Wrist-based HR vs Chest Strap

[Frosty]

Not much more I can add (at the moment)

Awesome. Thanks Gerald.

 

I have never been someone that can wear stuff on my wrists. I get irritated quickly but I'm sure it's just something that I have to get used to.

 

Another question. If you have the wrist based HRM can you still disable the function and pair the watch with a normal chest strap HRM? 

I must admit that I hardly notice the watch on my wrist, and I've not done a mix of road and MTB rides, road running and off-road running/mountain climbing - even the overnight sleeping with it.

 

The photo I showed at the previous reply to your post - the AUTO function picks up the strap (if active) or the wrist based. The OFF is to disable all HR monitoring all together. Each device that has been paired can be enabled/disabled in the Sensor and Accessories screen.

 

My old strap that i use quiet happily gives me the Cadence, VOS & VO2Max on the 920XT. I would however like to know if by using the old strap on the 735XT it can give you the LTH, and if using no strap at all, can the watch still give you cadence while running. 

The LTH test failed again on Saturday - this time on a run (albeit off road and going up a mountain). Not sure if it's due to my dislike of running, or if it just doesn't work properly without the run/tri strap. It picks up during the workout, and shows if you're inside/outside the desired zone, but then shows the same "Test failed" at the end of the 19 mins.

 

Having checked on a number of sites (reviews), this information is shown on a Garmin site: http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/forerunner630/EN-US/GUID-DA2C1D26-04C6-4977-A0E1-2246F6425D04.html - I guess I should try a few more runs, as it suggests.

 

 

I still need to see if the unit will pick up HR data, with an old strap, while swimming. 

[Frosty]

Here is the result of last Sunday's 20-min + 1 lap Crit. The first graph shows the differences between a STRAP and WRIST based for the entire ride there, pausing before racing, pausing before riding home. the second graph shows the warm-up, the neutral lap and the 24 minutes of being in and out the saddle.

 

I'm satisfied that the wrist-based HR will serve my purpose, so I'll probably continue using both Forerunners on most rides, but I don't have to worry if I forget to charge the 310XT (battery life is about 8 hours). Perhaps one or two more test once my 4iiii power meter arrives next month. I still need to get the LTH working like it is supposed to.

 

If there is anything else you might want to see, let me know.

 

[Hennie VR]

Hey Gerald. Thanks for the updates. I'm seriously considering purchasing the 735XT (changed my mind from the Fenix 3).

 

One thing I have noticed is that the Fenix has the Barometric Altimeter which the 735XT does not have so the 735XT relies on map data to calculate elevation gain. Have you compared to see how much difference there is between a device using a barometric altimeter and the 735XT?

 

I know apps on phones also use map data to calculate elevation gain and I suppose it can be fairly accurate on a road surface but once you leave the road and go onto trails that might not have been surveyed yet it can make a difference? I also know that devices that dont have the barometric altimeter use the signals between the device and satellite to determine elevation gain and lost but i'm just curious how accurate it is. 

[Frosty]

Hey Gerald. Thanks for the updates. I'm seriously considering purchasing the 735XT (changed my mind from the Fenix 3).

 

One thing I have noticed is that the Fenix has the Barometric Altimeter which the 735XT does not have so the 735XT relies on map data to calculate elevation gain. Have you compared to see how much difference there is between a device using a barometric altimeter and the 735XT?

 

I know apps on phones also use map data to calculate elevation gain and I suppose it can be fairly accurate on a road surface but once you leave the road and go onto trails that might not have been surveyed yet it can make a difference? I also know that devices that dont have the barometric altimeter use the signals between the device and satellite to determine elevation gain and lost but i'm just curious how accurate it is. 

I have only compared between my two Forerunners (310XT vs 735XT). Both use GPS. Perhaps I can find someone in my batch (Sunday) that rides with a Fenix3. I can then download the GPX file and do the comparison - should  be quite easy to match the GPS location columns with the altitude column.

 

I have one more comparison that I am working on, and that is the recording of the power data. Both head units were calibrated at the same time, and return the same offset value. I want to see if the per second recording is the same (3s average). Will update later today, or tomorrow.

[ScottCM]

Were you able to figure out if the LTH test works with the older HR Straps?

[Runbikeswim]

I had 2 fenix 3hr devices both took forever to register the hr and when it did it was way off... eventually garmin sa gave me my money back.

 

Tried various versions of the firmware inc the beta, various locations on wrist.

 

Every run or cycle it was from 5 to 30 min to register a hr and when it cane was so low

 

Im back in fenix 3 normal

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Frosty]

Were you able to figure out if the LTH test works with the older HR Straps?

Not yet. I'll admit that running is not my favourite activity. Maybe the tip below is what I need to do first - more runs with the strap to get an accurate max HR value.

 

edit: I have now asked Ray (DC Rainmaker) to confirm if it's possible, or why I would get the message "Threshold cannot be detected".

 

In the online support, it states the following:

 

Performing a Guided Test to Determine Your Lactate Threshold

Before you can perform the guided test, you must put on a heart rate monitor and pair it with your device (Pairing ANT‍+® Sensors). You must also have a VO2 max. estimate from a previous run (About VO2 Max. Estimates).

