The T5G971 heart monitor is currently one of the most widely used among both serious and casual athletes.. Timex, a major player in moderately priced conventional watches, has entered the sports watch market with a similar philosophy. In other words, they strive to make a product that is durable, dependable, and performs well. We will examine if the Timex T5G 971 lives up to that philosophy.

It is probably worth mentioning first that this model is "unisex" in design. It fits both males and females. This feature is somewhat unusual, as most heart monitors are designed for either men or women. I must say, however, that the appearance of the watch might appeal more to men than women.

The T5G971 is decidedly practical, and easy to use. Many sports performance watches disregard being "user friendly",in favor of high tech "whistles and bells."Most of the features can be accessed with the simple push of a button.

The display is very easy to read, even while exercising. Conveniently, for individuals who prefer to exercise at night, the display is nicely backlit.

Of course, heart rate monitors are all about measuring heart rate, and the Timex T5G971 does a good job of that. While wearing the chest strap, users are provided useful information such as; average heart rate, current heart rate, target zone, time in zone etc.

Adding to it's practicality, this model features a time-day-date display, and as such, can be worn as a conventional watch. It is attractive enough such that many users wear it as an "everyday" watch.

Should you get caught wearing it during an unexpected down pour, no problem! It is water resistant up to 50 meters!

In conclusion, the Timex T5G971 heart rate monitor follows the Timex tradition of quality and dependability at a reasonable price. It is perfect for individuals who want basic training data, in order to improve performance.