UKC

I'm interested in getting a heart rate monitor so I can be a bit more scientific about managing my activity levels and rest periods.

What I don't want however, is anything which shares any of my data in any way because that stuff just creeps me out. If that means I'd have to forgo the convenience of having it hook up to my phone or use some kind of app etc. then so be it but obviously I'd need a way to view the data myself, ideally live as well as being able to analyse it later.

Can anyone recommend a good system which also allows me to maintain data privacy?

Thanks in advance!

In reply to Holdtickler:

An ECG? Not sure how mobile they are though! 

In reply to Garethza:

no, sorry that's not what I meant. Like the watch or chest strap type things. 

I should be clearer apologies

In reply to Holdtickler:

You mean like a Polar HRM with a chest strap? Simple reliable, cheap. The battery in the chest strap lasts 10y+ and the watch is simple with battery lasting years and just a simple watch battery. No connectivity at all. Spares available so buying one off Bay isn't  a bad way to save money.

In reply to Holdtickler:

I think the data analysis might be a problem without some connectivity and software to run it, otherwise as above polar for live tracking

In reply to Holdtickler:

I would review your needs and the level of accuracy you require. The non-medical device heart rate monitors are all the wild-west since they are not prepared to have an independent notified body assess their precision, batch variability, quality control, change in performance over time etc. Well known brands are known to not work particularly well in really fit people but might be good enough for your needs. Obviously with the higher regulatory threshold medical device certified HRM’s may be more expensive to cover these costs but often are designed for sedentary usage so may not have the same usability as a ones specifically designed for high mobility. I will check what we use on our clinical trials when I’m back in the office

Alx - a medical device specialist 

In reply to Holdtickler: I'm using a Garmin 55, bluetooth to my phone where I have the app and choosing NOT to share anything.  As I assume they're abiding by the law, then I'm pretty happy with that.

I doubt the is especially accurate, but how good do you want.  Otherwise I still have a very basic Polar unit with a separate chest strap that I can attach via a USB to a PC, and decipher using a Polar app.

In reply to wbo2:

The Garmin app appears to just be a front end user interface with all data being sent to Garmin for processing and storage (note that you need an internet connection to view your data and that your data can be accessed on any device through the garmin website so data clearly isn’t stored locally on your phone).

Doesn’t bother me, but it sounds like this is exactly what the OP is trying to avoid. 

In reply to Stuart Williams:

Yeah good luck to them with that, I’d be very surprised it exists. 

In reply to ianstevens:

Best bet will be to get a Bluetooth heart rate monitor and find a 3rd party, or write your own app that'll just record the data.

In reply to midgen:

Thanks all for the ideas. Yeah basically some kind of offline app would keep privacy I guess. Can data just be imported into stuff like Excel with any of these? Sorry I'm not all that technical but I can whip a graph out of a table of numbers.

Alternatively a phone app, as some have suggested, that has privacy settings could work. Again if it worked offline that would be more reassuring.              edit-typo

In reply to Holdtickler:

I think this is an example of an Android app that would do you:
https://myworkouts.org/

In reply to Holdtickler:

I use a Wahoo hrm. There are several apps on Android (don't know about iPhone) which can store your data. From personal tests using my finger to count my pulse, it seems to be accurate. If you want comparisons dcrainmaker on YouTube and his website has several comparisons of hrm's.

I have a Garmin chest monitor which seems to be accurate. However, despite using Tens gel I can't maintain the moist connection between the monitor and my chest. The Wahoo doesn't require maintaining a moist connection between the sensor and your wrist.