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Good, reliable heart rate monitor
Hi all,
I am on the look out for a good reliable heart rate monitor. Can anyone recommend one? The one I have now (Sigma PC15) drops out all the time which gives me the shits. Maybe one around $150-$250 mark. I have had a look at the Polar ones but there are so many to choose from. I would like one with a stopwatch function but most of all one that doesn't drop out.
Thanks
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I currently use Suunto, mainly because i use their dive watch too.
Have used Polar in the past which can also be good.
Like anything, probably best to stay away from bottom of the range, even if its a decent brand.
are nice and reliable and for that price you can get GPS tracking as well
Mate of mine just bought the Garmin Forerunner 310X. Does heart monitor, but also all the rest, and can be fitted on the bike too. $399 at Amart All Sports. (checkout this massive review). The Garmin Edge 500 or 800 does the same, just can't be wear as watch.
Not sure if they are accurate, but I had no problem with my Edge 800 like you did.
Are they accurate?
Yeah looked at Garmin as well. Want to keep to the wrist watch style. Does anyone know if the Forerunner models have a stopwatch? Also, are their batteries replaceable? Would there be any compatibility issues from buying overseas?
Thanks
I have been using a Garmin 305 for years and it just works, never a problem, both the HR, GPS and cadence sensor. This was the second monitor I bought, the first one really never worked and cost about $100.
I bought a Sigma for about $80 for my son, followed by a Polar. The Polar worked but the batteries lasted about 30 minutes. Gave up after a year and then bought a Garmin, having spent about $300 on monitors that never worked properly.
So my advice is don't fiddle around with the cheaper monitors, but rather just get a quality unit from the start. You may eventually end up buying one eventually.
The only other approach is to use Strava or another package on your iPhone or android phone, and use a ant+ HRM.
Another vote for Garmin. They just work. Mine's a 705. Battery's good for 14 hours continuous.
Being able to upload and share trails is brilliant. Helped us earlier this yrar when scouting the Mont track a coupla weeks before the race.
Don't have to worry about stopwatch functionality... you just press Start when you strart and then again when you stop and it works out the rest. If you do laps it can be set to remember start points and time your laps automatically.
Thanks for the replies. Starting to lean towards Garmin. maybe the forerunner 310xt, 410 or the edge 500. Which one is the better out of those?
So with the edge 500, can I still use the unit off the bike, particularly the HR function eg. When running?
Are there maps loaded on edge500?
The thing with garmin though is it doesn't seem the battery is user replaceable?
You can download OSM maps for free for Garmin mapping GPSs.
OSM is OpenStreetMaps.
http://osm.org/go/swzCPG7q-
between the running Garmins and the cycling ones in that their internal programs are assuming a certain minimum speed.
I tried using an Edge for bushwalking and it was forever missing points and going to sleep - which I assumed was because it mistook my slow walking pace for being stopped rather than riding.
But to answer another question: they all use the same chest strap so yes you can use a cycling unit when running.
And FYI my Edge 500 doesn't have maps except in a trackback sense.
(a few years old) which I use for running and cycling without drama. The only issue is the battery life at about 3-4 hours which doesn't work for bigger rides, you can replace the battery with an aftermarket one on ebay for $10-20 from memory.
feature wise it's almost the same as the Edge 500 but without the altimeter but much of a muchness. Likewise it doesn't do true mapping, just logging a upload to the web. You can also create a course on a PC and it will direct you along it but there's no display of a map on the winky little screen.
For riding only the Edge is a better proposition in my mind
My points would be
1. Don't get something you wear on your wrist for cycling. I started with one and its a total PITA. If you are trying to ride a timed section and your looking at your average speed, HR or what ever, looking at something on your wrist is annoying. Stem mounted is much better
2. If you get the Edge 500 or similar, in the settings you have the option to record every second or smart recording. The default setting is smart recording but change this to every second
3. I would turn off the auto pause feature. This stops it getting confused etc. Have it permanently running and when you upload the profile it shows moving time, moving average etc
4. If you are someone who wants to explore and follow other courses, the 500 does this but it is very basic. You cant even zoom in or out on the course you are following which can be very annoying. The 800 is much better.
