HRM chest strap necessary?

jfrankic
jfrankic Posts: 747 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm looking into buying a hrm. I prefer a watch only with no chest strap. There are some continuous read watches, one is Polar RS100. I want to be able to wear it when I'm not exercising too. Why? Because I just want to know about calories burned and hr during my daily activities.

I know a chest strap is the way to get the closest to actual, but will the watch do a pretty good job, too? I don't want to spend $65 and it not be accurate, I've already got one of those!

Thanks!!
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Replies

  • jfrankic
    jfrankic Posts: 747 Member
    Bumping for expert advice!
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    The watch won't work without the strap.

    However, there's a new device on the market that doesn't require a strap - it's first generation, still though, and I haven't tried it, but I'm tempted.

    http://new.digifit.com/scosche/
  • JacMarieSTL
    JacMarieSTL Posts: 68 Member
    Have you tried the strap??? I dont even feel it when its on. It goes directly under your bra strap, its made of cloth, and you wont even know its there.

    I wouldnt recommend purchasing one without the chest strap.
  • rhonniema
    rhonniema Posts: 522 Member
    If you want something to wear all day, get a fitbit.
  • royalbott
    royalbott Posts: 1
    I have the "Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Heart Rate Strap for iPhone 4S" and I love it...

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/H8296VC/A/wahoo-fitness-blue-hr-heart-rate-strap-for-iphone-4s
  • UpsideMeagan
    UpsideMeagan Posts: 67 Member
    Have you tried the strap??? I dont even feel it when its on. It goes directly under your bra strap, its made of cloth, and you wont even know its there.

    I wouldnt recommend purchasing one without the chest strap.

    Agreed. I'd rather spent more money and have it be accurate than only spend $65 and never know if it actually works.
  • africaa
    africaa Posts: 228
    I have a polar f4 and I wear my chest strap even when I'm not working out just in case I want to see how many cals I'm burning walking somewhere...you get used to the strap and don't even know it's there...so the strap is really not a big deal -- and it's not noticeable if you tuck it under your bra :)
  • 76tech
    76tech Posts: 1,455 Member
    the ones without the strap aren't accurate.
  • JBott84
    JBott84 Posts: 268 Member
    Mine works with and without my chest strap....I LOVE it, got one in an auction off Ebay for $25. Brand new
    *although I have only used it once or twice w/o the strap. It works great and is easy to use.

    http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=new+balance+duo+HRM&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=5yN&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1680&bih=959&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9458755642644836964&sa=X&ei=jAruT8PPFPTH6AGFurmcCg&ved=0CFUQ8wIwAA
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I was worried about the chest strap when I first got mine, but it is not a big deal at all. Sometimes after my workouts, I even forget to take mine off until I'm about to get in the shower and realize I'm still wearing it. If you're used to wearing a bra, you won't notice it.
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    YES /.endthread
  • Sheila_Ann
    Sheila_Ann Posts: 365 Member
    Have you tried the strap??? I dont even feel it when its on. It goes directly under your bra strap, its made of cloth, and you wont even know its there.

    I wouldnt recommend purchasing one without the chest strap.

    Agreed. I'd rather spent more money and have it be accurate than only spend $65 and never know if it actually works.

    yup I agree as well. I have a polar ft4 and use it with fitbit as well. luv it!
  • yeabby
    yeabby Posts: 643 Member
    HRMs aren't accurate (strap or no strap types) for all day wear. If you're looking for that kind of feedback look into a bodybugg, bodymedia or fitbit device.

    If you're completely against a chest strap to get a HRM that is pretty accurate you're going have to invest more that $65. In that price range if you're going to get any accuracy get one with a chest strap. For most people, myself included, the chest strap is hardly noticeable after a short time of wear.
  • jfrankic
    jfrankic Posts: 747 Member
    Alrighty.....thanks folks! No, I've never tried the strap. I guess I'm apprehensive because it is something different. Will check them out!
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    I have never heard of a watch alone that does a continuous reading....
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    People who want to track their daily energy expenditure seem to get those Fitbits and really like them.
  • nikkiprickett
    nikkiprickett Posts: 412 Member
    Yeah, Never heard of a watch doing continuous reading and that's what is most accurate!
    I love my strap, it's a sportsline (from walmart) came with the watch and the strap for only about $50
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    the ones without the strap aren't accurate.

