Posts
79
Joined
2/4/2015
Location
CA
MP261
2/19/2015 2:23pm
2/19/2015 2:23pm
Edited Date/Time
3/10/2016 9:55am
I know it's been brought up before, but the technology and models available are constantly changing.
With that said, I am torn between something like Fitbit Surge that can provide constant HRM on and off the bike, as well as independent GPS. All provided via wrist strap.
Then there's the Polar M400 (chest strap required & currently no app for android yet?) which seems like a good product but do I have to sleep with a chest strap on to get resting heart rate?
And of course you have Garmin. I get a little lost here due to the shear number of products they offer.
Anyways if anyone has any feedback on one they've used for MX, or otherwise (particularly the Fitbit Surge) that would be awesome. I am keen on knowing which platform is best tailored to doing continuous laps and having a good look at the data (time, speed, HR, GPS) afterwards.
Thanks Guys!
With that said, I am torn between something like Fitbit Surge that can provide constant HRM on and off the bike, as well as independent GPS. All provided via wrist strap.
Then there's the Polar M400 (chest strap required & currently no app for android yet?) which seems like a good product but do I have to sleep with a chest strap on to get resting heart rate?
And of course you have Garmin. I get a little lost here due to the shear number of products they offer.
Anyways if anyone has any feedback on one they've used for MX, or otherwise (particularly the Fitbit Surge) that would be awesome. I am keen on knowing which platform is best tailored to doing continuous laps and having a good look at the data (time, speed, HR, GPS) afterwards.
Thanks Guys!
I've been happy with a garmin 920XT for cycling, hiking, snowshoeing, xc sking, and moto. It pretty much will do anything you can wear a watch doing.
Does absolutely everything. Hell, if one of my buddies posts something on my Facebook, it comes to my wrist. Don't wear that shit on a date. Text messages come to it, you'll cock block yourself holding a beer mug up...side bitch comes up on your wrist on a beautiful electroluminescent display.
Chestnstrap does up and down beat. Battery lasts a week. Full fitness tracker function, plus android and iPhone app.
That's my review. Wear it to the track, not on dates.
edge810 + virb + sensors
The Shop
I use a Polar FT4. One of the least expensive Polar HRM you can buy. It doesn't do a damn thing but measure hr. Keep the strap clean (rinse it in water every time you use it) and it works great.
This was after work and a rowing exercise and biking 20 miles on a spinning bike. I really like the app on my phone with it all.
What the hell!! that is heart attack material.
Would guess your age late teens?
got mine half price as they just brought out a new one in that range, so it should have been £295 , absolute steal.
worth looking at for sure if you are in the market for one, it is quite large as a watch but it does so much and the info you can have at any point is brilliant, most of my friends have to wait until they are back at their computer to see the data, with mine I can just grab it there and then or have it displayed as it happens.
I have the Garmin watch. I have liked it and haven't experienced much bugginess. I have had to reset the thing a couple of times which is a pain.
In retrospect, I think I would have gone with the Polar. From what I understand, they're still the pinnacle of the HRM. I wore one for a PE class in college and I really liked the functionality.
I think I've figured out which features are must haves. It seems HRM, Bluetooth, and GPS would make a solid unit. HRM for obvious reasons, Bluetooth would be for syncing to my phone, and GPS as a tool to track pace and distance.
The 920XT seems to fit the bill (but 5 hundy is a bit more than I wanted to spend), the Fitbit Surge, and the Polar M400.
Ideally it would be nice to pull up, leave phone in my truck, burn some laps, or go for a trial ride, come back to truck and look at the data (HR, Dist, Pace, Lap times, etc...)
Pit Row
My current job offers insurance discounts through a vitally program. The more data(workouts) I log, the cheaper my insurance is. Sweet, huh? There's a few crossfit guys in the office always bragging about their average HR during w/o(150-155 is their usual range). Figure it's time to show them what us MOTO guys manage and save some money.
My question is: What is the most sufficient cost effective product on the market for what I am looking for?
Thanks!
Pic from the mx track strava segment of a hare scramble last summer.
My Garmin Vivoactive HR stopped working after getting wet a few weeks ago. I was able to squeeze water out of it so I knew it was toast. I bought it from REI last fall (I thought around November) and they have had a great return policy of 1 year for anything (I just learned today that changed to 90 days). I was out of the country traveling and attending MXDN so I didn't do anything until I got home.
I went to REI today to sort things out and turns out I bought it on September 28th last year which means I was outside the one year window. They directed me to Garmin at this point. Definitely made me start thinking I may be screwed on a technicality even though this watch is designed for swims and should last much longer than a year. I was also thinking about how bummed I'm going to be if they don't work with me on this because I like their products a lot. I like their products enough to actively refer others to check them out, even here on Vital. I won't support a company who doesn't support their customers though and that would have been a bummer.
I called up Garmin, got a nice woman on the phone within minutes, and had a return authorization email in under 10. Turns out, they have a 1 year policy as well but she didn't even hesitate to accept my request. She didn't even promote that she was doing me a favor. I actually had to ask her what the policy was. Not only that, but they are sending me a brand new one instead of a refurbished one. She told me they have a new Vivoactive 3 coming out so I'm guessing they are clearing out inventory, but whatever. I went from feeling screwed before even making a call to feeling like they cared about my business.
Anyways, thought I'd pass this along. In a saturated market like HR monitors, it's tough to decide on which product to choose. Great customer service is one way to break any ties.
Post a reply to: Activity Trackers/Heart Rate Monitors