Yoohoo

I have been looking for a heart rate monitor, and am seeing lots of watches, or on the wrist units now available. Are on the wrist units as reliable as chest straps? If you have experience with heart rate monitors, especially while riding, I would like to hear what you have to say? Can you recommend a heart rate monitor that pairs well with road cycling and a Garmin Computer? Thanks.

banerjek

Lots of options. They are accurate and work pretty well. I have a Mio Fuse. However I find that it sometimes can't get readings when it's cold.

thewilson 

I have a garmin strap, it drops signal CONSTANTLY. I almost never use it as a result.

franswa

Has been 100% flawless for me. Extremely comfortable.

Highly Accurate Armband Heart Rate Monitor - Rhythm+

rpenmanparker 

Chest straps never worked for me until I was very sweaty. The Mio Fuse never fails me. Wrist sensor for the win.

ckindt

I use this.
It always works for me.
I recommend it.

PepeM

Had a chest strap before. Never worked. Have a Mio Link wrist band now. Always works.

Hoonigan

I have a Garmin chest strap. I haven't had any connection issues or any problems at all.

K.Katso

I second this recommendation. The Garmin strap is crap and I had a lot of problems with the Mio wrist HR monitor when it was cold. The Wahoo TIKR just keeps on tickin'

Carbonfiberboy 

I've been using HRM chest straps almost every day since 1995. They're infallible if you know how to use them. If you don't, well . . . obviously some folks can't figure it out. Garmin units receive ANT+ signals, so buy a Garmin transmitter: Garmin Transmitter Unit (Strap sold separately) ? Pedometersusa

Than you need to snap it to a strap. It happens that Garmin and Polar transmitters have the same snap configuration, so it doesn't matter if you use a Polar or Garmin strap. I've had soft straps from both Garmin and Polar and both work well. However I think the Polar straps are more durable: Amazon.com: Heart Rate Monitor USA Replacement Soft Strap (Works with Polar & Garmin Transmitters) (XXXL): Health & Personal Care

I always buy two straps at a time because they only last about a year, then the little wires in them corrode or break or something and one starts getting weird HRs. Simply toss the old strap and snap the transmitter to the new one and order 2 more straps. The transmitter batteries last practically forever. You do replace your tires when they wear out, don't you?

The other trick is to lick the electrodes on the inside of the strap before putting it on. That works most of the time. However if that doesn't work well for you, or you're going to be doing something where you really want the thing to work 100% all day, use a gel, either Buh-Bump cream: https://www.amazon.com/Buh-Bump-2-5-O.../dp/B000HZD2NU
or buy it in bulk for cheap, which is what I do: Amazon.com: Spectra 360 Electrode Gel - Parker Laboratories - 8.5 oz Tube - (Pack of 2): Industrial & Scientific

I have HRM records going back 20 years, using both Polar and Garmin devices, since all my devices upload to my computer, Strava, TrainingPeaks, etc. Works like a charm.

Nachoman

+1. highly consistent for me, compared to the garmin and polar chest straps.

TimothyH

I'm going back to Polar eventually. The Garmin ecosystem really isn't that great of a heart rate zone training tool and I'm not going to step up to power any time soon.

I've never used the wrist sensor but have never had a problem with either the Garmin or Polar straps at all. Change the batteries ever spring and they just work. That's my experience.

gsa103

Garmin soft strap works flawlessly for me.

jtaylor996

I use the old style garmin strap, but when I run I use a polar H7 strap (just because I'm using a polar watch for running). I've had issues with the polar strap in the past, but I've never, ever had an issue with my old garmin chest strap.

According to dcrainmaker, the only optical wrist unit close in HR performance to a strap is the garmin 235 series watches. But even those aren't too fantastic.

Pirkaus

I use that too, no drop outs, even in th cold.

rpenmanparker 

What you said about dcrainmaker is untrue. He is very complimentary to the Mio Link in his January 2014 review. The main criticsm of optical sensors is they can't read all of the electronic signals that strap sensors can. If all you want is a bpm number, that is of no concern.

Corbin

No problem with Garmin chest strap. Make sure you wash it and if you leave very dry moisten the black pads that touch the skin. I only find I need to do that after washing or it wont start until sweat hits it.

rpenmanparker 

Saliva, water, and EKG gel don't work with chest straps for everybody. If I don't have a thick layer of sweat on my skin, I get no signal.

Cychologist

Garmin pickup with Polar strap. No problems in two years running. Went through three Garmin straps before I wised up.

I've used a wrist pickup in the gym but on the road I like my heart rate on my computer.

jtaylor996

First, he's complimentary of almost everything. And, as of his latest optical review (the 235 I mentioned) is still showing plots where these things don't track HR properly compared to chest straps. For instance, the screwed up purple one in this plot is the mio sensor that was licensed out to tomtom:



There are tons of situations where he's showing even the best of these things not tracking HR properly (hill repeats, etc).

With my heart condition, HR is super important for me, so optical is just not good enough. It's just a "bpm" to you, but some of us care about this on a second by second basis.

rpenmanparker 

But many folks say the same thing about straps. The reports of malfunction are many. As I said, in my case it takes 20 minutes just to get the first reading. You pays your money, and you takes your chances.

dagray

Started with a Mio Link, upgraded to a Mio Fuse which now has sleep monitoring. Flawless monitoring most of the time. If it gives a weird reading just take it off wipe your arm and the back of the Mio down and go again, and yes sometimes if colder air gets between the wrist and the monitor the reading will drop some, but that is an easy fix by adjusting the wrist strap.

Carbonfiberboy 

Again, that's simply because you don't know what to do with a chest strap. Again, I've been using them for 20 years with complete success. I compare this to people on here who say their RD doesn't shift properly. Answer: go fixed!

MonsterFat

Wahoo Tickr has been flawless for me. Bluetooth and ANT+. Works with my phone and computer at the same time. I can't stand things on my wrist/arms when I am hot and sweaty. I have never had issues with chest straps.

Rolling15

I recently purchased a Scosche Rhythm +. Works perfectly with my Garmin 520 as well as my smart phone.[h=1][/h][h=1][/h]