Running through heart-monitor options

For beginning runners, a less expensive gadget may be all it takes to keep your body and head in sync

It's not just novice runners who are prone to overtraining. Even participants in the Boston Marathon and Olympic-caliber runners can burn out.

But the right heart rate monitor can help keep a runner on track. The devices track heart performance using electrodes attached to a belt that's worn across the chest. The electrodes transmit data to a watch, allowing the runner to monitor whether his or her heartbeat is within the ideal range for age and fitness level.

"With so many runners, their heads are ahead of their bodies," said Terrence Mahon, a coach for Team Running USA, a nonprofit that trains Olympic athletes and promotes the sport. Before hitting the steep paths of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, many of Mahon's athletes strap on heart rate monitors. "It's about getting them more in tune with their instincts."

Just ahead of two of running's biggest events in Boston - the US Olympic marathon trials today and the Boston Marathon tomorrow - the Globe tested five digital heart rate monitors, ranging from a basic Polar RS100 for $119.95 (our choice) to a $299.99 Garmin Forerunner 405, a device that offers the latest global positioning technology (the choice of Mahon, our pro). We tested some of them during 3- to 4-mile runs throughout neighborhoods and parks in Boston, and others on a gym treadmill.

All five models successfully pushed us to run hard, but not too hard. Beyond that, each delivered a different slate of features, from the ability to map routes to an optional pod that attaches to the runner's shoe and records speed and distance.

Garmin Ltd., the Kansas-based company best-known for its global-positioning systems, this week will introduce its newest model to the public, the Forerunner 405, which allows users to share information wirelessly with other 405 owners. The new device takes the best features of its clunky, confusing predecessor, but adds style and simplicity with its touch-sensitive face.

"People wanted more functionality and fashion," Garmin spokesman Jake Jacobson said about the Forerunner 405. While the new model caters to serious athletes, business travelers will appreciate its built-in global-positioning system, which will allow them to run freely in an unfamiliar city without fear of getting lost, he said.

Mahon, who has qualified for the Olympic marathon three times, has been using the Forerunner 405, taking advantage of its ability to track routes and elevation, which helps his runners assess their performance in different conditions and climates.

But the average jogger needs far fewer features. In fact, we found the Polar RS100 and Timex Ironman Triathlon to be the best options for casual runners. They offer basic features such as the ability to save data, enter personal information, and set heart rate targets. They're also cheaper and easy to use.

Whether for a newbie or an experienced athlete, Mahon recommends monitors that allow users to enter the upper and lower heart rates they want to stay within. Usually, the devices will make a beeping noise when performance exceeds or falls below that range, a sound that annoyed some fellow runners at the gym.

Brett Ely, who is planning to compete in today's Olympic trials, also recommends that users consider the comfort of the strap and the watch. Some of the monitors, especially those with the most features, have watches with large faces that will make small-framed people feel like they have a weight strapped to their wrists.

Danielle Kost can be reached at dkost@boston.com.

The monitors:

POLAR RS 200

$159.95

Pros: The watch is comfortable and displays information with large, easy-to-read digits. An optional pod is available that attaches to a sneaker and tracks distance and speed at an added cost of $80.

Cons: Sweat can cause the polyester and nylon strap to slide. The buttons are slightly recessed, which makes them harder to press than those on other models.

Bottom line: The ability to customize helps users tailor their fitness goals, but the best functions require the foot pod, which raises the device's price to $239.95.

TIMEX IRONMAN TRIATHLON

$130

Pros: This model has a clear watch face that's simple to use, with large buttons that make navigating while moving easier. The watch is light and comfortable, and offers several workout options, such as an interval mode for users who like to incorporate sprints and hills.

Cons: Users can't upload performance data such as average heart rate or pace from the monitor to a computer, though they can save information in its watch. It also had the most irritating beep of the bunch.

The bottom line: The Ironman Triathlon monitor is suitable for runners who want straightforward, no-frills design and features at a lower price.

GARMIN FORERUNNER 405

$299.99

Pros: This upgrade to Garmin's Forerunner 305 features a watch with a touch-sensitive bezel that makes scrolling through the monitor's menus simple, even while moving. The menus are also streamlined and more intuitive, and a brief tutorial helps the user get acclimated faster. Users can also share data such as speed and distance wirelessly with other 405 owners.

Cons: It offers a watch with a face that's round and more comfortable than that of the 305, but it's still larger than most competitors'.

Bottom line: This model, which Garmin will introduce to the public this week, offers far more than any leisure jogger needs, but hardcore runners looking for extensive data and analysis will have everything they need. If you're a runner who likes to meander, it might be worth the splurge.

POLAR RS 100

$119.95

Pros: The watch's small face and thin band make it comfortable to wear. Users can enter personal data, such as height, weight, age, and sex. Data can be transferred to a computer. Some gym equipment can detect Polar signals, which allows readers to see their heart rates displayed on a treadmill panel, for example.

Cons: Slightly recessed buttons are tricky to press while moving. It lacks GPS and all the high-end features that can enhance training.

Bottom line: It's perfect for runners looking for the most important features at the best price. A heart monitor newbie will likely find this device easy to use and understand.

GARMIN FORERUNNER 305

$299.99

Pros: Garmin's 305 model offers a sophisticated range of functions and a high-sensitivity GPS receiver that lets runners create routes, race previous times, and avoid getting lost. Users can download information to their computers and use Garmin's software to create graphs and maps.

Cons: Its watch has a large, square, bulky face that's uncomfortable and heavy for runners with small frames. Imagine running with a calculator tied to your wrist.

Bottom line: The cumbersome watch and complicated buttons and menus make it difficult to enjoy the wide array of features. Garmin must have noticed too because its new 405 model eliminates all of those problems.