Choosing a heart rate monitor
04/02/2008 by Tris.
Here’s a copy of a fairly technical heart rate monitor enquiry we received recently…. Please feel free to add your comments
Suunto T3/4 Heart Rate Monitor and s/w: Seems to have a good range of features, but does the “coach” system really work? seems too good to be true…[Tris] <<< yes, it absolutely works… I use it - BUT, it needs to SEE all your training sessions and it’s only worth having if you’re going to follow the prescribed plan >>>
Suunto T6 Heart Rate Monitor : Looks great, does everything you could want, but expensive. Is the only real advantage over the T4 the EPOC stuff? (A new one on me, but seems interesting)
[Tris] <<< The T3/T4 do use EPOC to give TRAINING EFFECT, but they don’t show actual EPOC value>>> . Is the software and the intelligent coaching side of things different between the T4 and T6, or are they the same? This one seems great, but obvious downside is cost.[Tris] << very different software.. the T6 does most the clever stuff POST EXERCISE on the PC, the T3/4 gives only a summary of what is in the watch data>>>
Garmin Forerunner 50 Heart Rate monitor: Got a good review in one of the cycle mags, cheapest of these, probably ok, Less features (eg altimeter), and I’ve read some mixed opinions on the software, which would be a big downside.[Tris] <<< Very basic, but great value for money >>>>
Garmin edge 305 HRM GPS Heart Rate Monitor : Didn’t seem to be exactly what I was looking for, but maybe combines some of the features. The GPS itself doesn’t seem ideal, but it’s good for biking, though not ideal for anything other than cycle based training- true?[Tris] << Skip this one…. >>>
Suunto Memory belt and PC link: How would this work. Apart from the obvious downside of having no HRM to use while training- so no instant feedback, it’d give me good feedback to use for sessions, and be possible to swim with it on, use the sowtware and coach. I could get this plus another unit, but obviously the cost would be massive.[Tris] <<< you use it WITH a T3/4/6 instead of the standard belt… main advantage is HR data while swimming >>>>
An other not mentioned… something else come to mind?
OK, so what do you think would best suit my needs? ………. your site seems to suggest that someone should at your end have a few opinions or ideas.
[Tris]
<<< T6 is the best by a long way for your needs…. altimeter… EPOC… good PC download…. etc etc…. You could go for a T3 or T4 with a MEMORY BELT (just add £50 on to package price and we will swap the belt) You then have EPOC on PC download data.. but still no altimeter…. brings me back to T6…. 