Recommend a cheap Bluetooth chest strap?

Options
NorthCascades
NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
My girlfriend started doing hill repeats and would like an HRM. She wants to record her HR to be able to see her fitness improving over time - lower peak, faster recovery. In her words "I f'ing hate this, and any bit of motivation is going to help."

I'll probably use it, too, on the bike with my Garmin. I have an HRM-Run, but the transmitter and strap are one piece, so it would be wise to use a cheaper one when I can get away with it.

She plans to use it with her phone, so it must support BT. That's really all we need, no memory, no motion sensors, ANT+ isn't required, just HR/HRV.

I tend to think one is as good as the next, but I've been bit by that assumption before. So does anyone have a suggestion?

Replies

  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,445 Member
    I used to use a Polar H7 with my Android phone before I got my Garmin. It worked well and was mostly comfortable (not like my HRM-Run but OK with a little tape to keep from chafing).
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    Polar like above. I also have a Wahoo. I find the strap on the Wahoo a little more comfy.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,378 Member
    I have one from Pyle and it works well for me. It was the least expensive one that didn't have horrible reviews on Amazon, and I have not been disappointed by it.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    edited May 2017
    Does it need to be a chest strap? I use the Scosche Rhythm+ with my Garmin, and have used it with my phone before. It's an optical HRM that supports BT as well as ANT+ and can be worn on the wrist or arm which some find more comfortable. I got it mostly because I got sick of my Garmin chest strap dying every 4 months. It's lasted well over a year thus far. I still have an HRM-RUN for when I want running dynamics, but I use the optical armband 80% of the time.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,341 Member
    The_Enginerd wrote: »
    Does it need to be a chest strap? I use the Scosche Rhythm+ with my Garmin, and have used it with my phone before. It's an optical HRM that supports BT as well as ANT+ and can be worn on the wrist or arm which some find more comfortable. I got it mostly because I got sick of my Garmin chest strap dying every 4 months. It's lasted well over a year thus far. I still have an HRM-RUN for when I want running dynamics, but I use the optical armband 80% of the time.

    Ditto on the Scosche Rhythm+. It connects with my Garmin 520 as well as with my Apple Watch and works very well. I also find it more comfortable than a chest strap. I wear it on the upper arm, near the bicep/deltoid junction with the sensor on the outside of my arm and it tracks perfectly.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories