Strapless Heart Rate Monitor

gradientlife
gradientlife Posts: 13
in Fitness and Exercise
I am looking for a CONTINUOUS strapless heart rate monitor and I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations of brands or models? I want to clarify again that I mean CONTINUOUS, like the armband types that actually do monitor non-stop as opposed to the ones that require you to press it or w/e. I've seen several types, but the reviews on amazon and the like are pretty mixed. The reason I want a strapless is that I've tried the style with chest straps and I find it extremely uncomfortable. Thank you for the input.

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    A HRM with a chest strap isn't meant for continuous wear to start with so that's not what you're looking for anyway. A BodyMedia is probably the type of thing you want but it straps on your arm and requires a subscription. The cheap strapless watch type HRM's are pretty much junk and you have to touch it to get a reading. Also they still aren't set to record calories unless your heart rate is elevated.
  • swagnificent3
    swagnificent3 Posts: 22 Member
    WOW! I just finished searching for 45 minutes online for the exact same thing and was getting ready to post in the forum to see what others were using. I would also prefer not to have to fiddle with a chest strap. I'm considering the touch sensor heart rate monitor as well as the arm sensor heart rate monitor and wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions. I would love to get one that tracks calorie burning as well.
  • Spook_Nuke_Em
    Spook_Nuke_Em Posts: 408 Member
    Straps can be a pain in the butt. Although, it's probably the best way to go.
  • moustache_flavored_lube
    moustache_flavored_lube Posts: 849 Member
    you don't find much on them b/c they don't work well.

    don't love the strap, but you get used to it pretty quick
  • gradientlife
    gradientlife Posts: 13
    A HRM with a chest strap isn't meant for continuous wear to start with so that's not what you're looking for anyway. A BodyMedia is probably the type of thing you want but it straps on your arm and requires a subscription. The cheap strapless watch type HRM's are pretty much junk and you have to touch it to get a reading. Also they still aren't set to record calories unless your heart rate is elevated.

    There are two types of heart rate monitor classifications:
    1) Continuous - You wear it for your entire workout and it monitors your heart rate continuously
    2) Non-continuous- You wear it for your entire workout and you have to touch to get a reading

    I am looking at ones that are continuous meaning that it is constantly giving my heart reading without me touching the screen or anything of the sort.

    The Bodymedia armband measures a variety of things, but it isn't a HRM.
  • amberlykay1014
    amberlykay1014 Posts: 608 Member
    The only way you'll get a continuous reading is with a chest strap. They really aren't that bad though.. I actually forget to take mine off sometimes until I'm about to get in the shower.
  • ChloeRoseLejeune
    ChloeRoseLejeune Posts: 488
    Polar watches are 'continuous', but they have chest straps. Suck it up, your workout can't possibly be any longer than an hour or two. It's not that uncomfortable, if large breasted women can wear them without complaints, then so can you.

    Would you prefer accuracy or comfort? :huh:
  • Leeann1979
    Leeann1979 Posts: 1,090 Member
    I have a Polar FT4 with the chest strap, and yes it can be a pain, cuz it buldges of my shirt. Other than that, I love it. I wear it playing tennis and I dont even notice it anymore.
    I bought my boyfriend a strapless HRM a while back and it sucked. It was a piece of crap. Barely detected the heart rate.
  • Spook_Nuke_Em
    Spook_Nuke_Em Posts: 408 Member
    FT7 - DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IT
  • swagnificent3
    swagnificent3 Posts: 22 Member
    I don't think it's about comfort at all (I'm not large breasted that's for sure) it's more of my sensitive skin. I was looking for something I didn't have to put on my chest area because I found that after my workouts recently I was getting a lot of chaffing on my chest area. I think it may be due to the cotton shirts and bras I was wearing so I switched to dri-release type clothing attire but I'm still a little weary of putting anything in that area. I'm not opposed to it though but I want to make sure that the chaffing was due to the cotton clothing first. Has anyone had any issues with chaffing or irregular rubbing while wearing the chest strap?
  • holly3585
    holly3585 Posts: 282 Member
    I don't know the name of it, but that Nike thing.....it looks like a black bracelet with LED lights in it...
  • gradientlife
    gradientlife Posts: 13
    Polar watches are 'continuous', but they have chest straps. Suck it up, your workout can't possibly be any longer than an hour or two. It's not that uncomfortable, if large breasted women can wear them without complaints, then so can you.

