Top 5 Continuous Heart Rate Monitors in Canada, 2026

Name: Garmin Forerunner 955
Brand: Garmin
Price: 579.99 CAD
Availability: InStock

Published on Friday, January 2, 2026

Continuous heart rate monitors provide uninterrupted heart rate data, making them essential for fitness enthusiasts focused on monitoring their health metrics throughout the day. As personal health tracking becomes a priority for many Canadians, the demand for these advanced devices has surged. Users benefit from the ability to track their heart rate continuously, allowing for better insights into their physical condition, fitness levels, and overall well-being. This trend has sparked interest in various monitoring technologies, appealing to athletes, hobbyists, and those keen on maintaining healthier lifestyles.

BEST PREMIUM

Garmin Forerunner 955

Garmin

The Garmin Forerunner 955 is a top-tier GPS watch designed for serious athletes, offering unparalleled training features and real-time performance insights. Its multi-band GPS technology ensures accurate tracking in challenging environments, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. With advanced health monitoring tools like sleep tracking and VO2 max estimation, users can optimize their training regimens. The long battery life and additional smart features further set it apart from competitors in the smartwatch category.

Review Summary

92%

"The Garmin Forerunner 955 is highly praised for its outstanding GPS accuracy and extensive fitness tracking features, making it a top choice for serious athletes."

Advanced Tracking 📍
Long Battery Life 🔋
Customized Training Plans 🎯

Advanced GPS navigation
Built-in music storage

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BEST RUGGED DESIGN

Polar X Grit Pro

Polar

The Polar Grit X Pro is a premium multisport watch built for adventure lovers and professional athletes. With its rugged design and military-grade durability, it stands out as the ideal companion for extreme sports and outdoor activities. The integrated GPS and accurate heart rate monitoring allow users to track their performance in real-time, ensuring every workout is optimized. Its impressive range of features, including the FuelWise and Hill Splitter functionalities, make it a top choice among serious competitors.

Review Summary

89%

"Users admire the Polar Grit X Pro for its rugged design and excellent battery life, solidifying its reputation as a reliable companion for outdoor adventures."

Tactical GPS power
Mountain-ready build
Advanced training smarts

Professional-grade GPS, barometer, and compass for accurate elevation and route tracking.
Built for outdoor use with durable construction and multi-day battery performance.

SpecificationsTechnical Specifications

Type: Multisport GPS smartwatch
Build: Sapphire glass lens, military-standard durability testing
Sensors: Wrist-based heart rate
Navigation: Route and breadcrumb guidance — no road maps or turn-by-turn

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From $806.00CAD

BEST BUDGET

Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit

The Fitbit Charge 6 is a versatile fitness tracker that combines style and functionality, catering to a wide audience of health enthusiasts. With advanced health metrics and personalized insights, it empowers users to take charge of their wellness journey. The sleek design, coupled with a vibrant display and extensive battery life, makes it a practical everyday accessory. Its seamless integration with the Fitbit app further enhances user engagement, distinguishing it from other wearable fitness trackers.

Review Summary

86%

"The Fitbit Charge 6 receives positive feedback for its user-friendly interface and effective sleep tracking, becoming a favorite among fitness enthusiasts."

Heart health insights ❤️
Built-in GPS 📍
Chic design for all 🕶️

Built-in GPS
Heart rate monitoring

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From $208.00CAD

BEST SMARTWATCH

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra is a cutting-edge smartwatch that blends sophistication with robust functionality, making it suitable for both daily wear and extreme conditions. Its larger, brighter display, and rugged case design set it apart from traditional smartwatches, appealing to adventure seekers and tech enthusiasts alike. With advanced health monitoring capabilities, including ECG and blood oxygen tracking, it offers unmatched insights into wellness. The seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem enhances usability, making it a market leader in the smartwatch category.

Review Summary

94%

"With its premium build and advanced health features, the Apple Watch Ultra impresses users who value both style and functionality in their smartwatch."

