When choosing the best chest strap for heart rate measurement for your training, many factors depend on your personal preferences and your training program when making your purchase decision. Here are a few things you should consider when shopping.
Band width: Before buying, consider whether you feel more comfortable with a heart rate tracker with a narrow or a wider bracelet.
Module size: Some chest straps use tiny modules (the puck -like plastic part) that do not protrude beyond the edges of the belt. However, others use larger monitors to measure their heart rate. The style you choose to record your training depends on your desire to comfort.
Internal memory: If you do not like to hold your smartphone in your hand during training, opt for a heart rate training monitor that can save your data in your own integrated memory. You can later transfer your heart rate measurement to your phone via the accompanying app of your monitor.
Metrics: Think about what you want to monitor during your training. High-end models capture real-time data that cover everything from the running frequency to the length of the walk as well as things such as blood pressure, calorie consumption and heart rate variability to help you achieve your fitness goals, while easier models may only rate your heart.
Battery: A portable chest strap monitor can have all types of power sources. Some have a rechargeable battery. Others may have a very long battery life, but the battery cannot be exchanged or rechargeable from the user. A longer battery life is always practical, but there are many options. Be sure to check the description of the battery life before buying a monitor.
Breast belt vs. Heart rate knife worn on the wrist: Both belts as well as the heart rate worn are used to measure the heart rate, but they use different methods to provide measured values.
Electrical heart rate sensors, which are most commonly found in chest belt cherry frequency meters, can recognize the electrical currents generated by their heart, similar to how this is done in the doctor’s office with an ECG. These are considered the most accurate heart rate measurements, since the electrical sensor can also measure your heart rate during training strong activity.
Optical heart rate sensors use an LED light to track their pulse frequency in the arteries while blood pumps through it. Optical heart rate sensors can be found in smartwatches and are suitable for reading your heart rate at rest or when walking, but are less reliable for activities with high intensity, since the measured values may not be reliable distorted.
Ant plus vs. Bluetooth: Most of the heart rate knives worn on the wrist such as the Apple Watch Use Bluetooth so that you can only connect to a device. For example, if you record an outdoor run, you can only connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone.
With the Ant Plus technology you can establish a wireless connection to several devices at the same time. This is a good option for athletes who try to pursue data from several sources. You will find this form of technology on devices such as chest strap cock-frequency meters, bicycle computers for indoor or outdoor use and some smartwatches.
If you plan to use a device that only uses Ant Plus technology and want to connect it to your smartphone, note that some Android devices have Ant Plus Technology functions, but do not. To find out whether your device can connect to your Android device, you must find the Ant Plus Plugins app in the Google Play Store and search the compatible device directory. If you have an iPhone or Android device that cannot connect to your Ant Plus device, you need an adapter that you can add to your phone.
Most people prefer the Bluetooth option because it establishes a faster connection and is easy to find on most devices. The good news is that there are many heart rate knives that contain both Ant Plus and Bluetooth to simplify the user experience.
