Home > Feature Stories

Wahoo TICKR FIT brings optical heart rate measurement to the forearm

Written by Zach Overholt
31 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

It’s only January 3rd – hopefully you haven’t given up on those fitness resolutions just yet. Whatever your form of training, if your new year plans involve accurate and comfortable heart rate monitoring, Wahoo has something new up their sleeve. Literally – if you happen to be wearing a long sleeve jersey.

Wahoo TICKR FIT brings optical heart rate measurement to the forearm

Wahoo TICKR FIT brings optical heart rate measurement to the forearm

Following in the footsteps of the Wahoo TICKR chest straps, the new TICKR FIT brings the “latest in optical heart rate measurement” to your forearm. Using a trio of green LEDs around an optical sensor, the FIT claims to provide accurate heart rate and calorie burn data from the inside of your forearm for situations where a chest strap isn’t desirable.

Wahoo TICKR FIT brings optical heart rate measurement to the forearmWahoo TICKR FIT brings optical heart rate measurement to the forearm

To get the FIT to stay put on your forearm, the device ships with two separate straps. The smaller measures 260mm long while the longer of the two is 375mm. Both are 25.4mm wide. The straps have a sort of rubberized coating on the side which contacts your skin and an adjustable Velcro side on the other. Arm mounted heart rate monitors have to be pretty tight to stay in place while you work out and the FIT seems to stay put without becoming uncomfortable.

Built with a rechargeable battery and a custom magnetic USB recharging cable, the FIT claims a 30+ hour battery life before a charge is needed. Rated to IPX7 water resistant, the FIT should be fine to use in all but the wettest conditions. Weighing in at just 19g with the longer strap, the device is light enough to barely know it’s there.

Like all Wahoo products, the FIT is about ease of use and it delivers. Compatible with ANT+ or Bluetooth devices, the device powers on with a single button and tells you it’s on with the flash of a blue LED. Hold down the same button to turn off and after the red LED stops flashing, it’s powered down. Connecting it is also just as easy – simply turn it on, open the app you plan to use and select ‘pair device’. In terms of making their devices easy to use, no one does it better than Wahoo.

The Wahoo TICKR FIT sells for $79.99 and is available now.

 
Zach Overholt
5,779 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

31 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ernst
Ernst
7 years ago

Is this just a rebranded Scosche Rhythm+?

0
Reply
blue.sun
blue.sun
7 years ago
Reply to  Ernst

Almost exactly, except the battery life. Scosche can last up to 10 hours, this one does over 30 hours. It seems I am looking at my next HR monitor.

0
Reply
Steve
Steve
7 years ago

Ernst, I was thinking the same thing. I own and use the Rhythm+, and see no compelling reason to “upgrade” at this time. Still enjoying my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt though.

0
Reply
superdx
superdx
7 years ago

Scosche only has a 7-10 hour battery life (at best). 30 hours is pretty game changing. I’ve had my Rhythm die on me during longer rides.

0
Reply
Mike
Mike
7 years ago

“for situations where a chest strap isn’t desirable” – Anyone know what that’s referring to? Just personal preference re: not wanting an HR strap around one’s chest for comfort reasons, or? I’ve never heard of forearm HR monitors before, so this is interesting.

0
Reply
Mike Franke
Mike Franke
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

My wife is very uncomfortable using chest straps, due to, well, um, she’s a woman. She uses the Scosche Rythym + now, but, as has been noted, the battery life isn’t ideal, and it tapers over time. I can see the ladies of our sport finding this option very handy.

0
Reply
Ed Ng
Ed Ng
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

For some people, like my wife, chest straps straight up don’t work, even when we tried using special electrocoducive gel. The battery life of this thing is an absolute game changer, as I go on rides that last so long that I often end up having to supplement my Scosche Rhythm+ with my old Mio Link to finish rides without losing HR data. This new TICKR FIT would cover two such length rides before even needing a charge!

-Ed

0
Reply
Ben
Ben
7 years ago

I can’t imagine any situation where I would prefer to have a HRM strapped to my forearm rather than my chest. Bizarre.

0
Reply
bryan
bryan
7 years ago
Reply to  Ben

The situation is when you want a sweet tan line on your arm to go along with the perpetual farmer’s tan from your jersey.

I don’t mind a chest strap at all so I guess this product is not for me. Maybe runners like it? I hate running so I guess I will never know.

0
Reply
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
7 years ago
Reply to  bryan

Just taking a guess here from your screen name but you clearly don’t have boobs.

0
Reply
Ed Ng
Ed Ng
7 years ago
Reply to  Ben

The situation when chest straps simply don’t work at all for you, even with electroconducive gel, like my wife (they work fine for me).

-Ed

0
Reply
badbikemechanicx
badbikemechanicx
7 years ago
Reply to  Ben

I much rather strap it to my arm. Having to take off your shirt to adjust a heart rate monitor is annoying.

0
Reply
blue.sun
blue.sun
7 years ago
Reply to  Ben

As many others wrote here: the chest strap does not work for everybody. I am the same case, chest strap gives inaccurate heart rates, it slips down during faster runs. It is annoying.

