Heart rate monitors

[Annisotropic]

Hi, I've read a few other threads on HRMs, and pretty much decided to get a Coospo, but there are a few models and I wanted to ask about experiences of other women in particular.

I like the sound of the models with different coloured LEDs for different HR zones, but can the zones be set manually? I used a polar chest strap years ago and my HR was never anywhere near what it "should" have been.

I assume that if I go for that model then I need an armband, but in the absence of a bulging bicep, will the armband stay in place, or slide down?

Even rowing topless (not a problem, I only ever row at home) would I be able to see the lights on a chest strap - or do they show up on my phone, with the appropriate app?

And if paired with the PM5, can anyone show me what the display looks like? (I need to see as many numbers as possible so I can do mental arithmetic to pass the time

Thanks in advance for any insight or further suggestions

[gvcormac]

The PM5 on your rower will be able to pick up the Coospo directly. A chest band is likely to be most reliable; wrist HRMs are useless; arm HRMs are somewhere in between.

Most apps these days will connect to any Bluetooth or ANT+ device.

One thing to look at is how many Bluetooth connections the HRM can have. If it can have more than one, you can connect to the PM5 and an app at the same time. (Or you can connect ANT+ to the PM5 and Bluetooth to the app. Most HRMs have both of those.)

I personally own three chest strap HRMs: Polar H9, Coospo H808S, Garmin Dual. I like the Garmin best, but the Coospo is almost as good. The Polar often gives bogus readings (high or low) perhaps due to high tension transmission lines near where I run.

I strongly recommend you ignore whatever "zones" the app claims. You want to do 80% of your time at what rowers call UT2 -- row hard enough that you can speak in sentences but not sing. Ignore the bogus heartrate calculations. Eventually you'll figure out what heart rate and/or pace corresponds to the correct level of effort.

Then do 20% of your time with intervals. There's no consensus on how long they should be, but 4 times 4 minutes, with a few minutes rest in between should be good. Do this once a week or so, as hard as you can while being able to do them all at the same pace. Your HRM may be helpful here, but it takes a while for your HR to get up to speed so "heart rate control" doesn't really work. Look at your HRM at the end of the intervals, and adjust your pace (for the next session) accordingly.

Personally, I set the PM5 "units" to display pace per split, and average pace (along with HR). Pace per split and average split are displayed to 1/10 of a second, which is much more precise than watts or calories. Figure out what pace suits you best. Then you can judge your overall fitness/freshness by what HR you hit at that pace, and adjust the pace accordingly.

[Dangerscouse]

I use the CooSpo H6 model HRM, and would recommend it. It's 33% off on Amazon atm if you're in the UK?

I use Polar Beat app to record the HR in the background and Ergzone on my phone to show HR. This can be set to percentage or a coloured zone, with the HR number showing on the monitor.

It's not very easy to upload a photo, so if you search for Ergzone www.erg.zone you'll see a screenshot of the coloured zone option if you scroll down. You'd need to get a phone holder for the PM5 to see it properly as you row.

[Sakly]

You'd need to get a phone holder for the PM5 to see it properly as you row.

That's depending on purchase date. Current rowErgs have a device holder included. Don't know when they started to change that, but my rowErg is from Jan 2022 and has one, which can be adjusted to fit smartphones as well as tablets.

Nothing to add for the question about HRMs

[Carl Watts]

Probably hard to beat the Coospoo here on AliExpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005059836618.html

They must sell a lot of them as there is even a Facebook page for them.

Currently I use the Garmin RUN, its excellent but price wise its off the planet.

[gvcormac]

Probably hard to beat the Coospoo here on AliExpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005059836618.html

They must sell a lot of them as there is even a Facebook page for them.

Currently I use the Garmin RUN, its excellent but price wise its off the planet.

I got mine on Amazon Prime for a similar price: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B092MKW9XY/

Amazon scratches my instant gratification itch better than Ali. Next day delivery.

[Carl Watts]

Probably hard to beat the Coospoo here on AliExpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005059836618.html

They must sell a lot of them as there is even a Facebook page for them.

Currently I use the Garmin RUN, its excellent but price wise its off the planet.

I got mine on Amazon Prime for a similar price: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B092MKW9XY/

Amazon scratches my instant gratification itch better than Ali. Next day delivery.

Depends on where you are in the world, Amazon is no good for us in New Zealand the freight rates kill it. We get AliExpress freight free and its here in 7 days.

