Cheapish watches that display/record average HR

[hikeplusrow]

For my gym cardio sessions I use a cheap Kalenji (Decathlon) HR monitor. It brilliant, but doesn't display/record average HR.

Can anyone recommend a cheapish watch (say £150 max) that displays/records average HR? I'm sure there are many suitable products out there, but average HR never seems to be listed in product features/specifications.

[hikeplusrow]

Firstly, I have posted this query on Health & Fitness, but no responses so far.

Can anyone recommend a watch that displays/records average HR? Budget up to £150, but I really don't want to spend more than £100. The Polar M430 is a possibility, but not cheap. I think the Polar Unite also records average. Ideally, the simpler the better.

I use a Polar H10 for my erging, but need something for cardio at the gym.

Thanks

[ericMX73]

I have the Fit Bit Inspire 3 ($100 US) and it does a good job with HR and monitoring your exercise zones.

[hikeplusrow]

Thanks for the response. I'm looking for something that records average HR as a specific metric. Does the Inspire do that?

[jamesg]

For what HR watches do or don't do, maybe their manufacturers can be of some help. I don't even know how they measure pulse rate, whether electrical, pressure or whatever.

On PM you can see a HR number (from a belt) for each split or interval; this is probably the reading at the end of each split. The number shown in the PM memory headline is probably the average of these. Belts use electric impulses to the heart, not actual pulses.

The C2 logbook shows the same data and also the HR curve stroke by stroke.

[Sakly]

At least Garmin and Polar watches will upload their logged trainings to your Garmin or Polar log and this typically shows average HR as well. So I would assume that the watches themselves also are able to show this metric.
If this also applies to watches of other manufacturers, I don't know. But as HR logging is the main task of these watches, I would assume that this can be done by EVERY watch regardless of manufacturer.

Keep in mind: the cheaper the watch, the less accurate the HR readings are. Don't know for what reason you want to use the average HR, but if the value isn't accurate, perhaps you get no benefit from it at all.

[JaapvanE]

At least Garmin and Polar watches will upload their logged trainings to your Garmin or Polar log and this typically shows average HR as well. So I would assume that the watches themselves also are able to show this metric.

Garmin watches can display this on the watch per recorded activity. But using the associated app is much more practical. A practical note: a watch isn't that a practical thing when rowing as they tend to lose visual connection resulting in noisy readings. Having a HR belt and an app generally is a lot cheaper (some go for 60 euro) and actually more accurate.

And an average HR doesn't say too much. Sometimes my HR is a bit slow to go up, but I push myself quite far, so the average is still around 130. Sometimes I do a steady state and struggle to keep my HR below 130, still ending up with a nearly identical HR. The shape of the curve during exercise (and the recovery 1 minute after intense sessions) is much more important.

[Sakly]

At least Garmin and Polar watches will upload their logged trainings to your Garmin or Polar log and this typically shows average HR as well. So I would assume that the watches themselves also are able to show this metric.

Garmin watches can display this on the watch per recorded activity. But using the associated app is much more practical. A practical note: a watch isn't that a practical thing when rowing as they tend to lose visual connection resulting in noisy readings. Having a HR belt and an app generally is a lot cheaper (some go for 60 euro) and actually more accurate.

And an average HR doesn't say too much. Sometimes my HR is a bit slow to go up, but I push myself quite far, so the average is still around 130. Sometimes I do a steady state and struggle to keep my HR below 130, still ending up with a nearly identical HR. The shape of the curve during exercise (and the recovery 1 minute after intense sessions) is much more important.

Agree to all written. But as OP stated, he will use it for cardio stuff in the gym, not for rowing, so probably it does not apply to his needs. As far as I understood, he already uses a belt for rowing activities.

[hikeplusrow]

Really appreciate the responses. What I'm looking for is a watch that displays average HR on the watch face - either in real time during the workout, or, more realistically, as a memory function. In the good old days, a number of Polar's cheaper offerings did the latter - remember the Edge from the 90s, or more recently the FT series? What I don't want is to have to download an app to get the required info.

[Elizabeth]

Are you looking for a rolling average HR, or for real time HR? I'm struggling to see the utility of the former, and I think many watches will display the latter.

My Garmin is out of your desired price point, but I usually leave it displaying solely my current HR. I can view previous sessions directly on the watch and they include both average and max HR. Yesterday's rowing session had an average HR of 112 and a max of 166. Most of my work time was spent in the 160s. We also did some drills, easy paddling between hard pieces, and docking that brought my average HR down considerably. My training log just says "160s" for HR.

[JaapvanE]

My Garmin is out of your desired price point, but I usually leave it displaying solely my current HR. I can view previous sessions directly on the watch and they include both average and max HR.

I use the same setup, but my watch also shows breathing rythem and stroke rate. For easy pieces my breathing rythem should be close to the stroke rate. If it doesn't, typically I'm leaving HR Zone 2.

[hikeplusrow]

Great replies. I'm going for the Polar Unite. Retails at £130, but shouldn't have to pay more £100. Shows current and real time average HR on the screen, and will pair with my H10 so I don't have to rely on the optical sensor. Thanks once again.

[rentagreement]

i just sold all my garmin watches one after the other: bad readig, horrible bugs, barely functional
Get yourself a HR belt and downloaad the Wahoo app. It is for free, shows all relevant data and summarizes any kind of workout nicely.

[Dangerscouse]

I also use a HR belt (CooSpo) and the Polar Beat app on my phone to record HR. I just wear an extremely cheap sports watch as I like to know the time, but I can't wear my usual watch.

I think the HRM cost about £30, and it's never given me any trouble, as long as I soak the strap every now and again and very occasionally change the battery