Garmin HRM Leads - Water, Gel, Spit or Sweat?

[Ostuni]

On my Cateye wireless HRM I got better results using ultrasound gel on the leads/sensors (as opposed to water or saliva or sweat...)

The Garmin 305 Edge HRM strap is way different, and tonight I'll use if for the first time....

What works best for you all?

Cheers

[jesseoneill]

I've only had my 305 for a couple weeks, but all I need to do is give each sensor a quick lick before I put it on and then my sweat does the rest. I've had nothing but reasonable readings (not even outside interference or problems when riding with other 305 or other HM users), so I can only assume that this method works fine.

[Ostuni]

I've only had my 305 for a couple weeks, but all I need to do is give each sensor a quick lick before I put it on and then my sweat does the rest. I've had nothing but reasonable readings (not even outside interference or problems when riding with other 305 or other HM users), so I can only assume that this method works fine.

after two rides i now concur....

the lick concept took some getting used to, but works dandy...

[Trsnrtr]

Personal lubricant.

[jesseoneill]

And there's usually some leftover salt from the last ride!

[Big Helmet]

Personal lubricant.

That would no doubt work, but hair gel works great too - and cheap.

I read that as a tip more than a year ago right here on Bikeforums. Put it to work, and got great data all winter long, when at times there wasn't too much sweat to be had.

[JayC]

I use the heart rate gel stuff that Performance sells. Hair gel would be a disaster on my chest.

[Pugsly]

So far I heven't had a problem just strapping that sucker on dry.

Very different from my Polar, which I have to wet down before I put on. (I used it for off-bike exercise)

[jpatkinson]

How does this thing work -- as in 'turn on?' Polar is obvious: snapped is powered on. Garmin is mysterious, to me.