I have had many, garmin, 4iii, an expensive polar h10..
the first 2 would randomly give out readings making think I was having some kind of cardiac arrest, Whilst the polar chews up a battery every 3 days
whats reliable and cheap?
ta
Have had quite a few go bust, my view, go for latest Garmin strap (they seem decent and longest lasting) and look after the strap, my guess is its the delicate wiring in the strap that goes (they get pulled about)
I have a Garmin Dual and a Magene. As far as I can see they are identical in function, performance and longevity. Coospo is another cheap brand that seems to do well.
I have a Wahoo Tickr. It failed after 3 years. I wrote asking for tips to check and see if I could get it working. They sent my a brand new one. Can't say fairer than that! Also one of the cheapest.
Sounds like you're doing something wrong, my polar hrms last for ages.. My H10 is a year old and only on second battery. The straps go before the electronics, which last years.
Are you disconnecting one side of the hrm when you take it off so the battery doesn't drain? Are you putting the strap in the wash every couple of weeks?
I've got a Coospo one and it's seemingly indestructible, certainly sturdier than my old Garmin one. Good on battery life (original lasted well over a year) and replacement straps aren't expensive either. Pairs almost instantly with my Garmin and my computer for online rides, genuinely cannot fault it.
Polar verity sense. Honestly, it just works. Had the H10, various Garmin straps, Mio, countless others. The verity is the only one that has worked in all conditions without any loss of accuracy.
Am I meant to wash the strap every week!!?
never heard of coospo will check them out
I rinse and wash mine out about once a month.
I just checked my order history and I've had the Garmin since March 2021. I fitted a replacement battery last month.
I’ve got a Hammerhead one (just because it was cheap and I have their Karoo computer) it’s good and reliable thus far. They say to disconnect it obv when not in use and also to rinse it by hand regularly. It can be machine washed but will only survive 50 washes they say. ANT connection uses loads less battery than Bluetooth…
I’ve had 2 x Garmin Dual ones to use on Bluetooth with trainer road on an iPhone. Both randomly stopped sending the actual hr even though showing as connected on Bluetooth. Apparently it’s a standard fault that can’t be fixed.
So I picked up a Wahoo Tickr to try instead. So far it’s been perfect, not showing any signs of corrosion yet on the contacts, on its second battery now with no issues. So far the strap is holding up fine.
I find the Garmin straps need washing from time to time otherwise they stop reading reliably
Also I twist it so the sensor is slightly to the left of my chest looking forwards, that seems to give a more reliable signal for me
Finally, maybe you have a heart issue and the signals are unreliable. Try an optical sensor although I find the wrist based ones are a bit unreliable on a bike and in general they tend to not be so great at tracking fast changes in HR
I've had a Polar H10 for nearly 4 years now, and batteries usually last a few months. As has been said, you should pop of one side off the strap to avoid it not continually running.
I did replace the strap this year, which initially showed as batteries only seeming to last days at times (I initially thought I'd bought a duff batch of batteries), and I thought the H10 was faulty, but after a few weeks it wouldn't read anything at all. It wouldn't even wake up and show on bluetooth.
It actually triggered me to buy a new Polar watch (I had been looking for a while, and needing a new monitor convinced me to finally buy one!), but thought I'd try the new strap before pairing the new H10. My original H10 sprung to life, and has been working flawlessly for the past 6 months.
I've also got the Polar Optical HRM, which I liked for the fact it's compact, rechargeable, and can record standalone, but I now just use a watch for when I can't use the H10, and optical is not as accurate as a chest strap.
I've got a coospo that was recommend on here* a while ago it's been rock solid compared to the Garmin. Ours goes on the arm so doesn't get so sweaty.
* actually someone thought it funny to recommend a coopoo. I spent ages looking for until I figured out they meant coospo. Bastard.
Am I meant to wash the strap every week!!?
Every 7 uses according to the wee label on my strap.
I’ve got a CooSpo somewhere too. Always worked fine but seemed to get through batteries faster than expected. Sounds like a 1 off though
Are you disconnecting one side of the hrm when you take it off so the battery doesn’t drain
Are you supposed to do that?
Are you supposed to do that?
Yep. If left connected there is a possibility of a complete circuit between contacts on the hrm, and dampness on the strap, draining the battery
And how mingling are people's straps if you don't wash them ☢️
Yep
Thanks - it explains my sometimes poor battery life.
And how mingling are people’s straps if you don’t wash them
At least that’s not a problem for me - it gets a rinse in the shower with me after every ride.
randomly give out readings making think I was having some kind of cardiac arrest
If you mean slow or zero then I'd suspect battery or maybe you're not sweaty enough (I put a tiny bit of electrode gel on my strap)
If by "arrest" you mean fast (?!), a flappy nylon jersey can do that (especially when it's cold, it seems to me).
I fell out with chest straps and started using an optical monitor.
https://www.polar.com/uk-en/products/accessories/polar-verity-sense
finding it much more reliable!
Verity Sense here too and the OH1 before that.
Rechargeable so no battery issue.
and optical is not as accurate as a chest strap.
Not as accurate in what way and is there any practical issue?
Early optical wrist monitors were rubbish but my garmin fr255 is better than anything else I've used. ok the tickr fit armband also worked pretty well.
The wrist and arm optical ones can be slightly slower to respond to very hard efforts. I've got a Garmin chest and a wahoo arm one and can sometimes notice a slight delay but it's minor.
My tickr is about 5 years old, the strap's getting a bit second hand, but I'm happy with that.
Myzone MZ-3 here, have been using it for at least 3 years, I believe MUCH longer but can't find the emails to prove that.