TIP: The device requires a few runs with a heart rate monitor to get an accurate maximum heart rate value and VO2 max. estimate.

1. Select an outdoor running profile.

   GPS is required to complete the test.

2. Select  > My Stats > Lactate Threshold > Do Guided Test.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. 

[Frosty]

Hey Gerald. Thanks for the updates. I'm seriously considering purchasing the 735XT (changed my mind from the Fenix 3).

 

One thing I have noticed is that the Fenix has the Barometric Altimeter which the 735XT does not have so the 735XT relies on map data to calculate elevation gain. Have you compared to see how much difference there is between a device using a barometric altimeter and the 735XT?

 

I know apps on phones also use map data to calculate elevation gain and I suppose it can be fairly accurate on a road surface but once you leave the road and go onto trails that might not have been surveyed yet it can make a difference? I also know that devices that dont have the barometric altimeter use the signals between the device and satellite to determine elevation gain and lost but i'm just curious how accurate it is. 

I have only compared between my two Forerunners (310XT vs 735XT). Both use GPS. Perhaps I can find someone in my batch (Sunday) that rides with a Fenix3. I can then download the GPX file and do the comparison - should  be quite easy to match the GPS location columns with the altitude column.

 

I have one more comparison that I am working on, and that is the recording of the power data. Both head units were calibrated at the same time, and return the same offset value. I want to see if the per second recording is the same (3s average). Will update later today, or tomorrow.

Firstly, for the comparison between the Fenix and the 735XT - a few club members have the Fenix3, but I noticed they are using SMART recording rather than 1s recording. I will get them to change the setup, so I can compare the elevation from Sunday's R4V. The Lon/Lat and Elevation data does compare, but not as well as during 1s recording (5876 data points vs 1241).

 

For the recording of power, here is the graph - fairly accurate over the duration of the workout. When looking at the detailed 1s recordings, there are some substantial differences (between the recordings on each device) over a few seconds not to mention the lack of detailed information in Garmin Connect from my 310XT. I'll see what data I can extract by importing into Golden Cheetah, but I do know that my 310XT will only be used to show basic data on the ride/race. I'll use the recording from the 735XT for more, post-ride, in-depth analysis.

 

735XT vs 310XT

Max: 831W vs 815W

Ave: 138W vs 140W

NP: 200W vs ? - this is where I gave up due to the lack of data

 

 

Perhaps I need to review the 4iiii Precision PM next... but first I need to use it 

[Hennie VR]

Just took delivery of my 735XT       

It's not even on my wrist yet and i'm already impressed. Can't wait to record my first activity. 

 

Thanks Gerald for helping me make up my mind.   

[Frosty]

Just took delivery of my 735XT

It's not even on my wrist yet and i'm already impressed. Can't wait to record my first activity.

 

Thanks Gerald for helping me make up my mind.

Enjoy it

 

Glad my experiment has helped.

[AlanD]

^{The 735XT is nice looking watch. Anyone tried the tomtom cardio? Also measures the heart rate at the wrist.}

[Hennie VR]

^{The 735XT is nice looking watch. Anyone tried the tomtom cardio? Also measures the heart rate at the wrist.}

 

I'm sure they are all very good. I went for the Garmin product because I know and trust the solid backup they have on their products. I have had nothing but excellent service from from all the Garmin products I have used over the years and I do use my current Edge 810 extensively. My previous Edge 800 also had well over 20000km on it before it stopped picking up my HR. Garmin offered my the 810 at a very reduced price even though my 800 was well over it's warranty period.

[AlanD]

I'm sure they are all very good. I went for the Garmin product because I know and trust the solid backup they have on their products. I have had nothing but excellent service from from all the Garmin products I have used over the years and I do use my current Edge 810 extensively. My previous Edge 800 also had well over 20000km on it before it stopped picking up my HR. Garmin offered my the 810 at a very reduced price even though my 800 was well over it's warranty period.

Yeah, Garmin is awesome. Was just wondering as the Tomtom is a bit cheaper. As a matter of interest, what made you go for the 735XT over the Fennix3? The F3 is not that much more expensive.

[ScottCM]

^{The 735XT is nice looking watch. Anyone tried the tomtom cardio? Also measures the heart rate at the wrist.}

 

My sister runs with a TomTom. its a good watch and what i like about it is the fact that the company who tomtom has employed / contracted out to design the software for their Heart / pulse reading sensor is a South African registered company. Although they are based out of the Sates now, the owner is a Saffer from UCT.

 

It can't however do some of the more complicated thing that the Garmin can. Such as pre programmed workouts, LTH etc. As for the multi sport / triathlon mode, you have to start and stop each one individually on the TomTom. 

 

Me myself i use a Garmin 920XT as i dig Garmin and their products. 

[leeubok]

Very informative thread this, thanks Gerald. Just pulled the trigger on a Fenix 3 performance bundle. A lot of money to part with, but should be worth it!

[VicanZA]

Well u should of asked one of ur momentum friends to get you the Garmin HR for 6500 on private club.