I just heard of another great use for the power metrics . When you’re trail running and your gps messes up. You don’t know how fast your going. With a power meter it doesn’t mess up because it doesn’t work off of gps. So you can pace yourself better.
Hi Ray, just to give you a bit of insight into treadmill speed and distance due to the interaction between the belt and the bed beneath the belt and the footstrike of the runner there is usually a difference between set speed and actually speed and therefore distance. This difference is small and unique to each runner, better correlationon higher end products). High end research treadmills generally have flywheels (mechanical / electronic-virtual) to compensate. Richard Dewis
All of my HR bands from Garmin died after battery replacement. So I guess this is a much needed plus. Oh there should be a video about properly replacing the battery
I heard that Australia is planning to ban glasses of water filled with more than 2 oz of water. Apparently, little Australian blokes are finding a way to drown in the drinking water. Who would have thought.
Thanks for the video, going to update my firmware. Ive had a few of these straps over the years, they never seem to last out the warranty. You do need to be careful when you change the battery if you over tighten one of the screws this causes the plastic to crack and then you get fluid ingress. Sometimes you can dry them out and they work fine.
@@voltemands oh no, swim is strictly prohibited. If you have a crack in the plastic body, you just run with HRM and pray for the sensor to last longer.)
Heart rate strap linked to smart phone is considerably cheaper than adding a smart sports watch to the mix. I got a Polar HR10 working with my Samsung J5 following a serious heart attack so I could monitor my rehab exercise programme and get back my power and cardiovascular fitness levels as fast as possible. It worked.
You make a good point re. pace determination. When I run in the Veluwe (like you I live in the Netherlands) which has a high degree of tree cover, the instantaneous pace estimation is really poor on my Fenix 6 - everything else seems to add up, but the pace is really erratic (mostly far too slow) where the tree cover is high. It's very odd.
I have always been hesitant on these as my standard Garmin strap doesn't tend to last more than a year. Are these straps any better? and if the strap stops working do you have throw the whole unit away?
Great vid - Just picked one up Prime day for $104. I have an Epix Pro so this will be a very nice add-on ha. The Polar is on sale too, but Garmin has me so. I almost ordered that Polar too and checked Garmin Prime day sales.
Great video. I just bought one of these to use with Ant+ and my Fenix 5X, but also to the LifeFitness machines in the gym. I have an older Ant+ chest strap but it doesn’t do Bluetooth.
Wow. I have Stryd foot pod and have been power training for months. The similarities of the power curves with the strap and Stryd are the most surprising part of your video. I almost feel tempted to ditch the Stryd… (the app sucks)
Yep, my plan as well. The Stryd was a great thing during its time. It allowed me to run on a treadmill or indoors with decent accuracy and zero thought. Hoping the new garmin strap gives me the same option. My polar straps are 2+ years old so about time for "tech refresh". This also somewhat makes up for the pricing on the new bike mount and cables; this price point might work from but not for me.
My two Garmin belts were spoilt after changing battery for the reasons you mentioned. So happy with Polar HRM belt + Stryd footpod and get all metrics i need (probably more accurately than garmin)
The problem with Garmin HRM straps is the pick up areas seperate from the strap. I typically get three months life from them and have given up on them. The problem seems to be constant moisture. In my case I sweat so much that a daily training session means the strap is never dry.
Hi, I connected the HRM. Is there anywhere in the Garmin dashboard you can see where the HR data for that activity was pulled from? I am in doubt if the HR shown is from the optical reader from my 955 or from the chest strap. Thanks!
You need to pair the HRM with the watch and also the Connect app on your phone. At the bottom of the activity, the strap should show up under devices along with the watch.
Thanks for this video! I was super curious what the update was for. As someone who mostly bikes / strength trains, and has only a Vivoactive 4, this seems like not a good fit for me. Perhaps when I update to a higher end Garmin watch. Thanks again! These videos are always super helpful
Thank you for another thorough review. As the fitness wearable leader, Garmin with its miserly upgrades at a glacial pace is doing all of us a disservice. There are quite a few advances we all could be enjoying with minimal effort on their part--here are three. 1. Chest strap with respiratory rate. For years, Zephyr Technologies of New Zealand, with a North American headquarters in Annapolis Maryland, has offered a chest strap with breathing. That metric, paired with heart rate, can provide an accurate Ventilatory Threshold. 2. Allow third-party compatibility. If they aren't going to innovate, let others, and don't get in the way. 3. Turn off the garbage metrics. The current breathing rate on the watch based on "heart rate variability" and the wrist sensor is woefully inaccurate, saying my breathing rate is 14 when it's actually 3.
@@Dcrainmaker With each breath counting inhale, hold, exhale, hold as one breath when fully relaxed. If you use the breathwork app, it's easy to hit 4 or 5. Try it yourself. I bet yours is better because you're fitter. Take one breath in, hold, exhale, hold and count the seconds as you do it. You will probably easily take up 20 seconds.
Do you think trail running would mess up the calibration for getting pace and distance on a treadmill? Obviously, side is WAY different on trails, so I'm curious if that throws of the calibration, or if it is smart enough to know to calibrate only on the Run activity and not the Trail Run activity. Do you happen to have any insight on that? Thanks for another great video!
sometimes I hate the fact that you are so unbiased.. I still don't know if I want the new HRM-Pro Plus or the H10...Sometimes I just need to be told which one to get.....😂
I have a MyZone strap. Things been through hell and is still going. It has a completely removable face and machine washable strap. Garmin should take notes, it’s also half the cost.
