The heart rate monitor for swimming is a measuring device that determines the heart rate. The second name of the device is a heart rate monitor. The main purpose of the device is to control the work of the heart, analyze the loads, choose the pulse zones and the magnitude of the output for them.
Destination
For those people who need constant information about the work of the heart during sports, a swimming heart rate monitor will become an indispensable assistant. During the training period, a special device gives indications of pulse values to the display, indicates the restriction of the heartbeat zones, counts the number of consumed calories, and controls the load on the heart muscle.
The main uses of the heart monitor are cardiological and interval training. During strength exercises, his help may also come in handy. The device can be operated to control the functioning of the heart during daytime activity.
Categories of people who are recommended to use a heart rate monitor for swimming:
- engaged in cardio workouts, training for weight loss and development of endurance;
- athletes who prefer high-intensity interval training;
- citizens with heart problems who need to constantly monitor its work;
- people who want to know the number of calories burned and improve their health when playing sports (during recovery).
Why measure your heart rate in training?
Depending on the heart rate (HR), the athlete’s body will generate various sources of energy. Given this point, there are several load sections that are responsible for the effectiveness of the classes. This indicator is taken from the maximum heart rate value. The formula for the calculation is simple - the maximum heart rate (220 beats per minute) is taken and the user's age is minus.
In order to actively use fatty acids, it is enough to maintain the rhythm within 65-70% of the maximum tolerance of heart rate. A good example for an athlete at the age of 40:
- lower point - (220 - 40) x 0.65 = 117;
- upper bar - (220 - 40) x 0.7 = 126.
If the pulse is within the limits, which is confirmed by the heart rate monitor for swimming, it means that a person can exercise for a long time at an uninterrupted pace. Such classes belong to the category of aerobic (using oxygen), help burn fat and train the heart muscle.
With high-intensity thermal training, the optimal indicator will be up to 90% of the maximum. The lower and upper thresholds are calculated by a similar formula, only with coefficients of 0.8 and 0.9.
The device in question helps citizens leading an active lifestyle, helps maintain heart rate in a comfortable zone for the user, in certain situations. In some modifications, you can set certain work areas, reading information exclusively from them.
Benefits
As user reviews show, heart rate monitors for swimming in the pool have objective advantages, namely:
- Heart rate display allows you to protect the main muscle of the body from overload during exercise, thanks to the control of heart rate;
- You can use several modes (for burning fat, developing endurance, recovery or strength);
- ease of tracking the training process, along with its analysis and perception by the body;
- accurate accounting of calories burned;
- determination of the body's work during standard daily activity;
- running or walking on the street will be accompanied by monitoring of vital indications.
Features
Most cardiovascular equipment is equipped with a built-in heart rate monitor. For running and swimming use wrist or chest variations. The second modifications are much more practical, more accurate and more convenient.
To manually calculate the heart rate, you need to stop, feel for the pulsation point, have an accurate stopwatch on hand. All additional operations during training slow down the rhythm and give a significant error. With a mobile heart rate monitor it is much more convenient, it reads all the necessary readings right on the go, giving information to the monitor.
Functional
The main working prerogatives of the devices in question:
- notification of a change in the pulse zone with a vibration or sound signal;
- conducting operational calculations at the maximum and minimum heart rate;
- Calorie burner
- stopwatch and timer;
- highlighting the current time and date.
The upgraded swimming watch with heart rate monitor has a number of additional functions. Among them:
- GPS navigation system
- pedometer, alarm clock;
- calculation of heartbeat for a certain range of working areas;
- test for fitness classes;
- synchronization with gadgets.
The price of the device depends on its functionality. In this case, heart rate monitors are divided into two main categories:
- Breast options with sensors.
- Carpal models.
Belts with chest sensors until recently were more popular, however, thanks to the latest technology, watches for swimming with a heart rate monitor catch up with this figure every day.
