I was riding my bike on my trainer today on zwift. I had a HR strap on but not connected to my watch. I was also wearing my vivoactive 3. It was an easier ride so my HR was pretty consistent. For most of the ride I was around 150 on my strap, while my watch would still read down near 60. Once when I checked the watch, it read 41 beats. Thats the lowest I've ever seen it get. Anyone else seeing issues like this? Does hair on the arm effect the HR reader any? I know I have it tight enough. If I tighten it any more either my hand will turn black, or I will incredible hulk the watch.
There are numerous things that will affect your HR using the oHRM. Yes, hair can effect it and I have heard of people shaving a patch for better readings. Other thing's that will affected it is moisture, skin pigmentation, movement, temperature and location worn just to name a few. If you do an Internet search you'll see that oHRM's are best worn two inches above the wrist bone. Two inches is quite a bit up on your arm and if you wear a watch that way people look at you like you're stupid. That being said, this is how I have to wear mine. The only downside is my arm naturally tapers narrower towards my wrist and I'm always pushing it back up my arm.
I've never had an optical HRM work well for cycling from Fitbit to Scosche to Garmin. I always wear a strap. Sadly with the VA3 walking is also rubbish, the VAHR was great. Not slating Garmin but for me its ok for periods of little movement like sleep and general day to day things like sitting...anything else it's all over the place. Not any good at all for activities. I'm pretty sure for a lot of those who think it is have never worn a chest strap for comparison. Problem for me is it spikes every few minutes, often up to 170 or so on light walks, the strap on the same route will show a max of 110, this throws all the other data like calories and VO2 max out. Can't use the optical monitor for fitness tracking I'm afraid.
Thanks for the replies, great info! My expectations for the oHRM was mainly just for non-activity HR monitoring. Kinda wanted to use it for running as well, but I'm ok with wearing a HR strap for running. I wasn't planning on using for cycling because I have an edge 1000. I just wanted to validate that it was close as I am seeing the exact opposite as ChrisSinfield1963. You say you see yours spike, I never see it spike or even get very high. After 2 weeks, highest I've peaked is around 150 and rarely see it get above 110. My max HR is around 204.
For non-activity monitoring do you feel confident that it is accurate? I might have to try wearing my HR strap with my 1000 during the day and compare.
Hi, yes mine spikes particularly while walking. This is disappointing as the VAHR was fine and I'm not too keen on a strap for walks. I'll glance at it and see 160-170, when I know I'm at 100-110. It shoots up and falls back. Cycling is just a non starter and yes with that it can't keep up - I max out at 190 or so (being an old boy at 54) and I've never seen it anywhere near this. Also I see it FALLING near the top of a climb! Crazy. For non activity monitoring I think it's fine. Overnight it accurately records my RHR at around 50 or so and has recorded down to 42, if I get up for the bathroom it shows the climb in the night. It seems to be ok for non activity - kinda not what it's meant to be but cycling I'm happy with a strap, walking I know my HR so just use if for distance and pace etc.
I had exactly the same problem, I shaved where the watch was on my arm (I have quite hairy arms!) it seems to give realistic heart rates now when I'm working hard on zwift!
