Big difference between hartrate on instinct and edge at the same time

When i am training on my bike, i am wearing a pulse band from garmin in combination with the edge 830. I also wear an instinct watch. The watch doesn’t gives the same hartrate as the edge. Sometimes the watch gives 50 beats less. How is this possible?

0 trux over 3 years ago

Each of them uses a different method. While the chest band HRM uses electrical signals, the watch uses an optical sensor (OHRM). The OHRM has its limitations, and there are many factors that may influence the correct reading - the postion of the watch, the tightness of the fit, the skin tan, and thicknes. the haemoglobin level, the peripheral vasoconstriction (induced for example by cold, or by hypoxia), etc, etc. Link your HRM chest belt to Instinct, to have more reliable data, if your OHRM does not work well enough.

Read more about the OHRM limitations here: The Heart Rate Sensor on My Watch Is Not Accurate