I've been super frustrated with durability of the HRM straps and decided to go with the cheaper ones because they last just as long. Is this going to last for 600 sweaty workouts?
I get about three months before they break down. I have lost count of the number I wrecked, and the modern one mean you can't replace just the strap. You have to replace the entire thing. I have stopped using the strap and stck to the watch. I can't believe users are not marchingin the street. The strap will not outlast the battery.
Mine lasts over 4 years. Just replaced battery for the first time, 3 workouts of a couple of hours a week (cycling outside). I am not very careful with it. Keep it on when showering after workout, clean it a bit and it to dry. Thats it.
Does installing a screen protector on the 955 solar affect its solar ability?? Just worry about the screen just scratch if not install screen protector
Ah I was as much intrigued by the arrival of a MYRUN next to your Peloton as the new strap and features. Has that older treadmill you had finally been carted off ? I have had a MYRUN almost 4 years now and think dates back from about 2015. What other running tech do we still use as "current" from back then.... Not sure if I missed it but did your Stryd have any foot pod calibration factor applied? I have always found Stryd foot pods "run" slower than my MYRUN at default 100% calibration even though other my tests suggest the MYRUN pace and outdoor is "in the ballpark" even at 0% incline. Your pace tests with the HRM-Pro+ were probably better than I thought they might be. Interesting to test outdoors against GPS pace. Idea for me! With Multi Band GPS on the 955 (or 255 etc etc) being, for me at least, a real step change better than say 945 at least for the GPS tracks not sure the real use case to ignore that in favour of "computed" pace and ironically calibrated by GPS based measurements in the first place that seemingly you don't trust. In other words do we still need an alternative to GPS based pace apart from indoors or long tunnels when of course there is no GPS signal whatever band it tries.
thanks for the video!!! tho wish the audio was more centered thought my headphones/audio setup was acting funny but nope just playing louder on the left 😭😭😭😭 edit : HAHAHA I SEE why tho the lav mic is on your left and i guess it's stereo, best putting it mono
Love your input here both Ray @ShaneMillerLama - The reason they are not selling these in Australia is that Battery Compartment can be opened by a kid. So how does Apple get around this with Airtags in Australia?
Great video, excellent summary and explanation. I have a question about calibration; I don't have a Garmin watch, but would starting an activity through Strava or Zwift with the strap on a treadmill help with calibration?
Hi. Bought this a month back and the smell of the rubber around the white core stinks. I washed it with all possible and available soap and it did not work. The reading is solid but the quality is bad. Garmin is helpful and offered replacement. I read many reviews and they say that this is a common and persistent problem
I bought this. I don’t really know why. I’ve had a terrible time with garmin hrm bands. My last one lasted three months. I use them a lot and sweat a lot in them so i put them through their paces. Longest i’ve ever had one was a year before it just wouldnt work even if i replaced the battery. So lets see how this goes!
Hi Ray, I just bought a Fenix 7x Solar, and I use it with a Garmin RD Pod. would you recommend buying this strap ? Or would it be way too much overkill just for the Power meter? Do you have any thoughts on this ?
I'm not Ray, but I think I have your answer. Sooooo the rd pod will/should give you power, it does for my FR 645/fenix 6s. I had to install an app and add the data fields. It's....inelegant. but it does work.
Something like 20 children in Australia per week end up in hospitals because of coin cell batteries. It actually lodges in the throat and burns a hole through the oesophagus.
@@sitech1234 So why are children wearing HR straps and playing with them? I can very much see this for "toys"...but a tool that toddlers don't use having this "law" seems like it wasn't really wasn't thought through very well. Might as well ban knives from houses while we are at it.....oh wait, we don't let kids play with knives typically.
Looking to replace a worn out Tickr. Would you recommend this new unit for road cycling only (paired to either a Garmin 1030 Plus head unit or to the Kickr Bike) or would you say this is OP is not used for tri/running? TY!
Trying to decide between HRM Pro+ and the Polar H10. I try to be pretty methodical lately with calorie counting for health/fitness purposes and just want to clarify the below statement. My watch (Fenix 7) doesn't always track HR well for things like lifting, hockey, etc (to be expected), so therefore Garmin's calories burned predictions are off. But as long as I'm wearing my watch, won't the estimated calories burned by based off the chest strap for either strap? Eg: 45 min activity of hockey your HR was ___ and est Cal's ___? I am leaning H10 as it's cheaper, has a replaceable strap and I don't need advanced run metrics, I just want to be sure I can track Cal's somewhat accurately. "Finally, if you want to use any of the heart rate/calorie/intensity minutes/steps offloading bits into your Garmin Connect account, then that also only works with the Garmin straps." I know I'm late to this chat but any help would be great!
