HRM Watch Recommendations

25sean

Looking for a watch with HRM so I can leave my strap at home... I like Garmins.. simple is the theme and affordable is the price..

Anyone have any pointers?

Grma

barleyman

Was looking for the same thing, my garmin 910 finally gave up the ghost.

Just pulled the trigger on this: ELEMNT Rival Smart Sports Watch with GPS | Wahoo Fitness EU

Reduced to €99

Decided Garmin devices way too expensive.

seems to get an ok review: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/11/wahoo-rival-multisport-gps-watch-review.html

pairofpears

I'm using the Wahoo watch recently and it's very consistent in it's hrm compared to my Polar H10 and Wahoo Tickr.

Also at €100 it's a great price.

CramCycle

Thats exceptional value considering it was north of 300 a few years ago. I think the Garmins are superior but the price difference is not justifiable.

25sean

Good news! Never ventured outside Garmin, but I'm sure Wahoo are up to task, as said above, very good value

Might just pull the trigger

Many thanks

Macy0161

I find wrist heart rate can be a bit flaky for me on the bike. Fine for walking/ running/ easy bikes, but whatever way I hold my hands/ position my wrists when I'm under pressure (e.g. intervals or hard points in races) it drops out. Might be just n=1, but it's fine for commutes but anything else I go back to the chest strap. It's great for tracking resting heart rate though.

youtheman

I have a fairly 'basic' Garmin Forerunner 45 watch. Just select Menu>Wrist Heart Rate>Broadcast Heart Rate and my HR appears on the Screen on my Garmin bike computer. Works every time!. No longer have to use the HR chest strap!.

cletus

I have the Garmin Epix 2. It's excellent, and will show hr on the Edge.

It's definitely not a budget friendly option, though, and I think pretty much any of the Garmin watches can be set up to run as a HR sensor for your Edge. I know my Vivoactive 3 could.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121562487#Comment_121562487

I really wanted the EPIX 2 and still do as I think it is the most stylish and covers everything I would want but after the post above, I gave in, 100 euro for a half decent watch. I paid more than that for a low end garmin a few years ago and it served me well for a few years. I'll post a review when I get it but I will start with, it will always irk me a bit that its not the EPIX 2.

CramCycle

So here is my first few days review, for comparison, in the past I had a Polar (don't remember what, before smart watches, good for HR) and a Vivoactive 3.

I won't compare the Polar which was good at the time but was 10 years ago. So against the Vivoactive 3:

Heartrate: Both do a fine job but the Garmin wins on extra capabilities. This said, those capabilities such as HRV were wildly inconsistent. For now Garmin wins but possibly there is zero difference. Wahoo doesn't have the background apps, Garmin wins on these due to being more open to developers but that also leads to inconsistency. If they improved their app to offer HRV but I suspect it might not be sensitive enough.

Multisport: Garmin sort of wins, doesn't bother me as my sports are limited but Garmin appears to be more detailed on the individual sports, so long as you can parse your own data though, not much difference bar set up. For someone like me though, it's a non issue and for a person whose main sport is cycling, the Wahoo wins compared to the Vivoactive with setting up and recording.

Battery: I think the Wahoo is better, hard to tell just yet but I have everything on AFAIk and its only at 83% after 2 full days

Looks: The Wahoo looks better by a country mile. I really thought it didn't look great in the ads but it looks way better in real life and the straps are more comfy so far than the Garmin.

Intuitivity: Probably the Garmin but if you use the Wahoo ecosystem it probably is equal but the Garmin felt like I knew what to do from the minute I turned it on, and I do find I keep swiping a touchscreen that doesn't exist with the Wahoo but that is muscle memory rather than a fault.

Smartwatch stuff: I don't really use smartwatch stuff, so not a factor for me but the Garmin beats the sh1t out of the Wahoo so far.