Seamless app integration 📱
Luxury meets tech 💎
Always-on display 💡

Seamless integration with iOS
High-quality display

Reviews from the web

60 quotes · 15 sources · 2023–2026

“The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the biggest, toughest, most endurance-friendly watch in Apple’s line-up. Built for bigger adventures than the daintier Apple Watch Series 10, it offers increasingly comprehensive running credentials, along with all the life-taming tools that...”
Runner2025
“The Apple Watch Ultra 2 strikes a great balance between powerful outdoor features and being an excellent smartwatch companion.”
Trusted Reviews· James Stables2024
“Two-day battery life will remain a sticking point for adventurers heading off-grid, but for those sticking closer to home the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a slick, polished experience with no shortage of tools to help you train smarter and get more from your time outdoors.”
Advnture2024
“A few hours with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is enough to confirm that it's an improvement on the stellar original - albeit only an incremental one, specs-wise. That's probably enough to make it the best Apple Watch ever, though, and its screen is amazing.”
TechRadar2023
“The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a modest update over the original, but a brighter display, support for the double-tap gestures and future-proof processor are welcome improvements.”
Tom2023
“Like the last generation, the Ultra 2 comes in just one size (49mm), but now you can choose from two finishes: natural or black titanium. The black titanium Ultra 2 has a matte finish like the natural model, but the darker color gives it a sleeker look.”
PCMag Canada2025Recent
“Modular Ultra is probably my favorite for the Apple Watch Ultra. It takes advantage of all the space and has a ring around the edge that updates in real time to different metrics.”
AppleInsider· appleinsider2024
“Red mode was previously one of our favorite additions to this watch, and now it automatically adjusts to changing light conditions. Recently, flashlights have been making their way onto GPS watches, which have quickly become one of our favorite features.”
GearLab
“I placed the Watch Ultra 2 next to my first-gen Watch Ultra, and they were virtually indistinguishable from each other. After cranking up the brightness on both, I could barely tell the difference in standard lighting conditions because Apple uses the same ambient light sensor.”
ZDNET· ZDNET
“Same with wrist flick which is available on Ultra 2”
Reddit2026Recent
“Though it outperforms or matches the Series 10 watch in most metrics, it's worth noting that since the Ultra 2 was launched a year prior, it ships with a generation older S9 SiP (System in Package). You also need to be an iPhone user to pair and use an Apple Watch of any kind.”
SlashGear· Adnan Ahmed2025
“Double Tap is a beneficial feature for Apple Watch users who may have a disability or who are unable to interact with the wearable with another hand. The gesture does take some getting used to in terms of sensitivity, but it's very easy to use once you get the hang of it.”
Business Insider· Rick Stella, Antonio Villas-Boas
“GPS tracks clean routes in tough spots with lots of buildings or trees”
My Style Grid· Rubel Miah2026Recent

