Heart rate monitor @ $100, strapless or no?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 332
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Heart rate monitor @ $100, strapless or no?
I want a heart rate monitor for working out and cycling. The strapless ones sound nice, but I have never used any heart rate monitor so I don't know.
Strapless:
E Pulse 2 - https://www.amazon.com/ePulse2-Strapl.../dp/B003YDOO2K
Mio Drive - https://www.amazon.com/Mio-Drive-Spec...dp/B0031YGNYE/
Strap:
Suunto M1 - https://www.amazon.com/Suunto-Heart-M...dp/B003VQ4VIW/
Other suggestions?
Strapless:
E Pulse 2 - https://www.amazon.com/ePulse2-Strapl.../dp/B003YDOO2K
Mio Drive - https://www.amazon.com/Mio-Drive-Spec...dp/B0031YGNYE/
Strap:
Suunto M1 - https://www.amazon.com/Suunto-Heart-M...dp/B003VQ4VIW/
Other suggestions?
#2
Senior Member
Almost all strapless hrms do not take continuous heart rate, and require you to touch a button with your finger to get a reading. Some new stuff is coming to market that will change this but it's an emerging technology. However, it looks like the epulse 2 is continuous? It has horrible reviews though.
I recommend getting a hrm designed to work as a cyclocomputer. Some of these will also work with a wrist strap off the bike. You really want hrm info to be easy to read to be useful on the bike.
I have a wireless Sigma I've been happy with. The chest strap doesn't really annoy me.
I recommend getting a hrm designed to work as a cyclocomputer. Some of these will also work with a wrist strap off the bike. You really want hrm info to be easy to read to be useful on the bike.
I have a wireless Sigma I've been happy with. The chest strap doesn't really annoy me.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: new berlin wi
Posts: 235
Bikes: trek 720 multitrack hybred, 92 trek 2300, 2010 specialized roubaix, 2014 specialized roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
if you want continuous readings a chest strap is required.
i have been using timex hrm with strap like this one, https://www.ebay.com/itm/Timex-Ironma...item5d38249133 for years without problems.
last year i upgraded to a cateye v3 bike computer. i like it a lot.
now the timex stays on my spin cycle.
i have been using timex hrm with strap like this one, https://www.ebay.com/itm/Timex-Ironma...item5d38249133 for years without problems.
last year i upgraded to a cateye v3 bike computer. i like it a lot.
now the timex stays on my spin cycle.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 332
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This Timex is rated pretty well, and only $70. One of the lower priced one has battery suck issues according to reviewers, so that concerns me a little.
https://www.amazon.com/Timex-Ironman-...dp/B001GWYACK/
Last edited by Netdewt; 12-29-12 at 04:58 PM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: new berlin wi
Posts: 235
Bikes: trek 720 multitrack hybred, 92 trek 2300, 2010 specialized roubaix, 2014 specialized roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
the one you have in your link is digital. i have used the analog ones for years without problems.
yes the batteries go bad quickly in the chest strap. i usually replace mine every 2 months or so, batteries are usually less than $5 for 2 at walgreens.
people who have problems with the watch readings probably don't have moisture on the chest strap or have the chest strap on upside down, mine is that way.
as posted earlier the wrist ones you must touch your finger to a sensor to get readings. with a chest strap you get continuous readings updated every 10 seconds or so, don't ember the exact time.
yes the batteries go bad quickly in the chest strap. i usually replace mine every 2 months or so, batteries are usually less than $5 for 2 at walgreens.
people who have problems with the watch readings probably don't have moisture on the chest strap or have the chest strap on upside down, mine is that way.
as posted earlier the wrist ones you must touch your finger to a sensor to get readings. with a chest strap you get continuous readings updated every 10 seconds or so, don't ember the exact time.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: La Verne CA
Posts: 5,049
Bikes: Litespeed Liege, Motorola Team Issue Eddy Mercxk, Santana Noventa Tandem, Fisher Supercaliber Mtn. Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
been using one with straps since the mid 80's, once you get used to it, it not ever an issue.. the strapless ones are not very accurate.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 332
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Anyone have experience with the Polar RCX3? It has some cycling features, seems pretty nice. A little more than I was hoping, but maybe worth it.
https://www.polarusa.com/us-en/produc...ultisport/RCX3
https://www.polarusa.com/us-en/produc...ultisport/RCX3
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 66
Bikes: Motobecane Vitus 979, Bridgestone MB-1, S-works Roubaix, Wabi Lightning SE
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How well do the chest strap HRMs work for people with a hairy chest? I always have problems getting an EKG and sometimes have to shave areas where the electrodes attach.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 332
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have noticed they make electrode cream type stuff... maybe that would help?
Still trying to decide on a monitor... I'm now between getting a cheap Polar that will work with treadmills at the gym, and going all the way to a Garmin 310xt. The Garmin stuff looks pretty awesome, but $250 is a lot more than I had planned on spending.
Still trying to decide on a monitor... I'm now between getting a cheap Polar that will work with treadmills at the gym, and going all the way to a Garmin 310xt. The Garmin stuff looks pretty awesome, but $250 is a lot more than I had planned on spending.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: new berlin wi
Posts: 235
Bikes: trek 720 multitrack hybred, 92 trek 2300, 2010 specialized roubaix, 2014 specialized roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
you need moisture to get them to work properly. i put a fair amount of saliva on the back side with my fingers when i start out and i sweat pretty good so it stays wet when i use it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
worldtraveller
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
23
11-10-12 09:16 PM