HoloSport HandPlus B2 Review: An Affordable Heart Rate Monitor for Triathletes

As a triathlon coach, I get the opportunity to try all sorts of sports technology. Some products are useful, while others promise far more than they deliver.

When HoloSport asked if I'd like to test the HandPlus B2, I was intrigued. At first glance it looks like another arm-based heart rate monitor but dig a little deeper and there's a bit more to it.

Alongside heart rate monitoring it also measures blood oxygen (SpO₂) and body temperature, offers vibration alerts and, perhaps most interestingly, is designed to work as part of HoloSport's growing ecosystem of swimming related products.

At around €43 at the time of writing, it's also considerably cheaper than many competing arm-based heart rate monitors.

I've only recently started testing it, so think of this as my first impressions rather than a long-term verdict. I'll continue using it over the coming weeks during swimming, cycling, running and strength training and update this review as I learn more.

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The HoloSport HandPlus B2 armband heart rate monitor

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What's in the Box?

The HandPlus B2 arrives in a compact box containing everything you need to get started:

• HandPlus B2 sensor / heart rate monitor (HRM)
• Adjustable arm strap with arm buckle
• Extra arm strap (a useful addition which is smaller so can be used on smaller arms, write mounting or extending the other for larger arms)
• Magnetic charging cable with USB adapter
• Swim cap clip/buckle
• Instruction card and manual

I've also recorded a short unboxing video so you can see exactly what you get.

HoloSport HandPlus B2 Heart Rate Monitor Box Contents

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Watch my YouTube unboxing here

HoloSport HandPlus B2 Heart Rate Monitor Unboxing Video

What Makes the HandPlus B2 Different?

There are now quite a few optical heart rate monitors on the market, so what makes the HandPlus B2 stand out?

The obvious feature is continuous heart rate monitoring. Worn on your upper or lower arm or wrist, it's a comfortable alternative to a chest strap and broadcasts your heart rate using both Bluetooth and ANT+, making it compatible with a huge range of sports watches, cycling computers and fitness equipment.

It also records body temperature and blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂).

Personally, I think heart rate will remain the main reason most triathletes buy this monitor, but it's nice to have those extra health metrics available within the app. I'll be interested to see how useful they prove over longer periods of testing, particularly during the hot Spanish summer.

Another nice touch is the vibration alert. Set your target heart rate zone and the HandPlus B2 can gently vibrate if you drift outside it. Set heart rate limits in the app and the B2 vibrates 3 times fast for high rate, 3 times slow for low rate so clear alerts, no screen needed. I can see this being particularly useful during easy endurance sessions where it's surprisingly easy to let the pace creep up.

However, the feature that really caught my eye wasn't actually any of those.

It was the swim cap buckle which gives you a hint that they are serious about using the HRM for swimming.

How to use the swimming cap buckle to attached the HandPlus B2 HRM to a swimming hat

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Instead of only wearing the monitor on your arm, HoloSport includes a small clip that allows you to attach the sensor to your swim cap. It's a simple addition, but it immediately tells me that this isn't just another running heart rate monitor that's been made waterproof. It's been designed with swimmers in mind.

That becomes even more interesting when you combine it with the HoloSwim 3 Pro Smart Swim Goggles, another HoloSport product that I hope to test in the future. The two products work together, allowing swimmers to see their heart rate while they're actually in the water.

As a triathlon coach, I think that's where HoloSport could have created something truly different. Most companies sell individual products. HoloSport appears to be building an ecosystem where each product complements the others, and all based around their experience of swimming products.

The HandPlus B2 HRM is very small!

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Setting Up the HoloSport HRM

Getting started was very simple. After charging the sensor, I downloaded the HoloSport app (available on Google Play and Apple App Store), created an account and paired the HandPlus B2 with my phone. The whole process only took a few minutes, and I was prompted to update the firmware before using it.

The app itself is clean and easy to navigate without feeling cluttered. Within a few minutes I was understanding my heart rate, my body temperature and blood oxygen level.

One thing I did notice during setup was the absence of Heart Rate Variability (HRV). HRV has become an increasingly popular recovery metric over the last few years, and I expected to see it included. Unless I've missed it, it doesn't currently appear to be available. That's not a deal-breaker, but athletes who regularly monitor HRV should be aware of it.

I did contact HoloSport team, and they said that HRV is on their development roadmap and it would probably be support in future models like the HandPlus B3.

Holosport App showing HandPlus B2 HRM screens

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Testing and First Training Sessions with the HandPlus B2

Rather than carrying out a series of artificial tests, I wanted to use the HandPlus B2 exactly as I would any other piece of training equipment.

That meant wearing it during my normal training sessions and seeing whether it simply became part of my routine.

So far, I've used the HandPlus B2 during running, rowing, indoor cycling, strength training and swimming.

