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    HR sensor accuracy

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Suunto Race
    51 Posts 26 Posters 7.5k Views 24 Watching
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    • Dušan KovićD Offline
      Dušan Ković @Fabio Vaccaro
      last edited by

      @Fabio-Vaccaro Yup, that is true. But I value Suunto on more things than just HR (design, app, UI, etc). That’s why I said that I am fine with bad HR readings in exercises, I just need it to work well for daily stuff, Polar will cover exercises. Ok, Garmin maybe has good HR, I don’t know. But it has a shitty watch design and the app is a disaster. I don’t need all the “features” and gimmicks. All these are my personal opinions.

      SR
      SA latest beta
      Polar Verity Sense
      Pixel 6

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
      • DrSilverthornD Offline
        DrSilverthorn
        last edited by DrSilverthorn

        I’d like to see WHR work for at least steady state running workouts. Interestingly, it seems that WHR has improved for weightlifting with the new update (Vertical). So far I only have one sample, but it was giving me believable numbers (if a bit lagged). This is something that my F6x and Enduro were unable to do. But I’ll have to look at accuracy on a run. Before the update, it had been quite bad.

        For interval type work, I’d expect to use a strap.

        FWIW, I have a Vertical, but the sensor is essentially the same - not sure about the FW though.

        Update: I still have the same issues when running, so no improvement AFAIK. I’ll continue to use a Verity Sense strap.

        Suunto Vertical Ti Solar, Garmin Enduro, Polar VV2

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • David lD Offline
          David l
          last edited by

          I’m really struggling to see a big issue with the OHR on the Race. It’s a guide, unlikely to be 5bpm or more out and will always be behind the curve. We all just get used to it. If we want better Hat then surely a strap is the way to go? Or am I missing something?

          DrSilverthornD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote -1
          • leafs93L Offline
            leafs93 Bronze Member
            last edited by

            I read so much about inaccurate WHR for Race. I wear my Apple Ultra and COROS pace 3 during my long run, intervals. Frankly I find the heart rate to be spot on and the readings are very very similar to my Apple Watch, Garmin or COROS . The important point if you wish to get accurate reading is to wear it higher from your wrist (with more flesh) and bingo… even when I wear it for swimming, Hr is very similar to my other watches.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
            • C Offline
              craigeggleton Bronze Member
              last edited by

              df104d9a-5694-415f-b77d-251a10b75702-image.png

              Pretty similar exercise to compare OHR to Garmin Strap. Treadmill run yesterday using OHR was 6.5 mph @2% incline for 30 minutes. Today’s was 40 minutes with 35 min at 6.5 mph zero incline and finished with a 5 minute sprint at 9 mph with the chest strap. For this type of run OHR works as advertised.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • Fabio VaccaroF Offline
                Fabio Vaccaro Bronze Member
                last edited by

                I really understand your considerations, but do you have realized that 42 against 20 persons voted for “HR accuracy as an issue”?

                S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S Offline
                  Shrek3k @Fabio Vaccaro
                  last edited by

                  @Fabio-Vaccaro it is now 42:22 😉

                  I believe that neither the vote nor the whole forum is truly representative. It is a meeting point for critically interested people, which is great and really helpful, but most probably not the ‘reality’ nor the ‘majority’. Just my thoughts.

                  using a Suunto Vertical & Suunto Wings; mostly running (AKA stomping around) and cycling mostly through the northern german "wilderness"
                  OS - Android 15/Pixel Pro 7

                  Fabio VaccaroF 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • JANTIKAINENJ Offline
                    JANTIKAINEN Bronze Member
                    last edited by

                    Has anybody heard that is there a difference in OHR accuracy between the stainless steel and titanium version, taking in consideration that the titanium version is lighter and maybe is not so prone to move?
                    I know this might be a bit bogues question since it’s very unlikely that anybody would have both versions of the watch. Field testers might have.

                    Off topic, I had the pleasure of meeting the CEO & Board member of Suunto Oy by accident today at a local major electronics shop. I went there to see if they’d have the Race as a display watch, which they didn’t. So I was just glancing the sportswatch section and started playing with a Garmin watch when this one guy asked me that am I looking for sportswatch. I said that yes I am and then he asked that is Suunto out of the picture since I’m holding a Garmin watch. I replied that I came to see the Race but they don’t have it so then he introduced himself as a Suunto Oy’s CEO, took his Race from his wrist and let me play with the watch while we had a discussion about Suunto. Very nice and down to earth guy.

                    Samsung Galaxy S24
                    Suunto Race Titanium

                    Fabio VaccaroF ? 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 8
                    • Fabio VaccaroF Offline
                      Fabio Vaccaro Bronze Member @Shrek3k
                      last edited by

                      @Shrek3k ahaahhaahahah
                      I think you are right with the representativeness of this forum

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • Fabio VaccaroF Offline
                        Fabio Vaccaro Bronze Member @JANTIKAINEN
                        last edited by

                        @JANTIKAINEN wonderfull and have you asked clarifications about HR issues to the CEO? 😛

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • DrSilverthornD Offline
                          DrSilverthorn @David l
                          last edited by

                          @David-l I think the wrist OHR should work for steady state running workouts at least. I think Garmin and Polar (VV2, Grit, not VV3) work better in this regard. Wearing a strap all the time in the summer months can lead to chaffing issues, and sometimes one is traveling and it’s one less thing to think about.

                          If you’re putting a OHR sensor on the watch, then the person buying it might reasonably expect it to work at least sometimes. The problem is that for many people it simply doesn’t work under anything but the most ideal conditions.

