Concept2 Forum

Looking to buy a HR Monitor for training and previously not had much success with a strap. I'm interested to know if anyone uses a Half-Vest with the monitor built in. This is basically what footballers wear to monitor performance.

Hi,
I don't know the half-vest you're talking about, but I don't like straps either, si I use a Polar OH1. It's an optical HR monitor in an armband, so much more comfortable.
There's also the Wahoo Tickr Fit and probably a few other.

How long ago did you try a strap ?

They are improving all the time. The new Garmin RUN is rock solid so the SWIM and PRO versions should be good also.

Nothing wrong with a good chest strap, I totally immerse mine in warm water before putting it on.

comonkey wrote: ↑

November 3rd, 2022, 6:30 am

Looking to buy a HR Monitor for training and previously not had much success with a strap.

What do you mean, when you say that you have not had "much success?" Communications problems? Comfort issues?

(IMO the chest-strap models are fine - I don't even notice it while rowing.)

What Ombrax wrote, above. What do you mean by "not had much success?" Chest strap HRMs are generally regarded as being the most responsive and consistently accurate of all.

Coincidentally, I just re-batteried my old Polar HRM wrist watch and chest strap to make sure the chest strap still worked before ordering a HRM receiver for the PM3 on the Concept2 rower I acquired last week. I like my Apple Watch, but using it for an HRM while rowing wasn't working out well.

Carl Watts wrote: ↑

November 8th, 2022, 8:35 pm

How long ago did you try a strap ?

They are improving all the time. The new Garmin RUN is rock solid so the SWIM and PRO versions should be good also.

Nothing wrong with a good chest strap, I totally immerse mine in warm water before putting it on.

Curious if there's a reason why the water is warm other than it might feel better? Serious question. I'm still using the old Garmin hard strap. The soft strap would rub me wrong. Since they don't make the old hard strap anymore, I might order the Garmin Run.

Warm to hot water is just better to clean the strap so it gets a rinse after every workout because the laundry sink is only a few meters away from the bike and the rower.

Hot water is way better than putting on a cold strap and again its getting a decent rinse. The RUN transmitter doesn't come off the strap and I'm not going to put the whole thing in the washing machine so its rinse, rinse rinse. Obviously if its soaked when you put it on that also stops it becoming totally soaked with sweat only.

Its holding up well so far but at best I have only managed to get 2 or 3 years from a strap that gets used on a regular basis. Eventually you start to get dropouts or it just packs up totally. I have already replaced the battery in it once.

The old Garmin hard strap was good but the plastic case breaks and the battery cover then cannot seal properly, water gets in then its stuffed.

The new soft strap is more comfortable, you don't know you are wearing it.

I got a refurbished Polar H10 from ebay (looked new). Noticed the connection to PM5 via bluetooth would drop a few times during longer rows; but ANT has been super reliable

RayOfSunshine wrote: ↑

November 10th, 2022, 5:10 pm

Curious if there's a reason why the water is warm other than it might feel better?

That's more than plenty of reason for me.....

Polar H10 here. Very reliable. Used to just rinse after each use and would wash once per week. Would get the occasional drop out. Now I hand wash with mild soap after each use. Cured the drop outs. No complaints.

I just moisten the back of the strap and slap a little warm water on my chest. Works very well.

Might be disgusting to some, but I just spit on my HR strap's contacts. Works fine for both Polar and Garmin units...

Ombrax wrote: ↑

December 11th, 2022, 6:50 am

Might be disgusting to some, but I just spit on my HR strap's contacts.

It is less disgusting than licking them....

I've been using chest straps for years, Polar, Garmin... I just purchased a COOSPO H808S and it works great; synchs up with the PM2 and Ergdata immediately, no spit required

Ombrax wrote: ↑

December 11th, 2022, 6:50 am

Might be disgusting to some, but I just spit on my HR strap's contacts. Works fine for both Polar and Garmin units...

Yuck!

I put the whole strap in the laundry tub with plain hot water both before and after using it. This results in not having to attempt to put it in the washing machine. For long term reliability its the only way to go. Mind you our water quality here out of the tap is practically Evian. Its dried with a clean towel and left to hang ready for the next use.

The Garmin RUN is by far and away the best strap I have used to date.