HRM chest or wrist?

[Henley 1]

I have been using Garmin FR 910XT sports watches since the 910XT appeared. The watch itself seems to last about 3 to 4 years, but the chest band HRM only one year – no matter how well I look after them.

Should I change to wrist type? Stick with the Garmin brand?

Wot you sink?

 

[Gambithunt]

Ditto

[shaper]

Try doing some Google research of the inaccuracies of wrist optical heart rate monitors. If you are serious about recording your HR and want to train accordingly with correct and accurate information use a strap.

[Rigardt@Scott]

Wrist is rubbish. Stick with a chest strap.

[fanievb]

I've made peace with replacing my strap every 8-10 months.

 

Wrist based is not accurate

[fanievb]

what strap ?

 

my cycleops one lasted A little more than 2years with daily usage

Garmin lasts 6 months

Polar 8+

 

5 times a week with a rinse after every use and a proper wash once a week to keep the stink away (I sweat like a pig)

[Christie]

Chest strap works great for cycling. On the other hand, it is terrible for runnig, as it keeps sliding down.

[SwissVan]

I have been using Garmin FR 910XT sports watches since the 910XT appeared. The watch itself seems to last about 3 to 4 years, but the chest band HRM only one year – no matter how well I look after them.

Should I change to wrist type? Stick with the Garmin brand?

Wot you sink?

Something wrong with the product if that’s how long it lasts

 

Try a Polar V800 and polar straps

 

Had my V800 at least 4 years and it still looks new and works 100% everytime

[Rigardt@Scott]

My Garmin straps are now about 2 years old. I have two which I alternate, so each one gets about 3 to 5 hours use a week. Just wash with cold water after every use, and in the washing machine every 5th use.

 

Both still 100%. If you are replacing so often something is not right.

[MDJ]

Ditto as per the comments, chest straps are far more accurate especially at higher heart beats. I have a Garmin vivoactive watch with wrist monitor and a Garmin edge 520 with chest strap. The chest strap generally averages a 10-20 beats per minute higher reading than the watch.

 

My Garmin chest strap is currently 30 months old and still working perfectly. I've replaced the battery twice in that time, most recently last month. I ride at least three times a week and average around 5 hours per week. The chest strap is the only part of my cycling kit I do not wash at all, I give it a good rise every 3 months, but never put it in the washing machine.

[Boerklong]

Will also stick to the strap when replacement day comes.

[corriekuilder]

Have a look at the Wahoo fit,its worn on the upper arm,connects to both ant and bluetooth.

https://www.google.co.za/amp/s/www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/01/wahoo-tickr-fit-optical-hr-sensor-in-depth-review.html/amp

[Henley 1]

It seems clear from above that chest straps are superior to wrist HRMs. Good to know because I train on HR.

Wide variance in the time these Garmin straps seem to last though 

[Wheelsuck]

Agree with everyone on the wrist vs Chest,,,BUT the Garmin chest strap that comes in box chafes the living hell out of me. I still have the scars of 2012 IM on my chest. So I went Garmin soft strap-still not great. Then did the Polar strap Garmin pickup swop and that worked okay so I used that for a while.

 

Now on a Garmin 735 and on the bike its okay as I train with power not HR. For running I use the wrist option and have learnt not to get to fixated on the HR. But if you train on HR then for sure use a HR strap-I use a Wahoo Tckr on the Wattbike (to talk to the WATTBIKE and KICKR) and although it looks the most clunky of all straps it works. Come to think of it will try it on a run.   

[shaper]

I have the fenix 5, only use the wrist hrm for measuring resting hr, sleep patterns and daily tracker unless I forgot my strap when doing a workout.  Chest strap for cycling and running I have the garmin HRM-Tri.  Is a soft strap, no chaffing and does not slip down when running.

[dave303e]

I have the fenix 5, only use the wrist hrm for measuring resting hr, sleep patterns and daily tracker unless I forgot my strap when doing a workout.  Chest strap for cycling and running I have the garmin HRM-Tri.  Is a soft strap, no chaffing and does not slip down when running.

 

I do the same, use the optical for sleep etc and then use a strap for training. Think your resting hr while you sleep is a great insight into how your body is doing in terms of load and recovery