Are there any HRMs that do not need a chest strap?

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longboat Mar 2014 8:35am, 28 Mar 2014 2879 posts	0 longboat Hi all, I have a Garmin 305, and wore the chest strap for heart rate for the first time in about 2 years this morning - for a spinning bike class that was targeting specific zones I am not fully into heart rate training, but do find it interesting to track. I now remember why I stopped using it, as it was immediately chafing in the middle - clearly my chest is the wrong shape! Are there any HRMs that do not need the chest strap/would a different strap make a difference?
fetcheveryone Mar 2014 8:36am, 28 Mar 2014 14163 posts	0 fetcheveryone The Adidas micoach is an optical one that goes on your wrist.
nayan Mar 2014 8:54am, 28 Mar 2014 3 posts	0 nayan Some straps are worse than others. The standard garmin one is horrible. Their soft strap or the Polar one are much nicer
longboat Mar 2014 9:20am, 28 Mar 2014 2880 posts	0 longboat Thank you both - Fetch, I cannot see the micoach one on their website, they only look to do a chest worn one as well nayan, it is the standard one that I have got, and I have to agree! I am looking at their soft one, as I can then still use it with the Garmin
fetcheveryone Mar 2014 9:25am, 28 Mar 2014 14166 posts	0 fetcheveryone LB - here it is: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/cms-51
Old Croc Mar 2014 9:26am, 28 Mar 2014 24394 posts	0 Old Croc the new soft one is different league to the standard one - killed my standard one as battery leaked / got wet and rusty (my fault) so replaced recently with new soft one - seems a lot more reliable too.
fetcheveryone Mar 2014 9:34am, 28 Mar 2014 14167 posts	0 fetcheveryone I've got a soft strap, but I still get chafing across the front of my chest. Wearing a tighter layer underneath your top can help (also with chafed nips). Also, for ladies (or for anyone who wants to I guess), there's a bra with a built-in HRM. I don't know how comfy it is nor how you manage washing it (maybe it unclips), but it sounds like it could be useful.
longboat Mar 2014 9:52am, 28 Mar 2014 2881 posts	0 longboat Thanks Fetch - I was only looking at their sensors so did not pick up on the gadget itself. As ever, a new gadget has an appeal!
Fitz Mar 2014 7:06pm, 28 Mar 2014 755 posts	0 Fitz I got badly chafed by the Garmin HRM strap that came with my 610. Got a Polar strap instead (the Garmin monitor fits the Polar strap) and no more chafing.
Meglet Mar 2014 7:13pm, 28 Mar 2014 14133 posts	0 Meglet I found the soft strap gave poor readings, though they may have improved it now. I believe you can try putting it on back to front, with the sensor across your back instead.