Heart Rate Monitor

Faust29

Faust29

iMTB Hooligan
I've been using a Mio Link for the last 18 months. I originally bought it because I can't stand the chest strap monitors... Still can't.

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The Mio only does heart rate, and it has to connect to a Garmin or phone. It doesn't have a screen of its own- just a blinking light that changes color as heart rate increases. It's worked pretty flawlessly since I bought it, just before the Redlands Strada Rossa in spring 2016. It also connects to my phone with a Mio app that tracks calories and heart rate when I run on the elliptical and ride the trainer at home. I like to be able to see that data...

But... It died. :thumbsdown: :unsure:

Now here's my question...

What do I replace it with?

My wife has suggested the Apple Watch. The newest model (the 3) has pretty good battery life, GPS, Strava, etc... But this would be more of a replacement for the heart rate monitor and Garmin. Not sure I want to go that route and have everything on my wrist. I do "need" to be able to see my HR during rides, though... And the watch would allow me to do that. It would also be nice to see incoming texts and it would track HR on my home equipment.

Or... Buy another Mio Link? They are pretty cheap now, and I've seen them at REI for $39. I just don't like the idea of giving the company more $$$ when their product only lasted 18 months.

Or... What do you guys suggest? I haven't paid much attention to the HR/fitness device/bike computer categories. Is there something better out there? Maybe a combo to replace the Garmin and heart rate? My Garmin is getting pretty long in the tooth, and it's acted as if possessed by demons on many occasions...
 
$39 every 18 months is pretty reasonable. Personally, what I've read and been told is that the wrist monitors aren't as accurate, but who knows. I prefer the chest strap myself and that's only $40 that lasted me 4 years, and I can see the heart rate on either the Edge 500 or the Forerunner 210. I don't know of an accurate one-in-all.
 
Runs with Scissors said:
$39 every 18 months is pretty reasonable. Personally, what I've read and been told is that the wrist monitors aren't as accurate, but who knows. I prefer the chest strap myself and that's only $40 that lasted me 4 years, and I can see the heart rate on either the Edge 500 or the Forerunner 210. I don't know of an accurate one-in-all.
Click to expand...

I should have added... When I first bought it, I tested it against the chest strap, and the numbers were identical. Accuracy hasn't been an issue...

It does occasionally slip down on my wrist, but that's easily remedied.
 
Wahoo ELMNT Bolt pretty cool. (I'm a data junkie)
There are soft straps that are pretty comfy unnoticeable, polar for one, wahoo.
Think there are lots of wrist based units now.
And then of course there's the ridiculously cool and expensive Garmin Fenix watches
 
I like the Mio Link and have had 4. They all lasted just over a year. I like them a lot, except I keep killing them and the battery only lasts about 6 hours. I got all mine on EBay for about $30. Mio wouldn't warrantee those. They might warrantee yours.
If you don't want to replace your head unit or watch and everything, look into a Scosche Rythym+. Goes higher up the arm and is more highly rated. About $80.
Check out this guys reviews, he does lots of tech like this. www.dcrainmaker.com
 
bvader said:
Wahoo ELMNT Bolt pretty cool. (I'm a data junkie)
There are soft straps that are pretty comfy unnoticeable, polar for one, wahoo.
Think there are lots of wrist based units now.
And then of course there's the ridiculously cool and expensive Garmin Fenix watches
Click to expand...

Thanks for suggesting the Garmin. I haven't paid attention, and didn't realize they were in the watch business now. They are beautiful, but crazy expensive... I think if I decide on the watch route, I'll probably go with the Apple.
 
Rumpled said:
I like the Mio Link and have had 4. They all lasted just over a year. I like them a lot, except I keep killing them and the battery only lasts about 6 hours. I got all mine on EBay for about $30. Mio wouldn't warrantee those. They might warrantee yours.
If you don't want to replace your head unit or watch and everything, look into a Scosche Rythym+. Goes higher up the arm and is more highly rated. About $80.
Check out this guys reviews, he does lots of tech like this. www.dcrainmaker.com
Click to expand...

I'm undecided on whether to get another Mio or not... That would be the easiest and cheapest route. I'll look into the Scosche. Thanks!
 
Faust29 said:
Thanks for suggesting the Garmin. I haven't paid attention, and didn't realize they were in the watch business now. They are beautiful, but crazy expensive... I think if I decide on the watch route, I'll probably go with the Apple.
Click to expand...
Yeah the Garmins are really sport feature filled OTOH the iWatch is much more rounded. The cheap soft straps are waaay better than the used to be you might be surprised But know some other folks that do not like the chest straps.
 
bvader said:
Yeah the Garmins are really sport feature filled OTOH the iWatch is much more rounded. The cheap soft straps are waaay better than the used to be you might be surprised But know some other folks that do not like the chest straps.
Click to expand...

My wife has had the Apple (series 1) for a couple years now, and absolutely loves it... And she has a large collection of bands, so I've been able to play with it. I do like how it can change personality quickly.
 
I have a Garmin Vivoactive HR, but I would recommend it as HRM.
Initially, the HR functioned Okay, but lately it failing miserably.
On Saturday after I finished a 3 hr ride the app told me that over the last 4 hrs my max HR was 75.

The only reason I'm using it as a watch is the battery life is superior to the Apple watch.
I have an Apple watch(Gen 1), and I ended up charging it ever night (and "loosing" the sleep monitoring).
 
What purpose does it serve for you? If you are looking at the HR data after the fact, then it isn't functional data and accuracy doesn't mean much.

If you are using it real time, you need accurate data that you can easily read real time. While I do tend to wear mine all the time out f habit I do use the data real time in racing, mostly to back up how I am feeling. If how I feel match the data, then I have an idea of how much I have left in the tank. But if I can't see that number real time, it is useless.
 
Sidewalk said:
What purpose does it serve for you? If you are looking at the HR data after the fact, then it isn't functional data and accuracy doesn't mean much.

If you are using it real time, you need accurate data that you can easily read real time. While I do tend to wear mine all the time out f habit I do use the data real time in racing, mostly to back up how I am feeling. If how I feel match the data, then I have an idea of how much I have left in the tank. But if I can't see that number real time, it is useless.
Click to expand...

For me, the real time accuracy is more important. I really like to see the number when I look down at the Garmin. Even when I run a simplified screen with 3 or 4 data fields, I always include HR. If I were to pare it down to 1 field, it would be HR.

I occasionally look at it after the fact, but that isn't important to me.
 
For anyone that uses an iPhone, the Apple Watch has a very nice HR monitor. I use it every ride.
 
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