Overall Bummed with Accuracy

Former Member over 7 years ago

I've had my Fenix 5s since May now and I like it in a lot of ways. My training program consists of running, HIIT, and strength training. In the winter when it's wet, icy or snowy I don't run, I just do the other workouts.

I feel my pulse pounding, but the Garmin just has me in warm up status the entire time. Heart rate really isn't calculated accurately unless I'm running or still. I knew the sensors weren't accurate for weight training going in, but I guess I just thought over time it would improve with new firmware. I also can't wear a chest strap, so that's out.

It's a downer to see my fitness declining when I know I'm training hard.

0 AlexZ131 over 7 years ago

Just search on the forum about heart rate sensor and "proper" watch wearing techniques :). I was pretty fed up recently seeing my heart rate at 96 after 15 min of indoor rowing. But, I than put the watch a bit further from the wrist and made it tighter - my HR went to 150 on average :)

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I prefer a chest strap for any activity where my wrist will bend, but if you can’t wear one, be sure to wear your watch WELL AWAY from your wrist bone. Position it 2 to 3 fingers up your arm AWAY from your wrist bone and it should read more accurately.

0 Dr Phil over 7 years ago

As hundreds of post will verify, optical HR is general of little use for measuring HR in anything but light activities. There are some people who are exceptions to the rule, but for the majority, a chest strap is needed for 'active' activities.

Caveat Emptor!

0 mcalista over 7 years ago

One of the problems with wrist OHR is that it's not a great place to measure HR from (not a great blood supply).

If you can't wear a chest strap, perhaps consider a Soche Rhythm+, which is an OHR band typically worn near the elbow.

But definitely worth experimenting with watch positioning and tightness before spending money on another device. I find I have to have the band one notch tighter for running than I do for 24/7 monitoring.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

hem. I have actually great experience with the OHR, at least in terms of consistency during running. I typically tighten the watchband one notch before taking off, and I have virtually the same results in terms of average heart rates for every run. Same for "quiet" moments. The only caveat is that I have no way of knowing whether the absolute numbers are accurate - i.e. for all I know the watch could constantly over- under under-estimate the heart rate. But for my purposes, which is to know how my heart rate evolves and tracks during activities, this is good enough, and surprisingly solid for a measurement method which indeed has significant and known limitations.