Rowing provides one hell of a workout, and the benefits spread far and wide – it’s a low-impact, high-intensity aerobic workout that targets 82% of your body muscle without exacerbating the sore muscles, boosts stamina, and immune system, and strengthens the heart. And when you cash in on the best heart rate monitor for rowing, you can keep your ticker in check and get an instant snapshot of the exercise intensity that, in turn, will help you enhance your performance for an optimised fitness level.
We have rounded up a comprehensive list of quality heart rate monitors for rowing.
What is a Heart Rate Monitor?
A heart rate monitor or HRM is a fitness tracking system that can continuously detect and count your pulse or heartbeat per minute and store it for later analysis. It is mainly used to collect HR data while performing various types of physical exercise.
Though you don’t have to track your heart rate every time you work out, putting on an HRM can help you efficiently upgrade your workout routine and ensure you are not overexerting yourself.
An HRM can be the pacer that can give you a real-time snapshot of how optimally your heart muscles work when you exercise. It can inform you of whether you are pushing your body too hard during an exercise or if there is room to work out a bit harder and hit your target heart rate zone.
How Does an HRM Work: The Difference Between ECG And Optical Heart Rate Sensors
An HRM can be of two types:
- Chest-strap HRMs
- Wrist-work HMRs
While a chest strap functions based on Electrocardiography (ECG) technology, a wrist-based HRM utilises Photoplethysmography (PPG), non-invasive technology to detect your pulse.
A chest-strap HRM can be made of high-quality fabric, elastic, or plastic with a snap-on detachable transmitter and electrode sensors embedded in the strap.
The device sits against your chest. And as you sweat during the activity, the electrode pad housing the sensors receives the amplified electric signals emitted by your myocardium and transmits them to the transmitter. Inside it sits a microprocessor that registers, analyses, and decodes your heartbeat from those impulses, a battery, and the chips essential to establish Bluetooth connectivity with the brand-specific mobile application that constantly pings you of your heart rate.
On the flip side, a wrist-based HRM uses optical sensors, a photodetector, and one/multiple light sources to measure the volumetric variations of blood circulation and translate them into pulse readings. The LEDs in the device glean green lights of different wavelengths onto your wrist skin that interact differently with the skin and tissue layers and get reflected or refracted from the blood circulating underneath the skin.
The receiver in the device captures and sends these signals to the photodetector that processes and encodes the light signals into ‘0’ and ‘1’.
The data is then fed into a high-level PPG algorithm that couples with the data measured by the built-in accelerometer to provide a motion-tolerant pulse value.
Even though OHRMs are the mainstream heart rate monitoring systems, chest straps ensure higher accuracy.
Best Heart Rate Monitor for Rowing
With the market booming with tons of HRMs claiming to offer top-notch features and functionalities, choosing the best heart rate monitor for rowing can be overwhelming. Check out our list to pick the best device.
Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor
Offering versatility and ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity to a range of workout devices and sports watches, Polar H10 tops our list.
When it comes to precision and connectivity, you would be hard-pressed to find a better HRM than Polar H10. Widely regarded as the gold standard in chest-strap HRM, it’s the most precise sensor in Polar’s history, coming with upgradable software and an improved algorithm.
While the high-quality textile strap offers ultimate convenience, the buckle and anti-slip silicone spots ensure the sensor sits firmly against your chest, and without any interference.
Key Features
Garmin Fenix 5 sapphire
Fusing advanced Elevate™ wrist-based heart rate technology for continuous HR tracking with built-in GPS and compact, rugged structure, the Garmin Fenix 5 Sapphire is the ultimate knockoff of almost all premium HRMs for rowing. It’s a top-tier multisports watch, coming with Quickfit interchangeable band range, and is made of a stainless steel case and a scratch-proof sapphire lens that makes it a perfect pick while rowing like knocks and falls.
Key Features
Wahoo TICKR
Wahoo TICKR is a high-end HR monitor loaded with marquee features that can help keep your ticker up, optimise your health to make it less prone to stress and burnout while offering you the best bang for the buck.
Equipped with advanced ANT + and Bluetooth connectivity, TICKR provides a seamless way to sync your HR data with top-tier gym equipment and rowing machine like Concept 2 PM5 and apps you rely on and now can connect with up to three devices simultaneously.
Key Features
How to Choose the Best HRM for Rowing
- Count on Accuracy: If you are in high-intensity rowing and need to efficiently track your heart rate to work out in a specific target heart rate zone, invest in a high-end dedicated HRM. As we mentioned, dedicated chest-strap HRMs are highly accurate and offer more precision than wrist-based standalone devices when it comes to tracking HR.
- Look for the must-have features: What functionalities make a quality heart rate monitor that you cannot ignore while buying an HRM for rowing? Let’s have a quick glimpse:
- Smartwatch mode
- Integration with a spectrum of training tools, like rower machines and third-party training apps
- Recovery heart rate monitoring
- Both ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity
- Calorie counter
- Longer battery life
- Stopwatch mode, etc.
- Easy to Read: No matter how bells and whistles an HRM comes with unless its display is large and luminous enough, it’s of little use. Make sure the heart rate monitor you pick features a built-in backlight to make the data easily legible even in low-light ambient.
- Design: If you want an HRM that you can wear daily, make sure it rocks the design. Go for a top-tier smartwatch that can seamlessly blend with any environment while letting you make the most of the cutting-edge sensors and smartwatch technologies onboard. Plus, go for an HRM with a higher water-resistance rating.
Christian Scott is the founder and director of MindBodyFit, a website dedicated to providing the latest information on fitness, health, and mental well-being technology. With over six years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Christian is a passionate fitness enthusiast who combines his love for technology and wellness to help others achieve their best selves.
