Heart rate monitor
Heart rate monitor
Thinking about buying a wrist worn continuous heart rate monitor. Not the type that straps to your chest and not the type that you have to touch your finger tips to.
Looking to spend less than $100 ( not Apple Watch). Amazon has dozens of models in the $30 to 60 range and they all have many stars and glowing reports. Makes me suspicious.
Any one have experience with these and can make a reccomendation ? Thx.
Looking to spend less than $100 ( not Apple Watch). Amazon has dozens of models in the $30 to 60 range and they all have many stars and glowing reports. Makes me suspicious.
Any one have experience with these and can make a reccomendation ? Thx.
Re: Heart rate monitor
Howdy
MIO Slice. I have had mine for about 4 months now and I like it very much. I cannot speak about long term reliability - so far my experience is based on daily usage for four months - so far so good.
I bought it based on a number of reviews.
The accuracy is good - plus or minus 1 or 2 bpm vs my Garmin chest strap monitor on several comparisons. It has a utility called Personal Activity Intelligence which I have found both useful and motivating.
I used Garmin chest strap monitors in the past and was always annoyed with them. I hated the chest strap and they usually got flaky and started acting up after about a year. Glad to get rid of them.
Best deal I have seen on the Slice is about $45 from REI, which I saw after I bought mine from Amazon for $69. So I bought two more for my sons.
Good luck
W B
MIO Slice. I have had mine for about 4 months now and I like it very much. I cannot speak about long term reliability - so far my experience is based on daily usage for four months - so far so good.
I bought it based on a number of reviews.
The accuracy is good - plus or minus 1 or 2 bpm vs my Garmin chest strap monitor on several comparisons. It has a utility called Personal Activity Intelligence which I have found both useful and motivating.
I used Garmin chest strap monitors in the past and was always annoyed with them. I hated the chest strap and they usually got flaky and started acting up after about a year. Glad to get rid of them.
Best deal I have seen on the Slice is about $45 from REI, which I saw after I bought mine from Amazon for $69. So I bought two more for my sons.
Good luck
W B
"Through chances various, through all vicissitudes, we make our way." Virgil, The Aeneid
Re: Heart rate monitor
Mine is FItbit Charge HR, they are about $100 so not the $30 kind.
The desktop they provide has been surprisingly useful to me.
I am very intrigued by the sleep data as much as anything. Much greater understanding of why my life forces vary. Learning to be a better sleeper.
They have enough data to create benchmarks by gender/age that are also of interest.
The heart rate monitor seems reasonably accurate. When exercising at a higher level I can put a number to the feeling that my heart is pounding very quickly The resting heart rate is at least as interesting to me. I never wore a watch and did not expect to like it as much as I do. AM getting my 10,000 steps much more often because of it and it reminds me to get up and move while I am working at my desk.
The desktop they provide has been surprisingly useful to me.
I am very intrigued by the sleep data as much as anything. Much greater understanding of why my life forces vary. Learning to be a better sleeper.
They have enough data to create benchmarks by gender/age that are also of interest.
The heart rate monitor seems reasonably accurate. When exercising at a higher level I can put a number to the feeling that my heart is pounding very quickly The resting heart rate is at least as interesting to me. I never wore a watch and did not expect to like it as much as I do. AM getting my 10,000 steps much more often because of it and it reminds me to get up and move while I am working at my desk.
I own the next hot stock- VTSAX
Re: Heart rate monitor
Gd a Scosche that worked very well until I upgraded to a Garmin watch with the same HRM technology. The Scosche was great but less convenient.
Re: Heart rate monitor
I suggest an Apple Watch. Yes, you said not Apple Watch, but there's 2 unknowns, and the Apple Watch can often be the answer to some questions/problems. You can get a first generation Apple Watch for around $150. Maybe you know someone who has one in their drawer they haven't touched in a while. I know several people who tried the watch and haven't been using it.
Can the data stay on the monitor/watch or does it need to be transferred to a computer or the cloud? I few years back, I tried a FitBit and it was ineffective for me. I assume it's better now, but does it get the raw data to somewhere where you can make real use of it?
So long as we're not talking about disallowed medical issues ( rules#rule-4c ), please refer to uses of the heart rate (and more specifically, the type, quality and quantity of data necessary) and any sites that might be helpful. I believe fitness is fair game (please correct me if I'm wrong) and we can keep this thread from being locked by keep the discussion to heart rate monitors as fitness devices (and whatever non medical device applications; any matchmaking heartrate apps out there yet? faster heartrate could equal swipe right or left). I think sleep tracking should be ok too, again focusing mainly on choosing and using the best devices.
viewtopic.php?t=231606
- 1) What information do you wish to collect, where do you want it transferred to and stored?
- 2) How is the information going to be useful?
Can the data stay on the monitor/watch or does it need to be transferred to a computer or the cloud? I few years back, I tried a FitBit and it was ineffective for me. I assume it's better now, but does it get the raw data to somewhere where you can make real use of it?