The first thing I noticed was just how comfortable it is. Like most arm-based monitors, you quickly forget you're wearing it, which is one of the reasons I much prefer them to chest straps. I mainly use it on my lower arm which is where it feels most comfortable, but it can be used on the wrist and also on the bicep.

As with the COROS HRM I prefer arm-based heart rate monitors over chest strap ones which can interfere with my sports bra and just feeling generally less comfortable when rowing and cycling.

Pairing with my COROS Pace 3 watch was quick and reliable, and the monitor connected without any fuss. It also paired happily with my phone, my iPad and the SmartRow app which I use when rowing on my Concept2 indoor rower.

The HandPlus B2 HRN sensors for  heart rate, blood oxygen and body temperature

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Running

My first run with the HandPlus B2 was uneventful, which is exactly what you want from a heart rate monitor. I used it on my usual morning trail run on the mountain above my house. I wore it on my forearm as I find it comfortable in that position.

It connected quickly to my watch (I think the HandPlus B2 HRM must have drunken lots of caffeine as it paired in super quick time!). It stayed securely in place, and, after a few minutes, I completely forgot I was wearing it.

The heart rate sample mode of the Pace COROS 3 watch and the HandPlus B2 are both 1Hz i.e. it takes a reading once every second. So, the readings were similar.

What I did find however is that the watch on my wrist sometimes becomes loose and the readings shoot up for a minute before settling back down again. When it does this, I must remove the watch, clean it and replace it to help it reset. But when I use an armband HRM I didn’t see this problem and the readings were more stable.

Using the HandPlus B2 HRM on a trail run in Spain

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Indoor Cycling

I do prefer an armband type heart rate monitor when I cycle as it’s easy to get on and off and very comfortable. The chest straps tend to move around and cut in to my skin after a time spent in the aero position.

With indoor cycling I wanted to really test the HandPlus HRM by trying to connect It to as many things as possible.

I wanted to connect it to indoor riding apps and I chose WahooX and Zwift running on my iPad and also to the BikeOn app running on my Android phone. I’ve been testing the new BikeOn CycleClick power meter.

But the HandPlus would only connect to one app at a time via Bluetooth. I did the same test using the COROS HRM and it connected to both the WahooX and BikeOn at the same time and Zwift and BikeOn at the same time.

After further investigation the COROS HRM has three concurrent Bluetooth connections. This means for example it can connect to an Apple app, phone app and smart watch at the same time.

The HandPlus has both Bluetooth and ANT+ but can only connect to one device at a time. So, if you want lots of concurrent connections then the COROS HRM is a better choice.

The HandPlus B2 HRM is comfortable when indoor cycling

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Rowing

I love to indoor row as cross training and got hooked during lock down as an alternative to running. I find using a chest strap HRM uncomfortable when rowing, so an armband is a perfect alternative.

I row using a SmartRow handle so need to pair with the SmartRow app before I row. Finding and pairing with the HandPlus B2 literally took a second. No fuss – it just worked.

As I rowed, I compared the heart rate with my COROS Pace 3 watch and the HandPlus B2 seemed to update more quickly even though on paper they capture heart rate every second. Maybe it was the wrist position of the watch and rowing motion that interrupted the heart rate measurements on the COROS watch?

Using the HandPlus B2 HRM when indoor rowing with the SmartRow handle

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Swimming

Swimming is probably the area I looked forward to testing the most. Not only because of the waterproof design, but because I want to see how well it works with the swim cap buckle.

I also want to test it with their smart goggles and if the two products work together as well as HoloSport intends, they could provide swimmers and triathletes with a very different training experience. But I only have the HoloSport SolloWave goggles which play music, but they do not have a display and can’t connect to the HRM. I have been told by HoloSport that the SolloWave goggles will have support for the HRM in the future.

I tried the HandPlus B2 using the swim cap buckle, attached to the goggle strap and just pushed under my swimming cap and for me simply putting it under my swimming cap was the simplest and quickest way to use it.

I could not connect the HandPlus B2 to my COROS watch in any of the swimming modes as it disables connection due to the unreliability of Bluetooth in water.

It can however record your heart rate during your swim, and you can merge it later with your watch file using an training app like Strava or Apple Health.

In order to test the HandPlus B2 further I will need to wait until I get hold of the Holoswim 3 Pro Smart Swim Goggles and test them in the pool and open water.

The HandPlus B2 HRM can be attached to your swimming goggles strap

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Strength Training

The gym is probably where I appreciated the arm-worn design the most.

Unlike a chest strap, there was nothing digging into my chest during floor exercises or strength work, and once again I soon forgot I was wearing it.

Also, if you are using dumbbells or Kettlebells, I find that my watch can sometimes become loose or rub against the equipment which can impact the heart rate readings. Wearing an armband is a better option in these scenarios.

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HandPlus B2 vs COROS HRM

I've been using the COROS Heart Rate Monitor for a couple of years now and it's become my benchmark for arm-based heart rate monitors.

