I was thinking about getting an optical HR strap that you wear on your arm and have been checking out reviews. The Wahoo one looks decent, but one video reviewer when they first came out said the armband strap is weak, loses it’s elasticity, and falls apart way too fast. That was a while back and I’m wondering if that’s still a problem? And also what’s the official ST verdict on it vs. the Polar OH1? The polar can record swim HR, but is it actually usable? Will Garmin let it add the pool swim HR to it’s workout file yet?
That reminds me… I need to buy a new arm strap for my TICKR FIT…
I have had the Scosche Rhythm+, Rhythm24, and TICKR FIT. All of the straps have their issues. Both the Rhythm+ & TICKR FIT straps wear out. I have had my FIT since November 2018, so the band’s lifespan is probably around 300 hours of use. The Rhythm24 strap lasts longer, but it is probably less secure. It is way more comfortable, though. I would not fault the device for the strap. Just know you will have an annual strap subscription.
None of the devices effectively capture swim HR. Both R24 and OH1 promise it, but it is unusable in the current state. R24 is trying to fix their cache-and-sync to match the Garmin Swim/Tri straps, but they have been at it for over a year. Polar is not even trying.
I use the OH1 for swimming. After extensive testing (via DCR Analyzer) it appears to provide the most effective HRM for swimming. I have compared it against the Garmin Swim and the H10 chest belts, and the optical HRM on thr Vantage series.
Two drawbacks:
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The OH1 swimming data is limited to HR - there appears to be no way to combine the HR data with swim data (ie distance covered, intervals, strokes etc)
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The OH1 is tiny - way too easy to lose (not that I have done so yet, but it is just a matter of time!).
I don’t use the OH1 for running or cycling, simply because I am comfortable with a chest belt.
I’ve had the OH1+ for a few months. Stretch is still good, but then I’ve had it not very long.
As for the swimming HR. No automatic way to do it. You need to merge files, which isn’t that much hassle, but I’ve never found it that useful. Swim HR is just stupid low & you’d really need live feedback to inform your training.
I tested the battery in record mode when it was new; it just exceeded the predicted time (10 hrs I think). So it wouldn’t be long enough for the run at the end of an Ironman, but by then I’m not really guided by HR anyway.
It’s a pity MIO stopped making/supporting the Fuse. That actually lasted 20hrs and had a display.
I tested the battery in record mode when it was new; it just exceeded the predicted time (10 hrs I think). So it wouldn’t be long enough for the run at the end of an Ironman, .
Oh, I didn’t think to check that one’s battery life. Yeah, it’s not long enough. Thanks!
How is your R24 holding up, btw? Early reviews said it had miserable build quality. Have they gotten that resolved?
How is your R24 holding up, btw? Early reviews said it had miserable build quality. Have they gotten that resolved?Yes, the breaking case has been fixed for a long time. That problem was a failure in the first batch of casings in which cold plastic led to a weak spot. I pre-ordered, and mine broke within a few months like a lot of others. After they found and solved it, their warranty and customer support was massively generous: they were replacing units that people said they lost during a swim when the case failed.
I then had a firmware issue, in which mine would lock-up until I put it on the charger. I think it did this because of signal interference looking like a bad message or something. They replaced that one too. I think they have sorted out the firmware issues.
Their last box to check is figure out the swim cache-and-sync HR feed to Garmin that they promised at first release. Oddly, it works for a OW swim, but not for a pool swim.
In summary: I only use my R24 during races because it gives me the OWS HR data. I use my TICKR FIT the rest of the time. No reason, really. The R24 strap is more comfortable, but it is also easier to accidentally knock off.
I wonder what’s going on that has you picking the Wahoo for your regular use instead of the R24. And then turn around and use the R24 for the more important events. That’s a really interesting happenstance. I’m guessing the Wahoo is somehow simpler or more reliable, but then you want the open water data from the R24 on race day.
Ive been using the R24 since release. It broke on me a few months ago, but it was replaced under warranty. I’ve been really happy with it. I use it with a suunto ambit 3 watch in the pool and OW. I get real time HR data with it whenever my arm is out of the water, and it’s been pretty reliable data. Battery life is great, and it’s comfortable. I did some chest strap comparisons on trainerroad and it’s always been right on.
