After I had used the conventional textile chest straps of Polar and Garmin and this (although the textile premium belts the most comfortable of their kind) still cumbersome to apply in my opinion and are not always easy to carry around, I was looking for a change to have a measurement on the wrist perfectly.
Since I have the Mio Link now I wear the RF measurement for each run training and not just sporadic as was previously the case with the electric RF chest straps.
Here are the main advantages of the optical RF measuring million compared to the HF-chest straps:
++ Comfort (weight: 30g, size "M" optimal only for very small wrists - size "L" of the fit for all suitable because more room available!)
++ Versatile connectivity - can be coupled via ANT + (Garmin) and / or via BTLE (mobile, Polar clock, etc.) with other devices
++ Function and pulse range (RF zone) immediately on link visible (via LED) even if the link is not connected to another device / was.
+ Slip the link but once, then you get faster / better ran to perform corrections. (Each had to readjust its RF chest times during training, know what I mean!)
But there are also disadvantages / limitations of RF optical measurement (Mio Link), which I can use to report after one year:
- A spontaneous change in the stress intensity is only a few seconds (5-10 seconds) delay. The optical measurement behaves quite sluggish relative to conventional, electric chest.
- In the first few minutes (at the beginning) of the RF measurement times unrealistically high or low values are displayed more often. This disappears after 1-2 minutes. Sometimes it helps to link approximately 10 minutes before your workout to activate, then you have a good chance that the effect does not occur.
- A permanent, vertical position of the wrist leads to an incorrect measurement (to lower heart rate display, eg bench press, or even cycling.).
- The darker the own skin type, the more difficult it can be to find the "right place" for mounting the Mio link on the wrist.
- A strong, dark hair on the forearm can complicate this process.
- With cool outside temperatures or when the surface temperature of the skin is very cool, then lower RF values are determined as is actually the case. Came with me so far only rare, but can happen at around 0 ° C and freezing temperatures quite.
- Strong sunlight can interfere with the operation, especially if the Mio Link not tight enough sitting and light can penetrate from the side. Here can help the layering in summer a sweatband / cloth.
o The battery life is 6-8 hrs. in relation to the electric HF-chest strap low, and you have the link similarly often charge (USB) as a GPS Running Watch.
Conclusion:
Anyone who is not in a fast, changing load change (eg. As short intervals) requires an immediate and accurate feedback on their actual pulse which may very well include the Mio Mio link or fuse in his training.
Anyone with a few (3-8) takes workouts time the best individual position and optimal tension (how firmly the bracelet should be set) debug, which is to be happy with the optical RF measurement.
Who brings less patience with and the list of (case by case!) Place restrictions exhausting who might be disappointed.
For static fitness exercises in which the wrist or the forearm is positioned vertically, Mio is not an alternative to HF-chest strap - on the contrary.
Comfort and "correction handling" to RF chest: 5 stars
Reliability of the measurement to RF chest: 4 stars
Price: 3 Stars
Overall: 4 stars
