Lost my Scosche Rhythm, what to replace it with?

Maybe not exactly on topic, but this is a pretty knowledgeable group...

I loved my Scosche Rhythm. I think it was the plus model, but, alas... After a treadmill run at the gym I took it off, wrapped it in my towel with the rest of my sweaty stuff and somehow, between the locker room and home, it vanished. I went back and searched, the parking lot, the gym, my car, all to no avail. Apparently someone has a new optical HRM.

My first impulse was to replace it, I even had one in my cart, but then I decided to hold off. The F5+ on my wrist should be able to track my heart rate as well as the Scosche, but will it? In the past it seemed my F5 was not doing well because my wrist is not very big. I have tried wearing it higher but it slipped. Is there a way I can make it work?

Maybe instead of just a HRM I should look at a chest strap that also does the Garmin metrics?

If the F5+ can do the job, I could put the money toward a RD Pod or maybe go all in with a Stryd footpod.

Thoughts? Thanks!

0 Dr Phil over 6 years ago

See if the 5+ will do it for you. A couple of runs will soon let you know. FWIW, I find it too heavy to sit comfortably without really tightening it. I use a HR strap as a matter of course.

0 Heidstocker over 6 years ago

The 5+ (as well as my other Garmins with OHR before) do the job for me quite well. I'm happy to be pretty compatible with Garmin's Elevate sensor. :-)
Anyway for those days when it's really cold and I want to wear my watch above clothes I own a Polar OH1 which works pretty good.
Quality wise I did my last test of OHR vs. strap over an year ago and it was ok but I'm no heartrate-addict. I glimpse at it from time to time but my main source of control is my Stryd. I enable HR mostly because of a few (for sure not all) FirstBeat metrics.

0 SAHO over 6 years ago

I’ve seen people saying they’re very happy with the Scosche Rhythm, but I haven’t tried it myself so I don’t know how it’s performing compared to wrist OHR or chest straps. (probably somewhere in between?)

What I do have experience with is the Fitbit Charge HR, Charge 2, Garmin Vivoactive 3 and Fenix 5+, and from my point of view (wrist) OHR is rather useless if your depending on real time HR accuracy, i.e. when training by pulse zones, LT, intervals with rapid changes in HR etc.

For 24/7 wear tracking resting HR, stress, sleep etc. it’s okay, but for exercising there’s really only one option for me: ...drum roll....: Chest strap.

If you’re into running and interested in the extended metrics I would definitely recommend the Garmin HRM-Run to get both reliable HR and running dynamics, instead of the separate RD-Pod.

I would also recommend the Stryd Foot Pod for pace/distance. The stryd will also give you some IQ running dynamics, but not the native Garmin running dynamics. You could of course go for the simple chest strap for reliable HR + Stryd for pace/distance and running dynamics if you want to save some money.
I have the HRM-Run + Stryd, and I’m very happy with that setup.

0 TrippyZ over 6 years ago

I use Garmin footpod and HRM-TRI. I have never felt uncomfortable with a strap.