Overall: For 99euro, it is a good watch and Wahoo are known as being solid with milking as much upgrades as is possible through software. It is certainly a good watch for the money but, and here is the honesty part, at 199euro, it was probably at a stretch for what its worth. The cajones on them to charge near 400 at one point after using it is incredible and trading on their name and early adopters was a courageous strategy. If I had the money though, I'd go for the Epix 2, but aesthetically, I would pick the Rival over the Vivoactive 3 by a country mile also. I'll update in a few days once I figure out can I get the data I want off it or not.

fat bloke

FYI If anyone is interested in a Vivoactive 3, we've 2 of em at home in a drawer, haven't been used in a year or more. There was nothing at all wrong with them wen we put them away, we just upgraded to other Garmin watches.

For anyone near Knocklyon area that would like to pick up, I'd let 'em go for tuppence ha'penny. May as well have someone using them. I've tried several times to get my daughters to use them but - they just don't like watches of any kind on their wrists.

secman

Yes please 🙏 I'll dig up tuppence

philten

Me too, my son has started running and would love one. I sent you a PM. Ta Phil

fat bloke

OK guys. Noted. - Let me dig them out when I go home this evening and make sure they're working and I'll give ye a shout.

fat bloke

Yo. Sorry to disappoint guys but I can only find one! The other might turn up yet but for the moment, I guess Secman was first in the queue. I've the watch in my hand here, I charged it up and reset it and it seems to be working bang on. I have a spare strap as well in a box that I got from Garmin.

secman

Sent PM to you

Cheers

philten

No probs, sure if it turns up give me a shout.

secman

@fat bloke

Many thanks for the watch and nice to meet you 👍

Ryath

Highly recommend the Garmin Instinct 2. Battery life is excellent and the solar version if you spend a lot of time outdoors you'll barely need to charge it. It's replaced my head-unit for commutes and more casual rides. The Crossover version with analogue hands came out after I bought mine. I may be tempted to upgrade to it if I see a good deal.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/02/garmin-instinct2-2s-2-solar-in-depth-review.html

https://www.amazon.de/Instinct-Smartwatch-Infinite-Notifications-Analysis/dp/B09MTPKSCZ

https://www.amazon.de/Instinct-Smartwatch-Infinite-Notifications-Analysis/dp/B09MTPJ667/

secman

Anyone have a spare garmin watch charger suitable for vivoactive 3. Tried CSS this morning and they had sold last one yesterday. Just checking here before I get onto Garmin.

Cheers

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121610875#Comment_121610875

https://amzn.eu/d/3lsqKk4

I bought these on Amazon. They work perfectly.

CramCycle

Pretty sure I have one as my vivoactive packed in, remind me to have a look tomorrow adn I'll posy on Tuesday if I have it

secman

Fair play Cram, called into several Garmin stockists today, majority of them actually don't stock replacement charger cables, CSS sold last one in stock yesterday.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121612966#Comment_121612966

Can't believe I found it straight away, it's in an envelope and in my work bag, just drop me an address to send it to

secman

Sent a PM

Much appreciated 👏, I can revolut you to cover post etc let me know.

JMcL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121610875#Comment_121610875

I wouldn't go near the official Garmin one, they're about 5 times the price of the no-name ones from Amazon

Just to add my 2c to Cram's Vivoactive/Wahoo comparison. I've had a Vivoactive 4 for about 3-1/2 years now and overall I've been happy with it. It'll record walks, steps, stairs etc, and I'll use it for those times when out on the bike with no PM - commutes, spins into town etc. The main insight into HRV seems to be their "Body battery" feature, and I find by and large it reflects how I'm feeling - though I didn't really need it to tell me that going out to do a 5 hour ride on new years day would have been very dumb 🤪. The battery seems to have degraded quite a bit. A full charge would have lasted about 6 days when new - ir's currently around 3-3.5 (with minimal GPS use). It dropped off quite suddenly maybe a year ago, and I was a bit peeved about it, but I've only realised in typing this that I've actually had it as long as I have, so it's probably reasonable enough, and still long enough to make it worthwhile.

