Are the heart rate monitors on cardio machines accurate?

When I work out on an a elliptical trainer, it rarely says that I%26#039;ve reached my target heart rate. I%26#039;m a female, 5%26#039;7%26quot; and weigh 170 pounds. Sometimes it will say my heart rate is 60, but my heart is beating way faster than that! When I take my own pulse, it%26#039;s about 180. Are the cardio machines right?

Also, are the %26quot;calories burned%26quot; on cardio machines pretty accurate?

Are the heart rate monitors on cardio machines accurate?

The calorie counter on the machine is usually pretty accurate.

I%26#039;ve given up on the heart rate monitor on the machines at the gym. I bought my own (pretty cheap from Walmart) and it came with a little %26quot;watch%26quot; thing you wear that picks up the number for your heart rate. It is a self-contained system.

However, the machines at the gym can pick up anything. If the person on the machine next to you is wearing a heart rate monitor, your machine can pick up the other person%26#039;s heart rate. Plus, so many people use them so often that they often eventually get kind of screwy.

I%26#039;d recommend just getting your own and wearing it.