Chest-strap heart rate monitors (HRMs) are beginning to look as dated and uncomfortable as medieval stocks in a village square. Wrist-worn devices are the wave of the future. Consumer tech maker Scosche has broached the subject with the Rhythm+ ($79.99). This HRM straps onto your arm and reads your heart rate through your skin with an optical sensor on the back. It pairs with any compatible Bluetooth or ANT+ device. It's a little bit sleeker than its predecessor, simply called Rhythm (no "plus"), but not as innovative as the MIO Link( at Amazon).

The main thing to know about the Scosche Rhythm+( at Amazon) is that it's only an HRM and not an activity tracker that counts your steps and daily exercise. There are a few activity trackers on the market that have a built-in heart rate feature, including the Basis Carbon Steel Edition($199.99 at Basis) (our Editors' Choice among high-end, wrist-worn bands), and the Withings Pulse O2( at Amazon), which only takes your heart rate intermittently—not continuously while you wear it.

Design

The Scosche Rhythm+ HRM is made up of two parts. First is the heart rate monitor itself, a small plastic square with a soft, rubbery top and heart rate sensors on the back. Second is the strap, a soft piece of hook-and-latch fabric (i.e., Velcro), which it turns out is also a magnet for dust bunnies and dog hair. To strap on the armband, you thread the two ends of the band through slits on the side of the plastic device, and adjust the fit by fastening the ends to the partner side of the Velcro.

The band is designed to be worn high on the forearm, almost up to your elbow, which I found awkward. The MIO Link, on the other hand, works on your wrist, though it needs to be a little higher than your actual wrist, especially if you have prominent bones.

To turn on the Rhythm+ and pair it with a smartphone app, you push the rubbery top, which functions as a button. A small indicator light flashes blue and red. The Rhythm+ includes both Bluetooth and ANT+ capabilities. When it successfully connects via Bluetooth, the light blinks blue three times. When an ANT+ connection occurs, it blinks red three times. A slow purple blink means the device is on and operating correctly.

It comes with a USB cradle for recharging. I always prefer to see a micro USB charging port, rather than a custom cradle, because it's easier to replace the charger if you lose it, but so many fitness gadgets use a proprietary charger that I'm pretty much inured to it.

Hitting the Pavement

I wore the Scosche Rhythm+ HRM for a couple of bicycle rides and runs. I tried tracking my heart rate first with MapMyRun, but to see your heart rate data in that app, you need to pay for an MVP account. Grr. I switched to the Strava app for running and cycling and got the results I wanted, which you can see below.

The Rhythm+ never lost its connection, and seemed accurate, based on other heart rate data I've collected over the recent years while exercising.

With some Bluetooth devices, pairing can be unreliable, and it's hard to tell whether it's the app's fault or the device's fault. In any event, I never encountered any kind of trouble with the Rhythm+. It was totally reliable.

Heart Rate to Go

If you're in the market for a new HRM, the Scosche Rhythm+ is a solid piece of equipment that you don't have to wear on your chest. It's not as innovative as the slightly more expensive MIO Link, which gives you feedback you can see in the form of different colored lights indicating different heart rate zones. That's a really smart feature, because it means you can exercise without your smartphone and still have real-time heart rate readings. Both the MIO Link and Rhythm+ use Bluetooth and ANT+, so they're on par on that front. In terms of comfort, I also prefer the MIO Link. That's not to say the Scosche Rhythm+ is uncomfortable, but the recommended placement, up high near the elbow, feels awkward. The material on the Link feels more durable, too.

If you want an HRM that isn't a chest strap, I recommend the MIO Link. But the Scosche Rhythm+ is a good second option that will save you a few bucks.

Scosche Rhythm+ Specs

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Further Reading

• Hands On: Omron's HeartGuide Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor