FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Glenn — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:52:47 GMT

Hind, The visual display looks good, maybe better than the sound on the FINIS ( I wish the FINIS sound would say "one, three, five" instead of "one hundred thirty five" - way too many syllables to hear on one breath). But, I would prefer the actual HR number. I want to know when I'm swimming an aerobic set when my HR creeps past 140. Because if I want to keep the set aerobic, I would then slow down. If I am doing an AFAP swim, I want to know what my max HR number is, not the range. I also am not interested in calories, laps, flip turns or breathing frequency. But that's me. Others may find it useful.

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:19:05 GMT

seems interesting... anyone has comparate the HR with a professional Polar? Hi Everyone! Thought this might be of interest since you all track your heart rate during your swim. Instabeat is a heads-up display that tracks heart rate, calories, laps, flip turns and breathing frequency. We are currently taking pre-orders: www.indiegogo.com/projects/instabeat And we need the help of the swimming community otherwise we cannot make it! Would love to get your feedback about the product! Cheers! Hind

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:51:40 GMT

seems interesting... anyone has comparate the HR with a professional Polar?

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:58:30 GMT

Well, after 1 week of using Finis Aquapulse here is my review: I like it.... I am happy with it, it is more confortable than using chest strap. I love to swim without the chest strap and t-shirt... The accuracy in the pool is the same than Polar HR. The volume is good but NOT excelent. I would like to have more volume.... because I can hear 80% of the time, I use 10second interval so I have good feedback of my HR. One tip: I use 2 cap. I put gogles and attach AP, then I put a soft lycra cap and cover the AP with it, and then put the second cap (latex one). It helps me to reduce the water noise and keep AP in fixed position. Hope my tip helps

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:46:41 GMT

Hi yedswim: I read in Finis web a review of AP. One person wrote that he had problems with USB port while swimming, because is not 100% waterproof, and it causes faults in accuracy. He put vaseline in the contacts to isolate complete and don't have problems. After swim clean vaseline and conect to USB port to charge. You can read here: www.finisinc.com/.../aquapulse-heart-rate-monitor.html Maybe it can help you

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

yedswim — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:59:06 GMT

Hi Daniel, I tried the vaseline trick today and it was amazing. Before using it I guesstimate 20% of accurate measurements, but now is around 95%. Clearly that USB port was not properly designed, they should redesign it and hopefully recall/replace current units. The Swimsense Watch with the docking station does not have any problems, maybe try something similar with the Aquapulse.

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

yedswim — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:15:44 GMT

Another update about the Aquapulse Hearing With use, hearing the numbers gets easier. I think the brain learns to isolate the voice from the noise. Now I don’t have any problems hearing the number and the loudest setting may be a bit too loud (especially when resting it can be loud enough for others to hear your numbers) Fit The unit seems to fit better in my right side than left…more hydrodynamic/less noise Accuracy issues I am starting to believe I have a defective unit. Is very hard for the AP to measure my resting HB. I tested it with my wife and it was incapable of detecting hers. When swimming, the measurements do not always correlate with my activity level (e.g. when doing 100yd I got this numbers: 160, 162, 97, and after the 97 number started to increase again) Another possibility but I am not 100% sure but I suspect that the Sun may be interfering with the results, I swim when the Sun is low and may be getting in the way of the sensor. Rolling Average I understand that the number the AP gives is a rolling average of the last 3 instant measurements this may be problematic with shorter distance sets. Like 50yds or 75yds. The actual maximum Heart Beat is going to be higher since the rolling average will include measurements when resting. USB Port The USB port is only for charging, this also means that there is no way to update the firmware…for example to adjust the rolling average or to have instant heart beat measurements. After I removed the rubber cap from the USB connector I notice some sulfatation in the contacts, this may be problematic…I recommend to make sure the contacts are dry after swimming. This weekend I plan on trying during OWS also I need to do more tests about the accuracy and probably call Finis..

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:55:30 GMT

Hi Yedswim; Thank you and all others members for feedback. Is it tooo hard to hear the numbers ?? Is the USB port complete waterproof ?? Do you have the chance to compare in real time with Polar Heart Rate monitor ? I own a Polar HR, I love it. HOWEVER, it is not designed for swimming and is ridiculously hard to get a reading on while in the pool. The watch needs to be right up to the monitor when they are wet and neither can be submerged. This is impossible when in the deep end of the pool, trying to hold your lower chest out of the water, hold your wrist up to your chest and look at the watch with foggy goggles on. I have some heart problems that require me to keep tabs on my HR when exercising. The aquapulse fixes all of the complaints I have with the Polar for swimming. Since it audibly plays the HR it's very effective for doing HR intensive things like short rest sets and underwaters. We did a lot of 30 off max, 20 off max, etc sets in college and I never actually knew what my max was because by the time there was a chance to take my HR it was no longer my max. Now I can tell what my HR is actually doing at all times. The better you know your body, the better you will be able to train effectively. I didn't have any issues with it getting in the way. If you've ever worn a Swimp3 it sits in the same place as that. I'd actually like to see the two integrated so I can throw them on for warmups at meets. It was definitely loud enough for me as long as it was in the right position. It's completely waterproof. As far as accuracy goes, it works out of the pool as well so I tested it with my polar and it was consistently within 2 bpm of those readings. Hope this helps :)

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:38:37 GMT

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Chris Stevenson — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:43:40 GMT

I really like it, I barely felt it there, the clip does not bother me and it stayed in place for 10 laps. One question I had was about streamlining, it looks like the device might get in the way. Did you have any problems with that?