Loved

Impressively, Apple has made these upgrades without increasing the size or weight of the watch, and while maintaining the same battery life.
— Advnture
The two main differences are an upgraded display, which is 50% brighter, and a new processor that makes the whole experience of using the watch that little bit smoother, and enables a new gesture control for one-handed operation.
— Advnture
Even brighter AMOLED display
— Advnture
Double-tap gesture works well
— Advnture
Great new Modular Ultra watch face
— Tom
Supports the double tap gesture
— Tom
Easier to find iPhone with watch
— Tom
Brighter display than before
— Tom
Apple’s brightest display ever
— TechRadar
It has a brighter screen (Apple’s brightest screen ever, in fact) but Apple’s new S9 SiP chip and the watchOS 10 operating system are what’s bringing most of the changes.
— TechRadar
The key differences to look out for concern the screen and the bands. First off, the screen is even more beautiful than on the first version, capable of putting out an impressive 3,000 nits of brightness at full blast.
— TechRadar
The Ultra 2 also one-ups the Series 10's IP6X dust resistance rating with the addition of an MIL-STD 810H certification, the standard used for military equipment, meaning it has been tested to survive high altitude, extreme temperatures, freezing/thawing, blowing sand, and...
— PCMag Canada
Before testing the Ultra 2, I worried that its brighter screen would come at the expense of battery life, but that's not the case.
— PCMag Canada
Conversely, when using Sleep Focus mode in a dark room, the Ultra 2 will now dim to a single nit (from 2 nits last generation) to reduce disturbance for light sleepers. Regardless of the ambient lighting, I never have a problem reading the Ultra 2's display.
— PCMag Canada
To test its depth gauge, I took the Ultra 2 for a dip in the nearby Gulf of Mexico. I raved over the Depth app last generation, and it works just as well on the Ultra 2, automatically displaying your depth, underwater time, and more when submerged about three feet.
— PCMag Canada
The biggest change for the second-generation Ultra is a 50% increase in screen brightness to 3,000 nits, Apple's brightest display ever. The Series 10 retains its predecessor's 2,000-nit maximum brightness, matching the Galaxy Watch 7 ($299.99) and the original Apple Watch Ultra.
— PCMag Canada
An increase in brightness makes the display easier to read outdoors in bright sunlight. Between its size and brightness, the Ultra 2's display is phenomenal.
— PCMag Canada
Safety features: The emergency SOS, fall and crash detection safety features are largely the same across both watches. However, the Apple Watch Series 10 doesn’t offer the safety siren you get on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
— Runner
Battery life: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 staying power is perhaps the biggest lure. It offers 36 hours of everyday use while the Apple Watch Series 10 stretches to 18 hours. When you fire up the GPS, both watches cover a marathon.
— Runner
Size, comfort & durability: Both the 42mm and 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 case sizes are dainty by comparison to the Ultra 2. The Ultra 2’s 49mm case size has a big, hench build, with a larger brighter display (3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits).
— Runner
Controls: It may seem like a small thing, but you don’t get the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s customisable action button on the Series 10. This shortcut button makes it a doddle to launch straight into runs and workouts. And when you don’t have it, you miss it.
— Runner
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 screams premium quality, with a slick, sophisticated case made from 95% recycled titanium. It’s a design that’s well finessed and looks great on the wrist – in a confidently hench, adventure-ready way.
— Runner
The 50% brighter display – up to 3,000 nits from 2,000 on the first-gen – is excellent. When you put them side by side, the screen brightness is notably improved over the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra.
— Runner
Despite Garmin, Coros and Suutno all getting in on the AMOLED game, when it comes to brightness, crispness and clarity and visibility in all lights, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 still packs the best screen we’ve seen on a smartwatch – and a better screen than you’ll find on any...
— Runner
Leave your phone behind with cellular
— Reddit
Best-in-class heart rate accuracy
— Reddit
Rugged titanium build resists scratches
— Reddit
Extremely accurate for pool and open water swimming
— Reddit

Criticised

Digital Crown may rub your wrist
— Advnture
Relatively short battery life
— Advnture
Minor upgrade from original device
— Advnture
Battery life could be better
— Tom
However, that’s pretty much everything we can say from a software design perspective, as most of the innovations present here are part of watchOS 10, which is also available on other Apple Watches.
— TechRadar
No battery life extension
— TechRadar
Very few new features
— TechRadar
Galaxy Watch models allow for more granular control over screen brightness with a slider and optional adaptive brightness.
— PCMag Canada
For reference, you'll see the Ultra 2 pictured throughout this review on my 6-inch wrist. For aesthetics and comfort, I prefer a smaller watch like the 42mm Series 10 or the 40mm Watch SE.
— PCMag Canada
You’ll charge the Series 10 more frequently. However, you can offset the battery life gap somewhat with the Apple Watch Series 10’s speedier fast charging which hits 80% in just 30 mins compared with an hour on the Ultra 2.
— Runner
Shorter battery life than competitors
— Reddit

