Garmin HRM premium soft strap

keef66

I seem to recall this wasn't cheap. Was working just fine till 3 rides ago. Then it told me my max HR for the ride had been 62. I usually exceed that just getting out of bed. I washed and dried the strap. Next ride it recorded a mixture of credible heart rates, suspiciously low ones, and a few periods of clinical death. So I changed the battery. The Garmin beeps to say it's found the HRM but fails to display HR. Nothing at all for the whole ride. Bought and fitted a new battery. Same again; a beep but no HR.

So I'm forced to conclude it's the strap that's at fault. A quick Google suggests I'm far from unique.
Unfortunately I have no receipt, but I think the thing is 2 or 3 years old. Any point in contacting Garmin?? It's used maybe twice a week, and (hand) washed periodically as suggested on the label.

If I get or am forced to buy another strap, anything i can do to prolong it's life? Are there any cheaper / better alternatives?

meanredspider

Does Garmin's replacement policy thing work for straps? I.e. The thing where they'll replace it for a refurbed one at about half price?

ETA - I tried one with my first Garmin 1000 and found I used the regular one and preferred it.

Bobbinogs

I think the general advice is that the premium strap does have a lot of features, most of which can be eradicated by buying a Polar strap and fitting the Garmin to it, with the odd bit of cutting with a craft knife. FWIW, I have had the cheapo standard Garmin strap for ages and it works flawlessly.

meanredspider

Bobbinogs wrote:

FWIW, I have had the cheapo standard Garmin strap for ages and it works flawlessly.

+1

lostboysaint

The Decathlon Ant+ one works seamlessly with my various Garmin products.

Man Of Lard

You keep the active part and buy the Polar fabric part (used to be about a tenner, but it's recently gone up to nearer £15) - like https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007XCLU66

Garmin will sell you the strap alone for £40-45 (versus £45-50 for the strap+active part)

Some people report having to remove the plastic surrounding the press stud attachment - I've not had to though.

trivial_poursuivant

My Garmin strap died due to the battery leaking and killing all the electronics. I bought a Berry King Ant+ one on Amazon for £20 and has been faultless.

keef66

I've emailed Garmin but not holding my breath; the serial number suggests it was made in 2007!

More Googling and I think I'll be shopping around for a Polar strap as advised. They come in pink too!

Vslowpace

As above I've had problems with their "improved" soft strap whereas the hard strap I got with an old forerunner hasn't missed a beat.

vpnikolov

Recently moved from a Garmin premium strap to a Polar one as the Garmin was under reading my HR (after only a year use and taking good care of it). I had enough when it went crazy with the reading on a training ride: https://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/5758169-mills

Refer to the HR readings after the second and third interval (in recovery).

All good now with the Polar, works flawlessly with the Garmin transmitter.

meanredspider

What do Wahoo use (just out of interest)?

schlepcycling

Vslowpace wrote:

As above I've had problems with their "improved" soft strap whereas the hard strap I got with an old forerunner hasn't missed a beat.

Exactly my experience, my soft strap gave up about 6 months ago so I went back to the old hard strap that came with my original Garmin 305 and it works perfectly.

stevie63

I have been using a Polar strap with my Garmin transmitter for the past 2 years. It has performed flawlessly in all that time.

bigmitch41

Bobbinogs wrote:

I think the general advice is that the premium strap does have a lot of features, most of which can be eradicated by buying a Polar strap and fitting the Garmin to it, with the odd bit of cutting with a craft knife.

+1 for the above, the Garmin soft strap is pants!