Recommend me a heart rate monitor

[jesusbuiltmycar]

That will last beyond the first battery change.

I have had 2 Garmin heart rate monitors both worked well until the battery ran out. After replacing the battery they became un-reliable and lost there sweat-proofness.

After the last one failed I bought a Wahoo Tickr which caost twice as much and started playing up before that battery failed. I realised something was up when my heart rate lept to 255 and stayed there for the rest of the ride. When I opened it up it the battery was rusty - so the device wasn't even sweat proof from new... (a quick search reveals that this is a common failure with Wahoo, guess they should stick to turbo trainers).

Is there a better brand or are they all poorly made disposable garbage with a 10 month purchase to landfill lifespan.

Edited by jesusbuiltmycar on Wednesday 7th August 08:39

[ian in lancs]

Ive had Garmin from 2018 that ive extensively ran and cycled with and CooSpo from 2020 I mainly use with the Zwift setup and some riunning. Both have been accurate and neither have given a problem.

You could try a forearm monitor, I have CooSpo again. That location is less sweaty.

[Harpoon]

Chest HRM are a semi-consumable item for me as I they get sweated to death.

As mentioned, you could look at an optical HR which

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2021/03/scosche-rhythm...

I had a Rhythm+ which I used for a few years but that broke and just reported 72bpm all the time. Fair play to Scosche though, it was four years old and they replaced it pretty quickly. I've still got that but have been working through some chest HRMs I've acquired. I had a free Wahoo TickR on which a connector broke. Wahoo replaced that but I put the Wahoo pod on a cheap 3rd party strap from Amazon and that kept going for a quite a while. That drowned, so I'm on the warranty TickR now.

[ecs]

I was going to recommend a Wahoo as I've had mine for years and it's still going.

Someone I ride with has a Myzone armband monitor which might work better if you're having trouble with chest mounted ones?

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Every pro triathlete and cyclist I have seen uses Polar chest strap. The few who use Wahoo use them because their team have a deal with them.

Or get the el-cheapo ones from Amazon and treat them as semi disposable.

[Herbs]

I know a few people that have used myzone monitors and never had a problem with them if you buy into that universe.

[Julian Scott]

I've had a Wahoo TICKR for 5 years, worn daily, that is still going perfectly except a new strap about 2 years ago. Can't recommend it highly enough.

They sent me a new TRACKR when they were released, a month or 2 ago. Now rechargeable, allows for multiple devices to be connected and a few other benefits that I can't remember/don't use. I now use that on the road and the TICKR on the turbo.

[paulrockliffe]

I have a Garmin strap that I bought about 15 years ago, it's on its second battery now, but it has worked absolutely faultlessly in all that time. It's ANT+ so works with my Wahoo GPS no bother too.

[stargazer30]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

That will last beyond the first battery change.

I have had 2 Garmin heart rate monitors both worked well until the battery ran out. After replacing the battery they became un-reliable and lost there sweat-proofness.
[/footnote]

The issue with the Garmin dual strap HR monitor is that the four screws holding the back on only go into really thin plastic. My first one started eating batteries after the first battery change and it was sweat getting into the electronics and playing havoc. I'd accidently overtightened two of the tiny screws and split the plastic mounts when I'd changed the battery. I've bought the same monitor again and have been really careful since when changing batteries. So far its been ok.

[dirtbiker]

I've had three Wahoo TIKRs and always liked them but they do die after a while. Still got one for the Peloton bike and a spare for MTB.

I'm now on a Polar H10 for my main one which was a little more expensive but seems to track better and had no issues in the few months I've had it.

[CheesecakeRunner]

I still use Garmin’s (HRM-Run and HRM-Dual) but I recognise that a) they’re disposable, and b) they need to be washed.

I wear one nearly every day for a minimum of an hour and I sweat a lot. So the strap gets washed once a week at least, and a new battery every couple of months irrespective. I get a year to 18 months out of them.

[Steve vRS]

I use mine (Garmin) most days. After the first battery change, the next battery seems to last only a couple of months. I should probably wash it....

[jesusbuiltmycar]

stargazer30 said:

jesusbuiltmycar said:

That will last beyond the first battery change.

I have had 2 Garmin heart rate monitors both worked well until the battery ran out. After replacing the battery they became un-reliable and lost there sweat-proofness.
[/footnote]

The issue with the Garmin dual strap HR monitor is that the four screws holding the back on only go into really thin plastic. My first one started eating batteries after the first battery change and it was sweat getting into the electronics and playing havoc. I'd accidently overtightened two of the tiny screws and split the plastic mounts when I'd changed the battery. I've bought the same monitor again and have been really careful since when changing batteries. So far its been ok.

The stupid screws are the reason I tried a TICKR - unfortunately it let sweat in from the start (prior to the first battery change). The battery cover is made of plastic which has a slot to one/close it using a coin. Unfortunately the plastic is no stronger than plasticine.

[oddball1313]

Herbs said:

I know a few people that have used myzone monitors and never had a problem with them if you buy into that universe.

used one the last 3 years worn on my left bicep. No issues so far and linked to my Garmin 1020 without issue. Tied into the monthly goal thing it sets for you now but another type of motivation to get out and do a ride is no bad thing

[Paul Drawmer]

I've used a wahoo TICKR since January 2018 (!) it's been excellent, and it's been in the washing a few times as well (by mistake).
I use it fair amount (100 times this year according to Strava)

The original strap was rubbish, replaced with one from Amazon. I always use contact gel.

[lufbramatt]

Polar H9

About £30-35 on Amazon. Job done.

[mrtomsv]

£20 for one on Ordnance Survey website at the moment.

https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/os-wireless-hear...

[TheDrownedApe]

since i had my heart attack I've been using one for both rowing and cycling. I was reluctant to spend a lot of money so tried this one for £18

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BBKK9VDR/ref...

It's been great since then and haven't needed to change the batteries yet after 3 uses a week.

[Dannbodge]

I had several of the newer Tickrs and they all broke.

I also had the older generation Tickr and that's been faultless for years, so I'm still using the original Tickr.

[MOBB]

lufbramatt said:

Polar H9

About £30-35 on Amazon. Job done.

I just bought one of these to replace yet another Tickr chest one that died.

Seems pretty quick to connect and so far I like it. Strap fastener is a bit annoying.