MioPOD is an armband that guides your performance intensity

MIO has launched MioPOD, a heart rate monitor that can be worn on the upper arm or forearm for advanced performance analytics.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Those of us who have been following wearable tech for a while know of MIO. The company has been creating performance wearables since 1999. It is perhaps best known for its best in class wrist heart rate monitors. However, towards the end of 2017 MIO announced it was pulling back from hardware to focus on developing software.

Its last activity tracker was called SLICE. It distinguished itself from the competition by taking a new approach to measuring physical activity. Instead of focusing on the “10,000 steps” rule, the wearable conjured up its own Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) index that you were meant to keep above 100.

But now MIO is back with a new wearable. This one comes in the form of a heart rate monitor that can be worn on the upper arm or forearm. MIO says the device features the latest Valencell optical sensor technology to deliver a cleaner signal with less noise than typical heart rate straps. Apparently, it performs particularly well at high intensity exercises such as HIIT and weight lifting.

Whats more the device delivers haptic alerts (to warn you if the battery is low, you traversed into a new cardio training zone, etc) and LED with colour prompts for heart rate zones. Around 30 hours of biometrics can be stored on the thing, it is swim-proof (5 ATM) and battery life is around 24 hours.

In addition to performance analytics and a personalised training plans, the accompanying smartphone app dishes out Firstbeat analytics such as Recovery Time, Training Effect and Training Load. The gizmo also plays nice with other apps such as Runkeeper, Strava and Zwift plus you can stream heart rate to other devices thanks to NFC / BLE / ANT+ Connectivity.

“We set out to create a performance training tracker for those serious about personal training,
delivering EKG – accurate heart rate data at performance – level speeds without the need for an uncomfortable chest strap,” said Marcelo Aller, Vice President, MIO.

“Our mission for the last two decades has been to empower everyone to reach his or her goals using our innovative technology, to achieve personal records, better themselves, and – most importantly – to train with heart.”

The announcement was made today at FIBO, one of the bigger fitness events in the US. You can purchase it on Amazon. We’re glad to see Mio is back and this certainly seems like a solid first offering.

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