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-   -   Good Bluetooth HRM chest strap recommendations? (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/1168300-good-bluetooth-hrm-chest-strap-recommendations.html)

maartendc 03-14-19 07:09 AM

Good Bluetooth HRM chest strap recommendations?
 
Hello everyone,

I am looking to buy a, preferably cheap, HRM chest strap to pair with Strava app on my phone. It HAS TO BE BLUETOOTH, because my phone (iphone SE) does not support Ant+. So I guess all the Garmin straps are out, because they only do Ant+

I am looking at the Polar H10 and Wahoo Tickr, but both seem to get pretty poor user reviews, with the products failing, breaking, coming loose, etc. after just a couple of weeks? Should I just get a no-name strap off Amazon for much cheaper and replace when it breaks.

Can anyone recommend a comfortable, durable, Bluetooth HRM chest strap?

Thanks!

u235 03-14-19 07:21 AM

Had my Polar H7 for years. Been on for more than 400 workouts. Rarely an issue. Connects to various fitness cardio equipment (gymlink/ANT?), my Elemnt (BT), my phone (BT), and my older Polar watch (proprietary) without issue. Occasionally using more than one at a time, like BT to my app to track and the watch on my wrist to spot check HR. Amazon has the H7 and H10 both with a rating of 3.8/5. I occasionally get a glitch where it won't connect but more often than not it is the BT on my phone that is the problem. Also, maybe for a few minutes at random out of maybe 20 hours, it will read erratic, I assume probably also a BT issue. Can't say how it compares to the H10, I had no need to upgrade to the H10 for the save function. Can't say how it compares to other random units, I never had my H7 not working to be looking elsewhere.

Just for giggles.. I did some looking at my Veloviewer stats over time. I have 517 sessions listed with a HR number tracked for a total of 873 hours. Those are all with the same H7.

DrIsotope 03-14-19 07:40 AM

The new Garmin HRM Dual does both ANT+ and BT (as indicated by the name) but it's also one of the most expensive chest HRMs out there, and is largely untested, as it just came out this year.

But if it works as well as my soft strap Garmin HR, it would be worth it. My Garmin HRM does 700+ hours a year, and needs nothing other than a good scrubbing every couple of weeks (that is, not just a rinse) and a new battery every 6 months or so.

jadocs 03-14-19 07:44 AM

Get the Wahoo

Pirkaus 03-14-19 07:47 AM

Had a Wahoo tickr for years, replaced with 4iii viiiva. ANT+ and Bluetooth with bridge for other sensors

maartendc 03-14-19 08:01 AM


Originally Posted by Pirkaus (Post 20837343)
Had a Wahoo tickr for years, replaced with 4iii viiiva. ANT+ and Bluetooth with bridge for other sensors

Interesting! Does this mean I can use my Garmin Ant+ speed sensor, through the 4iiii Viiiva to my non-Ant+ smartphone? Does that feature work well?

Thanks!

EDIT: Never mind, I see from the support page on Strava that the iOS and Android apps don't use speed sensor data anyway, they just rely on the GPS signal, so my speed sensor would be useless for Strava anyway: https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/...the-iPhone-app

Is the 4iii device better in any way than the Tickr, except for the bridging feature? It is about $30 more expensive. ($50 vs $80)

drewguy 03-14-19 08:11 AM


Originally Posted by jadocs (Post 20837338)
Get the Wahoo

I'm sure there are people whose Tickr failed quickly, but mine has lasted several years and is fine.

A piece on the strap buckle broke, but I glued it back on. Could just buy a new strap for $20 if necessary.

No problems - works with Garmin, Strava, and Wahoo without issue (and iPhone SE).

JasonD67 03-14-19 08:27 AM

The Scosche arm band (not wristband) is highly rated and more comfortable than a chest strap in my opinion.

maartendc 03-14-19 10:17 AM


Originally Posted by JasonD67 (Post 20837385)
The Scosche arm band (not wristband) is highly rated and more comfortable than a chest strap in my opinion.

Thanks for the suggestion. I see Wahoo has a similar model as well the Wahoo Tickr Fit.

Are these as accurate / good as a chest strap? I have heard so-so reviews of the watch-based hrm's.