    Actually the one I linked to (new gen technology) *is* supposed to be very accurate.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    Yes, the chest strap is necessary because it monitors your heart.

    If you want to know how many calories you burn doing your daily activity, use your BMR (Tools>BMR) and multiply it times your activity level (1.2 for sedentary or MOST people). It's an average but it is going to be pretty close.

    HRMs are for tracking additional calorie burn activity from cardio exercise (not normal activity where you heart isn't elevated). Maybe you should look into some other device if that is not what you are looking for.
  • spartangirl79
    spartangirl79 Posts: 277 Member
    HRMs aren't accurate (strap or no strap types) for all day wear. If you're looking for that kind of feedback look into a bodybugg, bodymedia or fitbit device.

    If you're completely against a chest strap to get a HRM that is pretty accurate you're going have to invest more that $65. In that price range if you're going to get any accuracy get one with a chest strap. For most people, myself included, the chest strap is hardly noticeable after a short time of wear.

    HRMs are good for all-day wear with the strap (fitbits are accurate but do not have HR measures, fyi). They just don't work at night or if the watch gets too far from the strap (like, if you take the watch off and set it on your desk or something).
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
    It really is necessary for the most accurate readings........
  • TourThePast
    TourThePast Posts: 1,753 Member
    HRMs aren't accurate (strap or no strap types) for all day wear. If you're looking for that kind of feedback look into a bodybugg, bodymedia or fitbit device.
    I may be wrong, but I think the point was there the strap is comfortable enough to wear all day, if you want to keep it on so you can use it during periods of exercise during the day, eg if you go for a walk.
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    If you want something to wear all day, get a fitbit.

    a fitbit wont give any accuracy for cardio workouts on the agressive side.
  • LovelyLibra79
    LovelyLibra79 Posts: 569 Member
    Yes..the chest strap helps deliver more accurate data
  • amandamkarl
    amandamkarl Posts: 3 Member
    I have the Boddybug they are made to wear all day! They work great! i have had about 3 family memembers use them as well in the past. They are tested and are 95% accurate!
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Have you tried the strap??? I dont even feel it when its on. It goes directly under your bra strap, its made of cloth, and you wont even know its there.

    I wouldnt recommend purchasing one without the chest strap.

    Agreed. I'd rather spent more money and have it be accurate than only spend $65 and never know if it actually works.

    yup I agree as well. I have a polar ft4 and use it with fitbit as well. luv it!

    Ditto - Polar ft4 for exercises that aren't walking and my fitbit for walking/running and wearing all day (and night to track sleep). Love it!
  • markklug
    markklug Posts: 4
    the RS100 works good for a watch hrm, you need to get it wet to make good contact with your skin for it to be accurate.
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    If you want something to wear all day, get a fitbit.

    fitbit isn't a heart rate monitor.
  • deadbeatsummer
    deadbeatsummer Posts: 537 Member
    The actual heart rate monitor IS the strap on your chest - it is monitoring your heart rate. The watch is just a device for the HRM to feed information on your heart rate to so you can see how you are doing. The watch doesn't do any of the work - it is just the 'screen' so to speak.

    I thought it seemed a bit equipment heavy before I got my Polar FT4 but it's no big deal.

    Also HRM are not suitable/accurate for activities where your heart rate is below the fat burning zone.

    I think a 'FitBit' device would be more suitable as it is an all day long piece of equipment.
  • AngelikaLumiere
    AngelikaLumiere Posts: 862 Member
    I have a HRM with a strap and I almost wish it was noticable when I had it on because it is so easy to forget it is on and forget to turn it on.:ohwell: I had a calorie counter without a strap before and it was more of a guesstimate. With the strap I know that it is basing it''s calculations on my actual bio-metrics.

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