Optical heart rate monitor sports watch vs. One with hear rate sensor

[ilovefitness]

Hi,

I own both Garmin and Polar sports watches with chest strap heart rate sensors to guage my cardio workout progress. I gotta say I dislike chest straps. They wear out after 1-2 years even with care.

Garmin is coming out with the 225 model which uses optical heart rate technology. I heard that some people think optical heart rate technology is not accurate. It does not pick up heart rates when there are lots of hand movements. This is not good news for me.

I am hoping to get some feedback. Thank you.

 

[irongrl]

I have used both Garmin and Polar chest straps and get very good results from them. I've used heart rate monitors since the late 90's and am used to the chest strap so I don't mind it that much. I have tried the optical, wrist based monitors too. I've used a Scoche and a Fitbit Surge. They did not work for me and I ended up returning them. However, the optical sensor on the Apple Watch seems to be fairly accurate. If I were you, I would try the Garmin 225 and see how it works for you. If you can get it from REI, they have a good return policy.

 

[ilovefitness]

I have used both Garmin and Polar chest straps and get very good results from them. I've used heart rate monitors since the late 90's and am used to the chest strap so I don't mind it that much. I have tried the optical, wrist based monitors too. I've used a Scoche and a Fitbit Surge. They did not work for me and I ended up returning them. However, the optical sensor on the Apple Watch seems to be fairly accurate. If I were you, I would try the Garmin 225 and see how it works for you. If you can get it from REI, they have a good return policy.

Thank you, irongrl. That's what I figure I would do in this case. Supposedly, this Garmin 225 uses Mio technology. I have heard that Mio technology is spotty sometimes. I am gonna wait it out to read some more user reviews before committing to a purchase.

 

[desertambrosia]

I have used both Garmin and Polar chest straps and get very good results from them. I've used heart rate monitors since the late 90's and am used to the chest strap so I don't mind it that much. I have tried the optical, wrist based monitors too. I've used a Scoche and a Fitbit Surge. They did not work for me and I ended up returning them. However, the optical sensor on the Apple Watch seems to be fairly accurate. If I were you, I would try the Garmin 225 and see how it works for you. If you can get it from REI, they have a good return policy.

I've never had a chest strap that lasted more than a year. Will have to give the Garmin a try. Thanks.

 

[Newwmn3]

I was looking into purchasing a new fitness tracker myself and was looking at the Fitbit Surge and a few others. The tough part is, I was a bit hesitant to shell out a couple hundred bucks without being able to try it first especially because I want it to be accurate for things like Hiit, weightlifting, hiking, etc. not to mention getting an accurate calorie count. Reviews on the ones I was looking at were all over the place! Just out of curiosity, I did a Google search for "try out a fitness tracker" and, lo and behold, I found a company that allows you to do just that!!! You can try out any fitness tracker you'd like (up to 5 at a time, I think) for a full 2 weeks for only $25. If you like the tracker and want to buy it, they will send you a new one and take $25 off the purchase price. If you don't like it, send it back and your card is only charged the $25. No harm, no foul! I tried out the Fitbit Surge for 2 weeks and, while I like some of the features, I found that it was WAY off on HR and calorie burn for all Hiit and most weightlifting activities. It seemed to work well with walks, runs, and hikes. I wore it at the same time as I wore my Polar with the chest strap and was able to compare the two side-by-side. The Surge was also very bulky and not attractive at all. For 2 weeks I felt like people were looking at me wondering "why the heck is she wearing such an ugly watch???" In case it helps anyone out, the website is www.lumoid.com . It was pretty cool to be able to try it out before buying it and I'm glad I did. I think I'll save the $250 and wait for technology to improve a bit.

Christin

 

[ilovefitness]

In case it helps anyone out, the website is www.lumoid.com . It was pretty cool to be able to try it out before buying it and I'm glad I did. I think I'll save the $250 and wait for technology to improve a bit. Christin

Wow, Christin, you ROCK! Thank you so very much for the information. I will indeed check into this. Optical Heart Rate is a new invention. Like you, I have read so many mixed reviews. Garmin 225 has some rave reviews, but for me to shell out close to $300, I gotta make sure the product delivers. Like you, I am currently using Polar with the chest strap. It's working right now after I sent it for repair under the warranty. The thing is the chest strap and the heart rate sensor tend to wear out so quickly with Polar. I have received 3 heart rate sensor replacement already so far.

BTW, have you tried out the Polar heart rate sensor with the blue tooth technology where you synch it with phone apps?

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!!!!

 

[Newwmn3]

Wow, Christin, you ROCK! Thank you so very much for the information. I will indeed check into this. Optical Heart Rate is a new invention. Like you, I have read so many mixed reviews. Garmin 225 has some rave reviews, but for me to shell out close to $300, I gotta make sure the product delivers. Like you, I am currently using Polar with the chest strap. It's working right now after I sent it for repair under the warranty. The thing is the chest strap and the heart rate sensor tend to wear out so quickly with Polar. I have received 3 heart rate sensor replacement already so far.

BTW, have you tried out the Polar heart rate sensor with the blue tooth technology where you synch it with phone apps?

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!!!!

You are so welcome! Glad I could help! I was actually thinking about trying the Garmin 225 next but even that one seems to have difficulty with Hiit from what I have read. I haven't tried the Polar that you're talking about but it sounds awfully neat. Do you know which model it is? It's funny you mention that you've had to have yours replaced several times. I am on my second one in 1 year and this second one is starting to give me the same error message as the last time....grrrrr. Well, at least I know I can try my next replacement out before I buy it I suppose! I will be keeping an eye on this thread in hopes that others chime in with what they use and like.

Christin

 

[ilovefitness]

Do you know which model it is? It's funny you mention that you've had to have yours replaced several times. I am on my second one in 1 year and this second one is starting to give me the same error message as the last time....grrrrr. Well, at least I know I can try my next replacement out before I buy it I suppose! I will be keeping an eye on this thread in hopes that others chime in with what they use and like. Christin

Christin,

I started out with Garmin Forerunner series. IMHO, it seems Garmin makes more durable products. That said, the drawbacks were - 1) 1 year standard warranty vs Polar's 2 year 2) when doing HIIT or kickboxing with lots of hand motions involved, the HR readings became erratic. That's what prompted me to try out Polar instead. I did some decent research and read some rave reviews on the inexpensive FT7 model with the H1 Heart Rate Sensor. So I bought this one instead of plunking down more serious cash on Polar M400.

FT7 comes with a soft chest strap. I gotta say that it's very comfortable. The watch and the sensor are built solid. However, the watch face is a lot smaller compared to Garmin's. That said, IMHO, I think FT7 is very reliable when I do HIIT or kickboxing with lots of hand movements, even planks and pullups. (I tried it out in Cathe's Slide & Glide workout also. Worked well!) The watch continues to receive the heart rates even when I weightlift. Again, what I find disappointing is the polar web site where you upload the training data - rudimentary at best with spotty down time. I am careful in upkeeping my Polar but I still encounter problems of heart rate sensors and chest straps not working after 3-4 months of frequent use, as I mentioned previously.

So...that's why I am looking forward to Garmin 225. This model has recently been released. Cannot really find any large review. I know Tom Tom made a similar product like this one. I like using sports watches as they give me a good estimate of my workout efforts and as with the amount of weights I've been tracking, I also track my cardio progress.

Like you, I hope for more feedback as well.