Heart Rate Monitors

[barry1010]

My chest strap monitor has given up the ghost but it is very old so no complaints.
Are the wristwatch type as accurate for measuring heart rate during exercise? I have no experienced of these new fangled devices so any thoughts are welcome.
It must be one that pairs with equipment.
Not sure if this should be in tech but hey ho

[bednobs]

What do you want to achieve?

[barry1010]

I want to know my heart rate when I am using my exercise equipment preferably displayed by bluetooth on the equipment.

[Fitzer]

In my experience (Garmin & Fitbit) wrist based readings are less accurate than chest monitors during vigorous exercise, ok up to about 120bpm not good over that, just my experience.

[bednobs]

I would tend to agree with fitter. The wrist ones I find not to be too accurate. If knowing the exact bpm at all times is important to you probably not ideal

[Ellipsis]

I use a Withings Scanwatch. Quite pricey, but medically certified.

I bought mine direct from Withings, but friends have had trouble following Brexit etc and found it a lot easier to buy from Amazon ...

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[barry1010]

Back to the Polar chest strap, then. Thanks both - I was dubious about the wristwatch/fit watch thing but I was tempted.

[Buenchico]

I can't see why (or even how) a wrist-strap monitor should be less accurate than one on your chest. After all, it's only taking your pulse and the traditional way for a doctor or nurse to take your pulse is to feel for it in your wrist.

I use a wrist-strap blood pressure monitor every day, which also records my pulse (as I'm sure that they all do), and, while wrist measurements of blood pressure might not be quite as accurate as upper arm measurements, I've no doubt at all that it's 100% accurate as far as the heart rate recording is concerned.

[puzzled54]

I use a Fitbit and am happy with it. Much more comfortable than the old polar monitor that I used to have

[Sqad]

I agree with Buenchico, BP recordings are basically the same when taken either atthe wrist or the upper arm.
No big deal.
As the lumen of the artery in the wrist is smaller than the one in the arm, then it may, just may be a little higher......and that is no bad thing.

[barry1010]

Ellipsis, I googled that watch and I think it would turn me in to a hypochondriac

[Ellipsis]

You soon get used to it ... ;-)

[Ellipsis]

The best thing is that a charge lasts for a month. This makes the sleep monitor useful (since you don't have to charge it while you're sleeping)

[barry1010]

Reading the reviews the charge doesn't last anything like a month if you use all the functions.
I'm sure it is a fantastic bit of kit but is a lot more than what I want or need.
At least with a Polar chest strap it's just a case of dropping a new watch battery in every 3 years or so

[Fitzer]

It isn't the point at which the rate is measured which is the problem but the method used, chest straps measure the heart beat using electrodes placed either side of the heart whereas wrist based monitors use optical sensors to measure blood flow. Good article here citing studies showing optical accuracy falling off as intensity of exercise increases. https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wrist-vs-chest-strap-heart-rate-monitor-which-is-better-for-you/

[barry1010]

My wife monitors my sleep - she lets me know when I'm snoring, when I'm restless and when I'm keeping her awake because I'm reading.

[barry1010]

Interesting read, thank you Fitzer

[Ellipsis]

> Reading the reviews the charge doesn't last anything like a month if you use all the functions.

It lasts about a month for me. The main thing that wears it out quicker is the "Quicklook" mode, which I have set to "Off".