Heart Rate Monitor

lkokot
lkokot Posts: 80 Member
edited November 14 in Fitness and Exercise
Could somebody recommend a good heart rate monitor? There are so many of them on the market now it's difficult to choose.

I'm guessing that one that straps to your chest is way better and/or more accurate than one the one on your wrist?

Please provide some recommendations and why you're recommending it.

Thank you!

Replies

  • FindingCynSporation
    FindingCynSporation Posts: 31 Member
    I don't have experience with other trackers, but I have the Fitbit Blaze (and used to have the Fitbit Charge HR) and I love it. I'm able to enter in specific exercises, such as treadmill, elliptical, weights, etc.) and it is continually showing my heart rate and what zone I'm in. (Fat burning, calorie burning, peak heart rate). The reason why I like the one on my wrist is because I can see it clearly and know what my heart rate is at that exact time. (Again, I have no experience with a chest strap one, and if they have the same capabilities or not!) Just my two cents!
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    lkokot wrote: »
    Please provide some recommendations and why you're recommending it.

    Any recommendations that you get are meaningless without understanding what you're hoping to gain from having one. There is little point in recommending a device that's appropriate for a triathlete or ultra runner if you're only using workout DVDs

    As far as accuracy is concerned, again it depends on what you're using it for. Chest straps are slightly more accurate than optical for instantaneous readings of HR, but for the vast majority of people I'd argue that's of very limited value. Particularly if you're looking at estimating calories with it.


  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    lkokot wrote: »
    Could somebody recommend a good heart rate monitor?

    Sure: Garmin HRM-Tri, unless you plan to use it for pool swimming. You'll need something to deal with the data it gives you.

    I like that one because it will measure running dynamics (eg vertical ratio, L/R balance) and it will store and forward your HR data while you swim in open water.
  • mygrl4meee
    mygrl4meee Posts: 943 Member
    Following i am trying to replace my polar ft4. It broke. I bought a iron man timex watch and it was too confusing.. so I am back to the drawing board.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Are you looking for something 24/7 or just when exercising? I have both a Garmin VivoActive HR that I wear all the time and a Polar chest strap that I wear during exercising. I can do without the chest strap except I like to see my HR zones during the activity. I don't have it synced to here. But I do have the wrist one syncing.
  • mygrl4meee
    mygrl4meee Posts: 943 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    Are you looking for something 24/7 or just when exercising? I have both a Garmin VivoActive HR that I wear all the time and a Polar chest strap that I wear during exercising. I can do without the chest strap except I like to see my HR zones during the activity. I don't have it synced to here. But I do have the wrist one syncing.

    Does the Garmin pinpoint your calorie burn for exercise? Is it easy to set up and understand?
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    @mygrl4mee any Garmin will tell you a number of calories you've burned, but these aren't medical devices. Unless you use the Garmin on a bike with a power meter, it's an estimate, not a measurement.
  • quartknee11
    quartknee11 Posts: 141 Member
    I'm currently using the polar A360 and love it to death. You can even take it swimming with you.
  • lkokot
    lkokot Posts: 80 Member
    Thanks for the recommendations.

    To give you some background; I'm looking for something that I would only use while exercising and/or riding my mountain bike.
  • oocdc2
    oocdc2 Posts: 1,361 Member
    edited January 2017
    If you're just looking for something cheap and easy to measure HR, I have a Mio ALPHA 2 Heart Rate Watch and I really like it. There is software you can download onto your phone, but I've never done it: I use it strictly for HR when I'm running. It sells for around 60 bucks on Amazon. Good luck!
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    lkokot wrote: »
    Thanks for the recommendations.

    To give you some background; I'm looking for something that I would only use while exercising and/or riding my mountain bike.

    Garmin Edge 1000 because it supports topographic and trail maps.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    lkokot wrote: »
    To give you some background; I'm looking for something that I would only use while exercising and/or riding my mountain bike.

    In that case I'd go for a GPS; Edge range or one of the Tri watches.
  • lkokot
    lkokot Posts: 80 Member
    Thank you all for your recommendations!
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,300 Member
    https://www.dcrainmaker.com/
  • mrramsey1969
    mrramsey1969 Posts: 46 Member
    I use a garmin forerunner 230 with a garmin chest strap hrm. I find them to be far more accurate than the wrist mounted trackers with hrm's built in. You can also add on a cadence sensor for biking as well.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,598 Member
    +1 to the DCRainmaker link from @PAV8888 above. Getting input here is good, but don't make a decision without looking there.
  • angmarie28
    angmarie28 Posts: 2,895 Member
    I use to use a polar with chest strap, but lately just been using my fitbit HR and it's really close to what my chest strap would read
  • lkokot
    lkokot Posts: 80 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    https://www.dcrainmaker.com/

