What HRM is on your wrist?

[OakLeaf]

I'm quite happy with it. I don't swim (that may change in a couple of weeks ) but if I did I'd replace the strap, which is pretty uncomfortable and also a pain to take on and off.

I wear a wristband under it just so the watch doesn't smack the bone on the outside of my wrist (what is that thing called???). As much as anything, that's because of the strap, and also because it's a habit I picked up when my old Garmin 301 started bruising that bone on runs over two hours. Obviously I couldn't wear that swimming.I think the 310 would be fine without a wristband if I had a different strap.

I just measured, my left wrist is 14 cm/5.5 in.

You might want to specifically ask triathletes and swimmers though. I know the HRM sometimes loses contact when I'm sweating very heavily, so I don't know how it would do in the water. And I know from people's comments that no GPS is really any good in the water... it may be that it's just a glorified stopwatch for the swimming leg, worn on your wrist so it doesn't get stolen from the transition area.

[GLC1968]

I wear a Timex Ironman brand HRM now. I loved my old Polar (725i) but it never worked right again after 'service' when the strap transmitter died the second time. I loved it for 4 years though, so I can't really complain.

I tried using my Garmin Edge 305 and while the HRM function always worked, the chest strap hurt and now the GPS is wonky. It's too big for wrist wear anyway. Plus, the speed/cadence feature only works every once in awhile. Really, it's horribly unreliable and has been a pretty big disappointment for me.

Now I'm wearing the Timex just for HRM and stopwatch features. It's a base model and it works great. I wear it on the swim for timing, but I don't use the chest strap. I was wearing the chest strap during my tri, but I never bothered to look if I had any HR data during that time period and I've since erased the session. I've heard that the coded Polar straps will work in water but none of the other makers do. I was not a swimmer when I had my Polar, so I can't say for certain.

Over the weekend, I just ordered a Forerunner 305 to use for running ($125 from Amazon!). I don't know if I'll use it on the bike or not, but it's mostly going to be a training tool...not for racing.

Honestly, I'm *this close* to just sucking up the cost and buying another fancy Polar. I really liked it, it was really reliable and now that I do all three tri sports, it would make a lot of sense to have it. I do really like the GPS feature for running though as I often run on trails that are not mapped so I can't be very accurate with distance without it. Adding the GPS to the Polar makes the price practically astronomical and I really can't justify it.

I guess I'm still looking for the perfect solution for my needs!

[colby]

Now I'm wearing the Timex just for HRM and stopwatch features. It's a base model and it works great. I wear it on the swim for timing, but I don't use the chest strap. I was wearing the chest strap during my tri, but I never bothered to look if I had any HR data during that time period and I've since erased the session. I've heard that the coded Polar straps will work in water but none of the other makers do. I was not a swimmer when I had my Polar, so I can't say for certain.

I clicked on a few different models (not just the RS800cx) and Polar says:

Swimming with Polar RS800 / RS800CX

The running computer is water resistant. However, heart rate measurement does not work in water. You can use the running computer under water as a watch but it is not a diving instrument. To maintain water resistance, do not press the buttons of the running computer under water.

I might try mine in the pool and see how it goes. I have worn my other Polar through triathlons but never had the ability to go back in detail like I do now.

[OakLeaf]

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?t=8629

ANT+ wireless connections have a range of only 5 cm underwater. So if you put your ANT+ watch in your bra it should work , otherwise not.

[e.e.cummings]

For anyone interested in the Garmin products, like the 310xt, which I am considering, I found a web site that has very in-depth reviews with lots of photos: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2007/01/product-reviews.html

[colby]

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?t=8629

ANT+ wireless connections have a range of only 5 cm underwater. So if you put your ANT+ watch in your bra it should work , otherwise not.

That sounds... uncomfortable?

Mine definitely didn't work underwater. As soon as I got in the pool the HRM went beep beep, can't find you. I admit I didn't think to try them 5cm apart

[GLC1968]

That sounds... uncomfortable?

Mine definitely didn't work underwater. As soon as I got in the pool the HRM went beep beep, can't find you. I admit I didn't think to try them 5cm apart

Thanks for the confirmation! That's good to know and it may save me $$ in the long run.

That part you quoted from Polar's site is almost identical to what my Timex instructions say about the watch working in the water and not pressing the buttons while submerged. How can you brand something "Ironman" and then let it be ineffective in the water?

Swimming with your watch in your bra is one thing...but I want to see the struggle in T1 as you are trying to get it out and on your wrist while removing cap/goggles and getting helmet on. THAT would be a serious test of coordination!

ETA: I was just doing some reading over at PolarUSA. They've changed their products quite a bit in the past few years! My old HRM (the 720i, not the 725i) did transmit HR underwater if you had a good contact. The new W.I.N.D. transmitters do not. That is a step down in my opinion, but whatever. I know a lot of people hated that you couldn't change the transmitter battery yourself, so they probably made a smart move from a business perspective. I'm disappointed, but I honestly don't see a HRM from polar that will do all the things I want, so I'm still without the perfect solution. Figures.

[colby]

ETA: I was just doing some reading over at PolarUSA. They've changed their products quite a bit in the past few years! My old HRM (the 720i, not the 725i) did transmit HR underwater if you had a good contact. The new W.I.N.D. transmitters do not. That is a step down in my opinion, but whatever. I know a lot of people hated that you couldn't change the transmitter battery yourself, so they probably made a smart move from a business perspective. I'm disappointed, but I honestly don't see a HRM from polar that will do all the things I want, so I'm still without the perfect solution. Figures.

I'm also frustrated that I can't use the WIND transmitters at the gym with gym equipment that is Polar-compatible to get my heart rate up on the monitor. I wish they'd have come up with a way to solve both of these problems before I dropped upwards of $400, but I really couldn't train another season without buying something new.