Heart Rate Monitor Reviews

[Spencer Prather]

Froma strap standpoint, there are some differences. While all straps are adjustable in size, only the Wahoo and Scosche straps have clips. Whereas the Polar one is permanently sewed closed in a loop.

The Scosche Rhythm24 also has an offline recording mode that you can activate via holding the smaller button down. But more on that in the next section. In addition, the Scosche can display zone information using 5 LED colors. Because the Scosche supports the concept of multiple sport profiles/types, you can even configure a triathlon or duathlon mode. This allows you to iterate from one sport to the next by double-pressing the larger button.

Finally, the Scosche Rhythm24 is unique in recording HRV (heart rate variability) data. No other optical HR sensor on the market transmits this information in a confirmed way. You can configure this within the app:

Instead, all three sensors on the exact same workout, along with reference data from chest straps and optical HR sensors. Unfortunately (spoiler alert), this turned out to be a relatively boring exercise. Simply put, all three sensors were near perfectly identical. Seriously.

(Note: All of the charts in these accuracy sections were created using the DCR Analyzer tool. It allows you to compare power meters/trainers, heart rate, cadence, speed/pace, GPS tracks and plenty more. You can use it as well for your own gadget comparisons, more details here.)

It seems to me like 7 second when looking at your graph. I compared my new OH1 to polar and garmin chest straps and at the moment when I start with interval, when hr increases quickly, there was up 10 beats difference and took a few seconds (7) than OH1 catched chest straps. When doing steady pace, HR was the same. Accuracy seem to be good.

I had the old Rhythm Plus (hoping the Valencel yellow-green LED array would do better on my Asian skin colour) but found that when I ran, just like as with my MIO optical HRMs, it would usually lose the HR and confuse it with my running cadence. I got the Rhythm 24 and, thinking it should be a refined version of the Valencel LED setup, was somewhat disappointed when it would, similarly to the Rhythm Plus, lose the HR fix once I started running. I gave my Rhythm Plus to a friend. Now I hear from you that on closer review you think the R24 is actually less accurate than the R+. Too bad, perhaps I gave away my R+ too soon, and I should persist in trying different arm positions or configurations to see if I can make it work reliably for running.

What are your thoughts on using an old Garmin fitness tracker/watch as a quick & dirty substitute? Extend the wrist band with some kind of elastic and place on upper arm and activate ANT+ HR broadcast.

I have used the R24 for running on ZWIFT- it will act as both a footpod for cadence and a heart rate sensor at the same time. I had a hard time getting it properly calibrated, though, so I went back to a more traditional footpod (but still use the R24 for HR only)

I got the Scosche R24 when it came out. While I liked it, they never seemed to get their Android app up the speed with the iPhone. (in fact they suggested I find a friend with an iPhone to update the R24) I wound up returning it just before the 3 month return window closed because all I was seeing was promises, not results. Have they finally gotten up to speed on the Android platform?

Been using OH1 for over a year now and very happy. One annoying thing though: After recording in-memory training and syncing it to Polar Flow it always uses default hr zones that polar guesses for you. Bit frustrating when I swim aerobic workout and it shows in Flow as anaerobic one.

The size, accuracy and cable-free charger make the OH1 really compelling for me. Time to hit up the Clever Training VIP account! If the USB port access challenge becomes a real issue with that charger, there are always USB-A male to female cables.

Does this mean that technically, we could put the opticals in any place of the body, provided there was more flab/chunk in that area? I was thinking of putting it on my forearm where the fatty part is OR somewhere along the calves area?

I have the Wahoo. It just works. Every time. The initial strap is garbage and lasted like a month but the replacement generic strap I bought off amazon is flawless, and has lasted almost a year now. I almost bought the Scosche also but after about the 400th comment about the case breaking and other small issues I gave up and became really satisfied with my Wahoo. I have an open case with Wahoo that is seemingly receiving zero action on data drops with the Element but I really appreciate my Tickr fit.

2. Swimming is disappointing, though not majorly. I would mostly use it for post-workout analysis which is still valuable but obviously not quite as useful as it is on the bike or run. It WILL work as expected with an open water swim. Just not a pool swim. Obviously very frustrating since I have to imagine the functionality is similar/the same for those two activity types. I did a race this past weekend and have the HR right there on the swim leg.

