Best non-watch heart rate monitors — keep your wrist free without sacrificing the data you need

The Polar H10 was my favorite option out of all the heart rate monitors I tested because of its simplicity, accuracy, and overall comfort. The strap is super durable and feels high-quality without squeezing too tightly or scratching my skin. This tracker was also the thinnest of the bunch, which was a nice change from some of the other trackers that were bulky and less flush to my chest. The strap itself continues to be super durable without any wear-and-tear or added stretch.

The Polar Beat app is exactly what I need: Simple and easy to navigate. The main page includes your real-time heart rate, and the option to begin an activity so you can start collecting data, including caloric burn, average heart rate, max heart rate, and calories burned from fat. You can also set training goals, measure overall fitness, and more in the app if you choose, but I really liked the no-frills experience of the default tracking page.

The only thing I didn't love about the Polar H10 was that it didn't do a great job of wicking away sweat, absorbing most of it instead (gross, I know). But, that was pretty easy to overlook when stacked up against all the other things it does so well.

The Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is pricey, but you get quite a bit for your money. For one, it's extremely durable. I can say with confidence that this strap is never going to break, and the tracker on the front is solid as a brick. This adds some bulk to it, but it didn't necessarily weigh me down during testing. Unfortunately, the strap did come undone more than once during use, which was annoying considering the price and the fact that this didn't happen with any of the other (cheaper) options.

The real good stuff is in the Garmin Connect app, though. It's very in-depth, and features a bevy of analytics options aside from your usual calorie tracking (sleep stats being a standout). There are also in-app challenges that you can use to gamify your workouts for additional motivation, a calendar for logging activities and goals, and more. For me, some of those bonus features were a little superfluous, but I could see how they would enhance the overall experience for others. (What can I say? I like simplicity.)

If you're just getting into wearing a strap-style monitor, the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus wouldn't be my first recommendation. But, if you're already experienced and looking to upgrade, this one is a safe bet.

For less than $40, the Coospo H6 is a pretty solid heart rate monitor. It's not fancy by any means, but it'll get the job done for most people. The companion app, called Heartool, isn't my favorite — it does include the necessities, though. It's wonky and very bare-bones, but if you only care about calorie tracking, it shouldn't be an issue for you.

Overall comfort is OK. It stays secure, which is important, but the elastic band can get a little scratchy after a while (not to a degree that makes it unusable). The strap hasn't shown any signs of deterioration yet, but it certainly feels lower in quality than the others, which you'd probably expect at more than half the price.

All in all, if you're looking for something super basic and budget-friendly as your first heart rate monitor to test out the waters, I recommend starting here.

OK, so I cheated a little bit with this one. Technically, the Whoop 4.0 still uses photoplethysmography to measure your heart rate, like other fitness trackers. And most people do wear it on their wrist. But, it qualified for my top picks because there is a way to wear it on your bicep, which officially ushers it into the "non-watch" category in my book.

Also, Whoop is just great. The band itself isn't anything too revolutionary, but it's comfortable and well-made. Where things really get impressive, though, is the Whoop app. The amount of data you can get here is truly remarkable, especially the sleep analytics that can then be used to set alarms (which wake you up at the optimal time with a small vibration), as well as the strain and recovery metrics. You'll also have access to an in-app journal, goals for performance optimization, Whoop communities, and a whole slate of other features. It's a bummer that you have to pay an expensive membership fee to experience it, but it's worth the money if you value having all that data (to me, I'd pay the price for the sleep coaching alone).

I wish that there was an option for a chest strap, because I think that's the most convenient way to wear one of these things, but maybe Whoop will put one out in the future. I still recommend it in its current state, though.