Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Mio Alpha 2 Review: Heart Rate Watch


**I received a complimentary product to facilitate this review. However, all opinions are truthful and my own.** 


Yesterday was quite the exciting day for Nick and I, as we received in the mail the new Mio Alpha 2 Heart Rate watch. Over the next few weeks, we will be using the Mio Alpha 2 and providing a review of Mio Alpha 2. Nick has had his eye on this since the first announcement it would be coming out, so we are quite excited to work with Mio in testing this watch out. As a professional hockey player, Nick is always looking for the newest and best fitness toys, and as soon as he read about the Mio Alpha 2 he knew he had to have it. The Mio Alpha 2 is different from the competition in that it measures your heart rate without a chest strap. Most other heart rate monitors require a chest strap, which can fall down during workouts or dig into your sides. Mio worked with Philips to develop the Alpha 2, which measures your heart rate using two green LEDs and an eletro-optical cell. The LEDs and cell work together to detect your pulse and measure your heart rate.

Features of the Mio Alpha 2:
-constant heart rate monitoring
-accurate calorie burn
-distance, speed, and pace tracking
-standard watch and countdown features
-configurable heart rate zones with LED light notification to indicate zone
-Bluetooth transmission to sync with smartphone apps
-water resistant up to 30 meters
-get it? There are tons of great features! These are just some of them.

Mio Alpha 2 Heart Rate Monitor Watch
OK, you get it. There are tons of great features for the Mio Alpha 2. Check out Mio Global's Alpha 2 website for more information. On to the review of the watch! First, I'm going to tell you Nick's opinion on the Mio Alpha 2. Then, I'll share my personal review, along with the overall pros & cons of the Alpha 2.

Mio Alpha 2 will be a staple for Nick's workouts now!
Mio Alpha 2 Review
Mio Alpha 2 worked perfect for an ice practice for Nick
Nick's review: One of the first things we noticed with the Mio Alpha 2 is that when it arrives or you purchase it, the watch already has some battery life. This is terrific news if you want to be able to immediately use it, versus having to charge your brand-new product for several hours before using it. I was able to get in a 3-hour workout using the watch, then Samantha a 2-hour workout, no problem. The Alpha 2 looks very soft and sleek. It comfortably fit on my forearm, even wearing it slightly higher up than a normal watch. The instruction for the Alpha 2 were very simple, and I was quickly able to use it to the fullest extent. I love that I am able to set and change target heart rate zones. As a professional athlete, I am constantly switching up my workouts and depending on my workout, have different target heart rates. When you switch between zones, the watch will beep and flash an LED color that is coordinated with what zone you are in. It is very convenient to use and track your target heart rate. At the end of a workout, the Alpha 2 gives you your workout stats on the watch, or you can have them downloaded to a smart phone app to better track your workouts. In the past, I have had issues with chest straps and like that with the Alpha 2 there is no chest strap necessary.

My review: As an 'average' person, I've never thought too much about my heart rate while working out.  Last year, I tried using a chest strap monitor, but the strap kept getting twisted during my workout (a boxing workout) and caught underneath or above my sports bra. Because of this, I was excited that the Alpha 2 can be worn as a watch and still measure your heart rate. For somebody who has rarely used a heart rate monitor before, the Mio Alpha 2 was super easy to set up and use. Even after only using it twice, I feel confident that I know how to use it and get the best workout in. Features such as being able to set different heart rate zones are super helpful to me, and I have already become inspired to start using the watch more while working out. Another feature of this product that was convenient is that both Nick and I were able to use the Alpha 2, despite having very different wrist sizes. The biggest challenge will likely be getting Nick to give it up for a workout or two!

Mio Alpha 2 Review
LED lights on the Mio Alpha 2 that monitor your heart rate
Pros of the Mio Alpha 2:
  • Arrives with battery life, allowing you to immediately use it
  • Very easy to set up for different users and heart rate zones
  • Comfortable for working out, yet a very sleek look
  • No chest strap
  • Measures and alerts you by light and sound when switching into new heart rate zones
  • Easy to understand instructions
Cons of the Mio Alpha 2:
  • The only thing I wish the Mio Alpha 2 had was perhaps different user settings, where you could store two different users (i.e., Nick and myself). Fortunately, it only takes a couple quick pushes of the buttons to switch these settings manually.
Overall, we both love the Mio Alpha 2 and I know will be using it frequently. If you are looking for an accurate heart rate monitor without the hassle of a chest strap, the Mio Alpha 2 is the perfect product for you! It is sleek enough to be worn as a regular watch as well. I can definitely see Nick and I bringing this with us everywhere, even on vacations and using it as a tool to stay fit while traveling.

Mio Alpha 2 Review
workout out with the Mio Alpha 2
Mio Alpha 2
Nick got a good sweat in with the Mio Alpha 2!