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:30:53 GMT

I have used the SwimP3 by Finis in the past (and loved it), so I gave the Aqua pulse a try. After about a week of usage, I would give it a 9 out of 10. First of all it looks bulky, but it isn't. The Swimp3 is bigger, and I don't feel that while swimming. I squeeze pretty tight on my streamline and it doesn't move or come off...I actually think I don't even touch it. Hardly know it's there. Yes the device is completely waterproof. Well I have used it for a week in the water without any problems anyway. The USB is waterproof as well, and I think it is like the Swimp3 where you don't even need the cap to swim with. The sound for the aqua pulse is a little soft, and not as loud as the Swimp3, but I didn't have any problems hearing the numbers on the loudest setting. I even used it outside the pool on the treadmill and was able to hear the voice. Regarding the accuracy, I normally use a Timex with chest strap heart rate monitor, and I wanted to test out the aqua pulse both in and out of the pool. The units ended up being 2-3 beats different from one another, which is perfectly acceptable in my book. I tested it on the treadmill by clipping the aqua pulse to a sweat head band (dorky i know). Whenever the aqua pulse gave a reading, I looked down at my watch and the numbers were spot on. In the pool, the aquapulse wins hands down. I hate the chest strap (even for running the strap is annoying), so having something light and non-cumbersome is nice. I use heart rate monitors to know what zone i'm training in and if I need to pick it up. now the aquapulse lets me know that mid-swim instead of finishing the interval and checking my watch. Cons include: 1. No battery indicator on the aqua pulse (it says "low battery" at some point, but I don't know if it's low before I start my workout) 2. I have to remember to plug it into a computer to charge it 3. It doesn't record anything. I think a great next step would be to see my heart rate levels over time on a chart. 4. I can't wear both my Swimp3 and aqua pulse at the same time. Well, I suppose I could, but can't imagine it would be comfy...I'll have to give it a try And that's about all the cons I can think of. So far my report is that the aqua pulse is a great product!

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

aztimm — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:10:44 GMT

Do you know which HR monitor the team uses? My sister is asking me for info on HR monitors for swimming, and I really have no idea. Maybe I'll just point her to this thread. But yes I've done several running races wearing a HR monitor linked to my Garmin. During my last marathon, I had a goal to keep my HR in a specific range, and by doing that I probably didn't bonk as badly as I did in a prior race. When it is warm and I run without a shirt, I'll still wear the HR monitor, as do most other runners. I'd guess 30-40% of male runners wear one (tough to tell for females and guys who wear shirts). I don't look at HR too often during training runs, but I'll look after, comparing it to my pace, geography (map), and any elevation changes (usually minimal here in the PHX area). I do check my final HR and how it goes back down as I walk home or to my car. It was just released recently. I will probably give it a try at some point, but probably not soon. Possibly bc they haven't made one (for men anyway) that works for swimmers. (And it isn't just triathletes, runners and cyclists use them too, even in races.) All the swimmers on the University of Richmond women's team have chest-strap HR monitors that they use very frequently (they wear them under their suits), and to good effect.

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

yedswim — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 01:45:13 GMT

Well..of course the pool was closed b/c of water-polo tournament. I was able to go to another pool and swam a few laps. I really like it, I barely felt it there, the clip does not bother me and it stayed in place for 10 laps. The volume seems low (at the highest setting) and the water noise made it hard for me to hear it. I need to try other positions, maybe it will improve...also trying it with earplugs may help (I think)...also I think I will learn to distinguish the number from the noise. I can not say anything about accuracy or battery life yet. Will comment again after a few more workouts. PS: I found this article about HR in the pool, I think is interesting: www.howtobefit.com/swimming-heart-rate.htm

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:55:50 GMT

Heart rate monitors are a triathlete thing.

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Former Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:44:52 GMT

Nobody uses it ??

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Glenn — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:09:52 GMT

I am not a triathlete ( unless I swim three events at a meet :D), but I do use a Polar HR monitor especially during the time of the season when I am doing aerobic base swimming. I set it for my aerobic zone (123 - 143) and am then confident that I am staying at the correct HR to maintain an aerobic workout. The chest strap slips from time to time, but for how I use it, it works fine.

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

jessicafk11 — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:04:36 GMT

I use a HR monitor for spinning classes and running and I generally wear them to any class (kick boxing, etc) that I am new to in order to guage how many calories I burn relative to things I do regularly, such as spinning. The one I have does not work in water so I am excited about this one and am planning on getting one. So, for those who have gotten one and tried it (or will try it soon), I'd love to hear what you think of it!

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

jbs — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:01:56 GMT

Found a review on-line: www.dcrainmaker.com/.../finis-aquapulse-in-depth-review.html

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

yedswim — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:47:54 GMT

got mine today, will check it at the pool and post comments. Hello members: I always swim with Heart Rate monitor. I am using Polar HR, but as you know it is not very comfortable to use a t-shirt to swim. I want to know if someone of you is using the Finis Heart Rate Monitor: www.finisinc.com/.../aquapulse-heart-rate-monitor.html What do you think of it ?? Does it meassure Heart rate with good accuracy ?? Finis HR seems to be very comfortable. Thanks very much for your opinion

RE: FINIS Aquapulse heart Rate Monitor

Chris Stevenson — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:37:39 GMT

Nobody uses it ?? It was just released recently. I will probably give it a try at some point, but probably not soon. Heart rate monitors are a triathlete thing. Possibly bc they haven't made one (for men anyway) that works for swimmers. (And it isn't just triathletes, runners and cyclists use them too, even in races.) All the swimmers on the University of Richmond women's team have chest-strap HR monitors that they use very frequently (they wear them under their suits), and to good effect.