0
Reply
pgm
pgm
7 years ago

My Scosche Rhythm+ has been WAY preferred for running vs the chest strap. I also prefer it on the trainer. Two Rhythm+ units were warrantied and this third one maaaaybe gets 5 hours of battery life and doesn’t hold a charge very well when not being used. The first only displayed 72 after a few months and the second couldn’t be turned off. This third unit started having connection issues requiring re-pairing with my watch or treadmill, but it’s way out of the warranty window. I’m done with the Rhythm+. I’ll definitely grab this when it’s available. Even a true 20 hour battery life would be fantastic.

I truly appreciate Scosche doing something new and I’m amazed how much I like the forearm (and not having to mess around with a cold wet strap in my cold basement in the mornings) location. It just seems like they could have improved upon their product in the nearly four years it’s been out.

0
Reply
Dolan Halbrook
Dolan Halbrook
7 years ago

Rhythm++

0
Reply
Adam
Adam
7 years ago

haven’t read the reviews on the scosche, but wondering what people’s experiences have been when weight training, which is where the wrist-based optical HRM fall apart…

0
Reply
Ed Ng
Ed Ng
7 years ago
Reply to  Adam

The Scosche Rhythm+ has no problem with weight training when worn in the location that I wear it (on the fattest part of my forearm, just a couple of inches past the inside of my elbow).

-Ed

0
Reply
GF
GF
7 years ago

Any Chance this would work on your upper arm? under your jersey perhaps.

0
Reply
blue.sun
blue.sun
7 years ago
Reply to  GF

If it is the same as Scosche Rhythm+, then it works. I use SR+ on my upper arm, never on forearm. The accuracy is identical to chest HRM.

0
Reply
ascarlarkinyar
ascarlarkinyar
7 years ago

Really into my heart ticker chest strap. No need to sell me a product that already works. Just to strap it in an inconvenient place? Why not my ankle or forehead or my wazoo…lol

0
Reply
Ed Ng
Ed Ng
7 years ago
Reply to  ascarlarkinyar

Chest straps work fine for some people like you or me, but for some people, they simply don’t work. None of them pick up my wife’s heart rate, even with electroconductive gel, so these types are the only ones that work for her.

-Ed

0
Reply
Jemison
Jemison
7 years ago

I tried a Rhythm+ for about 6 months, and I never could get it to work. It would take about 20 minutes to get a good reading when cycling, and after every little break, it would take another 10 minutes to get a stable reading. It wasn’t a problem running. I even tried warrantying it. No dice. I had to switch back to a strap.

0
Reply
Chip
Chip
7 years ago

Is there a real difference in technology between a chest strap HRM and an arm HRM??? Meaning, would you get the same readings if you place them in different places as long as they make solid contact? I have the Rhythm+ and like it a lot. Played around with chest placement for short term and didn’t notice any difference in readings. Thoughts?

0
Reply
Ed Ng
Ed Ng
7 years ago
Reply to  Chip

They are, literally, completely different technologies, designed to measure the same thing (your heart rate). Chest straps are electrocardio readers, whereas these wrist strap ones are optically based and do not rely on electroconductivity. 100% completely different technologies. The electric conductivity ones use signficantly less power, so run on coin cell batteries, whereas optical ones require recharging regularly. Months of operation on one throw-away battery versus mere hours between recharges.

-Ed

0
Reply
Jeff Hencher
Jeff Hencher
7 years ago

I’ve been using a Mio Velo for a couple of years now and I’d never go back to a chest strap. The wrist worn device is super comfortable and it’s been both accurate and trouble free.

0
Reply
Ernst
Ernst
7 years ago

I prefer the armstrap of my Rhythm+ over a chest strap, in particular when running and swimming (I am a bit impartial when it comes to biking). Without the ability to check battery status, I am not sure whether the longer battery life of the Wahoo will be a game changer; after a few work outs, you will probably anyhow recharge, albeit just to be on the safe side (at least, that is my experience with my Rhythm+).

0
Reply
Ed Ng
Ed Ng
7 years ago
Reply to  Ernst

It’s an absolute game changer for someone like me who regularly goes on rides exceeding 8 hours. If you’re a short-duration event person, then it doesn’t matter. It’s not very useful if it can’t even last the entire event–up until now, I’ve used a chest strap instead for longer events, but with the TICKR FIT, one could use the same HRM regardless of event length (unless you’re doing something really, truly epic, with no breaks for over 30 hours).

-Ed

0
Reply
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
7 years ago

I like the battery life idea but wish Wahoo implemented in a wrist application. All my skinny tire bikes have power meters so my chest strap only gets used on my MTB but I’d be more prone to wearing a HRM if it was as easy as putting on a watch. Furthermore for off road riding where coming off is kind of common and forearms tend to take tree scrub etc. I’d think wrist mount would be more protected.

0
Reply
Cheezeits
Cheezeits
7 years ago

Optical HR monitors do not work if you are actually doing intervals where you need to change your HR quickly. Across the chest strap HR monitors are the only way to go if you are doing and type of HR training. For the best data information use a chest strap. These are facts based in science not sales. Unfortunately no company has developed a better way to measure the heart race from across your chest with more comfort for all.

0
Reply
NDE
NDE
7 years ago

Do the trio of lights work with Tattoos and how different is it compared to the Garmin Fenix 5 HR at the wrist?

0
Reply
zigak
zigak
7 years ago

I heard somebody wearing that kind of monitor under the shorts on the inside of the thigh. Thoughts? It seems perfect placing.

0
Reply

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.