Great video as always Ray! Side question though - now that these straps support running power though widely different numbers to Stryd, have you had any success getting Stryd numbers to sync to apps like Strava or TrainingPeaks over Garmin numbers? Only the latter syncs across for me despite being able to see both sets in Garmin and Stryd numbers in the Stryd app
Because the "power" measured isn't power. There is no force plate being acted upon. Therefore they need to estimate with algorithms based upon assumptions. I mean look at the pace difference alone between DC two wrists alone. Even Stryd acknowledges this in a detailed white paper. Simply put your running power CANNOT be compared to another persons running power at this time unless we somehow get a force sensor in on the sole of the shoe. However, you can use your running power to guide your training since in terms of relative accuracy it is "okay". But even then it cannot tell what kind of surface you are running on. If you run on sand vs concrete you will still get a very similar number even though the effort is wildly different.
@@trepidati0n533 appreciate the reply. My question however, isn't why the numbers are different as I fully understand what you've stated (thank you though) but rather, is there any way to use one over the other on third party apps. In this scenario for example, I want to use Stryd power with apps like TP and Strava but I'm not being given the choice.
@@ltdmod Strava is taking the running power from the native power field in the activity FIT file as recorded on one the newer Garmins that support power like the 955/255. If you use a Stryd that data only gets recorded to the special fields made available for CIQ apps and Strava seems to ignore that completely. When I last had Stryd & Garmin power enabled on the same run on a 955, TP appears to take Stryd first then Garmin power if Stryd not present.
Hello guys (& Ray) thank you so much as always for your accurate reviews. One little question. I have a Garmin Fenix 5 plus. With this new band it means that I'm still not going to see watts on my structred workouts screen in my Fenix 5 plus? It's something that anoyed me so much and I thought it would solve this buying this band. :(
Yup! You can connect up to three Bluetooth devices at once, and unlimited ANT+ ones. Your Garmin will use ANT+ by default, and the Polar will use Bluetooth. So totally good here.
What's your take on the accuracy of the running power from Garmin? My experience is that it's really far to high and not that consistent compared to e.g. Stryd.
Hmmm, I wonder will my 6 year+ old HRM run 1st generation get the new update 🤪, I doubt it, but it is still working fine. I thought it had gone, to the gym lost and found box in the sky, but using it with my Polar H9 strap, seems to have given it the kiss of life. Do you think Garmin are right, in not having the module detachable from the strap, which for me is the weak spot, my original garmin strap gave up the ghost years ago.
I've been wanting upgrade my older Garmin HRM, the kind that snapped on to the strap since I'm losing connection lately with passing by some other bikers. I've replaced straps that wear out over the years but able to keep the HRM and just reuse. Now, this new HRM and strap looks like once the strap goes bad, you have to spend another 130 instead of just a strap...?
how long do the garmin hrm bands last for you? I had 3 or 4 during the last 6 years and each of them got destroyed after a year or so. The sensors were ok, but the belts got ruined (doesn’t matter how carefully i was cleaning them after running).
Mine 4 years and counting. Just had to replace the battery for the first time. 3x workout a week for couple of hours each (cycling). Band starts to discolor a bit, but thats it. Just take a shower with it, clean it there and put it out to dry.
Hi there. I work out with the strap and sync after the workout. I can see the details of the workout on my phone via Garmin app however the total calorie count is not adding up.
Hey DC Rainmaker, I know you are super incredibly awesome, and an over-achiever. But for a simpleton like me who runs mostly indoors due to being able to go straight from other sports at my gym, would just 2 hours of calibration still get Stryd pod-worthy results? I already have the strap, but I keep watching your review in hopes to hone it in for my indoor runs.
I think because a rechargeable battery with so small capacity would be useless after some cycles. The smaller the battery, the worst is the lifespan. My AirPods tells same story.
I’ve lost an HRM Run in November, bought an HRM Dual and it died last Monday. Both had cracks in the stew housing after opening to batteries change. It’s frustrating.
@@drigobarreto the good news is that you won’t know for 6-12 months! Only good news is that Garmin replaces them free under warranty but that means you basically can only get one replacement under the 12 months and then you need to replace it.
@@davidkaplan5517 my DUAL was bought overseas, and the Brazilian Garmin dealer hadn’t acknowledged my purchase date. Due to taxes down here, the new Plus wold arrive at USD300,00. It’s a no huge no deal. I’m trying to find a friend traveling to US next days to bring me one. Otherwise, Polar is going to be it.
Can you pleaae explain, how you would use that strap on soccer game, without wearing the watch and how would the platform include that work out in your daily data
Is it worth using the running pace during trail run? You mentioned that it doesn't calibrate itself on the trails, but is it accurate there? I find GPS based running pace can be very bad under treecovers and a more accurate instant pace number could be helpful there
Hey DC! Does the HRM-Pro Plus assist in pace and distance when connected to the garmin or does it replace the GPS data? So you can only use one either data from HRM or garmin GPS?
If you pair this with your Garmin watch, wiil it turn off your watches heart rate during say a run activity? This would save battery, Or do you have to do it manually?
It depends on the watch. Most of Garmin's watches, yes. However, the newest ones have a new feature that basically will keep the light on, because it can cross-check against a chest strap's conductivity, and if the strap is doing weird stuff (namely super dry scenarios like early in a run in the fall), it'll actually go back to the optical HR dynamically to cross-check. No major impact to batter for that.
Video informative and good, however even though I am British I had a hard job keeping up with the commentary due to the speed it was delivered. Please slow down a bit, and give people a chance to understand all and not just 75% of what you are saying
Wow, I thought it was just me (because English is not my main language, but to be fair, I don't have problems understanding people, except Ray). IMHO Ray should learn voice modulation.
