COROS armband heart rate monitor review *unsponsored*
I bought the COROS armband heart rate monitor a few months ago, in order to get more accurate heart rate data without having to wear an uncomfortable chest strap. Here’s my honest, unsponsored review.
COROS armband heart rate monitor
This heart rate monitor is powered by an optical sensor that is engineered to deliver precise heart rate monitoring with superior signal quality and built to last for years.
Featuring automatic wear detection, the COROS Heart Rate monitor activates upon wearing and powers off automatically when not in use.
It is compatible with COROS watches but also many other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as other brand watches, indoor trainers and bike computers.
Worn around the upper arm, the armband is adjustable and can easily be cleaned by removing the sensor.
This heart rate monitor is rechargeable with a magnetic USB cable
How accurate is the heart rate measured around the arm?
Optical heart rate sensors use light to gauge blood flow in the skin's capillaries. While the wrist is a popular spot for wearing a watch, it poses challenges for even top-tier sensors.
Placing the sensor on the arm provides an ideal level of blood flow, enabling the optical sensor to collect heart rate data accurately, matching the precision of a traditional chest strap.
Can you pair COROS heart rate monitor with a Garmin watch?
Yes and it’s very easy. My Garmin watch detected it straight away the first time and I was able to pair it within seconds.
Once you’ve paired it once, you just need to put the armband on and press Run on your Garmin watch, and you’ll see a heart icon confirming that the heart rate data will be read from the COROS monitor.
If you ever have any doubt, turn off the watch heart rate and you’ll know for sure that your heart rate data will come from the armband monitor.
How much does the COROS heart rate monitor cost?
As of February 2024, the COROS heart rate monitor costs £69, which is a lot cheaper than Garmin’s most popular HRM-Pro Plus heart rate strap.
I bought mine on Amazon for reliable next day delivery. You can also get it from Sportsshoes.
My honest review of the COROS armband heart rate monitor
For the back story: I decided to buy this monitor after running for a few years without paying much attention to my heart rate. But at the end of 2023, I decided that it was time to get more accurate heart rate data in order to optimise my training, and ensure that I was taking my easy runs easy enough.
I knew that my watch heart rate data wasn’t reliable enough, but I couldn’t get on board with wearing a chest strap, I really disliked the feeling of having something around my stomach when running.
As a long-time Garmin user, it was strangely hard to consider buying from a competitor, but the COROS monitor seemed like the perfect solution for me, so I finally bought it.
I wasn’t sure whether I would end up wearing it often, but it quickly became one of my running essentials and I don’t ever run without it now.
Here’s what I like the most about the COROS monitor:
Reliable data: The heart rate measurements are notably more accurate compared to those recorded by my watch. I compared runs of same distances and similar paces, before and after pairing the COROS monitor, and observed a significant difference in heart rate readings.
Training optimisation: I don't strictly train based on heart rate but I appreciate being able to check that I'm keeping my heart rate low enough during easy runs. After interval sessions, it's helpful to review the time spent in each heart rate zone for better insights. Plus, it will be helpful to compare how my heart rate evolves overtime with similar efforts.
Comfort: The armband is extremely comfortable and I often forget that I'm wearing it. I even wear it during races, because it doesn’t bother me at all. My partner has been a long-time chest strap user but he’s not wearing it for races because of the risk of discomfort. He ended up buying a COROS monitor as well and now swears by it for races and interval workouts.
Ease of use: Pairing the COROS Armband HR monitor with my Garmin and setting it up was incredibly easy. Plus, the monitor is immediately detected as soon as I put it on.
No batteries needed: The monitor's charging cable eliminates the need for replacing batteries, and you can go close to 40 hours until you need to charge it.
An affordable investment: Considering its features and performance, the COROS Armband HR monitor comes at a very reasonable price point. It’s cheaper than most monitors from competitors and designed to last for years.
As you can tell, I am extremely happy with this purchase and my only regret is to not have bought the COROS heart rate monitor earlier in my running journey, as I can’t imagine running without it now!
Latest running posts
This post contains some affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through this blog, however it doesn’t change the price of the item for you. Thank you for your support.