jrobe

I need a high quality ANT+ HR monitor for my Garmin 800.

I am tired of these cheap Garmin HR monitors that work fine for about 1 year and then die. My second one has now quit working. Of course, I changed the battery (and checked the voltage) and have also tried all the internet tricks (removing the battery for awhile to reset it, changing the polarity briefly to reset it, etc, etc.). When they die, they still record a HR but it is no longer accurate. If you read internet reviews (Amazon, etc.), I am clearly not the only one with this problem. They are just made cheap.

Is there a higher quality ANT+ HR monitor available? I am willing to pay more that the $45 Garmin charge for one that will last longer. For what it is worth, I have a 10 year old, cheap Polar HR monitor that still works perfect after 10 years but unfortunately it is not compatible with my Garmin. Thanks.

McFlurrey06

I haven't had it a year yet, but my Bontrager chest strap works wonderfully.

drorgo

I have had problems with the Garmin soft strap HRM also, but their regular hard strap has been working great for about 6 years now with just battery changes.

Bob

Looigi

My original Garmin strap is still going strong after 3 years, a battery or two, and over 12,000 miles. I have an old Suunto (not ANT+) strap that's nearing 12 years old it works fine too with its HRM.

The one thing I found to help the Garmin strap in cold dry weather was to rub a couple of drops of water into its contacts when putting it on. This worked better for me than electrode gel or wetting my skin.

GSC10 speed/cadence sensors have likewise been reliable on my road and mtbs.

fstshrk

timex ANT+ softstrap also works fine (at least for two years now). I can't say the same about their global trainer though.

bobones

I have the Motorola HR strap and speed/cadence sensor. No problems with either. 2 GSC10s and 1 premium HR sensor from Garmin have all failed within a year. Motorola speed sensor appears to be identical to Bontrager Interchange model.

Looigi

I guess in the spirit of truth and reconciliation I should say that my wife's Bontrager wheel sensor failed ~8 months after she got it. The coin battery it came with leaked and corroded the inside of the sensor. Can't blame that on the senor... She's been unhappy with the HRM function as it's often reading much too low. Other than replacing the battery, we haven't gone further troubleshooting it yet.

MikeyBoyAz

my Garmin hard strap HR has been working for +20 months with semiannual battery changes.