Thank you for the video. If you don't mind I have one question: My FR 255 records vertical oscillation, ground contact time and cadence. Are these data from the watch accurate or would they be more accurate coming from a chest strap? Thanks.
Still a hook instead of a buckle? I've lost two of the HRM Pros because they detatch when I bend over while splitboarding, had to move to a Polar H10 since it has an actual buckle and stays where it's supposed to.
I solely want this so when I do kettlebell training it doesn’t wreck my watch! Would I have to start the workout on my watch and then put my watch to one side, with the hope that it would collect good data?
Would you be willing to make a comparison video to the Polar H10? For example, some chapters can cover connectivity to the Garmin Watches, and the anaerobic data that differs between the two heart rate monitors.
Telling us how important ant is but not gonna show us how to do that, huh? My fenix 7 doesn't tell me it is only connected by bluetooth until I try downloading the heart rate data and it says it is connected by bluetooth and can't do that.
Are you going to test the new Edge Explore 2 bike computer? Wondering if that is a better option than the other Garmin bike computers for casual riding that's not focused on racing.
Kids swallowing the coin cells and getting injured, I guess. But surely most of those cells were in some drawer somewhere, or in that bowl where random paperclips, coins and buttons go, that we all have.
Can the running power be seen on a F6? Or only on the F7? Do you need to start an activity on the watch beforehand if you want the strap to record the data?
I got the HRM-PRO late last year to solve a problem: I am a speedskater, and when skating with my hands behind my back, the signal doesn't reach the watch. I have a Forerunner 225 watch currently. Do you think the watch's receiver is too weak, or am I just cursed with a bluetooth-blocking body?
Would anyone recommend this in addition to an Apple Watch (S6)? Would the polar be better for basic HR? I use HR for most of my workout and use the watch sensor for now
DC, could you elaborate on the material of the strap? Asking that because lately I have developed hard allergic reaction to garmin straps( even tho is my favorite sport products) but I can not use anymore…. Because of that allergic reaction! Any chance you can talk to garmin folks about that subject, I try and got no where….
Can i start the a team-sport workout from the garmin connect app and get more data point than just steps , calories and intensity? Like for example distance
I just heard of another great use for the power metrics . When you’re trail running and your gps messes up. You don’t know how fast your going. With a power meter it doesn’t mess up because it doesn’t work off of gps. So you can pace yourself better.
Hi Ray, just to give you a bit of insight into treadmill speed and distance due to the interaction between the belt and the bed beneath the belt and the footstrike of the runner there is usually a difference between set speed and actually speed and therefore distance. This difference is small and unique to each runner, better correlationon higher end products). High end research treadmills generally have flywheels (mechanical / electronic-virtual) to compensate.
Richard Dewis
Great video explaining the function of the strap. And, I love your t-shirt!
All of my HR bands from Garmin died after battery replacement. So I guess this is a much needed plus. Oh there should be a video about properly replacing the battery
Wicked video mate! Excited to get my hands on this one!
I heard that Australia is planning to ban glasses of water filled with more than 2 oz of water. Apparently, little Australian blokes are finding a way to drown in the drinking water. Who would have thought.
Would be really interested in the accuracy of a V02 test with this vs the 955 and fenix 7
I was hoping for a replaceable band :(
Right! Around the 1.5 year mark my strap starts to delaminate.
Those Wahoo straps are so cheap…
Had my hrm tri for 3 years now if I remember correctly and still fine. I do however give it a quick wash after each ride.
It’s bogus, in many ways the polar H10 is superior, but I like how garmin gives you the running metrics
@@Joey_DiGs Yeah, and as mentioned in the video you sort of get locked into the garmin ecosystem when you buy their products.
@@Joey_DiGs how do
Very nice video. Answers all my questions. Well done man!
I love watching these videos, kidding myself I have the money to buy any of this.
Thanks for the video, going to update my firmware. Ive had a few of these straps over the years, they never seem to last out the warranty. You do need to be careful when you change the battery if you over tighten one of the screws this causes the plastic to crack and then you get fluid ingress. Sometimes you can dry them out and they work fine.
Not for a long time) just til the next big sweat, or tap washing.
And long term - corrosion on the plate, which will kill the strap :(
@@siegfried1349 or....i dunno....your next swim
@@voltemands oh no, swim is strictly prohibited. If you have a crack in the plastic body, you just run with HRM and pray for the sensor to last longer.)
Yeah I haven't had a single one survive the warranty period.
My HRM Run has last years and changed the battery a number of times with no issues.
Heart rate strap linked to smart phone is considerably cheaper than adding a smart sports watch to the mix. I got a Polar HR10 working with my Samsung J5 following a serious heart attack so I could monitor my rehab exercise programme and get back my power and cardiovascular fitness levels as fast as possible. It worked.
Wishing you good health!
You make a good point re. pace determination. When I run in the Veluwe (like you I live in the Netherlands) which has a high degree of tree cover, the instantaneous pace estimation is really poor on my Fenix 6 - everything else seems to add up, but the pace is really erratic (mostly far too slow) where the tree cover is high. It's very odd.
