Getting to know about our heart rate in real-time doesn’t only give us an assessment of our fitness level, but also useful insights into our body health and mental wellness.
The common situation is that athletes use a heart rate monitor to improve their performance. Meanwhile, the rest of us can benefit from a heart rate monitor to keep track of our daily activities, general fitness levels, and detect any early signs of illness.
Heart rate monitors are usually available in 3 forms: a chest strap, an armband, and a watch. For the latter, names like Polar, Fitbit, and Garmin are some of the most sought-after brands.
To save you the trouble of finding the right heart rate monitor, we have gathered different types of top-rated monitors that are each suitable for different needs. Stay with this article to know which is the best heart rate monitor in Malaysia for your needs.
8 Best Heart Rate Monitors in Malaysia
- Polar H10
- Wahoo TICKR Fit Armband
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Fitbit Charge 4
- Garmin Swim 2
- Garmin Fenix 6
- Wahoo TICKR X
- Garmin Vivoactive 3 Element
Table of Contents
Why It’s Our Top Pick:
Polar H10 has always been the top-tier heart rate monitor recommended by many fitness experts. According to them, there is no better option than this to accurately monitor the heart rate.
Features:
The strap is made of high-quality electrodes to ensure precise reading of the heart rate. More amazingly, the software of H10 is constantly up-to-date so that users can always enjoy the latest features from Polar regardless of the time they purchase the strap.
With built-in memory, it keeps a record of the users’ data and doesn’t require an immediate connection to another device for data transfer. In other words, the strap will work perfectly fine on its own.
Performance:
Users can pair this chest strap with smartphones, smartwatches, fitness apps, and ANT+ enabled gym equipment via Bluetooth or ANT+ network. Even better, it allows simultaneous connection so that multiple devices can be connected to the strap at the same time with no problems.
Don’t like the feeling of having a strap wrapped around your chest? Consider an armband to monitor your heart rate then, like this one from Wahoo.
Features:
The Tickr Fit armband provides users with a seamless connection to smartphones, smartwatches, and apps via Bluetooth or ANT+ technology. It is compatible with more than 50 fitness apps like Zwift, Trainerroad, and FIIT, as well as ANT+ gym equipment like Peloton bikes.
Moreover, the armband is rechargeable, which will save you money on needing to buy batteries! In fact, it can be used for 30 hours without charging. The armband should be able to measure a user’s heart rate and calorie burn accurately thanks to its advanced optical technology.
Performance:
Many users have rated the armband great at resisting water and sweat. According to them, “no amount of sweat can make it slip”. Additionally, the strap of TICKR Fit is adjustable to wrap comfortably around the arms.
For those who are looking for a smartwatch for everyday use, the Apple Watch Series 6 is hands-down one of the best in terms of its technology. Really, it is more than just monitoring the heart rate or acts as a fancy toy.
Features:
The Apple Watch Series 6 is sleek in design, fast in performance, and broad in functionality. It monitors users’ heart rate using both optical and electrical methods and keeps users alert of any irregular heart rhythms via its ECG app.
With the integration of Apple’s Blood Oxygen app and Smart Hand-washing feature, the device is also capable of monitoring users’ blood oxygen levels and reminding the users to wash their hands, which sounds fairly necessary amidst COVID-19.
Some of the extra bonuses include its GPS and Global Satellite (GNSS) supported navigation system, sleep tracking feature, elevation tracking feature, and perfect interoperability with Apple devices. And for the ladies, there’s a convenient app to help monitor your menstrual cycle.
Performance:
Many users have adored this device as it is all-around and equipped with smart features. To them, the device is perfect for both daily use and essential fitness tracking. However, several users have wished that the Watch Series 6’s sleep-tracking interface could’ve been better.
The Fitbit Charge 4 just screams “best value”. It comes with all the necessary features for fitness tracking without compromising on quality and consistency.
Features:
This fitness tracker offers 24/7 heart rate tracking, real-time navigation, and more than 20 exercise modes. Its Active Zone Minutes feature is particularly useful for people who want to know the amount of time they spend in their target heart rate zone during their workout.
Additionally, it displays users’ heart rate maps and peaks at the end of their workout.
Once it analyses your current heart rate, the device is able to tell if users are experiencing any illness, stress, or fatigue. Additionally, users can also keep track of their sleep stages, oxygen levels, and breathing rates.
Performance:
Based on users’ reviews, this armband gives a heart rate reading that is more accurate than other armbands on the market. The users have also liked how they can use Charge 4 without pairing it to another device as it works standalone.
Many find the Swim 2 smartwatch from Garmin their best companion for swimming. It is, as obvious as its name has suggested, specially curated for swimming in the pool or open water.
