Wrist heart rate measurement systems in GPS Heart Rate Monitors & Sports Watches are here to stay. And right now they are the ones that dominate the market, and have become consolidated products. Thus, the traditional chest strap is beginning to be replaced mainly for comfort, but from Runnea Pulsometers we wonder if the change is for better or worse. Is the technology sufficiently developed? How does each measurement system differs from one brand to another? These are some of the questions we ask ourselves, and to which we try to give a complete answer.
You may be interested in: The 10 best heart rate monitors without chest strap
Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR I Suunto Spartan Wrist Trainer HR
The same optical pulse sensor can have different configurations for different sports and activities, so we have different configurations for Running, cycling, swimming and daily use.
It influences in which area of the wrist you place it: yes, the watch has to be well adjusted, the less oscillation it has on the wrist the more accurate it will be measuring the pulse.
The watch has to be placed a little higher on the arm than where we usually place a conventional watch. The sensor reads the passage of blood flow through the skin. The more skin near the sensors, the better the reading.
Arm and muscle movements, such as gripping a tennis racket, can affect the accuracy of the reading.
When the pulse is low, the sensor may not be able to take a stable reading. A short warm-up before the reading may help.
For maximum accuracy and faster response times to pulse changes, we recommend using a HR chest strap, such as the Suunto Smart Sensor. The use of a HR chest strap will allow for more accurate and faster pulse readings as well as for example being able to wear the watch on the handlebars of a bicycle or wearing the watch over a garment.