Compare Mio Alpha with wireless pulse belts

When I started running with the heart monitor, he immediately realized that the easy-to-chest strap heart rate a little, it rubs and causes discomfort, especially on long crosses, and in hot weather. At the same time I recognize that there is an alternative - mio Alpha - a clock that is removed directly from the pulse of the wrist. But as soon as there was a reasonable question, how accurate they are, and that's a couple of weeks ago I got the sacred hours and I was able to compare them with his breastplate HRM by Garmin.

Functionality

Mio Alpha can act as a standalone device, if you do not have to write a song, and in the a workout using a simple stopwatch and heart rate, and after - the means and time activity. In addition, you can set the heart rate zone in which you want to be, and the clock signal, when you get out of it. In order to write data, it will be necessary to connect the heart rate monitor to a smartphone with support for Bluetooth 4.0 LE (all this after the iPhone 4S and some of the Androids, the list can be viewed

here). And Mio can measure heart rate in water, which can neither one clock paired with a chest strap but a few Polar'ov, and then with the nuances. Unfortunately, the version of the Mio Alpha with ANT + did not come out into the light, so use them with most GPS-clock does not work, and it seems to me that their biggest disadvantage.

As for the chest heart rate monitor, then there is the most important advantage - it is just an opportunity to choose the one that you need: ANT + or Bluetooth. In principle, other functionality in addition to the measurement and transmission of a pulse and he did not, so for him use need receiver, eg, GPS-clock, which will receive, display and record data.

Also, there is one important aspect - is the battery life. For chest strap it tends to infinity (in fact, months and sometimes even years), but in the Mio Alpha - 8-10 hours. On the one hand this is enough for almost any workout or race, unless you consider ultramarafonskie distance, but on the other hand there is another charge, which we must remember and carry.

UPD: After comments comments of operating time Mio Alpha decided to test and not to believe the official site. It turned out, and the truth is that it is significantly more applications 8-10 hours in my test clock pulse measurement mode (without sync with your smartphone) lasted more than 28 hours.

Convenience

Mio Alpha works on the principle of multiple applications smartphone, measuring heart rate using the flash and the camera, only the clock "flash and the camera" located on the rear side. In this regard, for the correct operation, especially during an active run, you must tighten the belt more tightly to the clock pulse is not lost, so that the arm may remain traces.

But in any case, the convenience of wearing course on the side of Mio, wireless pulse belts that constantly rubs and falls during run time, then lose.

Accuracy

For many it is the most important aspect, and I about the accuracy Mio Alpha worried most of all, so immediately proceeded to a comparative test.

Test №1: running at a steady pace

I began with a simple, jogged for 45 minutes in an even slower pace, a couple of times a bit sped up to get the "peaks".

Dimmer line shows the chest strap and bright - Mio Alpha.

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In the first test Mio Alpha proved to be fine, but in the beginning they were a couple of minutes behind by Garmin, but then caught up and even bursts worked without any problems. Average heart rate coincided both sensors and the maximum from his breast was a bit higher.

Test №2: interval training

Complicated task, running slots 2 through one minute 10 times, and then issues surfaced Mio.

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Although the average and maximum heart rate practically the same, the graph clearly that was three points when Alpha noticeably lagged behind the chest strap. In general, it is clear that the sharp change of pace Garmin react more quickly, but the Mio - with a slight delay, but errors are minimal and certainly not critical.

As a result, Mio Alpha were more accurate than I expected, though sometimes lagged behind the usual chest strap. But here it is necessary to choose carefully the application with which you use Mio, if you create a pair with a smartphone. I first tested it with RunKeeper, in the end it turned out that the pulse enrolled awful and not exactly, but then launched a Wahoo FitnessAnd everything went perfectly.

Price

Mio Alpha is $ 199 + shipping. Chest strap with ANT + will cost you $ 50-60 + shipping.

Verdict

Mio Alpha can be taken if there is no problem to record tracks workouts and quite average value of pulse after them. To pair with your smartphone, you can, but you will have to wear this very smart with me, that in time very tired and starts to interfere during jogging. Of course, I was waiting for that, for example, Garmin FR 920 equipped with an optical heart rate monitor, but now I understand that it unlikely to happen, and the reason for this one - a battery that should not keep 4-5 hours, at least 3 times more.

I would love to replace the heart rate monitor chest strap on the wrist, but it should be worth at least half, and support ANT +, while the presence of clock and stopwatch optional. And it seems that I was not the only one who would like it, because Mio announced mio LinkWhich will cost $ 99, and supports Bluetooth and ANT +.

I really hope to get it on review to check in and if its accuracy is the same, say goodbye to the chest strap.