Features:
In addition to detecting users’ underwater heart rate, its extensive swimming analytics also tracks swimming distance, speed, stroke type, stroke count, and stroke distance. Users can easily switch between Pool Swim mode and Open-water Swim mode to access different data.
What’s even more amazing about this device is its Auto Rest feature, which detects when users stop or start swimming and automatically records laps for them. By the end of the day, users will be able to view the number of laps they have done as well as the time taken for each lap and rest.
Performance:
As stated by many users online, the Swim 2 offers one of the most accurate open-water heart rate reading among other similar devices on the market. More impressively, the device is able to calculate their swimming efficiency (SWOLF) to keep them updated on their progress.
When it comes to wrist heart rate monitors for outdoor activities like cycling, nothing comes close to the Fenix 6 Pro Solar from Garmin.
Features:
The device is claimed to last up to 40 hours when in GPS mode and 36 days when in Expedition GPS mode. Such long battery life is certainly thanks to the solar panel covering the dial of the watch which allows it to be charged using energy directly from the sun.
On top of that, the device is capable of tracking challenging locations as its navigation system is supported by both GPS and Global Satellite (GNSS). It keeps you informed of the turns ahead of you, the topological situation of your usual routes, current elevation, and how well you are adapting to the elevation.
Performance:
Users have claimed this device as a “do-anything, go-anywhere” watch. According to them, the watch is not only good for cycling but also for other sports activities like swimming, running, or simply just triathlon.
When it comes to running, a lightweight heart rate monitor would benefit you so as to help ease your comfort when you run.
As such, the TICKR X is designed with a slim strap and a small sensor pod that promise users comfortability while wearing it for running. The sensor pod weighs just 48g and is only 12.01mm thick.
Features:
The device comes with a special pre-defined Treadmill mode and Indoor Cycling mode to measure users’ cadence while running on a treadmill or cycling. As such, it is suitable for not only outdoor activities but also indoor activities.
Its simultaneous Bluetooth connection allows users to pair the strap with multiple devices and apps at the same time without lagging. In addition to that, its advanced ANT+ Running Dynamics helps to offer detailed running metrics such as ground contact time and stride cadence.
If you are someone who doesn’t like to carry a phone around during your run, you will especially like this chest strap as it can work just fine without a phone. That’s possible because the device is equipped with an internal memory that can record data for up to 50 hours.
Performance:
The TICKR X chest strap heart rate monitor from Wahoo is a favourite among many for monitoring their running progress. Many have claimed it as “a solid investment” that “works just right without any fuss”.
Make the most of your Peloton sessions with the Vivoactive 3 Element from Garmin. Trust the internet, as it’s said to be able to support you through the sweat.
Features:
The device incorporates ANT+ into its connectivity, enabling users to connect it to their Peloton bikes right away. Users can also select the preinstalled activity profile for indoor biking and view their cadence, speed, and more.
Furthermore, its LiveTrack feature allows users to interact with each other via Garmin’s online community. Users can then share and view the activity progress of themselves and others in real-time. This feature is certainly ideal for group fitness activities as it certainly brings more fun and challenges to the members.
Performance:
According to the users, the device is “built with fitness enthusiasts in mind” as everything runs seamlessly. Besides, it is also comfortable to wear and is sleek in design.
Heart rate monitor watch VS other wearable heart rate monitors
Fitness trackers these days are almost common in the form of a wristwatch. But, have you ever thought about the other types? What are the main differences between a wrist heart rate monitor versus other wearable heart rate monitors?
We dive a little deeper into the latter to help you decide if a wristwatch heart rate monitor is for you.
Accuracy
While a wrist monitor is pretty much as accurate as an armband in reading the heart rate, it is far less accurate than a chest strap. The reason being a chest strap measures the heart rate according to the electrical impulses from the heart whereas a wrist monitor and armband determine the rate based on the blood flow.
The ability to recharge
Keep in mind that many wrist monitors or sport watches available on the market are rechargeables, with a battery life that ranges from 15 hours to days regardless if you use the tracking features.
In the case of other wearables, the armband heart rate monitors can go on for 30 hours without charging. Whereas, chest straps usually can’t be recharged and require battery replacement. The battery life of a chest strap typically ranges from 350 hours to 500 hours. Keep in mind that the battery consumption for these two is easily controlled since you only need to use them during exercises.
Comfortability
A wrist monitor will certainly be more comfortable to wear and convenient to use. After all, it is just like wearing a watch! Users do not have to worry about the strap slipping down their arms or chests because of the sweat. But keep in mind that you’re trading away accuracy just for this one convenience factor.
Versatility
Apart from heart rate reading, a wrist monitor is often equipped with other functions such as blood oxygen level tracking, sleep tracking, fall detection, and entertainment, all of which a chest strap or an armband rarely provides. On top of that, its compatibility with third-party apps and devices is also better than the other two types of monitors.