What is the best Armband HRM out there that uses ANT+ ?
I’m getting tired of using the chest strap HRM all the time.
I switched from chest to armband last year with Scosche Rhythm+. It supports both ANT+ and Bluetooth, and has straps for forearm or wrist. Chest strap hasn’t come out of the bag since.
Big fan of my MIO Link. It’s BTLE and ANT+. You can also remove the optical unit from the strap (I’ve got mine attached to my Garmin watch).
I tried the mio and rhythm and returned the mio. Couldn’t get consistent reading with it no matter where I placed it. Rhythm has never had an issue as it sits on the meatier part of the forearm. Both were spot on with the chest strap.
I use the Mio Link on the opposite arm from my Garmin 910xt. I get a better reading if I slide it around to be “looking” at the inside of my wrist. Sometimes the HR drops out and that is really annoying, you have to hold the Garmin and Link close together for a second. I think it is actually a problem with the 910xt though, because I also have a Forerunner 15 and the problem never shows up. It works for well enough for me, and I will probably never go back to a chest strap, not interested in making my HR strap scar any bigger.
cool!
how do you power it on/off ? I looks like the power button would be right about where the leftmost tie is ?
Very happy with my Mio Alpha and FUSE. No problems using them with Garmin, Polar, and Magellan head units.
I can just press it through the band (the button sticks up a bit).
+1 for Scosche Rhythm +. The thing is amazingly comfortable and I can put it on my upper arm where it is hidden underneath my sleeve.
I got my girlfriend a Scosche for her birthday and it works great. I noticed long sleeves are a bit hard to get over it though. She wears it high on her forearm with the sensor on the inside.
I’m thinking about getting one too, especially for running. My chest strap (Garmin soft strap) always gives me high readings at the start of runs. I have readjust and rub extra spit on the contacts. Never happens when I bike.
Been using HR monitors since the 90’s and got really ticked by the huge fluctuations in readings. I couldn’t find the Scosche anywhere in Canada so after waiting about a year I blew some Christmas gift cards on a Mio Fuse. Wow! I am very, very impressed! Not only is the HR readings spot on (only twice, within the first k of a run did I get a short spike), but I have never had any problems with it not picking HR up or transmitting it to my 910XT or Edge 500. The distance reading is surprisingly accurate compared to the GPS readings on my devices. I would highly recommend it.
Been using the Scosche Rhythm + for months with no issues. DC Rainmaker has in depth reviews on a few armband HRMs, including Scosche.
Scosche Rhythm, hands down. The Mio is ok, sometimes. A lot less consistent though.
The Rhythm is versatile, can go nearly anywhere on the arm (some have success at the wrist). Mio has a lot less vigorous testing and development process when compared with the Rhythm as well, so I find the heart rate much more consistent and reliable.
Mio Link works well for me. I’ve found that if you wear it n the same wrist as the Garmin (higher up the arm, but right next to it so you seem to have an 80s armband style), the accuracy is better.
Optical HR monitors are a little individual.
I’m glad the Mio works for you, I don’t think it works with quite as many people as the Rhythm though.
Thanks all, I ended up buying a Rhythm+
.
Thanks all, I ended up buying a Rhythm+
Yes - I will try one too, very un happy with my Link… Lately it is very inconsistent with readings 180+ … I am an old guy too… so not possible.
Have had more reliability with it the first 3-6 months but now is not very dependable…
The MIO Link is fantastic. I haven’t touched a chest strap since I got it. Big thumbs up!
I’ve been using a Mio Link for almost six months. It seems to be more consistent if it’s pretty snug. I’ve tried to loosen it a bit and it looks like I found the limit for me.
It will also drop out relatively often if on the opposite wrist of my 310XT. Moving it to the same wrist is much better. It needs to be a bit away from the wat h, otherwise bending of the wrist will end up pushing the watch buttons.
I’ve had no issues using it on multiple bikes with a Garmin 500.
For me it’s been much better than a chest strap.
I still need to try it in the pool, I’ve never had HR data from a swim workout.
I got my girlfriend a Scosche for her birthday and it works great. I noticed long sleeves are a bit hard to get over it though. She wears it high on her forearm with the sensor on the inside.
I’m thinking about getting one too, especially for running. My chest strap (Garmin soft strap) always gives me high readings at the start of runs. I have readjust and rub extra spit on the contacts. Never happens when I bike.
I use the Scosche on my wrist. Works great on either front or back of the wrist. I have also gotten it to work on my ankle but I prefer the wrist.