Speediance Strap Pro gets EDA stress monitoring

Speediance has started rolling out firmware 1.0.1 for the Strap Pro, and the headline change is EDA stress monitoring. This is the first firmware update for the screenless strap.

I recently reviewed the device and found the hardware more interesting than the software around it. The new update now looks like Speediance is starting to make better use of some of those sensors.

EDA stress monitoring gets more attention

EDA stands for electrodermal activity. The sensor measures small changes in the electrical properties of the skin, which can reflect changes in sweat gland activity and, indirectly, physiological stress.

In my testing, the device was already producing minute-by-minute Stress Score data. But this does not appear to have made use of EDA data. That is notable because the EDA sensor is one of the clearer hardware differences between the Strap Pro and the non-Pro version.

It also helps separate the device from some of the other screenless trackers on the market, such as WHOOP, Garmin CIRQA and Fitbit Air. Most of these bands already cover heart rate, HRV, sleep and activity fairly well, but they do not include an EDA sensor.

Another feature separating the Speediance Strap Pro from most rivals is its core body temperature estimate. Speediance uses this for features such as Peak Window, Warm-Up Readiness and Heat Load Monitoring, giving the gadget a couple of physiological metrics that you simply do not get from most screenless trackers.

Automatic workout recognition also improves

The new firmware also brings improvements to automatic workout recognition. This was an area that could still use some polishing when I tested the Strap Pro. The band can automatically recognise activity, but the overall experience did not always feel as mature as the underlying sensor hardware.

Speediance recommends using app version 4.23.00 or later with the new firmware. The update is rolling out through the Speediance app now.