Heart rate monitor spikes with tech shirts
chriscm70
Posts: 76 Member
I'm wondering if anyone has found a good solution to this...
I have a garmin HRM and it almost always spikes WAY high at the beginning of a run, usually for about a half mile.
I've tried both the older HRM2 strap, the newer HRM3 strap, and even a polar strap. It happens with all of them.
Anyway, I did some experimenting and determined that for me it's definitely the shirts I'm wearing. I found that I can remove the shirt (at home on the treadmill, because nobody wants to see that) or even just pull it out away from my chest while running, and the readings go right back to normal within seconds. I guess it must just be the static. I also tried wrapping an ace bandage around the monitor strap, covering it, and that seems to work too, but it's bulky.
I'm thinking I could try some of that "static guard" spray stuff next, that might help.
Do any of you have any other tricks that work, or a certain kind of shirt/fabric that works?
I have many tech shirts and it happens with all of them.
It's not a big deal, just nit-picking really, it's just annoying because it obviously throws my average HR off, especially for shorter runs.
I have a garmin HRM and it almost always spikes WAY high at the beginning of a run, usually for about a half mile.
I've tried both the older HRM2 strap, the newer HRM3 strap, and even a polar strap. It happens with all of them.
Anyway, I did some experimenting and determined that for me it's definitely the shirts I'm wearing. I found that I can remove the shirt (at home on the treadmill, because nobody wants to see that) or even just pull it out away from my chest while running, and the readings go right back to normal within seconds. I guess it must just be the static. I also tried wrapping an ace bandage around the monitor strap, covering it, and that seems to work too, but it's bulky.
I'm thinking I could try some of that "static guard" spray stuff next, that might help.
Do any of you have any other tricks that work, or a certain kind of shirt/fabric that works?
I have many tech shirts and it happens with all of them.
It's not a big deal, just nit-picking really, it's just annoying because it obviously throws my average HR off, especially for shorter runs.
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Replies
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Could you try making your shirts less staticky? Maybe launder them differently?0
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It's a common problem.
The readings get better after half a mile or so because you're sweating by then. The solution is to use a water based lubricant on the strap. I had the same problem. Must admit I went to the self serve check out to buy it!0 -
Hmm, maybe, it's tough in the winter. I could double up on the dryer sheets or something, or maybe try rubbing the sheets on my shirt and chest when I put it on.
Just got in from a run, same behavior, I just pull my shirt out and my HR goes back down within a few seconds, so odd...
It stayed spiked for almost 2 miles today too, grrr...0 -
Haha, ok, I'll try some lube too. I have the "Ba-bump" strap cream but that doesn't seem to make a difference for this issue. A water-based lube makes sense to try though.0
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The other things that makes readings go funny are over head power cables and a loose chest strap :-) It's one of those things that I've obsessed about when using HR training looking for my max to work out percentage zones. If the problem persists even with KY then try a new battery.0
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I could double up on the dryer sheets or something, or maybe try rubbing the sheets on my shirt and chest when I put it on.
Don' do that. You shouldn't be drying your tech shirts with dryer sheets at all, the softener interferes with the sweat-wicking properties.0 -
I'm wondering if anyone has found a good solution to this...
I have a garmin HRM and it almost always spikes WAY high at the beginning of a run, usually for about a half mile.
I've tried both the older HRM2 strap, the newer HRM3 strap, and even a polar strap. It happens with all of them.
Anyway, I did some experimenting and determined that for me it's definitely the shirts I'm wearing. I found that I can remove the shirt (at home on the treadmill, because nobody wants to see that) or even just pull it out away from my chest while running, and the readings go right back to normal within seconds. I guess it must just be the static. I also tried wrapping an ace bandage around the monitor strap, covering it, and that seems to work too, but it's bulky.
I'm thinking I could try some of that "static guard" spray stuff next, that might help.
Do any of you have any other tricks that work, or a certain kind of shirt/fabric that works?
I have many tech shirts and it happens with all of them.
It's not a big deal, just nit-picking really, it's just annoying because it obviously throws my average HR off, especially for shorter runs.
Head over to dcrainmaker.com for a discussion of this.
The bottom line is to make sure that the strap is wet; next, apply some gel that's used for sonograms; upgrade to the new Garmin strap.
About a month ago, I started using a Garmin 620 with the HRM Run sensor. I use Firstbeat Athlete software that analyzes the .FIT files from the Garmin and it indicates the error rates for the new strap have been <=2%. With the old strap/transponder combo the error rate ranged from 2% to 36%.0 -
When I first got a HRM a fitness pal of mine told me to lick the strap before putting it on. Kinda gross but I never have that problem. Of course I have a sport bra holding my strap firmly in place. I told my husband about the licking of the strap when he got his HRM and he has never complained about getting a spike.0
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When I first got a HRM a fitness pal of mine told me to lick the strap before putting it on. Kinda gross but I never have that problem. Of course I have a sport bra holding my strap firmly in place. I told my husband about the licking of the strap when he got his HRM and he has never complained about getting a spike.
That's pretty hard core — even I just run it under the tap… :-)0 -
When I first got a HRM a fitness pal of mine told me to lick the strap before putting it on. Kinda gross but I never have that problem. Of course I have a sport bra holding my strap firmly in place. I told my husband about the licking of the strap when he got his HRM and he has never complained about getting a spike.
That's pretty hard core — even I just run it under the tap… :-)
It helps me get some salt before I run
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