Consider Connectivity
After testing the best of what's on the market, a few stand out as our very favorites. They are the Wahoo Fitness Tickr X and the Polar H7 and H10.
What sets these chest straps apart from other HRMs is that they both incorporate Bluetooth. Many HRMs use ANT+ only. ANT+ is a wireless technology that's been around since before Bluetooth became popular, and is used in a lot of other sports equipment, from bicycle cadence meters to treadmills. ANT+ is less commonly used in phones, however. So when you want to pair an ANT+ device to a phone and app, you often need an adapter. But the Tickr and Polar models have Bluetooth, meaning you can connect them directly and easily to your phone.
The Tickr X actually has both Bluetooth and ANT+, making it one of the more versatile HRMs you'll find. It connects to practically everything. Plus, the Tickr X has an internal motion sensor of its own, which means it can track runs even when you don't have your phone or another sports watch paired with it. The motion sensor comes in handy for strength-training workouts as well, where it and a companion app count reps for you based on your movements.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, chest straps will never get a thumbs up across the board. Chest straps wrap snugly around the chest at the sternum, and if they're not tight enough, they can slide down or wiggle out of place. Repositioning them while you're in motion is tough. A bad one can chafe your skin, too, and they're poor at providing visual feedback because you can't see them.
The Mio Link is one of the most comfortable HRMs for sports because it's an arm band rather than a chest strap. It's much easier to wear, you can adjust it quickly even while you're in motion, and it doesn't cause chafing. My favorite feature, however, is its LED that flashes different colors depending on your heart rate zone. That's the kind of visual feedback you can't get from a chest strap alone. Usually with chest straps you have to rely on a connected tracker to see your heart rate numbers.
0 Comments