In the ever-changing world of fitness, there’s always innovation right around the corner.
One of the cornerstones for tracking progress in the gym has always been utilizing a heart rate monitor.
However, wrist-based options are frequently inaccurate, and chest-based options can leave you with an uncomfortable or even a claustrophobic feeling during exercise.
Enter the Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor, an armband-based alternative that marries the realms of comfort and accuracy together in one waterproof heart rate monitor.
What is the Polar OH1 Heart Rate Monitor?
Incredibly lightweight and simple to use for newbies and veterans alike, the Polar OH1 functions as a heart rate monitor using a strap on the arm.
It is ambidextrous, allowing either arm to be used for the strap. It isn’t prone to moving around as much and allows for a more worry-free exercising experience.
The ability to pair with apps and track your results allows you to better your efforts each time.
It’s the ideal middle ground for those who don’t need 100% accuracy but still need the rapid responsiveness to measure your heart rate during interval training.
The Design of the Polar OH1
As the problem with wrist-based heart rate monitors lies within their accuracy, the Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor is designed with greater accuracy in mind.
Most fitness trackers and inexpensive heart rate monitors like to move around your wrist during exercise, especially during sudden movements or interval training.
An optical heart rate monitor takes readings of your heart through an optical light, and therefore it needs constant contact with your skin – skin that likes to flex and move with your muscles.
So, by being worn on the arm, the Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor is held in place by an adjustable elastic wrap.
There are a total of six LEDs that will take multiple heart readings throughout the course of your exercise.
Not only does this improve overall skin contact for accuracy, it frees up your wrists and hands for other accessories.
Gloves can be worn that protect your palms, and braces can be worn on the wrist without your heart rate monitor getting in the way.
There has been a large focus placed on the lightness of the device.
Not only does this increase the level of comfort for the wearer, it also helps to keep the wearer safe when using it with heavy weights; its slender profile won’t easily get caught on machines or moving cardio equipment.
The lightness it provides also negates fears of muscle imbalances as your body won’t need to work harder on one side to move the weight of the Polar OH1.
Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor Pairing and Apps
This heart rate monitor uses Bluetooth to connect to apps and phones, making it compatible with popular fitness resources such as Stravia.
The Polar OH1 also comes with its own app, Polar Beat, to monitor exercise performance.
There are multiple pre-programmed sports and exercises that can be recorded in the Polar Beat app.
If it’s able to, it will also use your phone’s GPS feature to map your pace and routes while running or cycling.
It will keep this alongside your heart rate data for later analysis.
There are even goal-based exercise routines that are voice led.
Unfortunately, there are several of these fitness features that are behind a paywall.
All-in-all, it is about an additional 15 dollars to unlock all of the exercise tracking features that the Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor can offer, which is customizable based around the kinds of exercising you like to do the most.
The Apple Watch series 3 is also compatible with the Polar OH1, which provides a far superior accuracy and comfort level than Apple’s offering.
It’s important to consider before purchasing that the Polar OH1 Optical heart rate monitor only supports
Bluetooth and will not function with ANT+. Therefore, it will not support Garmin fitness watches.
There are over 200 instances of heart rate data that can be stored by the Polar OH1 for an estimated total up to 200 hours.
This allows you to store your data directly on the device if you’re not able to link up with a paired storage device.
If you’re a fan of non-Polar fitness apps and want to utilize them with the Polar OH1, you will first need to check and make sure that they are compatible with Polar Flow.
For instance, the popular app Stravia will connect to the Polar Flow rather than directly to the armband.
As the central service for Polar devices, Polar Flow will be used to set up fitness tracking, manage peripheral devices, tracking personal information such as weight and height, and aggregating your results.
You will also need a computer that is compatible with the Polar Flow desktop app along with a USB port for connecting it; this cannot be accomplished through a mobile smartphone.
Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor and HR Accuracy
It only takes about 30 or 45 seconds for your Polar OH1 to connect and to develop a stable heart rate outline for you to observe.
However, this heart rate monitor will only monitor one thing: your heart rate.
While this may appear frank based on the technology, there are those that will also calculate calorie expenditure and other live measurements.
Some of these options are even within the same price range of the Polar OH1.
Those who are more budget-conscious will be able to save cash on getting a standard chest-based heart rate monitor, but there is a solid level of accuracy that comes with the arm-based Polar OH1 model that still incorporates freedom for other parts of your body.
Women in particular will find the Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor to be more accurate than most chest-based heart rate monitors simply due to the placement of the band along the chest being obscured by their breasts.
Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Monitor Battery Life and Charging
Better than most devices, the Polar OH1 has the endurance to last through just about any triathlon or long-term fitness adventure you’re looking to put it up against.
With only a single charge, you will be provided with a little over twelve hours of battery time.
It is estimated by Polar that this will cover the average exerciser between one to two weeks of exercise routines.
To recharge the Polar OH1, you only need a USB charging dock. By removing the sensor from its holder, you will expose the outlet.
There is a series of colored lights that will correspond to the level of charge; six greens on the LEDs indicate a full battery so you’ll always know when you’re ready to go.
Pros
- More accurate than a wrist monitor
- More comfortable than a chest wrap
- Less distracting during exercise
- Frees hands for gloves
- Frees wrists for braces
- Adjustable to each arm for flexion concerns
- Bluetooth pairing with multiple wearables and fitness apps
- Marketed as waterproof
- Onboard memory for 200 workout sessions
Cons
- Waterproofing might fail over time, especially in salt water
- Battery is not always easy to replace
- Only will read heart rate
- Not ANT+ compatible
- Multiple in-app purchases in the Polar Beat app
What People are Saying about the Polar OH1
Users are finding it far more comfortable than using a chest wrap and far more accurate than only what a wrist-based heart rate monitor can provide.
This gives credence to the marketability of the Polar OH1 and its targeted niche.
Some users report that the arm band provided by the Polar OH1 is just as accurate as other chest-based heart rate monitors they own.
Users did take some time to figure out the proper pairings of apps and Bluetooth in their proper order.
For example, you need to pair the Polar OH1 inside of Polar Flow and the Beat app before you pair it to your phone’s general Bluetooth settings, or else the system won’t function as desired.
However, some find the battery cumbersome to replace; people have replaced the waterproof gaskets and screws incorrectly and found later that their beloved heart rate monitor has started to corrode where the battery connects.
Polar OH1 Alternatives
It doesn’t hurt to take a look at what else is out there.
Here are a few other alternatives you may want to consider aside from the Polar OH1 Hear Rate Monitor.
Garmin HRM-Tri Heart Rate Monitor
The Garmin HRM-Tri Heart Rate Monitor is a slightly more expensive version of a heart rate monitor.
You cannot get a live heart rate in swim mode when using this device but it touts the accuracy of the sensors when applied directly to the wrist area.
You do not need to worry about the same tightness around your arms either with a bicep sensor as your muscles expand and contract.
However, there have been issues reported where people haven’t been able to update their device or achieve synchronization with key aps.
There are also concerns about the accuracy of the product, as the nodes taking the pulse can be easily disturbed during particularly intense exercise.
Those who have been a fan of the Garmin company and the accuracy of their products would do well to check it out.
Scosche Rhythm+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband
The Scosche Rhythm+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband focuses on the benefits of interoperability with other fitness apps.
The company loves to tout the comfort-related benefits of the Rhythm+ as it has a comfort strap and a modern fit.
It doesn’t need a chest strap either. It claims that there is a higher accuracy with its patented “calories burned” metric measurement.
It will also function in water, and has a better rating for performances such as salt water marathons.
However, the occasional complaint has been raised to the foreground that it is not Orange Theory compatible.
It will pair well with My Fitness Stravia and DigiFit Runner.
People who frequent a lot of different fitness apps on both casual and professional levels should give the Scosche Rhythm+ a peek.
CooSpo Bluetooth & ANT+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband
The CooSpo Bluetooth & ANT+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband is the least expensive alternative option by about 33% of the cost of its competitors listed above, including the Polar OH1.
Featuring the same comfort strap, it comes with a rechargeable battery with a lifespan of 25 hours between charges.
It can also be used with older operating systems on a phone such as iOS version 7.0 and Android 4.3.
Although it can be used in wet weather such as an average rainfall, it is not recommended for use in the water for activities such as bathing or swimming despite being marketed as “waterproof”.
Those who are looking for the best deal money-wise and don’t have any plans to exercise in the pool or participate in a swimming event are best served by the CooSpo.
Closing Thoughts
The Polar OH1 comes with a creative silhouette and modern styling.
The unique wearing method allows for convenient and comfortable heart rate monitoring without a cumbersome chest strap for those who can’t stand the feeling.
It features a marked improvement over the wrist-based competition regarding its accuracy.
It’s certainly more comfortable than many other monitors reviewed.
So long as you are only going to be using Bluetooth-friendly devices when pairing with the Polar OH1 and not ANT+, you will not be facing any inconveniences regarding tech compatibility.
Although on the pricier side of heart rate monitors, the Polar OH1 stands out as a competent solution for those seeking to better track their exercise performance.
