Heart Rate Monitor - no chest strap

actresskat
actresskat Posts: 120 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, I know that the Heart Rate Monitors (HRM) without chest straps traditionally aren't as good but I'm doing long runs now in summer heat and I find that the chest strap creates little blisters and sores. I've adjusted it up and down and I think the shape of my body etc. causes problems. I've used it for years but find the long runs and summer heat is causing problems lately. I'm hoping the technology might've advanced and there might be a good advancement in the ones without straps...anyone know of one?? I don't mind paying more as long as it's comparable and accurate.

Replies

  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    I know exactly what you mean. I lost some skin last summer. It was actually bleeding a bit. Get some Body Glide and don't keep the back of the strap positioned too high on your back. That causes it to slide up and down when you're super sweaty. Slick up your entire sternum and you should be okay. I'm good as long as I don't forget.

    BGL02?wid=500&hei=500
  • megangr2014
    megangr2014 Posts: 15 Member
    I think the Tom Tom was getting some good reviews, quite expensive if you want the heartrate and gps but might be worth a look.
  • megangr2014
    megangr2014 Posts: 15 Member
    Sorry here is a link, forgot to add to my last message.
    http://www.wiggle.com.au/tom-tom-multi-sport-gps-watch-with-hr-monitor/?lang=au&curr=AUD&dest=27&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=au&kpid=5360593694
  • MichaelJ75
    MichaelJ75 Posts: 16 Member
    Body Glide fixes all.

    But if you really want something different, my wife had a sports-bra/hrm combo I think. You could search for that to see if it might work for you.
  • allbarrett
    allbarrett Posts: 159 Member
    I've had this problem too and while Body Glide has reduced the problem, it doesn't work for me over my long runs (which are 2+ hours now). I've been looking at the Withings Pulse O2 (which uses an IR sensor in the wristband for heartrate) but I'm not ready to commit to another piece of gear just yet (I already have a Fibit and a Garmin). DCRainmaker has done a tonneof great reviews of fitness-related gear (watches, pedometers, heart rate sensors, etc.), I strongly recommend checking his site out.

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/

    Click on the Product Reviews.
  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    There are a couple wrist optical HRM - some integrated into a watch, like the Tom Tom; some just an ANT+/BT HRM that transmits to your existing watch, Mio makes one.

    Scosche makes an optical HRM that's an arm band, and ANT+ & BT
  • actresskat
    actresskat Posts: 120 Member
    Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I had a look for bodyglide in boots and couldn't see it. I'll have to have a look in Superdrug. Great to know that finally HRMs without chest straps are coming along. The Mio Alpha looked awesome but I was a bit disappointed that it doesn't have some basic features that my current HRM has - like calculating calories burned (based on body weight entered etc.) and a backlight and things so I might wait it out for the next model (and hopefully these kind of upgrades). Very tempted though...I'll go and check out some more reviews online of the Mio and other products mentioned! Thanks again!! Really appreciate your help!!
  • Mark_64
    Mark_64 Posts: 4 Member
    I have the Mio Alpha - while the monitor itself is limited ( no backlight, only basic target rate monitor ) I use it with the DigiFit app on my Iphone & Ipad and get every feature I could want. And the bonus is that after a workout using DigiFit for logging, my workout is automatically imported into MyFitnessPal - no more manually recording my calories burned.

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