When it comes to tracking your heart rate during workouts, accuracy is the most important thing. Monitoring your heart rate during exercise helps you to stay within the right heart rate zones, avoid over-training, and maximize fat burning or endurance building depending on your fitness goals. It’s also a key tool for spotting signs of fatigue or potential health issues before they become serious.
When you decide to buy a device for heart rate monitoring during exercise, you’ve probably wondered: should you go for a chest strap or a smartwatch? With so many heart rate monitors out there — chest straps, armbands, smartwatches, and even hybrid models like Withings — it’s easy to get confused. But depending on your goals, one might fit you better than the other. Let’s break it down in simple terms.
Which is More Accurate for Heart Rate Monitor?
Tracking your heart rate can be a game-changer for fitness, health, and even day-to-day energy levels. Accuracy matters most when you’re doing intense workouts or specific heart rate zone training.
When it comes to heart rate monitoring accuracy, one question pops up: is a chest strap better than a smartwatch? The answer is a clear yes. For accuracy, chest straps win hands down.
Fitness heart rate monitors like chest straps are designed to sit snug against your chest. lt uses an electrical signal from your heart beats to track your heart rate very precisely. Smartwatches or fitness tracker, on the other hand, rely on a light sensor on your wrist to measure blood flow, which is easier and more convenient.
Let’s see a full comparison between chest straps and smartwatches.
Chest Strap vs. Smartwatch: Pros and Cons
| Feature | Chest Strap | Smartwatch |
| Accuracy | Extremely high, especially during exercise | Moderate to high, but can vary |
| Sensor | direct electrical measurement | optical estimation based on pulse |
| Comfort | Slightly uncomfortable for long wear, might feel tight or bulky | Lightweight and easy to wear, comfortable for all-day wear |
| Convenience | Needs to be strapped on separately for workouts | Always on wrist, ready to use |
| Extra Features | Focused on heart rate, some offer ECG | Tracks sleep, steps, activities, push notifications, etc. |
| Battery Life | Long (weeks to months) | Shorter (1-7 days usually) |
| Best For | Serious athletes, high-intensity workouts, accurate training | General fitness, casual workouts, lifestyle tracking |
As you can see, if you want the best heart rate monitor for exercise, a chest strap is still the gold standard. A smart watch is great for all-day health monitoring, but not always for peak-performance training.
How Heart Rate Monitor Works?
A heart rate smartwatch and a heart rate chest strap work in different ways. This difference can change how accurate your heart rate readings are, especially during intense exercise. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Knowing the technology behind these devices helps explain why they perform differently. It also helps you pick the right fitness heart rate monitor for your needs. Let’s look at the two types of sensors used in heart rate monitoring: optical sensors and electrode sensors.
Optical Heart Rate Monitor
Smartwatches use optical heart rate sensors, well-known as photoplethysmogram technology (PPG). They shine a light, usually green LEDs, into your skin and measure how the light bounces back. Blood flow changes the light reflection. The sensor uses this change to detect your heart rate.
Common devices that use optical sensors include:
- Smartwatches (like the Runmefit GTR3 AMOLED smartwatch)
- Armbands (like the Polar OH1+)
- Pulse Oximeters (usually medical devices for checking blood oxygen levels and resting heart rate)
While optical sensors are convenient and great for everyday tracking, their readings can be affected by sweat, movement, tattoos, skin tone, and even bright light. That is why HR monitor watches or armbands might show some inaccuracies during high-intensity activities.
Electrode Heart Rate Monitor
Electrode sensors, found in chest straps, work differently. They measure the real electrical signals made by your heart with each beat. This is similar to the ECG machines that doctors use in their office. It measures the actual electrical pulse, making it much more reliable, especially during intense activities.
Chest heart rate monitors like Polar H10, Garmin HRM-Pro are all use electrode sensors. Because they capture direct electrical activity and are much less affected by movement, electrode sensors provide clean, accurate, real-time data. This makes them the best choice for serious athletes, intense training, or anyone who needs a very reliable fitness heart rate monitor for exercise and performance.
ECG Smartwatches and Chest Straps
ECG Smartwatch
Some advanced smart watches now come with ECG (electrocardiogram) features, and some are even FDA-approved. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Withings ScanWatch, for example, allow you to take an ECG anytime you need. They can detect serious heart issues like atrial fibrillation and help you keep a closer eye on your heart health.