Buyer voices

“DiscussionIs Ultra Watch 2 worth it? (i.redd.it)”
Pinchmepls— reddit
“naturalguy said: I just got the Ultra 2, came from a series 4 m, big difference Click to expand...”
— MacRumors Forums
“Rainman1915 said: You might to grab your brothers series 7 for sleeping, I have an Ultra and eventually found sleeping with it uncomfortable and bought a series 6 just for that. Enjoy your new watch! Click to expand...”
— MacRumors Forums
“Apple_Robert said: Even if a person isn't working out every day, receiving and responding to texts and calls, creating reminders, calendar tasks and the like etc. is a lot faster on the watch but, can quickly go through a lot of battery especially if the signal is weak.”
— MacRumors Forums
“JaraCz said: I have oura ring, sleeeping with any watch is stupid. Click to expand...”
— MacRumors Forums
“GuruZac said: I’m exactly 12 months in to owning my Ultra. Still at 100% battery health. Without workouts and cellular turned off, it easily gets me through 2 and a half days. Even with a 45 mins workout it will still have 68%+ with 14 hours on wrist.”
— MacRumors Forums
“pcd213 said: Question for those who bought a AWU2 coming from the AWU1. Have you noticed that the brightness of watch faces in always on mode (or whatever you call the mode that dims after you’re actively viewing it) to be noticeably dimmer than the 1st gen?”
— MacRumors Forums
“Apple_Robert said: I have found that the Ultra Modular face is quick to go to a red screen when low light is perceived but, it can be a few seconds slow returning to normal screen mode. Click to expand...”
— MacRumors Forums

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From $799.74CAD

BEST SUBSCRIPTION MODEL

Whoop 4.0

WHOOP

The WHOOP Strap 4.0 is a revolutionary fitness tracker that focuses on recovery and performance optimization. Unlike traditional wearables, it operates on a subscription model, providing personalized insights based on real-time data analytics from your daily activities. Its unique emphasis on strain, recovery, and sleep monitoring helps athletes maximize their training potential. This dedication to holistic performance separates it from other fitness trackers, making it a go-to choice for serious athletes.

Review Summary

88%

"The WHOOP Strap 4.0 is well-regarded for its in-depth health insights and recovery tracking, appealing to those looking to optimize their fitness performance."

Performance powerhouse
Recovery champion
Data-driven decisions

Strain and recovery tracking
Sleep analysis

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From $235.40CAD

Continuous monitors excel with their 24/7 tracking capability, allowing users to maintain an accurate view of their heart activity around the clock.

Understanding Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring

Continuous heart rate monitors offer users real-time data about their cardiovascular health, enabling informed decisions about exercise and recovery. The following points explain the underlying benefits and features that make these devices essential for health tracking:

Real-time data tracking provides instant feedback on fitness performance and heart health, making adjustments to workouts easier.

Studies have shown that continuous monitoring can lead to better exercise adherence, as users feel motivated by immediate results and progress.

Heart rate variability (HRV) tracking helps assess recovery and stress levels, as research indicates that higher HRV is associated with better health outcomes.

Wearable technology that includes heart rate monitors has been linked to a decrease in sedentary behavior, promoting a more active lifestyle.

Access to long-term data allows users to identify trends in their heart health, ultimately guiding them to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Recent advancements in sensor technology mean that heart rate monitors can accurately measure heart rates even during the most intense physical activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which monitor should I buy for serious training?

Choose the Garmin Forerunner 955 if you’re training seriously, since it has advanced multi-band GPS for accurate tracking, up to 15 days battery life, and a 4.7 average rating.

Does the Garmin Forerunner 955 have multi-band GPS?

Yes—the Garmin Forerunner 955 includes advanced multi-band GPS for accurate tracking, comes with up to 15 days battery life, and has a 4.7 average rating.

Is Fitbit Charge 6 better value than Polar Grit X Pro?

Fitbit Charge 6 costs $159.95 (18% off), while Polar Grit X Pro is $761.32; Charge 6 delivers comprehensive health and fitness tracking with smart notifications, and Polar focuses on rugged durability and navigation.

Who is the Polar Grit X Pro best suited for?

Polar Grit X Pro is best for adventure lovers and professional athletes thanks to durable build with military-grade toughness, integrated navigation features, and a 4.6 average rating.

Conclusion

In Canada, continuous heart rate monitors have become a staple for fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals alike. We hope you found valuable information to aid your health journey. If you're looking for something more specific, feel free to use our search bar for tailored recommendations.