- Compatible With The Edge 305Hr And The Edgecad
- Heart Beats Per Minute Wirelessly Transmitted to the Forerunner 50
- Effectively Tracks and Records your Heart Rate While you Workout
- Provides Instant Feedback about How Hard your Heart is Working
- 0.35 Lbs (WxLxH) 2.5″ x 3.0″ x 2.74″
Erich –
This seems to be one of the nicest HRM’s I have used. It seems to record a steady HR without spikes and breaks in the record. It is also comfortable, which I was a little concerned about after reading some of the reviews about the Garmin Premium Heart Rate Monitor (Soft Strap). Once selecting the correct option on the menu the Oregon 450 had no problem finding the device. The GPS will only display current HR but it also stores this information as part of the track log. Using Garmin Connect, and being sure to ONLY download manually, this data downloads with the other track log data and is used to determine Max HR and other interesting information, including a graph that shows the recorded HR at any time or distance during your workout. I haven’t found a good way to carry the GPS while running except in my hand. I have to admit this is not the best setup, but it works and my plan is to use this on backpacking trips to see what I’m doing out there. The only complaint I have is this HRM does not work with any of the equipment at the gym, and I am not going to wear two.
KB –
Simple and effective
S. Bailey –
(This review is for the hard strap monitor)
I had absolutely miserable luck with the soft strap HRM. I’ve had two, one that came with my Garmin and one that I bought to replace the first when it failed after 6 months – which also failed, again after 6 months.
I had a similar hard strap HRM with my old PowerTap that lasted for years (and still works). This HRM is identical to that one, except it is ANT+ and works with my Garmin. Perfect.
It’s comfortable – I could say it’s not quite as comfortable as the soft strap, but honestly after wearing it for 5 minutes, I completely forget it’s there. It’s accurate, and even without wetting the contacts it picks up my heart without issue.
If I could complain about this, it’d be about the strap. It’s a little hard to adjust the length. Don’t expect to do that on the fly like you can with the soft strap. It’s going to take a few minutes and a little patience.
I’m looking forward to getting heart data for a long time.
Aarons14bugs –
I purchased this for a mere 15 dollars years ago when I purchased my first vivo active. I still use it today with my Fenix 6 for my occasional lactate threshold tests. Still working great and meets the minimum requirement to preform the tests.
I just hand wash in the shower when I get back and let the strap air dry overnight. Battery lasts.
I just have to wet the pickup straps just before heading out and
no need for anything else. All is well.
DIVEMASTER™️ –
I bought this mostly to track HR while riding my indoor trainer. I’ll give it 5 stars for ease of setup, but take one off for ease of use while riding. Getting it set-up was super simple. I connected it to my Fenix3 by simply searching for a new device on the Fenix. It found the HR monitor instantly. When connecting it to my ANT+ USB dongle on my laptop, it also instantly sensed the HR monitor, no problem at all.
It’s comfortable enough when wearing it. I have a bit of chest hair, and it snagged a couple times when I was adjusting it on my first ride, but not really a big deal.
Now for the not-so-great parts. I had a really hard time getting it placed correctly on my chest so that it picked up my heart beat. I’m a medical doctor, so I know where my heart is and where the beat should be felt the strongest. I had to fiddle with the location for several minutes to get it to read properly, and even then in the middle of my trainer ride, it would cut out if the sensor shifted at all on my chest. I have a feeling I’ll have to goof with the tension on the strap and placement on my chest a bit before I can get it all dialed in. If I were riding on the road, I’d have to pull over to adjust it, which would be VERY annoying.
Overall, I can’t really complain about this, especially for the price. $15 is insanely cheap to add that important bit of data to a training ride. I can now ride in a desired HR zone and really improve the efficiency of my rides. Good purchase, highly recommended.
Kalmairn –
Justo lo que esperaba y a buen precio.
Funciona correctamente.