You need to use the Polar Beat app if you wish to change the radio connection settings. Otherwise as Ray said it works like a normal standalone HR monitor with optional internal recording that you can sync to Polar Flow afterwards.

How do you know that?

I never used any polar app for my unite watch. Never even considered it. As I said, I only bought the watch so I could avoid using the apps when I looked at data from my OH1. There was no other reason for me purchasing the unite. I know, waste of money right! Well I know that now.

This review comes just in time as I am looking to buy an armband HR monitor. I had been using a Garmin chest strap which I very much dislike- also because chest straps are not comfortable and can slide- a total pain!

(Though, according to one poster above, the Scosche will actually be smart enough to follow the Garmin device sport mode automatically, in which case since I almost exclusively used Garmin devices to record the data, all sports should line up.)

The main thing I notice with my Tickr Fit is that the HR generally reads low, maybe because it lags due to averaging?, which I see when I compare with the HR I get from a medical grade ECG device, in this case Qardio

I think you answered my question but here it goes. I have a Scosche RYTHM+ I purchased 2-years ago. Is it worth considering an upgrade in device? Right now, the battery life seems sufficient although I am not sure exactly how long it really is good for.

@Su-Chong so you are using the R24 for cadence and HR on Zwift? Like you, I seem to have little issue connecting sensors to my Garmin Edge 1000 via Ant+. I find my MacBook BLE to be tempermental when my R+ now connects to it (Zwift) and then I try to let the Ant+ side connect to anything else (Fenix5 for example).

Thanks for the input and comparison. I am which of the R+ models (how old) Ray refers to when he talks about how good the sensor data is. I also have a TICKR as a back-up but really like the armband option.

Not on Zwift. Using Wahoo Kickr (1st generation hardware), but monitoring in real time using Wahoo Fitness App on my iPad to give me a nice large real time display while Im actually recording the session on my Edge 520 bike head unit. The iPad seems to connect to my Scosche Rhythm 24 Bluetooth no problem, so linking to the Wahoo Fitness App sensor pairing etc goes smoothly.

Can you turn off the broadcasting on the OH1 when in cached mode to save battery? I was thinking of using it for a 12+ hour event which will push the limits of battery life, but I do not need to broadcast HR, just store it. Is there a way to turn off the broadcasting completely to add battery life?

Hi Ray, thanks for the nice review.

I have the Scosche Rhythm 24 (before the Rhythm+) and works very good for me. The only problem is their Android application.

Any info when will they update it and finally work as it should?

The goggle clip was extremely annoying because it pulled out several strands of hair (I have long hair) and my swim cap only covered half of it which created a bunch of other problems. Also, rinsing my goggles between intervals was almost impossible because my cap would start to fall off. (Like most swimmers, I normally wear my goggles over my cap.) I tried using the OH1 unsecured under my swim cap and I worked ok, although it did fall out twice in an hour-long session. For my last two swims I secured the clip to my swim cap and that seemed to work beautifully.

It confused me too for a long time until I figured it out. Hold the button until the led turns red (it takes longer than you expect every time). Then let it go. The leds on the back will still be illuminated for several seconds but it is just residual power, they will turn off.

I currently have a Scosche Rhythm+, which works well, but whose battery life is not long enough for some of the cycling endurance events I do. The Rhythm 24 would be a logic step, but it sounds like it might stumble with outdoor cycling. What are the issues you saw there Ray, care to share some insight?

It sounds like there would be a hit on accuracy with the Wahoo Ticker, so that is not that appealing. I am intrigued by the Polar OH1+ now that it does ANT+. The ability for it to flip due to size is concerning and the battery life is right on the edge of what I need.

So there are dings against all, so where should I compromise. Does any one care to share their thoughts/experiences with any of these devices as it pertains to HR data only for 10-14 hr gravel or mountain bike events? Thanks.

Thanks that helps and gives me a bit more to think and look into. I really like my Rhythm+ and would stick with it if only its battery life was longer. All I really need/want is a sensor for transmission with a 14 hour battery life. Offline caching and cadence, etc hold no interest for me. I like and appreciate that manufactures are seeing what else they can make their devices do, but compromising the core functions in the name of progress is a no no.

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