Lidl Heart rate monitor any good?

cojomo2

Just looking for a basic HR monitor. All I need it to do is be accurate, any1 know if this will do the job ok?
http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20100329.p.Heart_Rate_Monitor

Thanks.

Krusty_Clown

Have a look at the other LIDL threads. Someone suggests that they've been using it for a year without problems.

tunney

cojomo2 wrote: »

Just looking for a basic HR monitor. All I need it to do is be accurate, any1 know if this will do the job ok?
http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20100329.p.Heart_Rate_Monitor

Thanks.

Can't be any worse that a gamin.

robinph

tunney wrote: »

Can't be any worse that a gamin.

I must have missed the memo, but what exactly is your issue with Garmin's.

woodchopper

These cheap monitors are not reliable from past experience. If they were then there would be no need for polar and the like. Not a think wrong with garmin just a poster been grumpy and ill mannered.

tunney

woodchopper wrote: »

These cheap monitors are not reliable from past experience. If they were then there would be no need for polar and the like. Not a think wrong with garmin just a poster been grumpy and ill mannered.

Can I suggest you do a quick check of the interweb for the well documented issues with newer model Garmins and their use as a HRM.

Krusty_Clown

tunney wrote: »

Can I suggest you do a quick check of the interweb for the well documented issues with newer model Garmins and their use as a HRM.

I don't think the problem is specific to newer Garmin units though. If we're talking about the same problem (massive HR spikes for the first mile of every run), then I have the same problems with the HR belt I got with my 405 (old type Garmin unit) and the newer 'premium' unit, I bought to replace my lost strap. I have to say though, it's a damn sight more comfortable and lighter than the old strap (the old one used to cut into me a little too).

robinph

If it's so well documented how come I've never seen any issue pop up on here about them?

Never had any problem with the monitor of my Garmin, I did have issues with the Polar strap of my S625x though.

bladespin

Good argument guys but is the Lidl unit any good?

tunney

robinph wrote: »

If it's so well documented how come I've never seen any issue pop up on here about them?

I counted three Garmin related threads on the last few pages. Did you even look? In fact you posted to one of them.

robinph

massive HR spikes for the first mile of every run

I had far worse spikes with my Polar unit than I've ever noticed with the Garmin.

Without being plugged into a proper ECG though it's a problem that is likely in all of these cheap HRM's, they are all a lot easier to carry around on a run than the ECG machine though.

robinph

tunney wrote: »

I counted three Garmin related threads on the last few pages. Did you even look? In fact you posted to one of them.

I've probably not read every post in each of those threads, but they are generally about where to get them cheap or how big and orange is the 305XT.

cojomo2

bladespin wrote: »

Good argument guys but is the Lidl unit any good?

What he says! anyone else?

EC1000

cojomo2 wrote: »

What he says! anyone else?

Slightly off topic again but I'll be checking the waterproofness(?) of mine tonight - I was looking for a cheap stopwatch to wear in the pool so picked up the LIDL watch yesterday. I'll report back later. (Not thinking of using the HRM function in the pool btw).

I put it on last night and it told me that my average HR was 40 something (which is wasn't!) but I guess that you would need to wet the contacts to get an accurate reading?

woodchopper

tunney wrote: »

Can I suggest you do a quick check of the interweb for the well documented issues with newer model Garmins and their use as a HRM.

The kenyans have neither the internet nor wear garmins. Whilst I am not a kenyan I would suggest more time training and less time been grumpy, ill mannered and generally been bad form. At what point in my previous post did I mention garmins in relation to their use as monitors..

cojomo2

any1 fancy starting a thread on how good/bad garmins are!:rolleyes::D

just to make clear, I wasn't in the market for a hrm, I had a polar one which I found good but have lost the chest strap...and have been managing ok without......but if I thought the lidl one was reasonably accurate I would have use for it...but if its going to just spit out random figures then I'll pass...I don't have much experience with hrm apart from the polar one I had which cost about 60 euro...that worked fine.

Thanks

robinph

For twenty notes it will be as good a way as any of seeing how much use such a thing might be to you without yet needing to shell out hundreds. Doesn't look like you can see anything other than peak and average HR after your runs, but will give an idea of what effort your putting in during the run, just you won't be able to log those numbers.

dario28

tunney wrote: »

Can't be any worse that a gamin.

Excellent work Mr Grumpy - any thread I have read in the last 2 weeks about garmin or Heart rate you have been there garmin bashing

I think someone should make the people in Garmin HQ aware they they may need to step up security and review security practicies on someone going postal


On topic though the lidl one my GF bought last night doesnt work...

Off topic my 305 has never given a problem !

tunney

dario28 wrote: »

Excellent work Mr Grumpy - any thread I have read in the last 2 weeks about garmin or Heart rate you have been there garmin bashing

I think someone should make the people in Garmin HQ aware they they may need to step up security and review security practicies on someone going postal


On topic though the lidl one my GF bought last night doesnt work...

Off topic my 305 has never given a problem !

Garmin support are only too aware of me

Yes I have been bashing them. When Support tell you to run without a top on, with the strap on backwards and the electrodes smeared in honey and then the HR should be picked up okay you tend to loose faith in the product.

Krusty_Clown

tunney wrote: »

Yes I have been bashing them. When Support tell you to run without a top on, with the strap on backwards and the electrodes smeared in honey and then the HR should be picked up okay you tend to loose faith in the product.

That all sounds pretty reasonable to me.

cojomo2

robinph wrote: »

For twenty notes it will be as good a way as any of seeing how much use such a thing might be to you without yet needing to shell out hundreds. Doesn't look like you can see anything other than peak and average HR after your runs, but will give an idea of what effort your putting in during the run, just you won't be able to log those numbers.

Measures the current, average and maximum heart rate

nope, measures current hr as well, which is what I want, but I want it to be reasonably accurate.

I will have use for this, as mentioned before I use to have a polar 1 which I used regularly until I lost the chest strap.

shels4ever

tunney wrote: »

Garmin support are only too aware of me

Yes I have been bashing them. When Support tell you to run without a top on, with the strap on backwards and the electrodes smeared in honey and then the HR should be picked up okay you tend to loose faith in the product.

But did you try it .... Could be the way to go...

robinph

cojomo2 wrote: »

nope, measures current hr as well, which is what I want, but I want it to be reasonably accurate.

I will have use for this, as mentioned before I use to have a polar 1 which I used regularly until I lost the chest strap.

Yes, but it won't let you see what HR you had at a particular point during the run is what I meant. If that logging is not an issue for you then it will probably suffice.