Benefits of ECG Smartwatches:
- Detect irregular heart rhythms early
- Track heart health trends over time
- Easy to use directly from your wrist
- Comfortable for daily wear
But here’s an important note: while ECG smartwatches are helpful for casual health tracking, they don’t provide continuous ECG monitoring during exercise. You need to start the ECG test manually, and it’s more focused on checking your heart rhythm at rest rather than tracking performance while you are active.
ECG Chest Strap
Chest straps with ECG function (like the Polar H10) go one step further. They continuously monitor your heart’s electrical activity throughout your workout. This offers unmatched precision for serious training, helping you stay in the right zones and analyze your performance with confidence.
Benefits of ECG Chest Straps:
- Continuous ECG monitoring during exercise
- Highly accurate real-time heart rate data
- Less affected by motion, sweat, or skin tone
- Ideal for athletes and serious fitness enthusiasts
- Helps optimize training intensity and recovery
5 Best Heart Rate Monitoring Smartwatch
If you are looking for an easy and comfortable way to track your heart rate, a smartwatch is a great choice. Modern smartwatches have become very good at monitoring heart rate, and they offer lots of other helpful features too. From tracking your daily steps and sleep to giving you notifications on the go, smartwatches are a smart and versatile tool for everyday fitness and health.
Here are five of the best heart rate monitoring smartwatches you can consider if you want a balance of convenience, features, and solid heart rate tracking.
1. Runmefit GTS7 Pro
The Runmefit GTS7 Pro is a lightweight and budget-friendly smartwatch that offers reliable heart rate monitoring and essential fitness tracking features.
Key Features:
- 2.0-inch big display
- 24/7 heart rate monitoring
- Sleep cycles and trends monitoring
- 100 sports modes and sports records
- Up to 7 days of use
Best For:
- Beginners who want simple and reliable fitness tracking
- Budget-conscious users looking for strong basic features
2. Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 offers cutting-edge health and fitness features, making it one of the top choices for tech-savy users looking for a premium smartwatch experience.
Key Features:
- Advanced ECG and blood oxygen tracking
- Sleep tracking and fitness tracking
- Seamless integration with iPhone
Best For: iPhone users who want premium health and fitness features
3. Runmefit GTR3 AMOLED Smartwatch
The Runmefit GTR3 AMOLED is a stylish smartwatch designed for active users who want a vibrant display and dependable fitness tracking performance.
Key Features:
- 1.46-inch HD AMOLED display
- Watch crown and shortcut button
- Steps, calories, distance tracking
- 24/7 heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring
- Sleep tracking and fitness insights
- Stylish and durable design
- Up to 15 days of use
Best For:
- Active individuals who want a stylish smartwatch for daily fitness
- Users who prioritize easy-to-read displays and comfort
4. Runmefit GTX2 GPS Outdoor Smartwatch
The Runmefit GTX2 GPS Outdoor Smartwatch is built tough for outdoor lovers who need accurate tracking and a durable design that can handle adventure.
Key Features:
- Built-in GPS tracking, compass, altitude barometer
- Real-time heart rate monitoring
- Rugged, outdoor-ready construction
- Multiple sports and outdoor activity modes
- 3ATM waterproof, built-in swim modes
- Up to 15 days of use
Best For:
- Outdoor sports enthusiasts like hikers, runners, and cyclists
- Adventure seekers needing tough, GPS-enabled tracking
5. Withings ScanWatch
The Withings ScanWatch blends classic watch style with powerful health tracking, offering users a discreet and elegant way to monitor their heart and fitness levels.
Key Features:
- Hybrid smart watch, combining classic style and smart features
- Continuous heart rate monitoring
- Built-in ECG capability
- Sleep tracking and health insights
Best For: Professionals wanting a classic look with advanced heart rate monitoring features
Final Thoughts
Chest straps are still the gold standard for heart rate accuracy. Nothing beats a chest strap when it comes to true fitness heart rate monitor performance. If you need precise, reliable data for intense workouts, serious training, or race preparation, a chest strap is the best choice.
However, smartwatches and armbands are much more comfortable and easy to use. They also offer extra features like sleep tracking, daily step counts, activity reminders, and even smartphone notifications. These added benefits make smartwatches more versatile for everyday use.
At the end of the day, the best heart rate monitor for you depends on your personal goals. If you want something simple, convenient, and packed with useful features, a good smartwatch like the Runmefit WATCH is a fantastic choice.
No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to use it and make it your companion on your fitness journey.
