VO2 Max wrist based V HRM based readings

Former Member over 8 years ago

Loving my new Fenix 5. I didn't think anything could beat my (now discontinued) Microsoft Band 2, but it did! Having started with only the watch, I have since added a Garmin HRM strap. I've noticed than my VO2 Max has continued to steadily decrease since adding the HRM from what the wrist based VO2 Max was reported at - a steady 46 now to an average 42 and dropping.

My Question: Should i be assuming the HRM VO2 Max estimation being obtained to be more accurate level than the wrist base reading was?

0 Morrison66 over 8 years ago

Loving my new Fenix 5. I didn't think anything could beat my (now discontinued) Microsoft Band 2, but it did! Having started with only the watch, I have since added a Garmin HRM strap. I've noticed than my VO2 Max has continued to steadily decrease since adding the HRM from what the wrist based VO2 Max was reported at - a steady 46 now to an average 42 and dropping.

My Question: Should i be assuming the HRM VO2 Max estimation being obtained to be more accurate level than the wrist base reading was?

yes, the HRM VO2max is more accurate.

the same behavior happened to me when I used the footpod speed instead of the gps one

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

My Question: Should i be assuming the HRM VO2 Max estimation being obtained to be more accurate level than the wrist base reading was?

Yes, I found the wrist based HRM to understimated by heart rate during exercise, by up to 20 bpm, making the Fenix 5 think I'm a lot fitter than I really am. My VO2 max was ridiculously high with the wrist HRM, but its slowly going down to where is should be once I've started using a chest HRM.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Just wondering, how did you do to get a VO2 max with a wrist heart rate? My device asks for a chest strap in order to calculate it, and even with one, I still wasn't able to get my VO2 max

0 mcalista over 8 years ago

LTHR requires a chest strap. VO2Max will work based on wrist OHR.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Thanks for the replies. The HRM strap has definitely been a useful addition.