Probably would never buy this but watching this as this guy rocks 👍
Thanks!!!
Holy smokes!!! your running zwift avatar is like literally you 😂
I have always been hesitant on these as my standard Garmin strap doesn't tend to last more than a year. Are these straps any better? and if the strap stops working do you have throw the whole unit away?
So good they got rid of those stupid screws.
Edit: Cries because I live in Australia
Great vid - Just picked one up Prime day for $104. I have an Epix Pro so this will be a very nice add-on ha. The Polar is on sale too, but Garmin has me so. I almost ordered that Polar too and checked Garmin Prime day sales.
Hm, my HRM-pro plus shows threshold heart rate for at least the first 20 minutes. So went back to HRM-Tri which shows right all the time.
Great video. I just bought one of these to use with Ant+ and my Fenix 5X, but also to the LifeFitness machines in the gym. I have an older Ant+ chest strap but it doesn’t do Bluetooth.
Wow. I have Stryd foot pod and have been power training for months. The similarities of the power curves with the strap and Stryd are the most surprising part of your video. I almost feel tempted to ditch the Stryd… (the app sucks)
Yep, my plan as well. The Stryd was a great thing during its time. It allowed me to run on a treadmill or indoors with decent accuracy and zero thought. Hoping the new garmin strap gives me the same option. My polar straps are 2+ years old so about time for "tech refresh". This also somewhat makes up for the pricing on the new bike mount and cables; this price point might work from but not for me.
Not to mention I noticed they have gone to the subscription model after being brainwashed by greedy venture capitalists. Ditching mine.
My two Garmin belts were spoilt after changing battery for the reasons you mentioned. So happy with Polar HRM belt + Stryd footpod and get all metrics i need (probably more accurately than garmin)
The problem with Garmin HRM straps is the pick up areas seperate from the strap. I typically get three months life from them and have given up on them. The problem seems to be constant moisture. In my case I sweat so much that a daily training session means the strap is never dry.
Excited for watching
I like your running point finger reflex thing.
Hi, I connected the HRM. Is there anywhere in the Garmin dashboard you can see where the HR data for that activity was pulled from? I am in doubt if the HR shown is from the optical reader from my 955 or from the chest strap. Thanks!
You need to pair the HRM with the watch and also the Connect app on your phone. At the bottom of the activity, the strap should show up under devices along with the watch.
Thanks for this video! I was super curious what the update was for. As someone who mostly bikes / strength trains, and has only a Vivoactive 4, this seems like not a good fit for me. Perhaps when I update to a higher end Garmin watch.
Thanks again! These videos are always super helpful
Thank you for another thorough review. As the fitness wearable leader, Garmin with its miserly upgrades at a glacial pace is doing all of us a disservice. There are quite a few advances we all could be enjoying with minimal effort on their part--here are three. 1. Chest strap with respiratory rate. For years, Zephyr Technologies of New Zealand, with a North American headquarters in Annapolis Maryland, has offered a chest strap with breathing. That metric, paired with heart rate, can provide an accurate Ventilatory Threshold. 2. Allow third-party compatibility. If they aren't going to innovate, let others, and don't get in the way. 3. Turn off the garbage metrics. The current breathing rate on the watch based on "heart rate variability" and the wrist sensor is woefully inaccurate, saying my breathing rate is 14 when it's actually 3.
Your breathing rate is 3?
@@Dcrainmaker With each breath counting inhale, hold, exhale, hold as one breath when fully relaxed. If you use the breathwork app, it's easy to hit 4 or 5. Try it yourself. I bet yours is better because you're fitter. Take one breath in, hold, exhale, hold and count the seconds as you do it. You will probably easily take up 20 seconds.
I brought this a few weeks ago to go with my Epic Pro 51mm
I wonder if garmin might update the RD pod to include pace and distance.
What is better for indoor running metrics, garmin footpod or hrm? Is hrm very precise on cadence and distance?
Do you think trail running would mess up the calibration for getting pace and distance on a treadmill? Obviously, side is WAY different on trails, so I'm curious if that throws of the calibration, or if it is smart enough to know to calibrate only on the Run activity and not the Trail Run activity. Do you happen to have any insight on that? Thanks for another great video!
sometimes I hate the fact that you are so unbiased.. I still don't know if I want the new HRM-Pro Plus or the H10...Sometimes I just need to be told which one to get.....😂
I have a MyZone strap. Things been through hell and is still going. It has a completely removable face and machine washable strap. Garmin should take notes, it’s also half the cost.
I've been super frustrated with durability of the HRM straps and decided to go with the cheaper ones because they last just as long. Is this going to last for 600 sweaty workouts?
I get about three months before they break down. I have lost count of the number I wrecked, and the modern one mean you can't replace just the strap. You have to replace the entire thing. I have stopped using the strap and stck to the watch. I can't believe users are not marchingin the street. The strap will not outlast the battery.
Mine lasts over 4 years. Just replaced battery for the first time, 3 workouts of a couple of hours a week (cycling outside). I am not very careful with it. Keep it on when showering after workout, clean it a bit and it to dry. Thats it.
Hi Ray, Thanks for this,. Question ..is the RD-Pod likely to add this functionality (pace / distance ). Thanks
Does installing a screen protector on the 955 solar affect its solar ability?? Just worry about the screen just scratch if not install screen protector
Be nice if they added the pace and distance to the RD Pod as well.
