New Review: Mio Strapless Heart Rate Monitor
Friday October 31, 2008
One of the best things I ever bought was a heart rate monitor. Before I used a HRM, I never paid much attention to how hard I was working. I just kept going until I coughed up a lung, thinking that every workout had to be of lung-coughing caliber. My HRM showed me that I didn't have to kill myself with every workout and, as a result, I actually started to like my workouts a little more.
I've tried lots of HRMs over the years, all of them with chest straps, so I was a little skeptical of trying the Mio strapless HRM. With the strapless version, you don't have a continuous heart rate displayed but more of an on-demand heart rate reading, requiring you to hold either side of the watch to view your heart rate. I have to admit, I won't ditch my strap-ful HRM for the Mio, but I did like it for some of my workouts.
You can get more details in my review and please leave a comment if you have any experience with the Mio or any other heart rate monitor. You can also write your own review by scrolling down to the end of the review page and clicking on 'Write a Review.'
Comments
while I do think heart rate can be a valuable tool to monitor exercise intensity, Im much more of a fan of a 0-10 scale (RPE scale) where “0″ is very easy exercise and a rating of “10″ is very very hard exercise. for people using medications for heart disease or high blood pressure this is a better way to go.
Joe Cannon, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
http://www.Joe-Cannon.com
I have the MioZone, one of their other strapless watches. I absoulutely hate it. I track my pulse manually. I have to completely stop and attempt to get a reading. If it even reads. Usually I’m sweaty so the watch “should” hypothetically be able to work. When I do manage to get my heart rate with the watch it’s often 30 seconds past when I wanted it so my heart rate has already decreased. I’ve attempted to use it when swimming (so no issues with wetness there to assist with the reading) and it doesn’t read almost ever. I got the strapless mainly for in summer with swimming and for it’s main purpose, it’s useless. This heart rate monitor was merely an expensive watch. I would not recommend Mio products to anyone. Ever.
I have a pacemaker and have wondered how a monitor works with my heart rate. I tried one 6 years ago and it wouldn’t work properly. My pace maker is set on the low end at 80 and top end at 125. I am 71 years old and in good shape. I work out an hour every other day with free weights and tread mill, a half hour on each. I work up a good sweat but I wonder if I could push it more or if at my age just hang in their. My Doctor says I can do anything I want to. My heart is in good shape. I had heart surgery for a Myxoma 8 years ago and the tumor damaged my Mitro Valve so I have a metal valve also. I feel very good at where I’m at but I’m concerned about becoming bored and not stressing my body enough to stay in fine shape. Would a heart monitor be helpful? What do you think?
i have the MIOZONE. it is worthless. you have to stop your work out to atempt to get your heart rate. it is very user unfriendly. it takes too many atemps to get your heart rate.
save your money and check your heart rate the old fasion way.