Optical vs. traditional chest strap HRMs - are the calories burned close enough?

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Optical HRMs like the Schoche Rythmn+ can't record HRV (Heart Rate Variability), so they send dummy data. How important is HRV in Garmin's calorie calculations? Users that have used both chest straps and optical HRMs, have you noticed a difference in estimated calories burned?

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  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
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    HRMs don't measure calories.
  • clipartghost
    clipartghost Posts: 32 Member
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    The data they record is used to estimate calories.
    How important is HRV in Garmin's calorie calculations?

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited March 2015
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    Garmin uses HRV to guess at V02max, which it then uses to guess at calorie burn.

    The usual "will blow up unless limited to steady state cardio" limitations apply....