Heart-rate monitors – armband vs chest strap. TickrFit

For many years the chest-strap heart rate monitor has been the default choice for cyclists. From the early days when Polar was big, to nowadays where Wahoo and Garmin rule the market. All have chest-strap sensors.

For context , I have been wearing heart rate chest strap’s for over 10 years, using them to monitor training and fitness, mainly while on the bike. Wrist or arm worn sensors are a relatively new thing to market. Recently I got a hold of a Wahoo Tickr Fit to test. This is a heart rate measuring arm strap, yeah it goes on the arm just below or above your elbow. It replaces the chest strap and pairs with Garmin or Wahoo cycling computers, plus an array of apps on your phone.

The first to market were wrist located monitors like Garmin, Fit Bit or Apple make. These have been proven fairly inaccurate. A move to a different body location proved for more reliable, repeatable results – thus the armband.

Technology differences.

The tech is different from a chest strap which uses electrical impulses from your heart. Tickr Fit armband uses an optical sensor to track your blood flow and calculate your heart rate. (a technique called photoplethysmography). We have seen a similar type of sensor used on the wrist in the case of FitBits and Apple Watches. When researched, one of the major tech differences between brands is the quality and accuracy of the optical sensors used. The one in the Wahoo unit is made by Wahoo and not a common off the shelf unit. This is supposed to provide more accuracy. The Wahoo unit can be worn on the wrist but its preferred to be located further up the arm, not on the wrist. More bloodflow in the upper arm location to improve accuracy.

Wahoo Tickr Fit Features

• 30hr recharagable Battery
• Waterproof
• Physical On / Off switch , blue button
• Ant+ and Bluetooth pairs directly with apps (not Strava) on a smartphone, cycling headunits, and computers with training software.

Testing on the body

I tested the product for just over 3 months, running and cycling and in conjunction with a Wahoo chest strap.

Since the Tickr Fit goes on the arm, it removes one big chest strap sensation – what I call the “soggy strap”. This normally happens in summer or on an indoor trainer where the band gets fully saturated and you feel or sense it. (this is mainly contrastable when you ride without it)

In cycling, I did find that under conditions where my arms got sweaty the Tickr Fit would provide inaccurate results or drop heart rate readings. This seamed to be only an issue on the bike, running my arms don’t get sweaty. And to be fair rearely my upper arm gets sweaty on the bike, so its more of a moot issue for me personally.

I experimented with positions of the unit on my arm. The best result was as Wahoo recommended , just below the elbow. And for me it felt the best on the inside of the arm. I also tried it above on the bicep, which sensed well but felt restrictive, as you feel you bicep pulse and the results weren’t constant. I also tried it on the wrist, sure technically it works but doesn’t provide consistent results and sometimes drops.

The Verdict

If you are a mainly a cyclist and have to buy one, I would by a chest strap for cycling and not bother with a monitor for running, as I found that my heart rate running was consistent and high. If you really want one then yes a Armband will work for both but on the flip you will be disappointed if you buy a chest strap for running. You will find the motion, heat and sweat will make the strap move down your abdomen and generally just don’t feel that good with that type motion. You may have to readjust a lot or the chest strap just won’t workout.

For Cycling – the Chest strap is better.
For Running the Armband is better.

Tech note: I don’t profess to know about the sensors companies like Whoop are using. This seems to be a who different kettle of fish and technology.

The Deets

Arm Strap Version : $79 Tickr Fit
Chest Strap Version : $49 TickR

Tickr’s HERE ….

I can recommend them both. Having had the chest strap for about 3 years and the arm strap about a year.

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