Works with all my apps/garmin edge/Strava/gym equipment etc
Not cheap, but if it's in the budget I'd probably not even consider anything else (especially after my experience with Polar)
Tickr fit worn on my upper forearm. Chest straps were ok in after I got hit but outdoors never gave good readings (go into drops and drop to 80bpm!). The optical tickr fit does not suffer this issue. It appears to work consistently unlike watch mounted optical sensors that struggle with my hair.
I've got a Coospo one that must be a couple of years old now.
I take the electronics bit off and dry it straight after use & then take the strap into the shower & rinse it briefly. I do this every time I use it.
In a recent thread people were saying they put theirs in the washing machine but I think that's a bit harsh for what is a delicate piece of flexible electronics.
I've a Garmin and find that while the batt will last, I replace it annually (or so) anyway as that seems to make it happier, regularly wash the strap, also snap the battery case off the strap if I'm not using it for a while.
After years of failing & replacing straps I got a Garmin Fenix watch, just works.
I mostly use my Fenix when out riding and running. I've done some dual recording and the overall figures are almost identical to my chest HRM. However it's rubbish when trying to do interval training as it's just too slow to react to short bursts. The chest HRM works much better for this (I've not tried an armband).
I rinse my HR strap under a tap after every use, then hang it up to dry (without the sensor attached). Previous strap was a Garmin and lasted for ages, but the elastic's starting to go so I've got a new one from Decathlon. Early days, but seems to be OK. (Both chest straps).
Wahoo Tickr v1, still going strong after 3.5years, the original strap delaminated and started to give erratic readings after about 18mnths. Replaced the strap with 2 Powrlabs ones from Amazon so I always have a spare while one is in the wash. Straps only get washed every 2-4 weeks depending on when they get yucky. I always hang the strap up to air dry after every use. I Always use genuine Panasonic batteries, don't use Duracell the baby secure bitter coating can interfere with the battery terminals and cause erratic readings.
Bottom line is HR monitors are consumer electronics, 2yr life is all you should expect.
My Powertap Powercal is still going strong (and offers a reasonable stab at normalised power when I can't be bothered to swap Assioma pedal power meter). Tickr has also been fine for bluetooth. Original Garmin was temperamental until I used fresh batteries - it is more variable than the other two. I use a Garmin strap for all three and rinse after most rides and air dry.
I use a garmin dual band thingy, never let me down, don't wash the strap or even rinse it if I'm honest. The Wahoo TickR I had was utter turd
Not as accurate in what way and is there any practical issue?
@Slowoldman i always found the optical tracking (both OH1 and both Vantage watches I have) to be slower responding than the H10, and at times it would pick up my cadence rather than pulse. I suspect the latter is due to my arm muscles contracting on tough climbs screwing with the optical pulse detection. As much as I'd love my heart rate to be 60-80bpm when I'm blowing out my backside on a steep climb, the lack of accurate max heart rate isn't very good.
For general tracking its close enough, but if you want the most accurate tracking, then chest strap still seems to be the most accurate.
It's also a bigger issue if you have coloured skin, as the pigment makes the optical detection even less accurate.
I've got Coospo and got one for Mrs 100th you need to disconnect the sender unit or it chews through batteries. Mrs' went kaput in 6months mine lasted a couple of years then just stopped pairing it was also using batteries quickly.
On a Garmin one, again, and it's nicer feeling but doesn't beep the connect or do a mini iron man light through a base layer
I've had a Garmin one since about 2019, battery still fine and just works. The strap has started to get green algae on it, despite cleaning. It's still going strong, so no need to replace at the minute.
I have a scosche rhythm that I've had to a few years now and it's been excellent. Seems to be very well regarded by anyone that's used one including good old dcrainmaker.
Been using a 4iiii HRM for several years - mainly because it can act as a bridge for other Bluetooth devices, when used on a turbo trainer with an Apple TV and Zwift.
I also use it on outdoor rides, and it's been reliable. Abnormal BPM values are an indication that the battery needs changing, but that's a relatively infrequent event.
I really ought to wash the strap a bit more often, but it's standing up well.
Re washing your strap. Do you put it in the washing machine? I just rinse mine off every so often under the tap, but don’t use any detergent. Assumed that would ruin it.
Given it’s going on my very sweaty torso I didn’t think cleanliness was a big issue, but if it’s encrusted in sweat will that men it doesn’t work as well?
Had a Tickr for 4 years, one battery change in that time. Never washed other than licking the electrode to wet it when I put it on. Should probably rectify that.
I've been through mutliple Garmin and (I think?) Decathlon straps/sensors. I gave up and was just using Wrist based optical. However, about 15months ago, I got a MyZone MZ3 as mates were using it and I liked the read outs you got on screens at events. I thought it would last, but alas I've had 2 MZ3's and am on my 2nd MZ Switch.
All as bad as each other IMO. Although I do think washing could be needed more often. I sweat - I mean a lot! So I think a wash in the shower once a week would be a good thing.
I've a garmin strap and sensor - think I've had it about 3 years now and it has had 2 batteries in that time. Washed maybe twice a year and the wash is just a run under the tap. Has worked very well. I also tend to use ultrasound gel on the sensor pads as I tend to be very dry for the first 5 minutes of any exercise and then I get a good sheen/glisten on me. Never had issues with signal and I think my infrequent rinsing seems to be doing the trick as well.
I put the strap on first thing in the morning, then when I get to bike ride, I put the sensor on, it tends to be the first thing picked up by the gps unit - on bike or on wrist and then the other sensors get picked up.