    Would you prefer accuracy or comfort? :huh:

    Comfort sounds delightful! ;)
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I have a Polar FT60 (yes it has a chest strap) and I wear it while at the Park, on the Elliptical, rowing machine, arm bike,. swimming laps, treadmill, cycling and have never once had an issue with chaffing. Actually after I put it on I totally forget about it... Best of Luck..
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    I don't think it's about comfort at all (I'm not large breasted that's for sure) it's more of my sensitive skin. I was looking for something I didn't have to put on my chest area because I found that after my workouts recently I was getting a lot of chaffing on my chest area. I think it may be due to the cotton shirts and bras I was wearing so I switched to dri-release type clothing attire but I'm still a little weary of putting anything in that area. I'm not opposed to it though but I want to make sure that the chaffing was due to the cotton clothing first. Has anyone had any issues with chaffing or irregular rubbing while wearing the chest strap?
    I've had occasional chest-strap chafing, usually when my sports bra gets older and the band starts moving a little (I tuck my HRM chest strap under the bottom of my bra, so if the band moves, it does too). Last time it happened I wasn't in a position to buy a new bra, so I just lubed up underneath the strap where the chafing was happening, and that worked. I used chamois cream (for biking) that I had on hand, but there's a product called Body Glide that is meant for chafe spots. Vaseline will also usually work, but tends to stain your clothes.
  • ChloeRoseLejeune
    ChloeRoseLejeune Posts: 488
    Polar watches are 'continuous', but they have chest straps. Suck it up, your workout can't possibly be any longer than an hour or two. It's not that uncomfortable, if large breasted women can wear them without complaints, then so can you.

    Would you prefer accuracy or comfort? :huh:

    Comfort sounds delightful! ;)


    I don't even know where to begin with you. :grumble:
  • gradientlife
    gradientlife Posts: 13
    Polar watches are 'continuous', but they have chest straps. Suck it up, your workout can't possibly be any longer than an hour or two. It's not that uncomfortable, if large breasted women can wear them without complaints, then so can you.

    Would you prefer accuracy or comfort? :huh:

    Comfort sounds delightful! ;)


    I don't even know where to begin with you. :grumble:

    I was referring to the heart rate monitor.
    Please let us not get immature about things.

    Anyhow, I suppose I may just have to get the chest strap style.
    Thank you.
  • ChloeRoseLejeune
    ChloeRoseLejeune Posts: 488
    Polar watches are 'continuous', but they have chest straps. Suck it up, your workout can't possibly be any longer than an hour or two. It's not that uncomfortable, if large breasted women can wear them without complaints, then so can you.

    Would you prefer accuracy or comfort? :huh:

    Comfort sounds delightful! ;)


    I don't even know where to begin with you. :grumble:

    I was referring to the heart rate monitor.
    Please let us not get immature about things.

    Anyhow, I suppose I may just have to get the chest strap style.
    Thank you.


    I don't understand how anything I said was immature, but okay.

    I was simply pointing out that what you stated is impossible to find. You want a HRM that's strapless and accurate at the same time. To date there are no HRM's like that on the market. Sure you can find a strapless one, will it be as effective as one with a chest strap? No.
  • gradientlife
    gradientlife Posts: 13
    Polar watches are 'continuous', but they have chest straps. Suck it up, your workout can't possibly be any longer than an hour or two. It's not that uncomfortable, if large breasted women can wear them without complaints, then so can you.

    Would you prefer accuracy or comfort? :huh:

    Comfort sounds delightful! ;)


    I don't even know where to begin with you. :grumble:

    I was referring to the heart rate monitor.
    Please let us not get immature about things.

    Anyhow, I suppose I may just have to get the chest strap style.
    Thank you.


    I don't understand how anything I said was immature, but okay.

    I was simply pointing out that what you stated is impossible to find. You want a HRM that's strapless and accurate at the same time. To date there are no HRM's like that on the market. Sure you can find a strapless one, will it be as effective as one with a chest strap? No.