I asked this question on the Garmin forum and Garmin said they have no plans on bringing this to the RD Pod
@@geertlebesque2788 That's a shame. I really struggle at different places indoors with my footpod.
Ah I was as much intrigued by the arrival of a MYRUN next to your Peloton as the new strap and features. Has that older treadmill you had finally been carted off ? I have had a MYRUN almost 4 years now and think dates back from about 2015. What other running tech do we still use as "current" from back then.... Not sure if I missed it but did your Stryd have any foot pod calibration factor applied? I have always found Stryd foot pods "run" slower than my MYRUN at default 100% calibration even though other my tests suggest the MYRUN pace and outdoor is "in the ballpark" even at 0% incline. Your pace tests with the HRM-Pro+ were probably better than I thought they might be. Interesting to test outdoors against GPS pace. Idea for me! With Multi Band GPS on the 955 (or 255 etc etc) being, for me at least, a real step change better than say 945 at least for the GPS tracks not sure the real use case to ignore that in favour of "computed" pace and ironically calibrated by GPS based measurements in the first place that seemingly you don't trust. In other words do we still need an alternative to GPS based pace apart from indoors or long tunnels when of course there is no GPS signal whatever band it tries.
thanks for the video!!!
tho wish the audio was more centered
thought my headphones/audio setup was acting funny but nope just playing louder on the left 😭😭😭😭
edit : HAHAHA I SEE why tho the lav mic is on your left and i guess it's stereo, best putting it mono
I hope this new design is better. Charging the battery has been a issue for me.
Love your input here both Ray @ShaneMillerLama - The reason they are not selling these in Australia is that Battery Compartment can be opened by a kid. So how does Apple get around this with Airtags in Australia?
Just checking your review as Amazon have this discounted today - so..... bought 👍😎
Nice! Thanks for the heads up on the sale, just shared it out on social media!
Great video, excellent summary and explanation. I have a question about calibration; I don't have a Garmin watch, but would starting an activity through Strava or Zwift with the strap on a treadmill help with calibration?
Can’t wait to get mine…just gotta wait another month for “order processing “……
so almost wonderful beautiful video friend and beautiful watch
After replacing my battery in my HRM dual, it doesn't work any more!!! Now I understand why people would want the Pro+
Hi. Bought this a month back and the smell of the rubber around the white core stinks. I washed it with all possible and available soap and it did not work. The reading is solid but the quality is bad. Garmin is helpful and offered replacement. I read many reviews and they say that this is a common and persistent problem
I bought this. I don’t really know why. I’ve had a terrible time with garmin hrm bands. My last one lasted three months. I use them a lot and sweat a lot in them so i put them through their paces. Longest i’ve ever had one was a year before it just wouldnt work even if i replaced the battery. So lets see how this goes!
three months is standard for me when cycling indoors.
Hi Ray,
I just bought a Fenix 7x Solar, and I use it with a Garmin RD Pod. would you recommend buying this strap ? Or would it be way too much overkill just for the Power meter? Do you have any thoughts on this ?
I'm not Ray, but I think I have your answer. Sooooo the rd pod will/should give you power, it does for my FR 645/fenix 6s. I had to install an app and add the data fields. It's....inelegant. but it does work.
@@TischTosh thnx! Works for me!! 👍👍
@@awakeninger awesome 👌 ✌
Another reason Australians shop online and don’t support local 🙄 gr8 vid as always champ 🤟🏼
Something like 20 children in Australia per week end up in hospitals because of coin cell batteries. It actually lodges in the throat and burns a hole through the oesophagus.
@@sitech1234 So why are children wearing HR straps and playing with them? I can very much see this for "toys"...but a tool that toddlers don't use having this "law" seems like it wasn't really wasn't thought through very well. Might as well ban knives from houses while we are at it.....oh wait, we don't let kids play with knives typically.
@@trepidati0n533 For real. Bad parenting is more the reason vs bad design.
@@trepidati0n533 Why do people leave their HR strap or other coin cell battery operated appliance lying around? Dunno? But it's clearly happening?
@@sitech1234 Why do people leave knives lying around? Dunno? But it's clearly happening?
Looking to replace a worn out Tickr. Would you recommend this new unit for road cycling only (paired to either a Garmin 1030 Plus head unit or to the Kickr Bike) or would you say this is OP is not used for tri/running? TY!
Trying to decide between HRM Pro+ and the Polar H10. I try to be pretty methodical lately with calorie counting for health/fitness purposes and just want to clarify the below statement. My watch (Fenix 7) doesn't always track HR well for things like lifting, hockey, etc (to be expected), so therefore Garmin's calories burned predictions are off. But as long as I'm wearing my watch, won't the estimated calories burned by based off the chest strap for either strap? Eg: 45 min activity of hockey your HR was ___ and est Cal's ___? I am leaning H10 as it's cheaper, has a replaceable strap and I don't need advanced run metrics, I just want to be sure I can track Cal's somewhat accurately.
"Finally, if you want to use any of the heart rate/calorie/intensity minutes/steps offloading bits into your Garmin Connect account, then that also only works with the Garmin straps."
I know I'm late to this chat but any help would be great!
Tack!