28 comments:

  1. I've heard about these but have never thought of using them when I work out. On a side note, they're these ones are nice...sleek and simple!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, it is so helpful to use while working out. Really helps keep you on track and motivated!

      Delete
  2. I've never even thought of using a heart rate monitor during my workouts before. I love m Fitbit for just keeping track of how much I'm moving, but I'm wondering now if I may be better off using something like this to really monitor the benefits of, say, one activity versus another on my body. Are these available in stores or only via online ordering? I'd like to see how they feel when worn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ashley, I believe they are available in stores but I am not 100% positive. It is super comfortable, and has helped me a lot in learning more about different heart rate zones and where I want to be during workouts. You should definitely give one a run!

      Delete
  3. Love how nice looking these heart rate monitors are! It looks so comfortable and not bulky at all. I've never thought to use one of them while working out, such a great idea to keep track!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jessica, it has been so helpful to me already. I can't wait to see how I continue to use it in the future!

      Delete
  4. What a nice looking heart rate monitor. I have seen a few of these lately and this seems to be one of the nicer ones. I would love to get one myself and use while working out and on my long walks. These are super useful to have!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeanine, you should definitely check them out. I've been loving it so far, and am excited to see the results it continues to bring!

      Delete
  5. Looks like a great gadget, I am happy to see how advanced technology has come in terms of measuring heart rate/beat. I have an activity tracker which is pretty good but I always have to stop my activity and press firmly on the gadget to get a good read of my heart rate so your gadget is definitely much better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Miranda, this is definitely targeted more towards heart rate than activity trackers. It has been great for me to monitor where my heart rate is, and let me know how hard (or not hard!) I am working.

      Delete
  6. That is a really great heart rate monitor watch! I definitely have to tell my aunt about this, she's been looking for something easy to use like this. I like that it's a lot less intrusive than chest straps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nikki, you definitely should tell her about this! The Alpha 2 is such a great option to not need a chest strap.

      Delete
  7. This looks like an awesome product! I would love to get one for my husband as he could benefit from something like this. What a great gift idea, glad you like the product.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Olivia! I bet your husband would really enjoy it- i know both my husband and myself love it!

      Delete
  8. I have a Polar Ft4 and I hate the chest strap!! I have been considering something upgrading to something without the chest strap. It can be a pain and I remember during an obstacle run I had to stop and adjust it constantly. This sounds so easy to use as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, you should definitely check out the Alpha 2 then! My husband used to have a Polar as well with the chest strap, and it always bothered him. I tried using it several times, but like you the chest strap would sometimes fall down. I've never had a problem with this!

      Delete
  9. This looks like an amazing product. I will have to get one of these

    ReplyDelete
  10. OK...I am a sucker for digital, snazzy-looking gadgets...and that is a really nice looking unit. My brother got me a heart rate monitor watch for Christmas that I use when I go bike-riding. I love it...they really do come in handy, and are interesting to use for tracking how your body reacts to different types of exercise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yona, it is definitely interesting to see how your body reacts to different types of exercise. I've been loving the Alpha 2 and learning more about heart rate and how it affects you!

      Delete
  11. I have a small addiction to these watches! I think being able to share it with my husband would be a good enough excuse to buy it! love that there is no chest strap because I just hate the way they feel or it loses contact and is worthless to me. I'm also very glad to read about the zones because I am notorious for overtraining!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sara, it is definitely nice to be able to share it with my husband. Like you, the chest strap has always caused problems by losing contact and then being worthless, so I've really been enjoying this. YOu should definitely check out an Alpha 2!

      Delete
  12. I have been wanting something just like this. I want something that gives me an accurate calorie count. But I want something that doesn't feel like it is in the way or bother me. This watch looks like it might be just what I am looking for

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debi, from what I can tell this definitely offers an accurate calorie count. YOu should check it out!

      Delete
  13. Wow this is definitely one cool watch! I love that it can really help you out and look stylish at the same time. I really think that fitness tech is so popular right now that it amazes me! I love tech things and with adding fitness to it, I am just so excited! thanks for sharing this, I hadn't heard of the Mio Alpha 2.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Michelle! The Alpha 2 has been great for myself and my husband so far- it has definitely inspired me to work out more, which is great!

      Delete
  14. Hi Samantha,
    I just received mine not so long ago. Have not used it to the fullest extend yet, but I just wanted to double check with you. Does the Mio Alpha 2 give a peeping sound when it is detecting a different heart rate zone? Mine doesn't. It only changes color. Did you activate it in the settings?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! I'm more than happy to help you with your Mio Alpha 2. If your watch doesn't beep while changing heart rate zones, you can change the settings to have it beep (or not beep, which is what I currently have mine set to). Let me know if you need any help changing the settings!

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my blog! I truly appreciate and will take the time to respond to each of your comments. Please, do not post links unassociated with my content as they will be deleted.