AWU2 .. as I lost weight HR misses

[mtbdudex]

I truly love using my Apple Watches for many things, including activity tracking.
AW7, AW9, now AWU2.

I use it all the time for Mtb biking, lifting weights, hiking, walking, etc.

Mtb 3-4x week, lift 2x week.

I’ve noticed as I lost weight, got skinner, the HR at times loses signal.

The HR will stop updating on watch and iPhone for 4-5 seconds, sometimes not startup and I have to jostle the watch to get HR going again.

It’s only biking, I mitigate it by making sure watch strap is nicely snug and watch just back of the bone lump.
Still, I have goal of losing 15 more lbs by spring, I’m 63 and 5’9”, 210 now 195 lbs is my spring goal. I was 225 in June.
I’m worried the HR “misses” will happen more often.

I do use the HR for Mtb zone on long rides, staying in zone 2 / 3 for first 2 hours before zone 4, can do 4+ hour mtb rides this way.

Anyone else notice this?

Typical located like this, snug.

Mtb fattie bike 3 days ago.

Weights tracking

 

[PatrickNSF]

I’ve experienced HR dropouts with every AW I’ve had (including the AWU 3 and S9 currently). My former Garmin and current Coros running watches work fine.

I mitigate it with the AW by wearing a Polar Verity Sense when running. I’ve also noticed that the AirPods Pro 3s do a good job for me in filling in the HR gaps that the AW misses.

 

[Psdn]

I use a Garmin HRM600 strap.
No missing HR any more 🙏

 

[tcuprof]

What you are describing can usually be fixed with a tighter band. With my Ultra 1, I have to tighten it an extra notch to prevent HR dropouts.