Suggestions for Heart Rate Monitors that work in the Pool?

Perhaps there are too many factors that influence the monitors and that's why you can't find a "good one". 1a) hydrostatic pressure, compression & gravity (or lack of it in the pool)= affects the blood flow, send it gushing back to the heart. Lower heart rate. 1b) hydrostatic pressure = body is working against the resistet pressure of the water, something not found on land. Lungs must work in & out in the water because of the pressure of the water, on land they only need to work 1 way because air doesn't have a measurable pressure (as it is found naturally). 2) water temperature = too hot or too cold affects ability to have a good workout. The cooler the water, the lower the heart rate. 3) dive reflex = your comfort level in the water (any anxiety?) 4) body position = you are forcing your body to work on a horizontal plane rather than a vertical plane, this places stress on the brain in a body awareness kinda' way 5) partial pressure = a gas enters a liquid more redily under pressure, in this case, oxygen is transfered more efficiently to the blood stream reducing the workload of the heart 6) reduced body mass = you weigh less in the water resulting in lower heart rate 7) fitness levels and age are also important to consider when calculating heart rates I only offer these as suggestions, things to consider when comming to the pool to compare workouts on land and in the water. There is a formula called "Karvonen Formula", which considers minimum and maximum training thresholds that might suit you needs better. www.briancalkins.com/HeartRate.htm Thanks Mermaid.. This is good info, but I guess my problem is more of a mechanical one. The monitor that I have gives no reading when I'm swimming, it works fine when I'm out of the water. I suspect it has to do with the radio waves transmission from the chest strap to the wrist unit in the water vs. dry land. Do you use a monitor while you're swimming? If so, can I ask what model it is and if it gives you readings while you're actually in the water? Thanks Robert

Perhaps there are too many factors that influence the monitors and that's why you can't find a "good one". 1a) hydrostatic pressure, compression & gravity (or lack of it in the pool)= affects the blood flow, send it gushing back to the heart. Lower heart rate. 1b) hydrostatic pressure = body is working against the resistet pressure of the water, something not found on land. Lungs must work in & out in the water because of the pressure of the water, on land they only need to work 1 way because air doesn't have a measurable pressure (as it is found naturally). 2) water temperature = too hot or too cold affects ability to have a good workout. The cooler the water, the lower the heart rate. 3) dive reflex = your comfort level in the water (any anxiety?) 4) body position = you are forcing your body to work on a horizontal plane rather than a vertical plane, this places stress on the brain in a body awareness kinda' way 5) partial pressure = a gas enters a liquid more redily under pressure, in this case, oxygen is transfered more efficiently to the blood stream reducing the workload of the heart 6) reduced body mass = you weigh less in the water resulting in lower heart rate 7) fitness levels and age are also important to consider when calculating heart rates I only offer these as suggestions, things to consider when comming to the pool to compare workouts on land and in the water. There is a formula called "Karvonen Formula", which considers minimum and maximum training thresholds that might suit you needs better. www.briancalkins.com/HeartRate.htm Thanks Mermaid.. This is good info, but I guess my problem is more of a mechanical one. The monitor that I have gives no reading when I'm swimming, it works fine when I'm out of the water. I suspect it has to do with the radio waves transmission from the chest strap to the wrist unit in the water vs. dry land. Do you use a monitor while you're swimming? If so, can I ask what model it is and if it gives you readings while you're actually in the water? Thanks Robert