Heart Rate Monitors.

[rOOster14]

just a couple quick questions. im pretty sure im gonna get an oregon scientific, but i was just wondering if there are any HRMs on the market that you do not have to wear a strap with and just take the reading from yoru wrist

[!!Comatoa$ted]

I have seen one that you place your finger over a sensor on the watch and it picks up you HR, but it looked pretty Mickey mouse.

I think the strap picks up on the electricity produced by the SA node or something like that. A HR monitor that worked like a like a pulse oximeter to pick up SpO2 would be cool

[naane]

Consumer Reports did a test of different HRMs. Their results show that monitors that do not use a chest strap are poor in accuracy. In their tests, a Cateye model used an earlobe sensor rather than a strap; it finished last in their ratings. Also, a model from Mio that picks up the heartrate when you press your fingertips on it also finished two up from the bottom. The chest-strap models would probably be your best bet.

I have a Polar RS200 which is very good. The only drawback with it is that it locks up periodically and I have to "reboot" it by pressing all the buttons at the same time!

[!!Comatoa$ted]

Is it true that in some models you have to send it away to replacve the battery. If yours is like that I would stay away. I got one from sigma that seems to work good and the battery is user repalacable

[naane]

Polar says that. Prior to discovering the "algorithm" to reboot the watch by pressing all the buttons at once, I had to unscrew the back to take the battery out and reinsert it to do a reset. I put the rubber gasket that keeps moisture out back on diligently and I have had no issues in terms of waterproofing (I wear it as a watch all the time and it gets exposed to tons of water). YMMV as usual.
Is it true that in some models you have to send it away to replacve the battery. If yours is like that I would stay away. I got one from sigma that seems to work good and the battery is user repalacable

[SimiCyclist]

There are at least two models of cycling HRMs made by Polar (CS100 and CS200) that require the speed and cadence sensors to be sent in for battery replacements. The batteries are sealed in these units. However, the HRM itself has a user serviceable battery.