I very well may be late to the game (this is technically yesterday's news), but if you hadn't seen it already, check out this gear review:
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/05/garmin-fr225-gps-optical-hr.html
Short version: Garmin has a new watch available for pre-order with the optical heart rate sensor in the watch.
You know what that means! No chest strap! It's the lights that shine through the skin on your wrist.
I'm a big advocate of heart rate training, but oh, I hate the chest strap. I finally ditched mine in late December when I got a Mio heart rate monitor for Christmas. I wear it on my wrist and it's just a plain band (you can see it in one of the photos in the article I linked above, but here's a direct (non-affiliate ;) ) link, but mine is plain white) and it synchs with my Garmin, so I can see all my heart rate data on my watch as I run (just like I used to do with the chest strap).
And more good news: Garmin is using the Mio heart rate monitor. So I can attest to the fact that it works well!
It's been fun to feel like a cool kid not wearing a chest strap and having things on each wrist, but I guess whenever these start shipping, I'll be behind the times again since the cool kids will all have the 225.
Having something on each wrist hasn't really bothered me, but I have not run (or trained for) a full marathon yet this year. Usually in a marathon, I like to wear a pace band, and it may very well not work with the dual straps. I'll let you know in ... October?
Either way, I like my Mio and how it works with my Garmin enough that I won't be upgrading to the 225 anytime soon, but it sounds totally awesome for anyone who is in the market.
That's likely the only way I'd try heart rate training - I like the concept, but I doubt I'd be comfortable with a chest strap. I actually have the heart rate component to my 305, but I have never used it.
ReplyDeleteI've done HR training since about 2011 and I like it. But at its best, I've tolerated the chest strap. I've usually hated it, and last year I had tons of chafing from either the bra band and/or the chest strap and it was miserable. Now, with my new bra of choice (not an option for you, I know), and the wrist HR, I'm hoping for a chafe-free rib cage, back, chest, etc. this year!
DeleteI love the look of the FR 225, and as you attest the Mio seems to be a functional wrist HR monitor ... which is great. I don't mind the chest strap, and only use it on occasion anyway, so I probably won't upgrade my Garmin VivoActive anytime soon either (well, it is only a month old ;) ).
ReplyDeleteBut the combination of a solid mid-range GPS watch with the excellent FR220 as a base, the proven Garmin fitness tracker, and proven Mio HRM ... should be a winner!
My Garmin is actually from Jan. 2011 (replaced by Garmin customer service once I think), so I keep thinking it will die one of these days and now I am pretty sure I'll move to the 225.
Deletei wear 2 devices when i run, one on each wrist. i have my garmin 310xt on the left wrist and my polar m400 (general activity tracker that i wear 24/7) on the right. sometimes i'm self conscious of how it looks, but no one really cares in all honesty. i have also worn a paceband without difficulty while wearing a device on each wrist, so don't worry about that being an issue at all. i just bought my 310 right before turkey day last year and i hope it lasts me a long while (unlike my other 2 garmins that each didn't even last me a year before failing), but i do like the 225 as a possible option if it does fail me
ReplyDeleteThis does sound awesome! I remember you saying last year that it would be coming out at some point. Good to know that the Mio HRM is accurate. I got a new HRM with my new Garmin (FR 220), and it's been problematic. It chafed me, slid down, and just recently was very inaccurate. I switched back to my 5-year-old HRM, which I have no problem with.
ReplyDeleteOooh, this sounds so great! I don't train with a HRM, and know I "should". But I have a year old FR220 and can't justify getting a new one. But I may just spring for the Mio monitor you linked to - didn't realize there were non chest monitor options out there. Thanks for the link to the gear review - very helpful!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I have been reading more about heart rate monitoring. I think I'm ready to take the leap. The chest strap seemed awkward and I just couldn't bring myself to try it.
ReplyDelete