    I was referring to products like this: http://www.amazon.com/Impact-Sports-Strapless-Monitor-Calorimeter/dp/B0019ZDIOK/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1362016677&sr=8-8&keywords=strapless+heart+rate
  • swagnificent3
    swagnificent3 Posts: 22 Member
    I don't think it's about comfort at all (I'm not large breasted that's for sure) it's more of my sensitive skin. I was looking for something I didn't have to put on my chest area because I found that after my workouts recently I was getting a lot of chaffing on my chest area. I think it may be due to the cotton shirts and bras I was wearing so I switched to dri-release type clothing attire but I'm still a little weary of putting anything in that area. I'm not opposed to it though but I want to make sure that the chaffing was due to the cotton clothing first. Has anyone had any issues with chaffing or irregular rubbing while wearing the chest strap?
    I've had occasional chest-strap chafing, usually when my sports bra gets older and the band starts moving a little (I tuck my HRM chest strap under the bottom of my bra, so if the band moves, it does too). Last time it happened I wasn't in a position to buy a new bra, so I just lubed up underneath the strap where the chafing was happening, and that worked. I used chamois cream (for biking) that I had on hand, but there's a product called Body Glide that is meant for chafe spots. Vaseline will also usually work, but tends to stain your clothes.

    Thanks Majope! Good to know. I think I'm going to look into getting the Polar and see what happens.
  • ddgibson60
    ddgibson60 Posts: 2 Member
    mio alpha
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    What are your purposes for continuous wear? Just to track daily activity? Maybe you are looking for something more like a fitbit or a loop? Those are continuous wear. If a daily activity tracker is what you want get one of those but they don't give you information on specific workouts (ie: you regular weight training or cardio) if you want to track specific workouts you would need a separate HRM for that.
  • SARgirl
    SARgirl Posts: 572 Member
    I have a Polar FT 7 and love it! However, it does have the chest strap. I'm with the several others that say that the comfort isn't that bad and I also tend to forget that I have it on until I go to change my clothes. I've never had issues with chaffing. It shouldn't move so if it is you need to tighten the band.
  • jemmer74
    jemmer74 Posts: 9 Member
    I have the Polar FT4 and absolutely love it now, at first it took a few times to get acclimated to the feeling of it but now I notice my actual bra much more than the chest strap being there. As in earlier posts by others I too sometimes forget to even remove it. No issues with chafing and I use it for almost every workout. It is in my opinion so much more accurate than any readings the machines give you as they either over/under estimate calories burnt almost every time. It also keeps me in line in my workouts by letting me know im not working hard enough and rarely too hard :) I have also GOOGLED the strapless because WOW who wouldn't want to just throw on an armband and go but the accuracy isn't even close to what I would be comfortable with. Polar does seem to be a very good brand for HRM's as well as that's the technology utilized on most equipment with built in HRM. All of this is IMO of course :)
  • meaganmna
    meaganmna Posts: 24
    I wear a Garmin Forerunner 210 with the heart rate monitor chest strap. I got some pretty bad chaffing with it when I wore it two summers ago (it slides around with sweat), but I found that Body Glide under the strap works really well and what works even better is strips of athletic tape where you chafe. The heart rate monitor chest strap is the way to go for accuracy!!
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    mio alpha

    It's the only strapless one (that I'm aware of) that has received a positive review from DCRainmaker.......

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/02/monitor-bluetooth-smartant.html
  • kobilakes
    kobilakes Posts: 3
    People....i've checked the continuous strapless HRMs out and there are only 2 good choices. One is the MIO Alpha which is worn on the wrist, can bluetooth connect to smartphone training apps but it expensive. The other is the ePulse2 which is worn on the forearm, does not have connectivity but includes a calorimeter and figures our your training zone.

    That's the choice and yes no matter how accurate the manufacturers say they are, they are probably not as accurate as chest straps but they are not way off and that's the choice you make.

    http://kobisknees.com/best-strapless-heart-rate-monitor-watch/ #bcshrmw
  • kjpanno
    kjpanno Posts: 1
    I too am in the market for a continuous strapless heart rate monitor. I have worn the polar F6 for years and it leaves major chaffing on my back so bad that it hurts to get it wet in the shower. I have not found a strapless HRM = to that of a chest strap so I went to the fabric store purchased some soft thick fleece and made a cover for my strap. Works great and its washable. I don't have to deal with athletic tape that also leaves marks. Hope this helps. But wishing for someone to develop a great strapless someday.

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