CORE Thermal Sensor

This is an update (and upgrade) of an earlier review. I’ve had this device for 2+ years. It works okay for getting core body temp read in to Garmin Connect, albeit with relatively little guidance on how to really use the data. Routinely, I experience difficulty getting the app to read history data from the sensor. It connects, claims to be getting current data—occasionally toggling to the ‘getting historical data’ message—but won’t show the data. Garmin Connect sees the data immediately after completion of the run or ride, but the CORE app doesn’t. Then usually the data will show up in the app a few days later. It feels like the connection should be faster and more robust; also there should be better diagnostic message of what’s going on. I appreciate that the device needs to be parsimonious with battery life, but the Android/iOS apps don’t need to be.

The update screen is stuck on saying it’s updating. It’s stuck on saying it’s calibrating. It can’t find my Polar H10 heart rate but other apps have no problem finding it. They need to put my resources on the app, or folks are just going to have to wait a year for them to slowly roll out updates.

Multiple years later, there’s still no Apple health integration.

The app could use some work for ease of use. The data is a little difficult for the non sports pro to understand. Despite not being for medical use, I am using the device to monitor body temperature to see how well my body is regulating temperature since some illnesses cause difficulty with body temp regulation. For that reason, many of the biometrics are of little to no use since I’m not training, but monitoring. My biggest issue is that I cannot sync data with Apple Health—only with my Apple Watch. Additionally, my iWatch has a heart monitor, and I keep it set to continuously monitor, the Core device does not recognize that device data. I am, however, really, really pleased with the temperature monitoring and the device—but would love to see some other functions and compatibility introduced in the app.

Does not work on ipad landscape. Cuts off a portion of the screen leaving a huge black space to the right.

The device itself works well and certainly gives a pretty good/accurate idea of body core body temperature. I bike in western Colorado - hot and dry in summer and great climbs. I can see where my body temperature is climbing - hot - and what it settles down to when not climbing. Useful i am better at hydrating using this device. I can see my body temperature on my Wahoo unit (the Wahoo unit automatically converts to degrees Fahrenheit) while biking (along with speed, heart rate, watts power, cadence, and when I am using a Supersapiens patch, blood glucose). The app is ok. It has a section to customize whether you want to see temperature readings in degrees centigrade or fahrenheit but I have never been able to make it change. That the Wahoo unit does that makes it nice for when I am actually raising body temperature. The device is good the app adequate - if you like to keep track of your numbers this is another somewhat magical device to give you body temperature reading.

CORE fits right into the next dimension of training -- what your current workload is doing to your body, and how can you manage it. It winter here now, so racking up the data. My key races are in the heat of the summer, and as a 81kg athlete I pay a heavy price on the run. The CORE will be an integral part of preparing for those conditions and executing in them as well. Don't wait!

I have only used the CORE Sensor and App version 2.2.2 for a few weeks. It seems greatly improved from the other reviews I see here. It shows Fahrenheit or Celsius. I have mine set to Fahrenheit. I recommend getting familiar with the Sensor with one’s HRM Strap by wearing it around the house or while sleeping to see the baseline resultsover several hours or 12 hours. The rechargeable battery life seems to last, in other words, it drains slowly. The two devices must be turned on the watch settings to get the HRM data to flow (download) to the CORE App. I am using it with a Garmin EPIX Gen2 Watch and the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus Running Strap (with Ant+ and Bluetooth). The CORE Sensor pairs to the HRM which communicates both via Ant+ to the watch. Both the New Garmin HRM-Pro Plus and the CORE sensor can communiate to the CORE App so the App can download the Heart Rate Data from the HRM Pro Plus and the CORE Temp and Skin Temp. These are graphed in the App. I have the CORE data-field on one of my Run, Track Run, Treadmill Data Screens. Because the EPIX has a outside temp sensor, I put that field on a separate screen to understand the difference between my CORE temp and the outside temp the watch detects. From my reading, Heat Temp training is akin to Heart Rate Training. If you train at an elevated CORE Temperature at few times a week, one’s running or biking performance, this greatly improves performance and Temp awareness and its impact on Pace and endurance. I bought it to better understand the CORE temp zones and not to exceed the sweet spot which ultimately degrades performance. I watched a number of CORE YouTube Videos. As an older runner I also wanted to know my CORE Temp when training outside on hot days or during a summer half marathon so as not to injure myself. I am starting to experiment with the levels on a treadmill. I am also starting to use the Airofit Respiratory Trainer to improve my breathing, proper breathing and expanded lung capacity can help with reducing CORE Temp to get to the right CORE Zone Temp. The Sensor seems to do that but I admit I am a novice with this type of training but it is one more tool in the Tool Box. One recommendation I would make is to modify the datafield into a gauge on the watchface similar to the Garmin heart rate zone Gauges in style, this will create a uniformity in flipping screens on the watch since I monitor Heart Rate Data. I would give it five stars if they had a CORE Temp Zone Gauge on the Garmin th

Had issues with some of the sensors and am unable to fetch the data.

App works ok, wish that there was more information about how to use the device in the app, and that you could export a record of your temperature. But the fact that there is an option in the settings to change from Celsius to Fahrenheit and that the option does nothing is oddly upsetting. Wish it worked.