More information about chest models
This version of the heart rate monitor is an indicator with small electrodes. He is put on under his chest, transmits information to a watch with a receiver or a smartphone (with the downloaded application). Among these options, there are two types of waterproof heart rate monitors for swimming:
- Version without a receiver in the form of a clock. Information is transmitted to the phone via bluetooth, then the sensor is synchronized in the smartphone. Thanks to this, data on consumed calories and heart rate indicators are automatically saved. The advantage of such a program is that all information is stored in the history of the phone supporting Android and iOS.
- Models with watches that simultaneously serve as a receiver. Such heart rate monitors are more expensive, but also more convenient, since all information is displayed immediately on a small monitor. This does not require additional gadgets and connections.
Data transfer
Chest models of heart rate monitors with a receiver clock have two ways of transmitting data. Among them:
- Analog view without encoding. In this case, there is a high risk of radio interference. Less accurate than the second option, but the error is not critical. The analog heart rate monitor is synchronized with cardiovascular equipment. If the same heart rate monitor model is used nearby (within 1-2 meters), interference will occur when reading data.
- Digital type of information transfer with encoding. An expensive, but not prone to interference type of signal transformation. With simulators such a device is not synchronized.
Both types of transmission of information of chest heart rate monitors are quite accurate. Moreover, the type of information transfer does not affect the choice of the model itself. Many users are sure that overpaying for the digital version is absolutely impractical.
Hand swimming heart rate monitors
Convenience of wrist devices lies in their compactness (there is no need to put on a chest belt). To read the information you need only a bracelet-watch, worn on the wrist. Such models have their pros and cons, they are still behind in popularity from the chest versions. According to the type of heart rate monitoring, the considered heart rate monitors are also divided into two types.
In the first case, data on the heart rate are measured by contacting the sensor on the front of the device and fingers. For example, based on customer feedback, the Sanitas SPM10 or Beurer PM18 models simply fit on your wrist. Information on the display is issued after a light touch of the device. The disadvantages of the bracelet include the fact that the pulse is not measured constantly, but with the tactile contact of the bracelet with your fingers. This version is aimed at tourists, climbers or people who are forced to control heart rate from time to time.
Heart rate measurement using blood vessel monitoring
This is the second type of operating principle of a heart rate monitor for swimming without a chest sensor, which consists of several simple steps:
- The bracelet is worn on the wrist.
- LEDs shine through the skin.
- Using an optical sensor, vasoconstriction is measured.
- Information through the sensor is displayed on the monitor.
The disadvantages of such devices include the need for hard tightening the belt on the arm, which leads to some discomfort during training. Also, the operation of the indicator may be disturbed in the rain or with heavy sweating.
Popular manufacturers
Taking into account the opinions of experts and consumer reviews, a number of manufacturers of heart rate monitors are distinguished in the domestic market, the assortment of which includes both chest and wrist modifications:
- "Sigma" (Sigma). This Taiwanese manufacturer produces devices that optimally combine price / quality parameters. The assortment includes watches for swimming in the pool with a heart rate monitor, budget versions and mid-priced models.
- "Polar" (Polar). The company is considered the world leader in the production of monitors for heart rate monitoring, specializing in the production of chest modifications with sensors. Information is read on a smartphone or a convenient bracelet with a watch.
- "Beurer" (Beurer). The company in the domestic market offers heart rate monitors with a chest strap or touch analogues. Users note that for intense training, chest versions of this brand are some of the most practical.
- "Mio" (Mio). The company specializes in the manufacture of innovative models that do not require sensors and chest belts. All information is transmitted using an optical indicator. He observes a heart rate directly through the skin on his wrist. The indications, judging by the opinion of experts, have a minimal error.
- Modifications "Suunto" (Suunto). The company has long been known in the market of sports accessories. Of the pulsometers in the assortment, there are both chest versions and sensors complete with clocks and sensors.
- Sanitas New to the field in question, the offered product is notable for its low price and fairly good quality characteristics.
What do users say?
Comparing swimming watches with a heart rate monitor and chest straps, consumers differ in their ratings. If we summarize all the responses, we can conclude that the belt chest versions with the transfer of information to the screen are still leading due to their versatility. However, carpal models are gaining ratings because of their compactness and continuous improvement.