Skip to main content

Leave the chest strap at home with Polar's OH1 heart-rate monitor

Many outdoor athletes track their heart rate during – and immediately after – an aerobic workout as a way of measuring their performance, with lower heart rates and faster recovery times indicating a higher levels of fitness. But in order to keep track of this metric, they usually have to wear either an uncomfortable device strapped to their chest or a wrist-based sensor, and those have been shown to be less accurate. Now, fitness-wearable manufacturer Polar has introduced a third option that promises to deliver all of the comfort and convenience of a wrist sensor, coupled with the accuracy of a chest strap, in one compact package.

The new Polar OH1 is an optical heart-rate sensor that has been designed to be worn on either the upper or lower arm. This makes it easier to pull on or off without having to raise the athlete’s shirt. The sensor itself is small and unobtrusive, and comes connected to a soft, textile-based armband that unlike most chest strap models doesn’t need to be moistened prior to use. The device was designed to be comfortable enough to wear on long runs and bike rides, or during other types of workouts.

Recommended Videos

Powered by a long-lasting internal battery, the OH1 is capable of operating for up to 12 hours between recharges. It also features enough internal memory to track and store up to 200 hours of workout data. The device is even waterproof down to 30 meters (98 feet), and includes updatable firmware that will allow Polar to add new features in the future.

Polar says that the OH1 is compatible with its own Polar Flow fitness-tracking software, and when paired with the Polar Beat app (iOS/Android) it can provide real-time heart rate data and training guidance. The device is also compatible with popular third-party apps such as Strava, and can pair with Polar fitness devices as well as other Bluetooth gadgets.

Polar has begun taking pre-orders for the new arm-based heart-rate monitor on its website and is expected to ship the new device around mid-September. It will be priced at $80.

Find out more at Polar.com.

Kraig Becker
Kraig Becker is a freelance outdoor writer who loves to hike, camp, mountain bike, trail run, paddle, or just about any other…
Be ready for storm season: Dual fuel portable generator is $150 off today
Pulsar dual fuel portable generator with gas can in background

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that a ton of early Black Friday deals have dropped. There are the usual suspects like laptops, electronics, gaming gear, and beyond. But me, I prefer to pick up unusual items during the huge holiday sales. You know exactly what I mean, the kind of stuff that doesn't usually go on sale any other time. One of those items is a portable generator. Where I live it seems like they rarely go on sale, and when you need them most they're never in stock. People flock to the stores to buy them just before a big storm. Well, right now, Pulsar and Walmart have an incredible deal on a 12,000-watt dual-fuel generator. Normally $900 it's down to $749 which saves you $151. It can run for up to 12 hours on an 8-gallon fuel tank.

 
Why shop the Pulsar 12,000-watt dual-fuel portable generator for Black Friday?

Read more
The BLUETTI Handsfree 2 is a solar backpack and power station — It’s $200 off
BLUETTI Handsfree 2 solar backpack and power station -- black friday deal

While you're busy shopping through all of the Best Cyber Monday deals, here's a little something that might pique your interest. You'll be even more excited if you spend a lot of time outdoors or off-grid. You might want to wait on grabbing that Cyber Monday portable power station deal. Allow me to explain. The BLUETTI Handsfree 2 is a backpack, like any other outdoor pack you might encounter, except for one thing. It's also a power station and solar generator. Believe me when I say this thing is insane and super useful. But for Cyber Monday, there's a deal that includes the BLUETTI Handsfree 2 and a 100-watt solar panel to charge it on the go. Normally $799, it's yours for just $599, saving you $200. Wow. You have to read what it can all do, so don't leave just yet.

 
Why buy the BLUETTI Handsfree 2 solar backpack and power station?

Read more
Cyber Monday is here: Shop these snow blower deals while you can!
The Ego 24-inch Self-Propelled 2-Stage XP Snow Blower on a white background.

When you think of Cyber Monday, you might think of Cyber Monday TV deals, but now is also the time for more practical items like snow blowers. We’ve picked out all the best Cyber Monday snow blower deals with big savings on popular brands, and we’ve also taken the time to provide you with some buying advice so you know what to look for when buying one.

With so many different snow blowers out there, we’ve considered everything you need to know about and included different budgets in our decision-making process, too. Read on, and we’ll take you through all these great Cyber Monday deals. If you’re looking for something a little more fun (but still practical), we’ve picked out all the best Cyber Monday Apple Watch deals, too. Let’s take a look together.
Our top pick: Greenworks 40V 20-inch Brushless Cordless Snow Blower -- $247 $420 41% off

Read more