Brief Summary
This video is a final review of the Amazfit Helio Strap, a fitness tracker. The reviewer discusses its design, value, wellness, recovery, and training features. Overall, the Helio Strap is considered a decent, affordable alternative for basic wellness and training tracking, especially for those with limited funds.
- The design is lightweight and simple, with a good battery life.
- The biocharge feature is valuable for wellness and recovery tracking.
- Autotracking is great, but training load and recovery time metrics need improvement.
Design and Features
The Amazfit Helio Strap has a great, lightweight design, similar in size and shape to the Whoop strap. The strap itself may be too short for those with thicker wrists. The charging puck is simple and uses USBC. The device accurately tracks naps, and the Bluetooth range is good. The battery life is approximately 10 and a half days. It uses simple 22mm quick-release bands, allowing for easy customization.
Value and Heart Rate Accuracy
Priced at $100, the Helio Strap offers good value for its features. Heart rate accuracy is fantastic when worn on the bicep but less reliable on the wrist. Accurate heart rate data is important for training load and analysis.
Wellness and Recovery Features
The sleep score recommendations are not particularly useful, consistently rating sleep quality between 78 and 85, regardless of actual sleep quality. The device lacks a readiness feature. However, the biocharge feature, which tracks activity, movement, and heart rate variability, is valuable. Stress tracking is more effective when the strap is worn on the bicep. The biocharge feature is comparable to Garmin's body battery, making it a worthwhile aspect of the device for recovery tracking.
Training Features
The Helio Strap excels at autotracking workouts. It accurately tracks different workout types, including lifting, cardiovascular endurance, and warm-ups. However, the training effect, aerobic and anaerobic, and the resulting training load and recovery time are often too high. The device also provides a fatigue level and fitness level metric, which could be valuable if presented more effectively. The workout-to-workout analysis could be improved by refining the aerobic and anaerobic training effect evaluations and recovery time estimations.
Final Summary and Comparison
The Helio Strap does not compete with the Whoop strap due to the Whoop's greater reliability, depth, and physiological value. It also falls short compared to the wellness and training analytics offered by Polar and Garmin. However, the biocharge feature is better than Choros' recovery evaluation. The Helio Strap is a simple, decent, and affordable alternative for basic wellness and training tracking. It is best suited for individuals with limited funds who want feedback on their training and workout performance. When worn on the bicep, the device is more effective.
