My First Product Review!!

 Ever since I started my running career, I have had issues with one aspect of workout technology: the heart rate monitor.  A brief history, if I may.....

I did not start using any heart rate monitors right away; while I vaguely knew that there had to be some kind of device to measure heart rate, I did not put any thought into it.  Then, at the starting line of my first race in 2014, all that changed.  I was standing in the group (it was a really small race, no pens) trying to get out of everyone's way, figuring I would be a back of the packer.  I was very nervous, just hoping that I would finish the race, when suddenly and without warning, my Garmin started to beep and vibrate uncontrollably.  I look down, and the watch's face is flashing "180."  I know it is reading heart rate, but I have no idea how, where, or why, and I figure that if my heart rate really is 180 at this point in time, I am probably dead.  The race starts, my watch goes back to normal, and I finish the race, coming in last in my age group.

I started to consider using a heart rate monitor when I started to get serious about running on a treadmill.  I had to get a foot pod to measure cadence, distance, and speed, so while looking for listings for accessories, heart rate monitors popped as well.  I decided to splurge and purchase.

The Garmin HRM was easy to set up.  It came with a 2032 battery, it paired with my watch quickly, and while the chest strap was a little difficult to clip on, it was comfortable to wear once you started running.  So far, so good.

The pros were straightforward, the readings seemed accurate, and it was easy to set up and use.  There were, however, a few cons.  The first was the method by which the monitor communicated with the watch.  Most technology involving sports fitness equipment works with Bluetooth, which is very popular for quality, ease of use, and use over different platforms.  At the time of purchase, all Garmin products used a platform called ANT+, which I found very reliable but unable to use with my running app.  I also had an issue with figuring out if it needed a new battery.  There was no way to check the battery strength, and if you did not use the monitor after even a short period of time, it seems to have a problem connecting.

I shopped around to see if there was anything else, mostly looking for Bluetooth connectivity.  I decided to try the Wahoo HRM for several reasons.  It was Bluetooth compatible, there were lights on the front to signify that it was on, and it also made some other promises that seemed appealing.  However, after it measured a short run on the Cape Cod bike path as going from Western Newfoundland to Equatorial Guinea, I decided to settle in on heart rate measuring.

I found some cons, and they were oddly similar to the Garmin.  You could tell if the device was turned on at first, but I found that it dropped during the activity, and it was hard to tell if it was the battery or some other problem.  A battery change helped for the first few workouts, but the drops would become more frequent after a while, and it seemed like accuracy was compromised.  Time to do more research.

My investigation seemed to lead me down one of two roads.  One road seemed to recommend either the Wahoo or the Garmin.  Simply put, I wanted to try something else.  The other road led me down a road that offered some options that were convenient and accurate but cost much more than I was willing to spend.  One of the few alternatives was something called the Scosche Rhythm+.

My Scosche Rhythm+

One of the write-ups that I saw put the Rhythm+ at the top of the list in terms of accuracy and listed the price as comparable to the Wahoo and the Garmin.  I decided to take a chance.  I was cautiously optimistic, and quite frankly, my expectations were low, given my hard luck with previous products.  Then it arrived.

The Scosche has quite a few differences from the traditional chest strap heart rate monitors.  The first and most obvious one is where you wear it.  It does not go around your chest or on your wrist (like a high-end sports watch).  You can wear it on your bicep, your tricep, or your upper forearm.  I chose to use it on my forearm.  You activate the monitor by pressing a button on the front of the unit, which triggers a flashing blue light indicating that the unit is searching for a device to pair with.  When your workout is complete, you simply press the same button to shut it off.  The light turns red then goes out, leaving you with no doubt that it is shut down.

The other major difference with the Rhythm+ is that it does not run on a replaceable battery.  It has a built-in battery that you charge with a dock and a USB power source, similar to a sports watch.  You no longer need to stock up on 2032's, but you also know that the unit is indeed charging (the led light flashes red).  Another major pro is that you can check the battery's power level if you simply download the Scosche app to your smartphone.

These features are wonderful, but if the unit does not measure heart rate accurately, the product is still a dud.  Time for a Zwift ride for a test.  I switched the unit on just before pairing all my sensors, and it connected flawlessly.  I chose a route with a decent amount of hills and ascent to hopefully get some variation in my heart rate.  It did not disappoint.  My heart rate correlated nicely with my exertion output, and a few quick corroded heart rate checks found the numbers to be spot on.  It did not drop during the hour or so ride, and it was easy to check the power status by turning your arm around.  There was also no problem shutting the unit down at the end of the ride.

I have been using the Scosche for about two months, without any issues.  The company offers a few models, including a waterproof, high-end model targeted to athletes training for a triathlon.  The price is reasonable, especially when you consider that it is a product that works as advertised.

The Scosche Rhythm+ gets my highest recommendation.  It is a piece of fitness equipment that I could not do without after using it frequently and often.