How A Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Differs From A Pulse Watch
If you have been involved in the fitness scene for any length of time, you have no doubt heard about heart rate monitor watches, which are usually a digital fitness watch that comes with a chest heart rate strap, a technology that is capable of measuring the rate of your heart with a high degree of reliability and accuracy. Less common are watches that measure your heart rate without requiring the chest strap. Two available sports watches that provide this ability are the strapless heart rate monitor and pulse watch. These differ quite considerably, so lets take a look at the two technologies in turn.
The strapless heart rate monitor watch is newer than the traditional chest strap heart rate timepiece. It features two poles/sensors mounted on the front of the watch. The user must place two fingers over the face of the watch for about 4-8 seconds before a reading is displayed. In this sense it is an on-demand heart rate monitor watch that requires you to stop exercising and then manually take a reading, rather than monitor that provides continuous feedback like the chest strap version.
For most non-elite athletes strapless heart rate monitor pulse watches are more convenient. The do not require you to fiddle around with a cumbersome chest strap and can be worn throughout the day. A pulse monitor watch is usually much cheaper than a chest strap one too.
Pulse Rate vs Heart Rate
Before comparing a strapless heart rate monitor with a pulse watch, it first helps to consider what your pulse actually is and how it is different from your heart rate.
A pulse is caused by the increased volume of blood forced a rythmical dialation of a vessel. It is caused by the contraction of your heart. You have no doubt taken your pulse in the past. It can be felt at many different points on your body. Usually your neck and wrist are the easiest points to measure your pulse.
Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats over a defined period. It is commonly measured in beats per minute. There are situations such as a premature or irregular heart beat where your heart rate will differ from your purlse rate. In these cases a heart contraction will not force out enough blood be felt when taking your pulse.
The basic difference between a strapless heart rate monitor watch and a pulse meter watch is that a pulse rate watch detects blood flow in the extremeties where is a strapless heart rate monitor, like a wireless chest strap measures the electric impulses produced by the heart. This makes a strapless heart rate watch more accurate than a pulse watch.
The Importance of ECG Accuracy
A strapless heart rate monitor is said to be “ECG accurate”. What this means is that it is an electrocardiogram – a measure of the hearts electrical activity. This means that the exact heart rate can be accurately determined.
Both the pulse watch and ECG strapless heart rate monitor watches are good choices for basic fitness use, but some cheaper pulse watches can be quite unreliable in some situations. If your needs demand a high degree of accuracy, then ensure you purchase an ECG monitor that measures your hearts electrical activity rather than a pulse rate based on detected blood flow.
Here are some popular heart rate monitor watches that don’t require a chest strap:
Reebok Strapless Heart Rate Monitor |
Impact Sports ePulse Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch and Calorimeter |
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Sportline 750 Men’s Analog Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch |
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Mio Breeze Petite Women’s Heart Rate Monitor Watch |
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