Optical HR for swimming - Fenix 6

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I have had a Garmin Forerunner 920XT for a few years now and it gives great data in general. Where it falls over is requiring an HRM chest strap for general use or HRM swim chest strap for swimming.

The general one works fine though can be slightly irritating when stretching and stuff, the swim one I have only used a handful of times, 2 of which the HR data did not download properly and it always felt like it was falling off or irritating under my arms. After tumble turns and kicks off the wall it would ''flutter'' about in the pool and slowly work it's way off. So generally it's crap

Fast forward to 2019 and there is now there is starting to be Optical HR in water! It does sound rather early stages still but there is the Garmin Swim 2, Fenix 6 pro, Garmin Forerunner 945 and dedicated optical hr like the Polar oh1 plus and Scosche rhythm 24. The Polar you can strap to your goggles and record data via the temple which might work better...

Anyway, I want something that doesnt require a lot of faffing around swapping gadgets and forever fitting things to goggles. I did like the idea of using the Polar OH1+ with my 920XT but then thought i would be forever swapping to from upper arm to my goggle strap instead of just using one device.

Does anyone have a Fenix 6 that can comment on the optical HR reading in a swimming pool or outdoor swimming? I'm thinking of replacing my 920XT but at £600 it's quite expensive for my needs (mainly indoor running, rowing and pool swimming) There is also the new Garmin Swim 2 and this is only £220

In general sounds like the chest straps work better for HR recording but where the fail is staying on in my opinion. Maybe a an Implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) :D
 
My HR vs the Bupa health test (they use garmin chest strap) was so different that if you’re serious then you need a chest strap.
 
I've seen no reports to indciate that on dry land optical readers have improved their tech to become more accurate versus straps, so I'm very dubious about a new claim on optical in water, my earlier posts have a report on the Apple tech versus competitors. ... do you have any links ?

I've used the suunto strap in water that records autonomously and transfers when it/watch are out of water, but yes,not reistant to violent push-offs;
SPG , has commented on this, before, too.

Nothing wrong with getting one and sending it back if its not accurate though. ?
 
Nothing is as good as a chest strap, and unfortunately if your man its a pain in the arse in the swimming pool unless you wear a swim-skin or some other tight fitting article of clothing like a sleeveless rash vest to keep the HRM in position.

Polar do a new thing which clips onto your goggles and measures HRM from your temples and of course the new FORME goggles with the HUD in them, but i am so deep into the garmin eco-system I cant see me swapping out just for pool swimming.

Just do what everyone else does and use the 50,75 and 100% for your swimming efforts.
 
OK just scanned this oh1 review https://the5krunner.com/2019/04/06/polar-oh1-review-2019/

for the ~£50 price looks interesting even on forearm, where I guess the elastic strap will hold it more securely against the skin than a watch strap, is that, why it might be superior ? (despite having same sensor as watches)
Questions that occur
will it work best above a prominant vein, Will it work with slim wrists, and having it, in addition to a watch, on lower arm, will it be crowded


I don't wear prescription goggles that would be compatible with it, no space 'inside', and can see the additional bulk on forehead might interfere with arm
 
Hmm reading that it seems it only caches the HRM data for download after the event. If this is what you are after then i am sure it will be fine.
 
*REBOOT*
on the original thread topic - chest strap was just too much hassle/affected to use regularly - well I've only used it once

So using watches in the pool I just count lap timing with my suunto
- does anyone have a particular process for cleaning watch buttons post swim ? my suunto had nearly stopped working and the buttons wouldn't rebound,
but I now religiously clean it in soap water I do the trunks in, pressing the buttons multiple times, and that helps.
I'm not sure if something like pcb switch cleaner could help further ?
 
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