Wanted: new fitness gadget

SnuggleSmacks

So, my ancient Polar HRM is on its last legs. I think it's just the chest strap, and it would be pretty cheap to replace, but I've been looking at other options, and wondered what you guys recommend.

I've been eyeballing the Polar Loop and the Basis B1, but I'm open to other suggestions based on the following:

It must be wearable, either on the wrist or arm, not a clip-on. I will totally lose a clip-on, or stick it in my pocket and forget it and wash it with my laundry.

I would prefer one with a HRM option, since that's what I'm replacing.

I would prefer one with sleep monitoring, as this is sometimes an issue for me.

It needs to be able to track cycling (not necessarily GPS, as my phone will do that, but HR)

I'm concerned about the accuracy of the fitness trackers that are currently out. Am I better off just getting a fancy new HRM with bluetooth and waiting til the fitness monitor technology has improved?

TAsunder

FYI the polar loop does not do HRM on its own. You would still need the polar bluetooth HRM. But the combined cost is still less than the Basis. And, on the plus side, the polar bluetooth HRM works with several phone apps as well.

knra_grl

FYI the polar loop does not do HRM on its own. You would still need the polar bluetooth HRM. But the combined cost is still less than the Basis. And, on the plus side, the polar bluetooth HRM works with several phone apps as well.

This - I have the loop and the H7 hrm/chest strap and am happy with it. The loop acts as an activity tracker when I am not using the hrm for workouts. Best of both worlds in my opinion.

jefferytmc

I was sort of in your boat. I also did not want to pay a monthly fee (like the BodyMedia product) and I wanted HRM. So I got the Polar H7 and have it hooked to my phone using the Polar Beat app from Polar.

It works pretty well. It does not monitor sleep or those things, but my Samsung Note 3 has a pedometer and I am not concerned about the other things.

Eric_DeCastro

the garmin viv has sleep monitoring. what does that do anyway?

VegasFit

I have the Loop and I like it. I didn't think it was too pricey for the wrist unit and the chest strap. I can't speak to a sleep option unless they have upgraded and I've missed it.

SnuggleSmacks

Thanks, guys.

I'm aware that the Loop will require the purchase of a chest band, and that's fine. I'm willing to spend up to $200 on whatever I get, and I do like the increased accuracy that comes with the band. The Basis, however, would count calories at all times, along with a bunch of other metrics, but I wonder about accuracy.

Do any of you have the Basis B1?

SnuggleSmacks

Or the Garmin Vivofit? That's the other one I'm eyeballing.