Hey Henrik! Huge thanks! Sorry, I was out of cell-phone range on a hike for a bit! Much appreciated!
Cool video! Can I ask which software you use for the heart rate accuracy / comparison?
Another Great Review DC...... $150?? China knocking on the door with dirt cheap HR monitors.......
Hi. Great video. Just curious when using on a treadmill with watch or you using the treadmill setting or indoor running setting? Thanks
is it normal that you almost have to break it to twist it open the first time? (yes I'm twisting it in the right direction)
You can see that your right arm is gimpy when running in the treadmill clip. That's why it's reading different.
2 questions, can i use the app on my phone instead of a watch? Does the strap measure distance and steps when doing sled or farmer walks?
Link to the treadmill in the video?
Great video as always Ray!
Side question though - now that these straps support running power though widely different numbers to Stryd, have you had any success getting Stryd numbers to sync to apps like Strava or TrainingPeaks over Garmin numbers?
Only the latter syncs across for me despite being able to see both sets in Garmin and Stryd numbers in the Stryd app
Because the "power" measured isn't power. There is no force plate being acted upon. Therefore they need to estimate with algorithms based upon assumptions. I mean look at the pace difference alone between DC two wrists alone. Even Stryd acknowledges this in a detailed white paper.
Simply put your running power CANNOT be compared to another persons running power at this time unless we somehow get a force sensor in on the sole of the shoe. However, you can use your running power to guide your training since in terms of relative accuracy it is "okay". But even then it cannot tell what kind of surface you are running on. If you run on sand vs concrete you will still get a very similar number even though the effort is wildly different.
@@trepidati0n533 appreciate the reply. My question however, isn't why the numbers are different as I fully understand what you've stated (thank you though) but rather, is there any way to use one over the other on third party apps. In this scenario for example, I want to use Stryd power with apps like TP and Strava but I'm not being given the choice.
@@ltdmod Strava is taking the running power from the native power field in the activity FIT file as recorded on one the newer Garmins that support power like the 955/255. If you use a Stryd that data only gets recorded to the special fields made available for CIQ apps and Strava seems to ignore that completely. When I last had Stryd & Garmin power enabled on the same run on a 955, TP appears to take Stryd first then Garmin power if Stryd not present.
Hello guys (& Ray) thank you so much as always for your accurate reviews. One little question. I have a Garmin Fenix 5 plus. With this new band it means that I'm still not going to see watts on my structred workouts screen in my Fenix 5 plus? It's something that anoyed me so much and I thought it would solve this buying this band. :(
Can you Connect them to 2 devices at once. I want to try to connect to heart rate monitor to my Garmin 800 and my polar ignite at the same time ?
Yup! You can connect up to three Bluetooth devices at once, and unlimited ANT+ ones. Your Garmin will use ANT+ by default, and the Polar will use Bluetooth. So totally good here.
What's your take on the accuracy of the running power from Garmin? My experience is that it's really far to high and not that consistent compared to e.g. Stryd.
Hmmm, I wonder will my 6 year+ old HRM run 1st generation get the new update 🤪, I doubt it, but it is still working fine. I thought it had gone, to the gym lost and found box in the sky, but using it with my Polar H9 strap, seems to have given it the kiss of life.
Do you think Garmin are right, in not having the module detachable from the strap, which for me is the weak spot, my original garmin strap gave up the ghost years ago.
I've been wanting upgrade my older Garmin HRM, the kind that snapped on to the strap since I'm losing connection lately with passing by some other bikers. I've replaced straps that wear out over the years but able to keep the HRM and just reuse. Now, this new HRM and strap looks like once the strap goes bad, you have to spend another 130 instead of just a strap...?
I'm thinking if I need one for strength, paddling and racket sports. Not sure I like how it feels and therefore if I will use it that often.
I own a forerruner 55, would you recommend buying the strap?
If you had to get a new monitor, $90 for the HRM-PRO plus or free old school Garmin HRMG1? For running and biking only
i know you emphasize the use with a watch, but how would this work with a bike computer - specifically the wahoo element bolt or Garmin 1040 solar?
can you pair this with apple watch or needs only Garmin device?
how long do the garmin hrm bands last for you? I had 3 or 4 during the last 6 years and each of them got destroyed after a year or so. The sensors were ok, but the belts got ruined (doesn’t matter how carefully i was cleaning them after running).
Mine 4 years and counting. Just had to replace the battery for the first time. 3x workout a week for couple of hours each (cycling). Band starts to discolor a bit, but thats it. Just take a shower with it, clean it there and put it out to dry.
Great information
Hi there. I work out with the strap and sync after the workout. I can see the details of the workout on my phone via Garmin app however the total calorie count is not adding up.
For out door running would you recommend using the strap or GPS?
Nice review
Hey DC Rainmaker, I know you are super incredibly awesome, and an over-achiever. But for a simpleton like me who runs mostly indoors due to being able to go straight from other sports at my gym, would just 2 hours of calibration still get Stryd pod-worthy results? I already have the strap, but I keep watching your review in hopes to hone it in for my indoor runs.
I wonder why Garmin can’t make the straps chargeable with a sealed unit rather than using a button battery?
I think because a rechargeable battery with so small capacity would be useless after some cycles. The smaller the battery, the worst is the lifespan. My AirPods tells same story.