Thanks!

Pilky 03-14-19 11:08 AM

Had two Garmins fail before i switched to Wahoo. Been happy ever since.

superdex 03-14-19 11:58 AM

Polar H10 here. It's been rock solid, no issues. Dunno where you're seeing poor reviews, but I've used it about 3x a week for more than a year and it's been unflappable.

JasonD67 03-14-19 12:05 PM


Originally Posted by maartendc (Post 20837539)
Thanks for the suggestion. I see Wahoo has a similar model as well the Wahoo Tickr Fit.

Are these as accurate / good as a chest strap? I have heard so-so reviews of the watch-based hrm's.

Thanks!

The Scosche is not a watch based HRM. It’s new optical technology that is as good as the electrical based chest straps. Check out DCRainmakers in depth review: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/05/...h-optical.html

ARPRINCE 03-14-19 12:22 PM

Scosche RHYTHM+ (not 24 model) is great! I've been using it since 2016.

Seattle Forrest 03-14-19 03:07 PM


Originally Posted by maartendc (Post 20837539)
Thanks for the suggestion. I see Wahoo has a similar model as well the Wahoo Tickr Fit.

Are these as accurate / good as a chest strap? I have heard so-so reviews of the watch-based hrm's.

Thanks!

Reputation is very good. It uses similar technology to watches, but being on your arm instead of your wrist seems to make all the difference for a lot of people.

jch3n 03-14-19 11:31 PM

Regarding no-name HRM straps on Amazon, I've been using a $30 CooSpo H6 for over a year with no problems. Connects just fine to my phone via Bluetooth for TrainerRoad workouts and works just as well getting picked up by my Garmin over ANT+ out on the road.

maartendc 03-15-19 08:01 AM


Originally Posted by jch3n (Post 20838573)
Regarding no-name HRM straps on Amazon, I've been using a $30 CooSpo H6 for over a year with no problems. Connects just fine to my phone via Bluetooth for TrainerRoad workouts and works just as well getting picked up by my Garmin over ANT+ out on the road.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Coospo actually have a similar armband to the Wahoo Tickr Fit and Scosche Rythm+ for $50. It actually has better reviews on Amazon than the name-brand ones, go figure. I am tempted to try that one, seems to use similar technology.

It seems like most people have mixed results with these things, regardless of brands, some people reporting bad HR tracking, I guess it just depends on your body or something.

motosonic 03-15-19 08:59 AM

I've got a Tick'r and I love it.. Mine works great and I sweat like it's my job! I just dry it off after each use. Maybe that's why mine's lasted? But, I like it. Inexpensive and works like a champ!

wipekitty 03-15-19 12:03 PM

I had the same question a few months back, and decided to go with the Polar H10. I love the strap: it's comfortable, and seems to fit very securely. Their app has worked pretty well for indoor training, and it's paired with my cheapo computer just fine.

The previous version, H7, is out of date but can often be found for much cheaper.

If you go with Polar, there is a 10% discount available if you order directly from their website. Just google 'Polar coupon' and it should come up!

wphamilton 03-15-19 01:55 PM

Does the Polar 10 app sync up the phone's GPS with the heart rate monitor? So that you can get pace or speed, upload it to Golden Cheetah or Strava, that sort of thing. If it does use the phone's GPS, can the wrist monitor display pace, transmitted from the phone, or is it all one-way from the strap to the monitor and phone?

BiggFred 03-17-19 07:49 AM

CooSpo H6
 

Originally Posted by jch3n (Post 20838573)
Regarding no-name HRM straps on Amazon, I've been using a $30 CooSpo H6 for over a year with no problems. Connects just fine to my phone via Bluetooth for TrainerRoad workouts and works just as well getting picked up by my Garmin over ANT+ out on the road.

I’ve also been using this for 3 months indoor training with Zwift, no issues so far. I wanted to try out a chepo HR strap to see how it was and I’m pretty happy. Just get a good battery beforehand and swap out what’s in there.
Also I have been using it mainly with IOS iPad. The one thing I found though is not to pair it with the iPhone, just log into the app you are using and let the app locate the hr strap.
Good luck.


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