze up at 12:55 and could not change mode. It was a waste of time.