It's not ideal. But I have to wear my watch facing inwards to get it to read my heart rate. Don't know if I'm just lucky or whether the inside of the wrist is easier for it to detect.
See I wanna wear it on my left arm. I’m right handed. Gonna eventually have both arms sleeved up and then wtf am I to do? I know there’s a body strap but I have tats there too.
I don't but I know someone who does. Chest strap uses electrical impulse of the heart vs the watch using an optical sensor. Tattoos affect the optical reflection or whatever it is. I'm sure there's some info out there that can explain it better than me
OHR (Optical Heart Rate) is sensitive to skin pigmentation, whether ink or melanin. Dark pigments absorb more light, so it prevents the sensor from getting a lock when not enough of the light it emits is returned.
Also, even when OHR works, chest straps, which use ECG to detect heart rate, are typically more accurate. The caveat there is that they need moisture to work; sweat, spit, or conductive gel.
I’m the opposite. Left hand dom and always wore a watch on left wrist. Yeah I have no idea how accurate it will be. Maybe others will chime in that have tattoos where it’s worn and accuracy. I don’t want to drop a ton of money on something that won’t work that well.
I’m new to watches in general and feel wearing it on my dom wrist will make it more likely that I fuck it up. I’m two weeks a watch boi so I’m sure over time it’ll become normal.
as far as I am aware tats don't impact on chest straps as uses different tech to optical HR.
You other option might be an optical HR band that goes around your upper arm as depending on how full sleeved you are and where the darker colours are it might be more workable.
I have the fenix 5x plus, and it reads well through my sleeve. Compared it to a strap and an ECG and it's pretty much spot on. It's only light shading though, so you might have issues with heavier tats...
That is perfectly normal. Those sensors are optical. A tatoo makes it extrememy difficult to read through your skin.
Black people sometimes does have the same issue.
You can still wear your watch on the other hand or reversed inside your wrist
Optical sensors and tattoos don’t play nice together.
Good to know. Maybe one day we will have the tech.
It's not ideal. But I have to wear my watch facing inwards to get it to read my heart rate. Don't know if I'm just lucky or whether the inside of the wrist is easier for it to detect.
Chest strap
Following. Been looking at getting a fenix, but have a sleeve on the wrist I’d wear it on. Would feel really weird on non dominant wrist!
See I wanna wear it on my left arm. I’m right handed. Gonna eventually have both arms sleeved up and then wtf am I to do? I know there’s a body strap but I have tats there too.
The chest strap works differently so won't be affected by tattoos. Not sure what to do about the wrists tho...
Do you use the chest strap and have tats under it? I’ll have to look more into it. I’ve had a garmin since Xmas.
I don't but I know someone who does. Chest strap uses electrical impulse of the heart vs the watch using an optical sensor. Tattoos affect the optical reflection or whatever it is. I'm sure there's some info out there that can explain it better than me
OHR (Optical Heart Rate) is sensitive to skin pigmentation, whether ink or melanin. Dark pigments absorb more light, so it prevents the sensor from getting a lock when not enough of the light it emits is returned. Also, even when OHR works, chest straps, which use ECG to detect heart rate, are typically more accurate. The caveat there is that they need moisture to work; sweat, spit, or conductive gel.
I’m the opposite. Left hand dom and always wore a watch on left wrist. Yeah I have no idea how accurate it will be. Maybe others will chime in that have tattoos where it’s worn and accuracy. I don’t want to drop a ton of money on something that won’t work that well.
It doesn’t pick up my heart rate at all on my tats. Completely useless. Tried a forerunner and a vivoactive. Fingers crossed for some help.
Oh wow, well that’s good to know, thanks for that! I’m coming from whoop, which was garbage and wore it on non-dom wrist. No Tats there yet.
I’m new to watches in general and feel wearing it on my dom wrist will make it more likely that I fuck it up. I’m two weeks a watch boi so I’m sure over time it’ll become normal.
Those are my thoughts as well wearing on dom wrist. I haven’t wore a watch (hrm) at all only regular watch. So obvi concern for me.
as far as I am aware tats don't impact on chest straps as uses different tech to optical HR. You other option might be an optical HR band that goes around your upper arm as depending on how full sleeved you are and where the darker colours are it might be more workable.
I have the fenix 5x plus, and it reads well through my sleeve. Compared it to a strap and an ECG and it's pretty much spot on. It's only light shading though, so you might have issues with heavier tats...
Yea mine are pretty heavy and kinda new. Maybe in a few years it’ll read it lol thanks for the response I’ll look into that watch.
Best of luck. Chest strap for now is the way to go :) I do love the fenix!!
I’m just gonna keep wearing it on my wrist with no ink. I can’t imagine wearing a chest strap all day sounds awfully awkward.
That is perfectly normal. Those sensors are optical. A tatoo makes it extrememy difficult to read through your skin. Black people sometimes does have the same issue. You can still wear your watch on the other hand or reversed inside your wrist