7 replies to this topic

[jluk2008]

Hi, can anyone recommend a HRM that will work for swimmers as well as runners?

Most HRM documentation states that the heart monitoring wont work under water.

Many thanks !

Jon

[NatalieS]

i would definately recommend not buying a polar RS800. (They cost about $500-$800) I bought this because I liked the PC interface. I have had the watch replaced twice due to water damage. The first time was under warranty. The second time I got water in it- I sent it back and was advised it passed a pressure test so they would not replace the watch. (It was suggested that I'd pressed buttons under water- although I had not done this: I did hit the lane rope swimming backstoke.)

The RS800- has big buttons- especially since my wrist is small.

I just used this watch for the time - not as a HRM in the pool. I would be interested to hear what other swimmer wear in the water.

[Hulbs]

NatalieS, on Dec 2 2008, 01:47 PM, said:

i would definately recommend not buying a polar RS800. (They cost about $500-$800) I bought this because I liked the PC interface. I have had the watch replaced twice due to water damage. The first time was under warranty. The second time I got water in it- I sent it back and was advised it passed a pressure test so they would not replace the watch. (It was suggested that I'd pressed buttons under water- although I had not done this: I did hit the lane rope swimming backstoke.)

The RS800- has big buttons- especially since my wrist is small.

I just used this watch for the time - not as a HRM in the pool. I would be interested to hear what other swimmer wear in the water.

I also just use the watch for lap and total times elapsed etc when swimming. I use a Polar RS200 and have had no problems re. water damage etc. Mind you, I've only used it for 4 separate 30 minute pool sessions so far.

Jase

Edited by Hulbs, 02 December 2008 - 12:59 PM.

[JustinS007]

jluk2008, on Dec 2 2008, 02:59 AM, said:

Hi, can anyone recommend a HRM that will work for swimmers as well as runners?

No, but I can tell you that the following don't work for me when swimming for a variety of reasons:

Garmin 305,
Polar F6,
Polar F4,
Oregon Scientific SE190,
Polar Fitwatch (old one).

And I've tried all of the polar's above with the wearlink transmitter (as opposed to the T-31 strap) and that doesn't work either.

I tried having the strap really really tight (to avoid water rushing between it and the chest) and even putting the watch down my pants in case my wrist was getting too far from the transmitter at the top of the stroke. Nothing has worked for me reliably.

J.

[miners]

Do you have a heart condition for which you're required to acutely monitor it for stress?

If not, easy swims are easy - hard swims, just go out and belt yourself. You don't need a HRM for either

[BoneyChic]

Hi jluk2008

I use the same HRM for swimming that I do for running - Polar F6. I have never had a problem with it.

Before I got the Polar I used a Speedo one that doesn't have a strap so you have to stop at the end of each lap if you want to check to see what your heart rate is doing.


BC

[jluk2008]

Hi Everyone, thanks for all your tips.

I found the Suunto Memory Belt in the meantime which seems to be recommended for swimmers. You actually have to plug it into a PC afterwards to see your results. This suits me fine though, as I kind of enjoy doing long 80-100 laps swims at moderate pace and I want to monitor my overall heart performance.

http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/product_...852723697223649

(I know WTF? rather long URL...)

Any opinion on this?

Thanks

Jon

[miners]

G'day jluk - apologies for my flippant comment before, but I've never been a big fan of the HRM for any forms of training.

But in all seriousness, I'm not really sure what sort of value (other than novelty) you'd get out of using the HRM while swimming? Particularly if you're only doing long sets at (presumably) a steady and constant pace. IF you were doing hard, sprint efforts etc I could perhaps see the value