5. In this review they say you can use the 310xt strap for the 500 for running. There's a pic of it.
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2009/11/garmin-edge-5...
Cheers
Brian
I notice that the Edge 500 doesn't have the Virtual Partner function.
The Virtual Partner function is my most used function on my GPS and I wouldn't buy a GPS device without it.
For those that don't know the Virtual Partner, or "Ghost Rider" as some people call it, is when you ride against a previously recorded ride around the same circuit. You can see in real time if you are ahead or behind compared to your previously recorded ride around the same circuit. Its the best training aid ever.
If you get a watch you can still mount it on your bike with a cheap rubber thing. I prefer to wear my garmin on my wrist for mtb though.
On the roadie I put it on the bars because I'm constantly looking at speed, cadence and heart rate.
On the mtb if I'm going fast my eyes are glued to the trail. I only check it occasionally to check distance or time or maybe my heart rate on a long tough climb. I put it on my bars once and first stack I took a chunk out of the watch.
I have a garmin 910xt. I ride, run and swim so it does everything and I think I got it for $400. Battery lasts for something like 20 hours which is awesome.
The Edge 500 does have the virtual partner.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=...
It doesn't mention virtual partner in the Garmin site at all and in the review posted earlier it specifically states that it doesn't have the Virtual Partner function.
Yes it does. I have used it a few times when trying to PB previous rides I've done. Google Virtual Partner Edge 500 and you'll see posts of people discussing how to change the speed of the virtual partner etc.
Further to my post. When you have it on the course screen that shows the elevation, if the virtual partner is close you will see the 2 dots representing you and the VP. It also shows if you are behind or ahead of the VP and if behind, the time you are behind shows as a dark background with light writing, if ahead its a light background with dark writing. The VP can get confused on out and backs etc.
So for the Edge 500, is the virtual partner based on a real-time recording from a previous event or is it a figure you put in artificially which represents an average speed for the entire course? Does the Virtual Partner go slow up hills and fast down hills?
Edit:
With a real Virtual Partner you shouldn't be able to change the speed or times because that is created by the actual recorded ride.
For the courses where I was using it for the VP feature I was using previous rides I had done. This meant the VP does go faster down hills and slower up. For a course you manually create using one of the various software out there, you normally enter a km/h average so it has something to go by.
I think Garmin make great navigation devices, but bad HRM in my opinion. Firstly ask what is you want from the device - you asked for a HRM as opposed to a navigation device, so I'll base my recommendations on that.
Garmin measure Heart Rates just like anyone else, but their software is woeful at calculating calories used, EPOC or other HR related features. If you want a true HRM, Suunto or Polar are the way to go. They are wrist worn but this makes them more versatile in my mind. Both have pods to measure cadence and power when cycling and you can use them for running etc too.
Polar also have a Bluetooth strap and transmitter that works with third party apps on iPhone or Nike, but it means using your phone when cycling which I try and avoid.
Right now, I have a Polar RX5 and use a Garmin Edge 800 for navigation and it works a treat. I don't always use the Garmin but I do the RX5 so it's handy to have both. I also have a Suunto T6D which is good but Suunto are known for having a user interface that is 'interesting' to say the least.
In conclusion, if you just want to know what your HRM is when you ride and are happy to educate yourself about what zones are optimal for your training needs, get a Garmin and use their strap. If you want a true HRM go Polar or Suunto and probably Polar overall. BTW - eBay is your friend for sure here as they are half the price overseas compared to locally.
Also worth noting that I've broken two straps (at $40 each) on my forerunner by mounting it on the bars too tight, invest in the proper mount if your going to do that
Yep, looks like I stand corrected. Although it's strange that the review says it doesn't have it. Maybe it was added after the review was done. In that case it looks like a good GPS and I'd recommend it also.
Unless you're using a power meter, I think *most* of the calories used calculations are little more than partially informed guesswork.
Calories used and other related estimation is a nice-to-have. I've never taken any notice of them on any of the various HRM devices I've owned. What matters to me is beng able to work out my threshhold HR, and then being able to train to percentages of that in real time, in combination with Rate of Perceived Exertion.