One thing to note with the Vivoactive series - especially important if you want to use it on the bike - is that they've removed the altimeter, so no elevation (also no stair climbing metrics). Their watch range is a dog's dinner at the minute in terms of what has what. It's a shame, as I felt the VA was a bit of a Goldilocks device in looking reasonably like a normal watch, not being too big, features, and price. Closest in the current range is probably the Forerunner 255 or Venu 3 - both more expensive, but will also record power

I've never used the music integration or paired headhones - I've a phone with a bigger battery for that, and the sleep functionality is a bit pointless - it still scolds me for not sleeping 8 hours every night despite all the data it's hoovered up over the years showing me sleeping less than 7 generally and functioning very well nonetheless.

secman

Yeah used the varo 3 from Friday evening with 66% battery until this morning when it had 4% left on it. Handy using it for walks and pilates for sure, have a Garmin 840 for bike spins. I'll charge it up fully when I get the charger on Wed hopefully ? Ordered a no name one on Amazon and will leave that one in Wexford.

fat bloke

Simple stuff like turning the display brightness down to 5%, minimising the timeout and turning off some of the smart stuff or notifications can massively boost battery life too. I set mine for low power mode during the night as well and turn off the vibration notifications etc.

secman

Thanks FB for the tips, hopefully have a charger tomorrow morning 👍

JMcL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121627982#Comment_121627982

The Vivoactive up to and including the 4 were inherently low power using e-ink (can't remember the actual name they give it off the top of my head) with the backlight coming on when you move your wrist to look at it. But on the smart stuff agree and have almost all of it turned off. Automatic pulse ox measurement was a particular offender the couple of times I tried it.

cletus

Not the same watch, but I'm using the Epix 2. I went from 5 days of battery life to 16 days battery life (both without using the watch to record a run or ride etc.), by setting night mode for the watch, and by turning on the battery saver, meaning the display is only on when I look at the screen.

As regards the smart features, I get text/WhatsApp/call notifications, everything else is turned off

secman

Sounds like I'll have to engage a technician to set up the watch, or else get my 12 year old grandson to have a gander 🤭

CramCycle

Just as a follow up on my initial review on the Wahoo Rival.

• Battery was at 22% after 10 days, this was with HR on constantly, broadcasting constantly (now using as my HR for the Headset unit)
• GPS is slow to pick up, have tried it around work just to see, way slower than just using your phone for Strava, but its fine once it locks on, when you account for boot up time, it's still probably fractionally slower than the headset unit
• HR seems broadly OK, not great if the watch slips to your wrist bone but seems in line with how it feels
• Sleep analysis, not interested in it but it is broadly in line with what I expect eg, when I wake up peacefully, it will show I had shifted into light sleep, woke up mid dream and thats what it siad I was dong at the time
• I don't have smart alerts on, don't remember knocking them off but they aren't coming through anymore but I could have done that in frustration and forgotten, not a fan of them

Plastik

Smart alerts e.g. WhatsApp messages etc? I think that only works if you're synced with the Elemnt app and it's open and running in the background on your phone.

JMcL

The smart alerts thing might be phone specific and probably does rely on the respective app being active. I never get WhatsApp messages on the Garmin watch - unless it's recording an activity at the tome. SMS and calls on the other hand do come through (same applies to the Edge). The wife on the other hand does get everything through to her watch (a Withings). TBH it doesn't bother me that much. Less distraction and I've told them if they REALLY need to get my attention on the bike, either send an SMS or call

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121636103#Comment_121636103

I suspected as much, I have it open most of the time but the alerts have ceased, I didn't want them anyway and I am not looking to try and reactivate them.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121639484#Comment_121639484

My vivoactive got everything, never turned it off, really should have. If its an emergency, I will answer my phone, if safe to do so. If its not safe to do so, I don't want my watch causing a distraction.