    This looks interesting; do you have one? $600 is a lot to invest tho.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    edited January 2017
    If you're just looking for a basic heart rate monitor you can't beat Polar. They usually run between $50-$100. In my experience, yes, the monitors w/the strap are more accurate.
  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    I have a lifetrak core. It's the most basic model, but counts steps, has a heart rate monitor and "work out mode" which counts your calories. Pro's: Cheap (I think I paid 45 for it), easy to track heart rate during workout, pedometer appears to be accurate, you can also view your weekly progress for your steps. Battery lasts a long time (I've had it for over a year.. still running) Con's: Does not connect to any device or app, and I'm not confident of the accuracy of the calories burned during workout mode. Watch is chunky. Lifetrak does carry a line of "smart" trackers though if you would like one that connects to a device. Hope that helps!
  • lkokot
    lkokot Posts: 80 Member
    mrramsey1969 wrote: »
    I use a garmin forerunner 230 with a garmin chest strap hrm. I find them to be far more accurate than the wrist mounted trackers with hrm's built in. You can also add on a cadence sensor for biking as well.

    What do you mean by "You can also add on a cadence sensor for biking as well."? What would that do?
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    A bike cadence sensor measures how often you turn the pedals. Most cyclists find that spinning at around 90 rpms is easiest on their knees and the sweet spot for balancing the workload of moving the bike between the legs and cardiovascular system.
  • lkokot
    lkokot Posts: 80 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    A bike cadence sensor measures how often you turn the pedals. Most cyclists find that spinning at around 90 rpms is easiest on their knees and the sweet spot for balancing the workload of moving the bike between the legs and cardiovascular system.

    Ohhh OK; that's pretty cool!
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    lkokot wrote: »
    Could somebody recommend a good heart rate monitor? There are so many of them on the market now it's difficult to choose.

    I'm guessing that one that straps to your chest is way better and/or more accurate than one the one on your wrist?

    Please provide some recommendations and why you're recommending it.

    Thank you!

    I like/use Polar, to keep track of my kcal burned. but I am not sure if it really matters as long as you are using it consistently.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    The way to measure kCal use on a bike is with a power meter.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Chest strap.

    Wahoo is what I use because it syncs both ANT+ and BLE. and will sync with up to two devices at once.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    The way to measure kCal use on a bike is with a power meter.

    If you're prepared to drop a serious amount of cash
  • lkokot
    lkokot Posts: 80 Member

    myfitpqlstan136 wrote: »
    Chest strap.

    Wahoo is what I use because it syncs both ANT+ and BLE. and will sync with up to two devices at once.

    Oh Wow! This looks really good and for the price you can't beat it. How do you use it? Do you sync it with two devices at once?
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    It really depends on what you want it for. Do you want hr only when you workout, or do you want to know what it is 24/7?

    I'm on my phone and can't get the link, but if you google "best fitness trackers 2016" PC Mag has some great and thorough reviews. I used them when I bought mine a couple years ago.

    I used to wear an armband tracker, but switched to the Garmin Vivoactive. It now comes in an HR model, but I prefer the chest strap. They still seem to be more accurate and I only care about HR when training.

    The Garmin also has notifications for texts, calls, FB, etc. you can accept or decline calls/texts but not respond. I like the app and website. I like the widgets and watchfaces you can download. Garmin has its own App Store and it has grown so much over the last year and a half.

    Features I like:
    * Holds a charge well and charges fast.
    * Color display
    * Water resistant--can be worn in the shower, meant to be worn swimming.
    * Custom workouts (indoor/outdoor running/walking, biking( need the pedal thingy) swimming. Has privately developed apps to work with other workouts.
    * Very customizable.
    * LOVE my new magnetic watchband--was easy to change. My original one started to die after 1.5 years.
    * The notifications are great. It is much more subtle at work in meetings to check my watch than to grab my phone each time a call or text comes through.

  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    lkokot wrote: »
    myfitpqlstan136 wrote: »
    Chest strap.

    Wahoo is what I use because it syncs both ANT+ and BLE. and will sync with up to two devices at once.

    Oh Wow! This looks really good and for the price you can't beat it. How do you use it? Do you sync it with two devices at once?

    Yes, I use it with my Garmin watch and a tracker on my IPAD. Mostly because I don't trust either of them for calorie estimation so I split the difference

    But also because I can see the HR on my IPAD when I'm doing KB swings without breaking my form.
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