I wonder what’s going on that has you picking the Wahoo for your regular use instead of the R24. And then turn around and use the R24 for the more important events. That’s a really interesting happenstance. I’m guessing the Wahoo is somehow simpler or more reliable, but then you want the open water data from the R24 on race day.It’s borne of an irrational frustration from my first 9 months of ownership. Scosche evolved what was the best HRM on the planet (the Rhythm+) and crapped all over its successor by over-promising and under-delivering. A buddy of mine and I both pre-ordered them at the same time, and we were running a HM about 9 months later when both of ours were causing grief. I cannot remember what mine was doing, but his flipped off his arm. He got so frustrated that he just threw it on the ground and kept going. We both ordered the TICKR FIT after that.
I am pretty sure that the R24 is good to go now. I will probably revert back to it full-time whenever they get the swim HR cache-and-sync sorted out. Until then, I am punishing Scosche by not wearing it when I run and bike.
Thanks for some Polar OH1 support. The current OH1 comes with a swim goggle clip and is not just Bluetooth, but also ANT+ for those train with other brands.
I wonder what’s going on that has you picking the Wahoo for your regular use instead of the R24. Until then, I am punishing Scosche by not wearing it when I run and bike.
lol. That’s the gold I was looking for. I knew there had a be a good story in there somewhere.
Hi Wayne,
as you mention in your post: many of us train with other brands; is there any plan in place for Polar to facilitate merging the HR data saved on an OH1 with those other brands? As you know neither Bluetooth or Ant travel in water very far, whilst the OH1+ is targeted at swimmers.
At the moment your data synchronises as an “activity†in Strava: fair enough you don’t know we’re swimming. The other device also sends to Strava. Then you download both files and can mix together using free software on the Internet. PITA. You could just let us open generic .fit files in your app, or at least make it easier for us to get the data out of your app.
It seems odd to design a device with memory for conditions where transmission isn’t possible but not facilitate mixing that data you stored in the memory with other data you know we are collecting. It is just weird.
I have been using the Scosche Rhythm 24 for a few months now. I’m happy with it, though reading through these posts has me worried my strap is going to fail as I’m putting it on at Augusta 70.3 next month.
I have barely used R24 for sale. I didn’t wind up using a lot, I think my arms are too skinny or something because I could never get it adjusted right for my size.
Heck yeah I will buy it. PM me the details!
I sent you a PM
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Hi Eerke
I held off on replying because I have never trained with the Polar OH1 in recording mode. The OH1 was not originally designed or targeted for swimming but has sort of transitioned for for better swim use with the goggle clip. The OH1 was designed as an alternative to wear the traditional transmitter or for sports wear a watch can not be worn. One possibility that might work after downloading your OH1, is go into your Flow account and change the sports profile to swimming or running and save it. When your training file gets pulled into Strava, it should be more sports specific and not other. The link below is to our global contact us and a much better place to offer a suggestion to expand the use of the OH1 as far as exporting ?
Ah, I thought the memory was for water based sports as you can carry a phone running/cycling and the only sport/thing i can think of that blocks Bluetooth is water.
I will add the suggestion: it wasn’t really a suggestion before as I thought it might be already something you were working on and could predict a date, in particular to neutralise the benefit of the Garmin-swim and Garmin-tri heart rate straps, data from which, I think, is automatically part of the swim activities.
I actually already have the data from the OH1 uploaded to Strava. My current workflow is to manually merge the files. I just thought you might be planning on an automatic merge procedure.
I got the Scosche Rythm 24 and noticed that it turns off on it’s own sometimes after a few minutes, but it hasn’t done that during a workout… yet. Is this a feature or is it faulty? It’s turned off twice on it’s own while wearing it walking/sitting, but not connected to another device, and at least once when it wasn’t connected to a device and just left flat on a countertop for a while.
I’ve looked through the manual and it never says it should shut off on it’s own if not being used. Does anybody else’s do this?