My last update was that LVL hydration sensors were in ‘alpha’ round about now and that the data that had been produced so far has been good.
A recent update seems to now be setting a schedule for one year hence (2018).
There also seems to be a round of investment from Samsung and that is prompting/paying for a re-design.
I guess these things happen. But it’s a bit disappointing.
And there are quite a few backers who share that disappointment.
The positive-thinking person in me would expect that Samsung saw a great global potential for this device (and I would agree with that) but wanted it exactly right, perhaps so that they could then licence (or acquire) the tech for their own-branded devices.
EDIT: BUT THE POSITIVE ME APPEARS TO BE WRONG – DON’T INVEST IN THIS.
Last Updated on 13 November 2025 by the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
My pragmatic view is that some updates were disingenuous and the $50k target woefully short of a realistic budget. But otherwise much of what I read is common in product development. Win some lose some, such is life.
Meanwhile they could start a kickstarter campaign for “BRTH – breathing sensor”. ?
hold that thought.
(that’s quite funny/pun-ish if your knowledge of English sayings is good)…maybe 😉
Thanks. (I aimed for a “pun-ish” comment. But, as I’m not a native english speaker, I wasn’t sure if I #gtd.)
And after LVL and BRTH we need “SHHT – next gen ?ty sensor”.
$50K !! They raised over $1.8m from backers so where has that money gone?
Good question.
I have some faith that this will turn out alright. Just on a much-delayed timescale. I don’t imagine Samsung will want to upset too many people.
Easy answer. $50k would have gotten then a basic product out the door that did hydration level. $1.8 million made them think they could develop a much better and well developed product to compete with the much much larger companies and they overshot. The basics are easy, the refinements are hard.
Come on, don’t trying to fool me by showing a few pieces of circuit broads! The are totally crab! Sound like you don’t even have a clue to how to make the product work?! You kept delaying the project and buying time to steal more money from Samsung before you bankrupt and disappear from the world.
I WANT THE REFUND NOW!!!!!!
Don’t believe it, folks. The tech does not exist and never did. The whole thing was a fraud. All the numbers and ‘results’ are pure fabrications, as were the timelines. This has been shown conclusively. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/10/bsx-insight-lvl-hydration-sensor.html
yep, that’s pretty damming. I amde a quick edit to this old post
Hdrop anyone? 😂
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hdrop/hdrop-real-time-hydration-wearable-device-monitor?ref=6g4knz&token=8d5602c8
yup looks ugly but interesting (if it works). contacted them a couple of days ago.
It’s a pity you have to be backer to ask any questions, as like you I’m sure, I’ve got plenty to ask.
you can ask them questions on the website. there is a chat facility.
the guy running it looks plausible. Multiple ironman finisher