Your heart rate is influenced by so many factors such as how well rested you were at the start, how much coffee you drank at the start, time since last meal and how much carb it contained, ambient air temperature, how well-trained you are, heart stroke volume, and so on, that HR-based calorie estimates are pretty meaningless anyway.
What is people's opinion of the HRM strap that comes with the 800? I love the Garmin itself and would definitely put my vote in for it (albeit a lot more expensive than what ozgti has listed so perhaps one of the cheaper ones) but the strap just doesn't last that long before I need a new one. Anything I am missing or are there ANT+ straps from other manufacturers that are better and/or cheaper (so that replacing them isn't such a big deal)?
That standard strap is pretty so so but works. You can get the premium garmin strap for $50 on ebay which seems to be a nicer design or any ANT+ strap such as wahoo would work
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=15490
http://www.wahoofitness.com/Products/Wahoo-Fitne...
I think the 800 comes with the premium one.
I guess first and foremost I want the heart rate features. Would be good with GPS though. So what HR info do the Garmins record? My current monitor records
Current HR
Average HR
Max HR
Automatically calculates 3 HR exercise zones (health zone, fitness zone, power zone)
Graphical indicator which HR zones you are in
Time spent in each of the 3 HR Zones
Percentage of time spent in 3 HR zones
Total Time
Would the Garmins have all the above or more?
Also how well do their cadence sensors work? Are they ok on a dually?
Thanks again for all the help.
Garmins record your hr for the entire ride, either every 3 or every 1 second depending on your coice in the settings. You can then see what your hr was at any point in the ride. It will also show on your computer or on Garmin Connect how long you spent in each HR zone. You can plot it against gradient, altitude, or a number of other variables.
I find it interesting to see how fast my hr ramps up during set climbs on my commute, and then during each lap when i do hill repeats.
More data than you'll know what to do with, actually.
Oh, on cadence... I have it on my hardtail and it has been very useful for some types of training sessions where cadence is specified (I hate you Mark Fenner
)
I've yet to fit to my dually due to the brake hose being in the way but think I've found a workaround.
Just having a look at my bike ( Spesh FSR XC), there is no way I can install the cadence sensor without some sort of mods. It says the magnets have to be within 5mm of the sensor. Looks like the speed magnet would be ok as I assume the little antenna thing on the sensor can swing out to be within 5mm of the magnet. Am i right i thinking it can swing out? But with the magnet on the crank, it looks to be a big gap, maybe 1.5 cm. anyone done any mods to fix this? And same as you hawkeye, my brake line is right in the way!
To be honest, you wont really use the cadence on the mtb unless you use it on the road a lot.
I have had a polar cs300 watch hrm fitted to bars with the polar bar mount ($20) that was accurate and worked well for bike and other exercises only issue I had was after 3 yrs the screen started to fade. Now I have a garmin edge 500 ( purchase from Queensland website for $330 with premium hr stap, speed and cadence sensor ) and upload rides to strava that I am very happy with for training as I can view so much information for all parts of ride as opposed to the polar that only gives average
Thanks for everyone's help. In the end it came down to the Garmin Edge 500 or the Forerunner 310XT. I ended up going with the 310. I chose this because I could wear it on my wrist, in case I use it for other sports. I think it also has a few more functions than the edge 500. Also I felt the speed/cadence sensor included with the edge 500 was more trouble than its worth. Anyway I can buy it as an accessory to use with the 310 in the future. Another clincher was the price. I got the 310 for $299!! Bit over my budget but happy days anyway!!
Now to my next question. I read somewhere that in Garmin Connect, you can't actually see the time spent in each heart rate zone. Is that the case? I would have thought this would be an important piece of info? But you can see it in another program? Garmin Training Centre???
There's plenty of software that does. Strava does if you are a premium member although you just put your max in and it works out the zones. I use sportstracks and you can create your own zones.
Garmin training centre is the go if you just want to track your own progress without publicising everything you do on the bike to the CIA, MI5, ASIO, and whatever the Chinese agency is that is responsible for hacking everybody else
The maps suck, though, but you can download topo maps from the web.
And yes, training centre tracks the time & distance spent in each HR zone