These devices can come in wireless versions, so that you can take them with you on a run or walk without ever having to plug it into an outlet. They can be quite complex in certain models, but others are very simple to read and understand, and are thus perfect for beginning users of them. The more advanced ones will not only record the heart rate, but other factors as well. For instance, many of them will record how many calories you have burned. Some can even be programmed, not just for the individual exercising needs of the user, but also to remind the user of the date and time of their workout, as well as the general schedule for their workouts. If you tend to have trouble remembering when to workout and for how long, these are perfect for the purpose.
Some of these monitors can also record things like lap times and elapsed time, as well as your heart rate, on an LCD display. They can also be set for your ideal target-rate zone, and even for multiple zones in some cases. For anyone looking to improve their workouts, heart rate monitors prove to be a good investment.