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121635688#Comment_121635688

Bought one of these from Wahoo site and it arrived today. It'll be going straight back I'm afraid. Hugely disappointed. The HR data is utter garbage and that was pretty much the reason I got it. Takes 30+ seconds to respond to a change in HR and even at that it gives readings way too high before eventually settling on correct number. Even a few minutes ago, sitting watching TV it told me my HR was 113. Actual HR was mid 40s. Pity, but I guess you get what you pay for and at 100 euro I probably shouldn't have expected much better.

Now for the next bit.... What watch is a good alternative to the Rival? I'd use it a couple or three evenings to track HR/pace etc during walk or run. Could potentially use it on the bike also and would need to be able to pair power meter. Is there anything decent I could buy for under 200 euro that would do that for me with a good level of accuracy? Thanks

Edit - The Garmin FR55, Polar Pacer or Coros Pace 2 seem like viable alternatives.

On reflection, maybe it's just as well to stick with this and pair with my Polar H9 or Garmin HRM when I need HR data. From what I can gather these optical HR sensors in the price range I'm looking at are not exactly that accurate all the time, with the exception of the Huawei Watch GT3, but 3rd party sync with Huawei is appalling now.

nilhg

You'll pick up a non solar Instinct 2 for that budget, almost all the features of the much more expensive watches but a cheaper screen, almost indestructible too if that's important to you (it was to me)

https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/garmin-instinct-2-watch/138726841/p

Noraaay

The heart rate monitoring function of BP Doctor ECG5 feels good to use. It also comes with an additional ECG stand and heart rate strap. Very convenient.

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122180366#Comment_122180366

Thanks nilhg. HR readings with the instinct 2 accurate??

Edit - I guess DC Rainmaker answers that for me!!

nilhg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122180681#Comment_122180681

I find them as expected with one strange edge case. If I wear the watch while cycling with my usual edge 530/Tickr HRM then the HR shown on the watch doesn't correspond. I think that's because at some stage I paired the HRM strap to the watch (I think when it was cold and I was wearing the watch over a base layer sleeve) and the watch is picking up the hrm from it but not displaying it as I'm not recording an activity. Walking or cycling with just the watch works exactly as expected

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122180743#Comment_122180743

Spot on. Thanks!

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122179581#Comment_122179581

I found the same in regards the displayed HR, a good bit better with the actual number on the app in review but you can't parse the details in the app which is beyond stupid. Doesn't give you a max or min HR, you have to eyeball it. Seems to be a Wahoo thing, same with the bolt, where what is on the screen is a few seconds behind what is actually being recorded. To be honest, I have just been using it as a watch and nothing else, connected to my Bolt so I don't have to bother with a HR strap, but what's displayed and what I see after are different. Forgot all about this thread to be honest. My partner got a Garmin which seems alot more accurate, think it was a Venu, and has loads of cool side features, this has nothing. This said, now that I don't have the side features, I haven't really noticed, I just like having a watch.

CramCycle

I'd go for this over the Wahoo, I'd probably go for it as well if it was a few months ago.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122180366#Comment_122180366

G1032

Ya. The optical sensor HR displayed on the Rival is astonishingly poor. It's practically unusable. But when paired with a strap HRM the watch functions as I need it to. Considering keeping it. Do I really need to be spending an extra 100 quid on the Instinct 2......

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122181354#Comment_122181354

What it records is better than what it displays but it still isn't great. If I was within the return window and know what I know now, I'd have returned it for the Garmin but on the same note, I wanted a watch with loads of fancy stuff and it turns out, that a watch that looks nice, tells the time, and doesn't need to be charged regularly is all I actually wanted. The battery life has been superb is the biggest compliment.

G1032

I've just ordered the Garmin. I can keep telling myself to just use a HR strap with the Rival but the whole reason for buying it in the first place was so I wouldn't have to do that. So I'll never be happy with it. Now for the next challenge - I initiated the return form for the Wahoo and it's telling me I'm only entitled to €81.29 refund (I.e. €99.99 I paid minus the VAT). Surely this can't be correct? I've mailed them for clarification.

The Garmin was €197 including delivery from Deporvillage.