Heart rate monitor recommendations

You will get what you pay for, unfortunately, in this space. Anything less than a Fitbit or Garmin usually will have you wondering if it's accurate. Xiaomi's Mi band is a cheap monitor but it's not known for its accuracy.

I recommend the Polar brand heart rate monitor band with calorie counting watch. I paid about 65 dollars for mine on amazon a few years ago.

I'm a fan of the Wahoo puck/strap. The Tickr line starts around $50 and can pair with your phone via BLE or your garmin via ANT+

dewd2 wrote: »

steveko89 wrote: »

In my experience, YMMV regardless of the HR monitor you own. I have a Polar H7 which I bought back in June of 2016 to specifically to use with UA Record, which plays nicely with MFP. The chest strap is nice, never have had any issues pairing to my phone or anything. However, I find even this well-regarded HR monitor to overestimate my calorie burn by a good bit when compared with my observed TDEE. Tracked via a spreadsheet, my TDEE averages out to just over 2400. I'll spare the details on the math but the observed impact of my workouts works out to ~450 calories, though the Polar would routinely give me 800-900 calories. Subsequently, I spent too much time spinning my wheels not losing enough weight because I was simply eating too many of my exercise workout calories.

It is not the strap doing the calculations. It is the app. Each app will have its own ideas about what is correct. See my point earlier in this thread. They are all pretty much guestimates. IMO, unless you are using it for training save your money.

Indeed. The original question is figuratively What's the best type of screwdriver to use when I'm levelling slabs?

BeezBeez wrote: »

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

Indeed. The original question is figuratively What's the best type of screwdriver to use when I'm levelling slabs?

Nah, the original question was What's the best type of heart rate monitor to use when I'm monitoring my heart rate?

Seriously, though, I'm just looking for a little help quantifying the workout I'm doing. I want to be sure I'm rowing hard enough to get my heart rate up into my target zone. That's it. I'm less concerned about the calories and more concerned about the heart rate.

Zone training is of limited value as well, unless you're preparing for competition. And given you're not using a Concept, that's unlikely.

stanmann571 wrote: »

I'm a fan of the Wahoo puck/strap. The Tickr line starts around $50 and can pair with your phone via BLE or your garmin via ANT+

Was going to say exactly this. I have the Tickr X, and there really is no need for anything else.

I've used one variation or another of a Polar for at least 10 years. I love it. I find the heart rate to be accurate. So accurate that it helped diagnose a condition called SVT, which causes the heart rate to spike. Had I not worn my heart rate monitor, I wouldn't have had a clue that my heart rate was so high. I'll never work out again without wearing it.

BeezBeez, I use a fairly basic model- maybe the FT7? Not a lot of bells and whistles but it does its job and it’s very affordable too!

Generally the monitors you wear around the chest on a strap are likely to be better as they work detecting your hearts electrical impulses. I have a myzone belt which is very good

GaryRuns wrote: »

I hate chest straps. I've never had one that lasted through more than 6-8 months of daily running. Wash it, don't wash it. Shower with it, don't shower with it. Spit on it, don't spit on it. Nothing changes that equation by much, 6-8 months and I have to buy a new strap. Admittedly, I'm a sweater (the kind that produces lots of sweat, not the kind you knit) but I was tired of buying those $35 straps. And I tried various Polar models and a Zephyr so I don't think my problem was with a specific brand. They just don't last for me.

A couple of years ago I bought a Scosche Rhythm+ and I have had zero problems with it. The velcro on the arm band finally wore out but that was after two years and a replacement was $5 instead of the $35 for a new chest strap. And it's $80.

You can get replacement chest straps for $7-10, although I've found that the better quality straps tend to last longer(I've got a garmin that I paid 35 for that's still ticking after a year) I do keep the cheap ones around for when my good one is being washed. even the cheap once are good for 4-6 months. and they're not nearly as sensitive to placement as the schosche are.

jjpptt2 wrote: »

If you're just looking to monitor HR, then most anything based off a chest strap sensor will probably be good enough. Garmin will provide you the most data in the best tool/layout. Suunto is probably second, then Polar. Whether that data is meaningful/beneficial to you over the basic data you can get from fitbit and the like is up to you.

Just to clarify things (though I think someone else may have done so earlier), no matter the arm or chest strap you use, that strap isn't actually storing information (with very few exceptions). The information is being broadcasted via ANT+, bluetooth, and/or whatever Polar's less than third party friendly system is called. You'll get the same HR data from all of them, how the device you're using to pick up that data uses and displays it is a whole other issue.

For example, it doesn't matter if I use a Scosche, Wahoo, or Garmin HR monitor, they'll all broadcast to my Garmin devices via ANT+ and that information will be displayed in Garmin Connect the same. Some of those HR monitors might also do other things, like rebroadcast other ANT+ plus sensors over bluetooth, show your color coded HR zone on the device, or measure and broadcast running dynamics, almost none of them are storing the data on the device.