Mike,

I've been using polar hrm's for awhile. They typically have a 2 year warranty on replacement parts. When the batteries start to go I just send 6 or 7 in at a time and they send them back quickly. Even after 2 years they will replace for free. Annually, it shouldn't cost much, at least for the first 2 years.

We have been using heart rate monitors in our high school classes since last winter. They are an extremely valuable, as they give credibility to your program, provide objective grading, increase activity level of the students and promote individualized training. The Polar E600 series is a very good model and has a lot of options. As far as maintenance, we wash the straps daily and use a white vinegar/water mixture to clean the transmitters after every use. The batteries in the watches will vary on replacement, but typically they last 2 years. We haven't had to replace any pieces or parts yet. Check on bulk a battery purchase or see if there is a local business that has access to a wholesale price. Budget over several years so you are not hit all at once with a 30-40 battery purchase. You could also look for a donation from a local corporation, ask them if they would like to "keep the beat" for your heart rate monitors and give them some publicity!

The Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitors are great but we have also been implementing the hand held monitors, similar to what you would have on a treadmill and bike in a fitness center. Both hands must be placed on the portable monitor and after about ten seconds a HR reading appears. When conducting a class that incorporates stations I often make make the monitors one of the stations where students can chart their activity as well as their HR. The hand held HR's that we use run about 130-150 dollars each, they take 9-volt batteries and you can use a wipe cloth to clean them after class.

We don't need a lot of maintenance we did need some training. We luckily received a grant so we could budget that into the grant. Cleaning supplies is a constant cost. We have tried spray and paper towels and we have tried disinfectant wipes. It has been four years and all of our batteries have finally died. We now need to replace the batteries in all 200 watches.

Has anyone tried using the heart rate monitors in an elementary setting? I am curious about getting a classroom set (approximately 20) so that the students can share them between classes. We purchased two for use and the students do enjoy testing their heart rates to assess how hard they are working. Some of the students say that their chests hurt, but in reality they do not understand that they are just working hard. We have the kind where the students wear them on their wrists and use two fingers to check their pulse. Are the Polar models good for elementary school students? I am just looking to see if they are easy to use but the kids do catch on quick with technology.