My HRMs from Garmin always break after I change the battery once…
I’ve lost an HRM Run in November, bought an HRM Dual and it died last Monday. Both had cracks in the stew housing after opening to batteries change. It’s frustrating.
@@drigobarreto they basically last 6-12 months until you need to change the battery. I think that’s why they’ve changed the mechanism.
@@davidkaplan5517 exactly. However I’d like to know if is going to solve the problem. I’m about to buy a Polar H10, instead.
@@drigobarreto the good news is that you won’t know for 6-12 months! Only good news is that Garmin replaces them free under warranty but that means you basically can only get one replacement under the 12 months and then you need to replace it.
@@davidkaplan5517 my DUAL was bought overseas, and the Brazilian Garmin dealer hadn’t acknowledged my purchase date. Due to taxes down here, the new Plus wold arrive at USD300,00. It’s a no huge no deal.
I’m trying to find a friend traveling to US next days to bring me one. Otherwise, Polar is going to be it.
Can you pleaae explain, how you would use that strap on soccer game, without wearing the watch and how would the platform include that work out in your daily data
start activity on the watch . put watch in bag. do activity. return to device. it then uploads it's data to the watch.
Is it worth using the running pace during trail run?
You mentioned that it doesn't calibrate itself on the trails, but is it accurate there? I find GPS based running pace can be very bad under treecovers and a more accurate instant pace number could be helpful there
Seconding this, would love to see a comparison as my GPS distance is terrible for trails given all the small turns
What is best heart rate chest monitor to pair with Apple IPHONE ? Thx.
It’d be good to run a measuring wheel on that treadmill to check calibration.
Does this mean we can now get vo2 max from indoor running?
Hey DC! Does the HRM-Pro Plus assist in pace and distance when connected to the garmin or does it replace the GPS data? So you can only use one either data from HRM or garmin GPS?
GPS takes priority, unless you configure it otherwise.
If you pair this with your Garmin watch, wiil it turn off your watches heart rate during say a run activity? This would save battery, Or do you have to do it manually?
It depends on the watch. Most of Garmin's watches, yes. However, the newest ones have a new feature that basically will keep the light on, because it can cross-check against a chest strap's conductivity, and if the strap is doing weird stuff (namely super dry scenarios like early in a run in the fall), it'll actually go back to the optical HR dynamically to cross-check. No major impact to batter for that.
Video informative and good, however even though I am British I had a hard job keeping up with the commentary due to the speed it was delivered. Please slow down a bit, and give people a chance to understand all and not just 75% of what you are saying
why don't you just slow the video down in you tube to 0.75 speed? It does sound like he is drunk though lol
Wow, I thought it was just me (because English is not my main language, but to be fair, I don't have problems understanding people, except Ray). IMHO Ray should learn voice modulation.
@@chololennon Hi I got a good tip, go into the video settings and set speed to 75%. I did this and it’s a lot better
Thank you for the video. If you don't mind I have one question:
My FR 255 records vertical oscillation, ground contact time and cadence. Are these data from the watch accurate or would they be more accurate coming from a chest strap? Thanks.
Still a hook instead of a buckle? I've lost two of the HRM Pros because they detatch when I bend over while splitboarding, had to move to a Polar H10 since it has an actual buckle and stays where it's supposed to.
I solely want this so when I do kettlebell training it doesn’t wreck my watch!
Would I have to start the workout on my watch and then put my watch to one side, with the hope that it would collect good data?
Why would I want a strap on top of a Garmin smart watch? If I get the running data, what do I do about it then?
Would you be willing to make a comparison video to the Polar H10? For example, some chapters can cover connectivity to the Garmin Watches, and the anaerobic data that differs between the two heart rate monitors.
Telling us how important ant is but not gonna show us how to do that, huh? My fenix 7 doesn't tell me it is only connected by bluetooth until I try downloading the heart rate data and it says it is connected by bluetooth and can't do that.
Are you going to test the new Edge Explore 2 bike computer? Wondering if that is a better option than the other Garmin bike computers for casual riding that's not focused on racing.
So the 4iii crank-based Powermeter would also stop selling in Australia? What a weird decision. What's the idea behind that?
Anything launched after June 22nd as a new product.
Kids swallowing the coin cells and getting injured, I guess. But surely most of those cells were in some drawer somewhere, or in that bowl where random paperclips, coins and buttons go, that we all have.
Can the running power be seen on a F6? Or only on the F7?
Do you need to start an activity on the watch beforehand if you want the strap to record the data?
I got the HRM-PRO late last year to solve a problem:
I am a speedskater, and when skating with my hands behind my back, the signal doesn't reach the watch. I have a Forerunner 225 watch currently. Do you think the watch's receiver is too weak, or am I just cursed with a bluetooth-blocking body?
Would anyone recommend this in addition to an Apple Watch (S6)?
Would the polar be better for basic HR?
I use HR for most of my workout and use the watch sensor for now
DC, could you elaborate on the material of the strap? Asking that because lately I have developed hard allergic reaction to garmin straps( even tho is my favorite sport products) but I can not use anymore…. Because of that allergic reaction! Any chance you can talk to garmin folks about that subject, I try and got no where….
Can i start the a team-sport workout from the garmin connect app and get more data point than just steps , calories and intensity? Like for example distance