Forums >Gears and Wears>Bluetooth HRM/ Watch(with a strap) type HRM
I have been running for leisurely purposes for 4-5 years now. I used to keep it simple and track my time only. Recently, I felt that I was crashing and my search got me to endurance training and work By Dr. Maffetone. I have been trying to get into aerobic training and using heart rate monitor. I have been dinging this forum and could not find a thread that can help me choose between a Bluetooth HRM (for android) / watch type(with Strap) HRM.
Could any one share his/her experience using Polar Bluetooth/ watch (with strap) type HRM? Any recommendation (pros and cons) would be great. Thanks and happy training.
Not dead. Yet.
I don't think bluetooth is the keyword. You want a GPS watch with heart rate monitor. It tracks how much distance you cover over how much time so it can figure out your pace per mile/km. I'm not sure if you are reaching for anything else, but to use a heart rate monitor, I think you need a Polar or Garmin or ??? watch. You can get GPS tracking on your phone, but those don't track heart rate.
I can't answer specifically to the Polar watch. I use a Garmin 110 with chest strap, and it does exactly what you want.
How can we know our limits if we don't test them?
If I'm understanding the OP correctly, he's looking for a hrm to use for low HR / Maffetone training. He's interested in a comparison between bluetooth hrm on an android vs a watch with hrm. I think both use hrm straps, but could be wrong. GPS isn't needed, but could be used if he wants distance or pace info.
I've not used bluetooth hrm, but am under impression that they might need less power than other gadgets. My iphone lasts about 2 hours if I'm tracking a run with gps, taking pictures, etc, maybe 4 hrs if not doing as many other things. That is, a cell phone with bluetooth hrm may not have the battery issues that I've experienced with gps on the iphone. Cold temperatures make the problem worse. I have no idea how reliable it is.
This is just FWIW, since I don't think you're into the details. If you're using HR data, it is useful to understand about the issues with collecting the data and how the data can be used, but you might not be interested in that level of detail. I like Polar's software the best, BUT given some issues with buttons etc on newer models, I've ended up using SportTracks. Being geeky and liking hills and maps, I'm using a Garmin 910xt, which is the only recent model I have any experience with - waaay more than what you need.
Northstar Running
The difference is in the HRM strap. Gym equipment and watches use ANT+. The use of cell phones as fitness tracking devices is very quickly changing the landscape here. If you are using an app on your phone with no "go between" device, and would like to use a HRM, the strap needs to have Bluetooth. The new BTLE HRMs use about as much battery as the ANT+ ones.
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/01/wahoo-fitness-blue-hr-bluetooth-low.html
Thanks everyone for the feed back.
I was looking for a a "comparison between Bluetooth hrm on an android vs a watch with hrm." I will be going with Polar Bluetooth for now and see how it suits my needs. I will try to update this thread of my findings.
Just wanted to post an update to this, ANT+ is available on all new Samsung and Sony phones so the regular list of ANT+ heart rate straps will work with a lot of cell phones as well.
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/10/samsung-mobile-devices.html
http://developer.sonymobile.com/2013/10/16/sony-xperia-z1-and-xperia-z-ultra-get-ant-capable-certification/
List of heart rate straps:
http://www.thisisant.com/directory/filter/~/62/~/
Also the advantage of ANT+ straps over BTLE straps is they connect to as many things as you want at the same time as a bit of a consideration.
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/09/curiositysurvey-different-cycling.html
The difference is in the HRM strap. Gym equipment and watches use ANT+. The use of cell phones as fitness tracking devices is very quickly changing the landscape here. If you are using an app on your phone with no "go between" device, and would like to use a HRM, the strap needs to have Bluetooth. The new BTLE HRMs use about as much battery as the ANT+ ones. http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/01/wahoo-fitness-blue-hr-bluetooth-low.html