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

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Mar 2014
8:35am, 28 Mar 2014
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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?
Mar 2014
8:36am, 28 Mar 2014
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fetcheveryone
The Adidas micoach is an optical one that goes on your wrist.
Mar 2014
8:54am, 28 Mar 2014
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nayan
Some straps are worse than others. The standard garmin one is horrible. Their soft strap or the Polar one are much nicer
Mar 2014
9:20am, 28 Mar 2014
2,880 posts
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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
Mar 2014
9:25am, 28 Mar 2014
14,166 posts
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fetcheveryone
LB - here it is: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/cms-51
Mar 2014
9:26am, 28 Mar 2014
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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.
Mar 2014
9:34am, 28 Mar 2014
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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.
Mar 2014
9:52am, 28 Mar 2014
2,881 posts
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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!
Mar 2014
7:06pm, 28 Mar 2014
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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.
Mar 2014
7:13pm, 28 Mar 2014
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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.

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About This Thread

Maintained by longboat
Hi all,

I have a Garmin 305, and wore the chest strap for heart rate for the first time in about ...

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