Versa Heart rate seems accurate until I lift weights

[SunsetRunner]

I've had this versa for about a month and really like it.  While running and doing normal activity like shoveling snow, or running up stairs the accuracy seems to be great.  However, when I do a hiit or strength training session the heart rate never seems to get above 95 and usually bounces around in the low 80's.  I like to think I'm in decent shape but I know it's not accurate.  My resting heart rate of 55 matches other instruments and my peak while running on a treadmill matches chest strap monitors... so what gives?  The peak in the image below of around 104 was when I was getting my kids ready for school, not when I was working out.  That came closer to noon and it looks like I wasn't doing anything.

I've tried wearing it higher on my arm, tighter on my arm, looser on my arm, upside down, further down my wrist, on the bottom of my wrist etc..  I'm at a loss.

Side note, I really wish FitBit would make a connection to a chest strap HR monitor.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi, the Versa tracks your HR by recognizing the swinging of your arms when walking, running, etc. Lifting is a movement that will not be recognized by the Versa as such. Your not swinging your arms but mov them upwards. Furthermore your HR is accurate, so the HR sensor is working good. 

[SunsetRunner]

I wouldn't have guessed your heart rate was calculated by swinging your arms.  I can see how it wouldn't detect the activity as exercise given that my arms aren't moving rapidly but I would think it should detect heart rate regardless of the movement.  Like for instance while sleeping, I don't believe I am swinging my arms while I'm asleep but it seems to measure my heart rate accurately then.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi, you're right, but I forgot to mention that the increase in HR is being accurately monitored by detecting the movement of your arms. During sleep it does not notice any movement, so that's why it's called resting HR. You can try this by walking on a threadmill while you hold the bars with your hands (so no movement) and see what you HR and active minutes are doing. 

[Toma23]

Have you been able to figure this issue out? I’m running into the same problem. I’ve only tried this once and it was only for abs so I’ll have to do more tests, but when I started a weight lifting session on the watch my heart rate jumped up to a more normal range of working out so maybe this could be a solution. Any help is appreciated!

[SunsetRunner]

Hey! Yes, that appears to be the case. If you select a workout you get a
more reasonable heart rate to what we would expect.

What I don’t know is if it’s merely changes the calculation performed to
return the heart rate or if in fact the polling time increases reading the
heart rate at a higher rate.

It’s close enough though I don’t feel like I have to wear a chest strap
monitor if I don’t want to.

Cheers