I’m looking for an HRM to wear while swimming. I’d like to be able to download the HRM data to my computer. Be nice if it was under $125. Recommendations???
I have not been able to use a HRM swimming. The water pulls the chest strap away enough to prevent an accurate reading. I doubt any model will work better. I’m sure that this would not happen in a wetsuit. A Tri-suit may keep the strap in place but I don’t want to subject mine to chlorine. I also tried slapping the strap to my chest at the end of each interval but that seemed like too much hassle.
I’ve successfully used a Polar 625x in the water. I had no issues with the strap being pulkled from the body. I did a couple of Half IM and no issues.
I use a Polar S725X for all my training/racing & it is downloadable via infrared. I have had different levels of success using it in water. I tried once to swim with it while wearing budgie smugglers but found that no matter how tight I made the chest strap, it wouldn’t stay in place. It ends up flapping around your waist.
Wearing a tri suit certainly keeps it in place. I wear a 2XU two piece Elite tri suit for most races (not that I am), & found that even in a non-wetsuit swim the top holds the transmitter strap in place very well. It doesn’t transmit a HR reading very well during non-wetsuit swims. Typically what happens is the water screws up the ability of the HR to accurately transmit the electrical impulses from the heart. It usually shows as a reading of zero on the screen during the event & downloads to the polar software as a flat line. For wetsuit swims I have had mixed results. Sometimes it transmits the signal very well, other times it doesn’t. The Polar website even mentions that using the HR monitor in water will most likely cause this problem. If you find a way around it let me know. As a sport scientist, I’m a bit of a gadget geek & would like HR data from swim training.
I tried a Polar F11 in a pool but I could not get it to pick up the signal in the water. This unit has given me problems in the past with picking up a signal but always will eventually on land.
It DOES exist! It is even especially made for that: it is called the “Suunto Memory Belt”.
Yes, the Suunto Memory belt will do the trick and it will work with only a computer to download after the fact, but you’ll need a compatible Suunto watch to go with it if you really want a complete system (ok for a really complete system you might want a footpod and roadbike pod!). The best part about it is that although you won’t get a reading on the watch while you’re swimming, as soon as you get out of the water, it will sync up with your watch and you will see your heart rate from that point on. I have a Suunto T6 and lost my regular HRM so I’m going to get one in the new year. I’m actually a little scared to see how high my heart rate goes in the water, but it will be interesting nonetheless!
-Mike
I’ve successfully used a Polar 625x in the water. I had no issues with the strap being pulkled from the body. I did a couple of Half IM and no issues.
In a pool without a suit you have to put the strap on really tight and go easy on the push-off when doing flip turns so it does’nt move. Otherwise it worked great for me too with a Polar RS400
I tried once to swim with it while wearing budgie smugglers but found that no matter how tight I made the chest strap, it wouldn’t stay in place.
I've never heard the term "budgie smugglers"; what are they? I always thought a budgie was a type of bird, but is swimming while wearing a piece of clothing that hides a pair of pissed-off birds really a good idea?
“I tried once to swim with it while wearing budgie smugglers but found that no matter how tight I made the chest strap, it wouldn’t stay in place. It ends up flapping around your waist.”
Sounds like you had the strap way too low and of course it wouldn’t be the same without pointing out that your seat would have been way too high…lol
I’ve done this with a Polar 725 with “OK” results. Use one of the gels used for doing ultra sound. (I don’t actually know where ‘civilians’ can get this stuff but starting at Walgreens would be my best guess. Shouldn’t be that expensive. Comes in a squeeze bottle like restaurant ketchup.)
Use plenty of gel on the contacts. Next, get some 2" wide waterproof tape and tape the strap to your chest (I ran the tape right over the strap and round my sides, under the armpits about 6" on each side. I would really, really suggest shaving your chest if you do this. 
Make sure the strap is quite tight and make sure the tape is very well stuck down all along both sides of the strap. If it starts letting go you may need a couple of verticle pieces of tape to help hold everything in place.
I’ve done this with a Polar 725 with “OK” results. Use one of the gels used for doing ultra sound. (I don’t actually know where ‘civilians’ can get this stuff but starting at Walgreens would be my best guess. Shouldn’t be that expensive. Comes in a squeeze bottle like restaurant ketchup.)
Use plenty of gel on the contacts. Next, get some 2" wide waterproof tape and tape the strap to your chest (I ran the tape right over the strap and round my sides, under the armpits about 6" on each side. I would really, really suggest shaving your chest if you do this. Make sure the strap is quite tight and make sure the tape is very well stuck down all along both sides of the strap. If it starts letting go you may need a couple of verticle pieces of tape to help hold everything in place.
This is exactly why triathletes catch so much flack from swimmers at the pool. I can’t roll my eyes far enough into the back of my head to capture how ridiculous this sounds. Ultrasound goop? Waterproof tape?
I never used HRM while swimming in training but I used it in a couple of races. I noticed that it’s useless in salty water, but in lakes it works properly.
I’ve never heard the term “budgie smugglers”; what are they? I always thought a budgie was a type of bird, but is swimming while wearing a piece of clothing that hides a pair of pissed-off birds really a good idea?
http://www.funnypictures.net.au/userimages/user1680_1164675167.gif
Bugdie smugglers are another name for speedos. I have also heard them called dick stickers, dick advertisers, cock jocks, sluggos & scungies.
Budgies are a small parrot native to Australia. Speedos are called this because it looks like you are trying to sneak a budgie around in them if you are well hung. Dev seems to have gotten it fairly correct with one of his links. I don’t know anyone who would wear the mesh arrangement to a beach here in Australia. At least none of my friends do.
Polar and wear a tritop. I use the Loius Garnea sharkpower or skin whatever its called and the speedo fastskin II they seem to keep in place well.
I dont do flip turns in a pool. When was the last time you did a flip turn in opan water? Get used to having your feet and legs pushed under and righting yourself.
the memory belt unfortunately will have the same problems as the polar, they all work, it’s just a question of whether you can get the electrodes on the belt to stay in proper contact with your skin and not have the circuit shorted out by the slightly conductive water that now can short out the circuit the belt was making with your body. I’ve had no problem using my HR belt in salt water under a TIGHT tri suit. In the pool it falls right down when you push off but up until then it usually works fine.
Post:
I’ve done this with a Polar 725 with “OK” results. Use one of the gels used for doing ultra sound. (I don’t actually know where ‘civilians’ can get this stuff but starting at Walgreens would be my best guess. Shouldn’t be that expensive. Comes in a squeeze bottle like restaurant ketchup.)
Use plenty of gel on the contacts. Next, get some 2" wide waterproof tape and tape the strap to your chest (I ran the tape right over the strap and round my sides, under the armpits about 6" on each side. I would really, really suggest shaving your chest if you do this. Make sure the strap is quite tight and make sure the tape is very well stuck down all along both sides of the strap. If it starts letting go you may need a couple of verticle pieces of tape to help hold everything in place.
This is exactly why triathletes catch so much flack from swimmers at the pool. I can’t roll my eyes far enough into the back of my head to capture how ridiculous this sounds. Ultrasound goop? Waterproof tape?
I have to clarify: I tried this one time, at home, in my own pool (because I’m kind of a nerd). And, I only did it because the question came up before and I had all of the materials available at home. I’m a cyclist only, but if I were a swimmer you can be sure I would never wear this get up in public.
(Note: To those who care, I did not have a salt water system installed on my pool when I did this. All bets are off in salt water.)