So long as we're not talking about disallowed medical issues ( rules#rule-4c ), please refer to uses of the heart rate (and more specifically, the type, quality and quantity of data necessary) and any sites that might be helpful. I believe fitness is fair game (please correct me if I'm wrong) and we can keep this thread from being locked by keep the discussion to heart rate monitors as fitness devices (and whatever non medical device applications; any matchmaking heartrate apps out there yet? faster heartrate could equal swipe right or left). I think sleep tracking should be ok too, again focusing mainly on choosing and using the best devices.
Which heart rate monitor is the most accurate?Do you want to know that you're at 65.3829 bpm? Probably not.
viewtopic.php?t=231606
Re: Heart rate monitor
Although it's at the high end of your budget, I second the recommendation for the Fitbit Charge HR. It can be had for around $100, at least on sale. Costco, for example, often sells it for $99. I find the monitor to be quite accurate. I had problems with the band wearing out on a previous model, but the band on the latest model is holding up well and can easily be replaced if it fails.
Edited to note that it's the Fitbit Charge 2 that I recommend, not the older Charge HR. The Charge 2 is presently $150 at Amazon, but as I said, wait for a sale or check Costco. It's often available around $100.
Edited to note that it's the Fitbit Charge 2 that I recommend, not the older Charge HR. The Charge 2 is presently $150 at Amazon, but as I said, wait for a sale or check Costco. It's often available around $100.
Re: Heart rate monitor
That was timely. My two year old Mio Fuse just died, so I picked up a Slice on closeout at REI. Not impressed by the PAI thing, but that's not why I use a HRM. Hint to Mio: if you make a device that's supposed to be worn 24 hours a day, give it a comfortable strap
Re: Heart rate monitor
I like my Polar OH-1. It is worn on the arm, not the wrist. I can set it to record mode and then go swim some laps. I download the data to my phone later.
Re: Heart rate monitor
Howdytelemark wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 11:57 amThat was timely. My two year old Mio Fuse just died, so I picked up a Slice on closeout at REI. Not impressed by the PAI thing, but that's not why I use a HRM. Hint to Mio: if you make a device that's supposed to be worn 24 hours a day, give it a comfortable strap
The device is certainly not perfect, and I completely concur re the unsuitability of the strap for full time use.However, I only use it for workouts and it does a good job of accurately monitoring and recording heart rate, activity and calorie burn, which is what I want.
Do some more research re the PAI feature. My initial impression was that it was hype, but the algorithm they have developed is based on a long term data set from a longitudinal study by a research hospital in Norway, and both the study and science behind the algorithm have been peer reviewed, including in the AJM. I respect the work and also find the PAI index motivating.
YMMV
Happy sweating
W B
"Through chances various, through all vicissitudes, we make our way." Virgil, The Aeneid
Re: Heart rate monitor
I appreciate everyone's comments and considerations. The slice is exactly what i was looking for the it was great to see triangulation in peoples comments. I just placed an order at REI online and I;ll pick it up tomorrow. Thanks,Jeff
Re: Heart rate monitor
I said that badly. PAI is very probably an improvement over step counting (I'm a skateboarder, you don't need to tell me that step counts are an imperfect metric). But I've been advised, for medical reasons, not to let my heart rate get over around 155 BPM, and it turns out that I can exceed that fairly easily (it doesn't even feel like I'm working that hard). So I need something I can wear during exercise that will let me know, without a lot of fuss, whether I'm ok or need to back off. My ideal device would not have any controls at all: you just put it on, let it sync up, and read the heart rate, preferably without having to cycle through six other displays every time you want to check it. Ten years ago you could find devices like that fairly easily, but this is 2018 and everything has activity tracking and requires you to install an app and set up an online account before you can even turn it on.WildBill wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 3:03 pmHowdytelemark wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 11:57 amThat was timely. My two year old Mio Fuse just died, so I picked up a Slice on closeout at REI. Not impressed by the PAI thing, but that's not why I use a HRM. Hint to Mio: if you make a device that's supposed to be worn 24 hours a day, give it a comfortable strap
The device is certainly not perfect, and I completely concur re the unsuitability of the strap for full time use.However, I only use it for workouts and it does a good job of accurately monitoring and recording heart rate, activity and calorie burn, which is what I want.
Do some more research re the PAI feature. My initial impression was that it was hype, but the algorithm they have developed is based on a long term data set from a longitudinal study by a research hospital in Norway, and both the study and science behind the algorithm have been peer reviewed, including in the AJM. I respect the work and also find the PAI index motivating.
YMMV
Happy sweating
W B
Which brings up one other point about the Slice I should have mentioned before. Using the Slice requires a device that supports the PAI app. Not all devices can run the app, although I'm not sure exactly what the requirements are.
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Re: Heart rate monitor
I got the FitBit Blaze at a 40% discount (total cost $105) through my work wellness program.
I've used Polar, Garmin, and many others in the past and really like this one.
I've used Polar, Garmin, and many others in the past and really like this one.
Re: Heart rate monitor
Post script- picked up the slice yesterday - $44 at REI - exactly what I was looking for. Thanks to everyone for your comments.