Fenix 5 : advanced analytics/features that require an HR chest strap ?

Unless I've missed that discussion, surprisingly little (nothing ?) has been said about the requirement to use an HR chest strap instead of the optical HR sensor to get the new and advanced analytics offered on the F5.

Looking at https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/552237/pn/010-01685-13#overview it seems that the optical HR sensor will be able to deal with :
- Training Status
- Training Load
- Recovery Advisor (like on the FR235)

Chest strap required :
- Stress Score

TBD :
- Lactate Threshold Test : chest strap likely required as that's already the case on the FR735XT
- Functional Threshold Power : ?
- Training Effect 2.0 with aerobic and anaerobic benefit scores : ? but that would normally rely on HRV so needing a chest strap at this time
- Performance Condition : calculated after about 10' of running and then logged in the fit file/GC

Has anyone else been wondering about this ?

0 meste7 over 8 years ago

Hello,

I use a Fenix 3 and I have a trainer with a power meter and I'm not aware of FTP detection with the Fenix 3. How do you do this ? Thanks

I got FTP with my F3 and a power meter trainer and did a FTP test as a workout which gave me the FTP numbers later, but not in the watch as I remember but in SportTrack or GoldenCheetah or similar programs. However, I remember there is a FTP test in the watch somewhere, where it says you need a power meter to perform the test, which I did not do it, so check for that.

0 carl.andersson over 8 years ago

Now I wish this thread was in the 5x forum.

Let's hypothetically say advanced metrics do require a chest strap. The 5x does support a Bluetooth Smart chest strap (though the 5 and 5s do not.) Can the same advanced calculations be done with my Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart chest strap or will I need to purchase a Garmin ANT+ chest strap?

Advanced running metrics like Ground Contact time and balance, Vertical Oscillation etc (Garmin call them Running Dynamics) require you use either an HRM Run or HRM Tri chest strap HR monitor from Garmin.
Any other Bluetooth or Ant+ based strap will only give you HR data. For example I have a Wahoo TICKR which does it's own version of advanced running data, but I can only get HR data from it when running with my Fenix 3. I will get no advanced data, except for cadence but that it from the watch not the TICKR strap.

You might be able to get lactate threshold and VO2 max data with a non-garmin strap but I'm not 100% sure on that.

0 webvan over 8 years ago

VO2Max yes, haven't done the Lactate Test yet but I can start it when my Viiiiva strap is connected.

0 enki42ea over 8 years ago

A chest strap heart rate monitor (like HRM-Run

or HRM-Tri

) unlocks advanced features such as Lactate Threshold and the HRV (heart rate variability) stress test.
https://www.firstbeat.com/en/consumer-product/garmin-forerunner-935/

0 NeilJonesOnline over 8 years ago

[deleted - posted in the wrong thread]

0 diki. over 8 years ago

Garmin still aren't saying much on what will require an HR strap or not, unlike what happened when the FR235/FR630 came out, but of course at the time they had to "sell" the more expensive FR630.

I see that there will be bundles with the Tri belt at $669 putting the belt at $70, seems like a decent price, better than what I remembered from when it was launched.

I read the fenix 5 owners manual ( yeah, who does not :) ), and conclude:
_____________
Need Chest HRM for HRV:
- Lactate threshold detection
- Stress test

Using either Optical HRM or chest HRM:
- VO2Max estimate
- Performa condition
- Recovery heart rate
- Training effect: aerobic & anaerobic
- Training status

0 webvan over 8 years ago

That's correct, which raises a few questions concerning the "performance condition" since Firstbeat specifically mention HRV for PC and HRV is not available from oHR sensors at this time...

In the same vein, with the stress test/tracking now available on the new Vivosmart Garmin have promised to bring it to the F5/FR935 too.

0 --Fred-- over 8 years ago

I wonder if HRV, if data from the user is available, is programmed to also influence training status, recovery, training load, ... and make it more reliable as a result?

If not, a low HRV could contradict a "train as usual" recovery advice, for example.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Now I wish this thread was in the 5x forum.

I don't know why they made a separate forum for the 5x. The only difference is the mapping features. They have WAY more in common than they have differences. It would have made much more sense for all the F5 stuff to be combined. They could have made a sub-forum for "5X, Mapping-Specific Discussions" if they really thought that was needed.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Well now I'm really confused because the Performer bundle on a regular 5 with sapphire costs more than getting a 5x and a chest strap

That math doesn't check out...

Fenix 5, Black Sapphire with Black Band, Performer Bundle is $770

Fenix 5, Slate Gray Sapphire with Black Band is $700
HRM-Tri is $130
Total: $830 (which is > $770)