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Hey folks,
After some real world feedback on heart rate straps.
I currently use a Wahoo Tickr strap. It generally is OK, but its my second one, after the first stopped working. I seem to get around 18months use from them before they start either not 'waking up' or not transmitting data to my Garmin bike computer. It is becoming more inconsistent as time passes. (and yup, refreshed the battery recently).
So i am ideally after something that is a bit more robust and reliable. unless of course such a thing doesn't exist and 18 months is the working life of these straps, seeing as they get to experience plenty of sweat!?!
What strap do you use? How often do you use it and how long as it been working flawlessly?
I dont mind spending a few quid for something that will last.
Thanks in advance and answers below!
I buy old school Garmin off eBay from a guy I assume gets a bulk from a sports lab or something. They seem new but cost about a 7 quid for two. When they die it’s no big deal.
I’m on my first tickr after 2 x garmin dual hrm straps stopped transmitting data via Bluetooth. It seems to be a known problem that garmin won’t / can’t do anything about. They still connect via Bluetooth but no data comes through.
Coospo have been mentioned as alright from Amazon but I haven’t tried them myself.
Coospo off Amazon, probably worth buying complete with a HRM that does ANT+ and Bluetooth, been using them lots for ~5.5 years.
@reeksy - got a link or user name for the chap?
Coospo huh... i wll take a look, could be right up my street.
I found my Coospo HRM works fine with Garmins and Zwift, but refuses to communicate to my iPhone despite showing as connected in BT.
Not a major problem for me considering the excellent price.
On my second Wahoo Tickr now, I found applying a tiny bit of conductive gel to the electrodes before each use makes it much more reliable.
I use the Polar Wearlink Plus Soft Strap. Purchased in 2015 and use it a couple of times a week.
Tickr fit here. Optical and worn on your arm (forearm for me). Get much better data than any of the chest status used in the past, especially outside.
I buy Garmin ones, but I’ve tried most and found the even with washing as advised, they only last about 6 months for me. But I do use them every day for at least an hour and I sweat a lot.
I treat them as disposable now.
Viiiva from 4iiii
Bought it for its ability to bridge several other Ant/Bluetooth signals into a single channel, so that I could use zwift more effectively.
It's a little pricey, but rock solid
I use coospo as well, zero issues here..
thanks for all the info.
I think i will order a coospo and give them a whirl.
keep the recommendations coming tho, in case i need a back up!
I gave up on straps recently, although I think it may have been Tickr being flaky and giving bad readings.
I went with a Scosche Rythym which was on sale in Go Outdoors at time. Seems a lot better and feel like it’ll be more robust 🤞
I used to use Garmin ones. Went through a lot and they are pretty expensive. I did try using the cheaper Decathlon straps I think, but the actual transmitter would stop working as well and I gave up with it all. Ended up just using the watch and working out that putting it further up the stronger arm (more muscle apparently helps), and fairly tight. This works pretty well. I do sweat a hell of a lot.
Since getting into Hyrox stuff over the last year, I've got myself a MyZone HRM. I've found it really good. Reliable and accurate. You get the myzone app benefits as well as being an HRM for Garmin. A bit more expensive, but its more than an HRM strap - it can also store your data. A friend of mine had hers break, but myzone replaced it. I train/use it about twice a day everyday
I've got a Garmin one that's at least 10 years old if not older and is doing just fine - been through several batteries and despite the strap not being quite as nice and new as it was still works as it did on day one.
I just bought another one - HRM Dual as I need bluetooth (the old one was just ANT+) for my zwift setup. I hope the new ones are as good as the old.
I gave up on straps recently, although I think it may have been Tickr being flaky and giving bad readings.
I went with a Scosche Rythym which was on sale in Go Outdoors at time. Seems a lot better and feel like it’ll be more robust 🤞
i did spot the arm based straps, which look good, but then my worry was if i crash on me bike, there is a good chance it might get annihilated!? Or are the chances the same as damaging a chest strap?!
I use a coospo too no problem with my iPhone 12, iPad or Apple TV and galaxy s9 and various Garmins.
there is a good chance it might get annihilated!
On the inside of the forearm think it would be ok.
I have a Garmin Dual which is around 2 years old and gets used for 4-5 hours a week.
Not had any problem with this one, but the one before only lasted a month before CRC replaced it under warranty.
I've always got on well with Polar; I'm still using a 10 yr old H7.
I also find the optical one (O10?) good, so long as it holds its charge, which sadly isn't long.
Most of the time use the built-in one on the Fenix.
Well, no idea what you lot are all doing, but I've had my Wahoo Tickr for at least five years and it still works fine and I, too, am a sweaty bastard who uses it for multiple hours per week.
And I've only replaced the batteries about three times. Definitely got my money's worth out of it.
Just to point out, I always disconnect the unit from the strap and usually, but not always, towel the sweat off them both and make sure the strap isn't scrunched up when not in use...
Powerlabs, only ones that seem to last more than a few months.
+1 for the Tickr Fit, which I mostly wear on my left upper arm. Is USB rechargeable, so no messing with daft, expensive little batteries and has been stone reliable for three or four years now. I did somehow manage to snap the bit where the strap locates on the body of the HRM, but stuck it back together with some high strength epoxy. That was six months ago and it's been fine since.
I also have a Wahoo chest strap HRM, but prefer the Fit. It's an optical sensor, so no issues with electrodes etc. Back to back it gives the same reading as the chest monitor and is far better than the notoriously inaccurate wrist-mounted watches.
I've crashed with it a few times and not broken it yet, though I guess it could happen if you were unlucky and hit a rock or something similar hard.
I've got a Kalenji from Decathlon. I've had this for 3 years & it's never gone wrong despite almost daily use. The electronics module removes easily for washing the strap. The whole strap including the electronics & battery have ended up in the washing machine & tumble dryer 3 times. Each time this has killed the battery but the strap survived. Uses a replaceable button battery. Happy to recommend. 30£ from Decathlon:o)
Looks like I got unlucky with coospo. Bought two mrs100th's chews through battery like mad. They both need to be unpopped from the strap or they don't power down. Mrs's never seems to power down.
So not even 2 weeks after praising my MyZone HRM and its broken! FFS. Apparently support are very good and should exchange it for a new one though. 8months use 370 activities. Yes, it gets a lot of use, but I'm getting a bit fed up with chest based HRMs. I'll try and upgrade to MyZone wrist strap version if they offer that
I have a Garmin Dual and a Magene. They are indistinguishable in use. Both are 18 months old.