DIVEMASTER™️ –
This HR unit is was more durable than any soft strap I have owned and its cheaper. Comfort level is the same if not better because you don’t have to adjust it while running if you sweat a lot. The HR pads are textured and rigid no suction effect on harder runs and no movement or slipping what so ever. I train really hard and go through soft straps the HR pads are connected to the actual device so no point of failure in between it and the strap easy open battery compartment with a coin and the replacement strap for this is $10 or cheaper on amazon. I can buy two of these full units for the price of one replacement strap. I use this unit for Running and Gym training. today I ran for over and hour and did 3 hours in the gym no one error, no low/ high reads and no HR dropouts. I cant believe I waited this long to try this unit because it feels like it will last a long time but reviewsers said it was really uncomfortable, that is not the case I didn’t even notice it the comfort level was a non issue. I may order another one just in case this one fail down the line because its only about $20 but i really feel I don’t have to this unit feels premium and really durable. The soft strap in the picture is only a few weeks old and the HR pads are starting to peel may not be a problem for people that have a casual workout hear and there but, I workout and run 5 to 6 days a week in the gym for 2 and a half to 3 hours and running for and hour or more I go through soft straps and batteries really fast. Garmin has newer more adved unit with more features… swimming/ diving, onboard storage and running dynamics but you cant replace the battery or the straps and they go from $75 to $100 once they die or wear out you replace the entire unit. If you need those extra features I say, get one and only use it for swimming get one of these for everything else if you need Garmin Running Dynamics they sell a small pod you can wear. That pod and this strap are still a lot cheaper and any of the 3 new HRMs from garmin and they have user replaceable batteries and straps.
vinod –
Acquistata per essere abbinata ad un ciclocomputer Bryton rider 310, subito stata riconosciuta senza problemi, la fascia è comoda da indossare, dopo qualche minuto ci si dimentica di averla indosso, a livello funzionale è ineccepibile, dopo diversi mesi di uso molto intenso (4/5 uscite a settimana di 60/100 km) posso dirmi assolutamente soddisfatto, nessun dato anomalo, nessuna perdita di dati, valori sempre coerenti, mai un picco assurdo o un momento di “silenzio”, il consumo di energia è davvero infimo, ancora non ho dovuto sostituire la batteria con il quale è arrivato. Insomma prodotto di assoluta qualità e affidabilità. Consigliato
Colin –
UPDATE @ 13th Jan. 2019
SEE THE UPDATE AT THE END OF MY REVIEW.
I went for the cheapest HRM from a respectable manufacturer. Opinions are very mixed about which make is best or whether to have a wrist device or a chest device. Fitness and sports forums are full of debate. I gather chest is more accurate than wrist.
Item was received quickly and I paired it with a Concept2 rowing machine. Pairing was straightforward but a bit slow to recognize the rower (or vice versa?). Once it’s on the chest and making contact (i.e. sweat or a splash of water) it’s OK – but, after a week or so it’s reluctant to pair up with the monitor on the rower from cold. Takes ages and lots of chest wetting and pressing it into the skin to make contact.
In short, I contacted both Concept2 and Garmin and both were helpful and both are sending out replacements items. When they arrive and I’ve had a chance to test them fully I will know better.
My experience with Garmin, over many years, is that their customer service is excellent, so, on that basis, I would say …. recommended. Other makes, Polar etc, have similar issues, so maybe there’s no, one, solution. – but the after sales with Garmin in top notch so I would stick with them.
EDIT.
I wasn’t especially happy with the connectivity of this item and contacted Gamin who sent out a replacement (very promptly) but, on the face of it, that one seemed worse than the original one. It wouldn’t connect properly with the Concept2 rower. ……HOWEVER …… SEE UPDATE :-
UPDATE 13th Jan. 2019 !!!
The fact of the matter is this:
My neighbour, who has a couple of chest belts and wrist-watch HRMs tried both of my Garmin belts and came back to me with the following results:
He said there was nothing wrong with either of them! Both worked for him *** BUT *** he LICKED the contacts before installing the strap on his chest. I was just using plain water and I also tried KY Jelly … both are recommended methods of making contact…. and neither worked well for me, BUT when I licked the contacts the thing worked fine.
So (at least for me) the answer is, they work fine provided you lick the contacts before use. Once you’re warmed up and sweating a bit it remains working. It’s getting it going from cold that I had trouble with.
I have changed my assessment to 5 stars. It works fine.
Ivan mendoza –
I’ve used this for a couple of months now both cycling and running and once I have it on I barely notice it. I was concerned that the rubber portion of the strap would be uncomfortable but that has not been the case at all. It can sometimes take a couple of minutes to find my heart rate, but if I get the back a little wet before putting it on it will pick up my heart beat right away. It was relatively easy to initially connect to my Garmin Vivoactive watch and connect almost immediately when I start an activity. I which it could be used as a stand alone hear rate monitor and then upload the date later, but you’ll have to spend much more to get that feature. It’s hard for me to comment on the accuracy as I don’t have an alternate method of tracking my heart rate but it seems to be consistence. Overall I am very happy with its performance and highly recommend it. For the price it can’t be beat.