[Closed] Heart rate monitor

Just to clarify why I mentioned the fenix - i currently have a Vivofit which is also giving up the ghost, and I like the Garmin connect software/App’. I saw the fenix5 in ti and really liked it, but had no money or need at that point.

If it's just for tracking and HRM, and you have small hands/wrists, then a Forerunner 35 would do what you need.

Forerunner - choose your price point. I have the 245 music and it's excellent. I also use a Wahoo bolt when riding so I don't have to look at my wrist, and my wahoo tickr HRM strap connects to both with no issues.

Mrs M has a vivofit which has suffered a broken strap and both have always been a bit iffy with syncing with devices and the HRM doesn't work very well with cycling.

I've got a polar M430 which is OK but the HRM lies badly with cycling so I need a chest strap.

245 Music for me too, been excellent. Upgraded from a 45 due to longer runs with a desire for music without a phone, I need to put the 45 on the classifieds.

Wrist mounted hrm are all a bit patchy, my vivoactive 3 is fine for running but on the bike often is displaying half of what my wahoo armband hrm is reading.

Had a look at a mates forerunner and it felt very... low rent, when compared to the fenix 5.

I've got a 5 year old fenix 3. Its on its second strap in that time. I really want a newer model with music, wrist based HR etc etc but this one will not die. Still works as well as it did on day 1. Will be replacing it with another fenix series when it does go.

Agreed - optical wrist based HRM is fine for day to day/resting (the 245 has 24/7 HR monitoring) but for any running or cycling I use a chest strap.

~£25 Coospo H6 from Amazon, good as gold until the battery is practically dead, like on my ride a while ago.

Another Fenix owner here, the original 5. Had a 3 before it, that was great too but I do like the optical HR for 24x7 health monitoring and general ease of use for training runs and the like. (I usually use a HR strap on the bike, but running I find the one I have tends to slip down when I start to get sweaty).

In the spirit of recommending what you've got, a Fenix 5 would be fine, although the 6 would obviously be nicer. Note the Fenix 5 isn't compatible with Spotify and the like, if that's an issue. There's also a smaller "S" model that sounds ideal if you want something a bit less chunky.

Garmin Instinct is cheaper and lighter weight than the Fenix. It is plastic, but kind of chunky style. Good for cycling, running etc.

Would agree wrist heart rate can be a bit crap. I am using the Garmin with a Polar OH1 optical heart rate, on the upper arm. That is usually quite reliable for me.

I like the Fenix watches but I tend to see a watch as a tool so they end up marked and scratched...so Fenix is no good as it is seriously chunky and metal.
I use a Forerunner 935...same features as the Fenix WiFi watch but about 300 quid cheaper, not as chunky (not as tall) and plastic.
Strangely, this is the first watch I've not mangled, gouged or scraped.
Works really well but is now old as there is a newer version available.
Great watches and tools... highly recommend but be aware the optical HRM isn't as accurate as a chest HRM.

Here are my thoughts:

Previously Suunto then Fenix 3 with chest HR....Great combo.

Then Fenix 3 using a Mic Link Wrist HR which was superb. This proved to me wrist HR can be as accurate as chest HR.

Currently Instinct...great all-round fitness watch but slow HR on bike unless I tighten strap to the point of discomfort, so...I have dug out my chest strap again. My Mio charger has packed in and you can't get replacements, so will probably get a Polar OH1.

My g/f is using a Viviactive 4s (currently £120 on Vitality). This looks to be a great watch and has lots of smart features.

I'll get a Fenix 6pro next month thru Vitality (-20%) - the 47mm size will be better for me than the old 51mm F3 which was a BRICK!!.

I've tested the wrist-based HRM on my Forerunner 35 alongside a chest-strap type connected to my Garmin Edge. There is no difference. Perhaps it's worse with the heavier watches as they would bounce around more?

I’ve tested the wrist-based HRM on my Forerunner 35 alongside a chest-strap type connected to my Garmin Edge. There is no difference. Perhaps it’s worse with the heavier watches as they would bounce around more?

Doing what? Normal day to day stuff, the optical sensor will be fine.

Running/cycling then it's not as good.

This is a hill repeats session with a HRM strap.

[img] [/img]

And this is the same workout, a few days before - with the garmin optical sensor.

[img] [/img]

172bpm max with the strap, 156bpm max with the optical sensor. Same effort on both (and it felt like 170+bpm on both!). I've also done a test on a 45 minute cycle commute and the optical was consistently about 20bpm below the strap.

This is on a forerunner 245 music, others may be better but in general a strap is going to be more accurate.

Running and cycling.

To be fair optical sensor accuracy can be different for different people too, skin colour, hairyness, how you wear it can all affect it.

If you've got one that is as accurate as a strap then you're lucky!

Thanks everyone - lots of food for thought.

I have the 735xt, I really like it.

I wanted something fancier, but tried a few in and tried their features. The fenix is a lot of money for what it is. The tiny screen for mapping really didn’t convince me it was worth the money, plus if you need several regions the extra maps add quite a lot more on top.

The wrist based heart rate of good, but needs to be worn really quite tight to get good results so the green light is kept contained and ambient light is kept out. I wear a strap for exercise but enjoy the data the rest of the time

I’ll d wholeheartedly recommend the 735, or similar. I think the fenix is too bulky and expensive for me.

I have had an Instinct for a year or so and really like it. I’d though of a Fenix but they seemed very bulky. I use the Garmin chest strap on the bike and it all just syncs perfectly, either with the the Instinct if I want to see it there, or on my Garmin 530 or Edge 130

Just to give you an idea of battery life too, my 245 music was fully charged at 8pm on Tuesday, I've done 3 runs totalling 25km and it's currently on 28%. So 6+ days on a full charge, it'll last until tomorrow evening with no issues even with another run.