In terms of comfort, the two are remarkably similar but the COROS armband has more stretch so is slightly more comfortable. Both are lightweight and far easier to live with than a chest strap. They both sample heart rate once every second so accuracy should be similar.

The big difference is that the HandPlus B2 offers additional physiological measurements, swimming integration and, importantly, comes in at a significantly lower price.

Whether it can match the long-term accuracy and reliability of the COROS monitor remains to be seen, but it's certainly made a promising start.

The HandPlus B2 HRM versus the COROS HRM Table Comparison

The biggest difference between these two monitors is their intended audience. While the COROS Heart Rate Monitor has become my go-to choice for running and cycling, it isn't designed for swimming. The HandPlus B2, on the other hand, has clearly been developed with swimmers and triathletes in mind.

The inclusion of a swim cap clip and its integration with the HoloSport Smart Swim Goggles are practical features that set it apart from many other arm-based heart rate monitors.

The HandPlus B2 HRM side by side with the COROS HRM

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My First Impressions and Conclusion

I've only just begun testing the HandPlus B2, so it's too early to give it a definitive score.

What I can say is that my first impressions are very positive.

It's comfortable, simple to set up, pairs quickly with multiple devices and offers an impressive range of features for the price.

The inclusion of the swim cap buckle and integration with the HoloSport Smart Swim Goggles also suggests that HoloSport has thought carefully about swimmers and triathletes rather than simply producing another generic fitness wearable.

At around €43, I think the HandPlus B2 represents excellent value for money.

I'll continue using it over the coming weeks and update this review once I've completed more swimming sessions and longer-term testing. But if you're looking for an affordable alternative to a chest strap, or you're curious about the growing HoloSport ecosystem, the HandPlus B2 is certainly worth a closer look.

If you're a runner or cyclist, the COROS HRM remains an excellent choice. But if you're a triathlete or swimmer looking for a heart rate monitor that works across all three disciplines—and at less than half the price—the HandPlus B2 becomes a very compelling option.

You can get your HandPlus B2 from the HoloSport website and with code CHILITRI you can get 10% off.

Karen Parnell is a Level 3 British Triathlon and IRONMAN Certified Coach, 8020 Endurance Certified Coach, WOWSA Level 3 open water swimming coach, and NASM Personal Trainer and Sports Technology Writer. 

Karen has a postgraduate MSc in Sports Performance Coaching from the University of Stirling.

Need a training plan? I have plans on TrainingPeaks and FinalSurge:

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I also coach a very small number of athletes one-to-one for all triathlon and multi-sport distances, open water swimming events, and running races. Email me for details and availability. Karen.parnell@chilitri.com

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Frequently Asked Questions: HandPlus B2 Heart Rate Monitor

Is the HandPlus B2 suitable for triathletes?

Yes. Unlike many arm-based heart rate monitors, the HandPlus B2 is designed for swimming as well as cycling and running. The included swim cap clip and compatibility with the SollaWave Smart Swim Goggles make it particularly interesting for triathletes.

Can you swim with the HandPlus B2?

Yes. The HandPlus B2 is designed for swimming and includes a swim cap clip so it can be worn securely in the water.

Does the HandPlus B2 work with Garmin, COROS and other sports watches?
It supports both Bluetooth and ANT+, making it compatible with many sports watches, bike computers and fitness equipment. (List the devices you've personally tested.)

Does it work with the SollaWave Smart Swim Goggles?
Yes. The HandPlus B2 is designed to integrate with the SollaWave goggles, allowing swimmers to view heart rate information while swimming.

Does the HandPlus B2 measure blood oxygen and body temperature?
Yes. In addition to heart rate, it records SpO₂ and body temperature, with the data available in the HoloSport app.

Does the HandPlus B2 measure Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?
At the time of writing, I couldn't find HRV within the app or published specifications. If this changes in a future update, I'll update this review.

Is the HandPlus B2 better than the COROS Heart Rate Monitor?
That depends on what you need. The COROS is a proven arm-based monitor for running and cycling, while the HandPlus B2 adds swimming support, extra physiological metrics and HoloSport ecosystem integration at a significantly lower price.

Is the HandPlus B2 accurate enough for serious training?

Yes. B2 is designed for training-level accuracy.

It uses a multi-channel optical sensor (red + infrared PPG) combined with motion-adaptive algorithms to deliver reliable heart rate tracking during running and endurance training.

Heart rate is recorded every second, ensuring your training data remains consistent and dependable.

Does the HandPlus B2 work with Garmin, Apple and other sports watches?

Yes. B2 supports both Bluetooth and ANT+, making it compatible with most major sports devices and platforms, including:

• Garmin
• Apple Watch
• COROS
• Wahoo
• many fitness apps

It integrates easily into your existing training setup.

Is the HandPlus B2 good value for money?
At around €43, I think it offers an impressive feature set for the price. I'll continue testing it over the coming months, but my first impressions are very positive.