Everyone claims they want to touch less glass. Health tech brands have noticed. Whoop, Polar, Google’s Fitbit Air — they all bet on wrist-based data. No screens. Just numbers.
Until now.
Amazfit is throwing a different curveball with the Helio Strap Pro. Released Monday, priced at $200. It isn’t just another band on your wrist. It adds a second sensor. Right at the waist.
Why? Stability.
Hybrid athletes need more than just heart rate. Hyrox competitors especially. That race format grinds you down. One kilometer of running. Then one of eight stations. Repeat. Sled push. Sled pull. Farmer’s carry. Burpee broad jump. Rowing. Row again.
Amazfit designed this for that exact grind.
The System, Not The Standalone Gimmick
The pitch is simple. An upper-arm heart rate sensor captures data better than a wrist strap. Less movement error. Closer to the heart. More accurate.
But you need the waist motion sensor for the trickery.
The system pairs with the Amazfit Balance 3 ($370) or Balance Ultra ($600). These launched last month. They form the “Hybrid Training System” within the Zepp app. Without one of those watches, the Helio Strap works but feels… hollow. You get basic tracking. You lose the detailed breakdown of each Hyrox station.
Is it worth adding up to $800? Maybe not if you’re starting from scratch.
“The waist sensor tracks specific movements like sled pushes and burpee broad jumps.”
The arm sensor works for 50+ sports modes. The waist? Only the eight Hyrox stations. Together, they measure cardio, muscle load, stability. And movement quality.
The Hidden Cost
Let’s talk money.
The Helio Strap is $200 alone. Fine.
Add the Balance 3 and you’re at $570.
Add the Balance Ultra and the price jumps to $800.
It’s pricey. No question. But there’s one advantage most rivals miss.
No subscription.
Whoop charges between $199 and $589 yearly for access. Amazfit wants the upfront cost. Nothing extra. Monthly free. That silence might be cheaper in the long run.
Amazfit plans to support other smartwatches eventually. Maybe.
Battery And Gear
Specs look decent.
- Upper-arm sensor: 11 days battery.
- Waist sensor: 40 days battery.
Charging takes about 2 hours for both. Compatible with iOS 17+ and Android 8.0+.
The box includes everything needed. A waist clip. Armband. Wristband. Magnetic charging head.
That wristband? Use it if you want to wear the heart rate sensor outside the gym. Carrying an armband for groceries feels silly.
And yes, it’s HSA-eligible. That helps offset the hit to the wallet.
Left Open
Most wearables push notifications. Apps. Notifications about steps. About sleep.
This one tracks the strain. The wobble at the waist. The heart pounding against the ribcage.
It doesn’t try to be your digital assistant. Just your coach.
If you have a Hyrox on the horizon, it might make sense. If not? The arm sensor alone is interesting. But without a phone to talk to? The data waits. Alone.
We’ll see how it holds up under sweat. And weight.