I just checked the link and they will not even send it here plus its 50% more expensive. With just about everything made in China now just go direct.

[gvcormac]

Depends on where you are in the world, Amazon is no good for us in New Zealand the freight rates kill it. We get AliExpress freight free and its here in 7 days.

I just checked the link and they will not even send it here plus its 50% more expensive. With just about everything made in China now just go direct.

Interesting. Ali to Canada take (literally) months. I got the AA-to-D-cell converters mantioned here from them. 2 for about $2, with free shipping. Also a bottom bracket for my bike. Also months.

[Annisotropic]

Thanks for all the replies, sorry I didn't see them for a few days.

"Row so you can speak in sentences, but not sing" is perfect advice, EXACTLY what I needed to hear.

I saw crazy-cheap monitors on Aliexpress, but assumed that they were fakes - what is the general consensus? Having said that, £13 for an HW9 seemed worth a punt, so hopefully it will be here in a week or so...... (yes I'm in the UK). Then I'll probably buy a full price one to cross-check it .

[Carl Watts]

Well seeing as CooSpo is actually made in China its not likely to be a fake.

Garmin was also cheap on AliExpress for a while so cheap in fact I think that factory workers at Garmin were wearing them on the way out of work and selling them online, they seem to have put a stop to that.

Fakes out of China is pretty much always something that is made in Japan like NGK spark plugs or some semiconductors or the digital verniers.

Some years ago delivery on AliExpress Standard shipping used to take 2 months, its now down to 7 to 10 days here now. Prices are typically 1/4 to even 1/5 of the local suppliers, they are killing it over here.

[Annisotropic]

That's good to hear; even if it might not be entirely legitimate, at least it'll probably work just fine.

Only thing I ever bought from Ali before was a mounting bracket for a mobius camera, years ago. It was something like 15p, versus £5 elsewhere. That was a pleasant surprise, but I was a bit less confident about buying something like a HRM.

[gvcormac]

Well seeing as CooSpo is actually made in China its not likely to be a fake.

Garmin was also cheap on AliExpress for a while so cheap in fact I think that factory workers at Garmin were wearing them on the way out of work and selling them online, they seem to have put a stop to that.

Fakes out of China is pretty much always something that is made in Japan like NGK spark plugs or some semiconductors or the digital verniers.

Some years ago delivery on AliExpress Standard shipping used to take 2 months, its now down to 7 to 10 days here now. Prices are typically 1/4 to even 1/5 of the local suppliers, they are killing it over here.

Canada still has 2 months+. If they had 7-10 day I'd use them a lot more. Still, free shipping for halfway around the world is hard to beat.

[Joebasscat]

Thanks for all the replies, sorry I didn't see them for a few days.

"Row so you can speak in sentences, but not sing" is perfect advice, EXACTLY what I needed to hear.

I saw crazy-cheap monitors on Aliexpress, but assumed that they were fakes - what is the general consensus? Having said that, £13 for an HW9 seemed worth a punt, so hopefully it will be here in a week or so...... (yes I'm in the UK). Then I'll probably buy a full price one to cross-check it .

I see the Polar products taking a lot of hits on this site. Never understood why. I have two that are pretty flawless as long as you keep the strap clean. Used 5 times a week on average. H10 for me and well pleased. Don’t have a dog in the fight, so get what makes you happy at the price point that suits you.

[Carl Watts]

Keeping the strap clean is important, I pre-soak mine in the laundry tub with hot water before wearing it and then swirl it round in the water after and towel dry it and hang to dry.

That said the replacement straps are as cheap as chips on AliExpress, just order 3 of them and get free shipping and throw it out every year.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005 ... ry_from%3A

I have used them, they work fine with the older Garmin monitors that were removable from the strap.

[gvcormac]

Keeping the strap clean is important, I pre-soak mine in the laundry tub with hot water before wearing it and then swirl it round in the water after and towel dry it and hang to dry.

That said the replacement straps are as cheap as chips on AliExpress, just order 3 of them and get free shipping and throw it out every year.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005 ... ry_from%3A

I have used them, they work fine with the older Garmin monitors that were removable from the strap.

Funny that. I've owned a dozen 5khz Polars, and Coospo and Garmin and never done more with any of them than wiping the electrodes. Only the H9/H10 seems to be hypersensitive to strap washing.