                          IMO, if they could fix the heart rate sensor, they’d be addressing a major shortcoming that would make them more competitive in this space.

                          Suunto Vertical Ti Solar, Garmin Enduro, Polar VV2

                          David lD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote -1
                          • ? Offline
                            A Former User @JANTIKAINEN
                            last edited by

                            @JANTIKAINEN said in HR sensor accuracy:

                            took his Race from his wrist and let me play with the watch

                            At that point he could have left it to you as a gift 😊

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • David lD Offline
                              David l @DrSilverthorn
                              last edited by

                              @DrSilverthorn with the exception of one blip at the beginning of one run, it’s worked perfectly fine for me. HR for similar runs using Fenix are very close to this (can’t completely compare due to weather/alcohol intake the previous night).

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • C Offline
                                carlopievani
                                last edited by

                                ciao a tutti, qualche giorno fa ho provato a fare una comparativa fra garmin epix 2 pro e suunto race, il sensore hr di garmin era in linea con la fascia cardio facendo spinning… il suunto race era invece in grave difficolta’… poi sono un paio di giorni che mi alleno allacciando il suunto race sull’avambraccio e le cose sono sorprendentemente cambiate, in questa condizione riesce a tenere il passo con garmin… posso dirmi abbastanza soddisfatto

                                vjakubV 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote -1
                                • vjakubV Offline
                                  vjakub @carlopievani
                                  last edited by vjakub

                                  @carlopievani Not even after translation I could help me understand what changed the accuracy for you 😕

                                  tiagoT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • tiagoT Offline
                                    tiago Bronze Member @vjakub
                                    last edited by tiago

                                    @vjakub he change the placement of the watch to forearm and the accuracy becomes better,in line with Garmin epix 2

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • Brad_OlwinB Offline
                                      Brad_Olwin Moderator
                                      last edited by

                                      This might interest those who think OHR is accurate.
                                      https://the5krunner.com/2023/11/29/garmin-fenix-6-hrv-vs-polar-h10-hrv-study-shows-the-winner/

                                      Vector/T6c/Ambit 3 Peak/S5 Copper/S3/S7 Ti/S9 baro Ti/S9P Ti/S9PP Ti/Vertical Ti/Race Ti/RaceS/Ocean/Wing

                                      David lD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote -1
                                      • David lD Offline
                                        David l @Brad_Olwin
                                        last edited by

                                        @Brad_Olwin said in HR sensor accuracy:

                                        This might interest those who think OHR is accurate.
                                        https://the5krunner.com/2023/11/29/garmin-fenix-6-hrv-vs-polar-h10-hrv-study-shows-the-winner/

                                        Not really sure what this proves. We all know that chest straps are much more accurate that OHR. This is just some graphs an individual has put together. There’s no scientific input, no controls, and no peer review.

                                        Different OHR sensors work differently for different people and are therefore usable only as a guide. Mine works great for me as a guide. I can certainly tell, without looking at my watch, if my HR is too high or isn’t high enough.

                                        Arnaud LclrA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                        • Arnaud LclrA Offline
                                          Arnaud Lclr Bronze Member @David l
                                          last edited by

                                          @David-l Thanks @Brad_Olwin , and I don’t agree with you at all @David-l .

                                          This study does have the capacity to easily illustrate the difference between a competition medical device, a heart rate belt recognised as the best on the market (H10) and an optical reader, the Fenix 6.

                                          It’s much more scientific than a ‘youtuber’ review like DC Rainmaker, which does interesting practical tests but with a scientific veneer that makes the non-scientist think it’s very scientific and which is in any case incapable of remaining impartial !

                                          I don’t think the point of talking about this article is to excuse the inaccurate measurement of Suunto’s optical readers, or those of any other brand.
                                          If the article can make those on this forum understand that if you want the most reliable measurement possible to be able to interpret all the Suunto indicators, you need the most reliable measurement and that therefore: sport = heart rate belt, that’s already great…

                                          And I think it’s time for brands to stop claiming too much about optical readers 😉
                                          Or maybe for Suunto to come out with a heart rate monitor that’s even more accurate than the Polar H10.

                                          After 8 years with Garmin and several watches in different ranges, I switched to Suunto in 2023, with the Race.

                                          David lD D 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                          • David lD Offline
                                            David l @Arnaud Lclr
                                            last edited by

                                            @Arnaud-Lclr said in HR sensor accuracy:

                                            @David-l Thanks @Brad_Olwin , and I don’t agree with you at all @David-l .

                                            This study does have the capacity to easily illustrate the difference between a competition medical device, a heart rate belt recognised as the best on the market (H10) and an optical reader, the Fenix 6.

                                            It’s much more scientific than a ‘youtuber’ review like DC Rainmaker, which does interesting practical tests but with a scientific veneer that makes the non-scientist think it’s very scientific and which is in any case incapable of remaining impartial !

                                            I don’t think the point of talking about this article is to excuse the inaccurate measurement of Suunto’s optical readers, or those of any other brand.
                                            If the article can make those on this forum understand that if you want the most reliable measurement possible to be able to interpret all the Suunto indicators, you need the most reliable measurement and that therefore: sport = heart rate belt, that’s already great…

                                            And I think it’s time for brands to stop claiming too much about optical readers 😉
                                            Or maybe for Suunto to come out with a heart rate monitor that’s even more accurate than the Polar H10.

                                            Absolutely agree with this point! Just use OHR as a guide 👍

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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