Strapless heart rate monitor advice

meowracer

meowracer

Cathlete
I am considering a heart rate monitor, and really want a strapless version. I have little wrists so would probably need a women's style band. Please lend any advice on good ones to consider. Also, let me know if you think it is a worthwhile investment. The reasons I am considering it are several. First, I have asthma and think I overexert myself (especially during peak allergy season) and sometimes feel quite icky afterwards. My heart rate can get up very fast. I have been throughly checked by a cardiologist and the heart works fine - it is the asthma and lungs that cause it to overwork sometimes. Secondly, it seems it could enhance my fitness gains and really tweak what I am working to accomplish.

Thanks in advance, all of you knowledgeable folks!
 
I've worn Mio's for the past several years and love them. My most recent Mio is the Mio Drive and it is even better than the preivous Mio Shape's I used to use. There is also a Mio Ultimate (the one I wanted but couldn't afford) that has the option of wearing the chest strap or just using the pads on the watch to take your HR.

I know a lot of people here don't like them because you don't get a contiuous reading and have to sort of stop for a moment to take your HR...but it only takes a few seconds and the more you get used to it, the better it gets. You just have to make sure to take your HR at every level of your workout hardest, moderate and lower intensities so that you get a pretty accurate reading of your workout intensity.

Again, I HIGHLY recommend the Mio Drive. It's really nice.

www.gophysical.com

ETA: Oh, and I'm extremely small boned (wear children's glasses and helmet sizes) and the Drive fits on my wrist snugly.
 
Hey, you guys, is there a heart rate monitor that does not require you to stop and place your fingers over those sensors? I mean, a wrist type model that you can just glance down at your wrist and see your heartrate ?
 
The only ones that you can glance down at to get your reading are the ones that you wear a chest strap with.....to my knowledge.
 
meowracer, my question is why don't you want one with a chest strap? I guess my way of thinking is the chest strap heart rate monitor would give you the most accurate reading as it is closest to the heart...:)
 
Well, I had thought they were cumbersome, itchy, and just basically in the way. After posting this thread, and reading about the Mio's that were mentioned, I realize that maybe it is the best option since it is continuous, and they make then in fabric. So, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Also, I've found some that you can wear either way (with strap or without). I also didn't realize that I would have to stop to check my pulse - just figured it would take the pulse from the pulse point on the wrist. Basically, I posted with very little information on my part :)
 
You definitely need to get one that you will like! I will say for the record I have used Heart Rate Monitors with chest straps for about 15 years and not once have I found them cumbersome, itchy, or just basically in the way...The only bad thing I will say about the strap is sometimes when the weather where I live is more humid, on a long run of about 15 or more miles they can rub you in some places. Luckily Aquaphor helps prevent that...:)
 
Thank you. I live in Houston, so I know about humid (yuck!), but for the most part, would be using this indoors. I have a bike trainer that I use and prefer to the road anyway (but especially in summer!). Do you have a brand that you prefer? I saw the Mio ultimate that has the option of a chest strap or just the wrist monitor. Thanks again for you knowledge here.
 
You are welcome...Luckily we don't have humidity anything like you do in Houston. Some days can just get more humid than I like..:)..for indoors I have always used Polar Heart Rate Monitors (currently I am using the F6 and love it). For running (which I do outdoors) I use a Garmin Forerunner 305 for distance and heart rate. I have found this a good site for pricing and info http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/
 
I have both a Polar F11 which has a wear link chest strap (made of material and elastic with a small plastic connector with battery in front) and a Reebok strapless monitor.

I love my Polar F11! The chest strap is fully adjustable and comfortable to wear. I like that it’s a continuous read out and I don’t have to put my fingers on the sensors to get a heart rate.

Like Carole, I usually put Body Glide on the during long runs to prevent chaffing from the strap. During everyday use, it’s not a problem at all.

HTH,
Kathy G
 
Someone posted a similar question a few weeks ago...I'm not sure how to link to that thread, so I copied response:

I have one that I got about 2 yrs ago as a present. The "Wear Link" transmitter is a small unit (about 1 inch by 1 1/2 inches) that snaps into a little pocket in a specially made sport top (Numetrex makes them). The sport top actually has tiny wires or fibers made right into it that pick up the signal like the big heavy plastic strap would have (I've used that kind too). You can't feel the fibers at all, the fabric is all soft. The system works pretty well if you wet the area of the top for a few inches to either side of the transmitter first, otherwise the signal may not pick up 'til you get sweaty. (I found this helped with the strap kind too, so it's not really a disadvantage of the strapless one). A $ point to consider...to stay strapless, you can ONLY use this with the special tops, so if you wear them for every workout, you will need a few (I think they're about $50 each on the Numetrex site, I don't know if they can be found for less elsewhere). (You can actually use the same unit snapped into a soft fabric strap tucked under a regular sport top, but that kind of defeats the point of "strapless"). It can add up, however, you can get a whole package (watch, transmitter, and one top) for $99 or $149 depending on which brand of watch you want. You can just get the pieces separately if you want a different watch/wear-link transmitter combination than the packages offer.
Coupon code "BLOG1" was good for 20% off and free shipping, may still be valid.

Here's a link:

http://www.numetrex.com/webapp/index.php/store/Shopping/section/packages

Hope that helps!
 
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