HR monitor that lasts more than a week?
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- Posts: 916
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Tried a few HR monitors and straps over the years.
Polar, garmin and wahoo.
Gave up for years before the wahoo.
The wahoo tickr seemed ok for a while but now it sits on 225bpm and will no longer connect to my wahoo app on the phone via Bluetooth.
Connects to the garmin 1000 but reads 225
Tried connecting to hopefully update the software and fix it. No go.
Has anyone who rides regularly found one that is reliable?
Polar, garmin and wahoo.
Gave up for years before the wahoo.
The wahoo tickr seemed ok for a while but now it sits on 225bpm and will no longer connect to my wahoo app on the phone via Bluetooth.
Connects to the garmin 1000 but reads 225
Tried connecting to hopefully update the software and fix it. No go.
Has anyone who rides regularly found one that is reliable?
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I have great experience with both Polar and Wahoo HRM.
Polar is 6 years old, and Wahoo 4 years.
I mostly use Wahoo since I use Elemnt Bolt on a bike, but for running I use Polar along with Polar watch.
Battery life is great on both, strap quality is better on Polar.
Also the way the device feels I would say Polar is built better, Wahoo feels a bit "hollow".
But so far no issues with either of those. And I use them a lot. Over 700h per year combined.
I would say the main thing with these devices is to wash and dry them as soon as you stop the excercise, and extreme caution should be taken when changing the batteries. Seals must be cleaned and checked thoroughly (or replaced if any anomaly is found).
I have seen a few failed HRM devices from my friends, and it is always the same issue... corrosion of the circuit caused by sweat...
Polar is 6 years old, and Wahoo 4 years.
I mostly use Wahoo since I use Elemnt Bolt on a bike, but for running I use Polar along with Polar watch.
Battery life is great on both, strap quality is better on Polar.
Also the way the device feels I would say Polar is built better, Wahoo feels a bit "hollow".
But so far no issues with either of those. And I use them a lot. Over 700h per year combined.
I would say the main thing with these devices is to wash and dry them as soon as you stop the excercise, and extreme caution should be taken when changing the batteries. Seals must be cleaned and checked thoroughly (or replaced if any anomaly is found).
I have seen a few failed HRM devices from my friends, and it is always the same issue... corrosion of the circuit caused by sweat...
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- Posts: 12570
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:02 pm
If your chest straps are dying, it’s most likely because you aren’t washing the sweat/salt off enough. Handwash your strap after EVERY ride. Machine washing your strap in a delicates bag also won’t hurt it.
Also the Wahoo TICKR design which incorporates the sensor as a buckle is bad. It puts more stress on the button-snaps. Luckily all you have to do is buy a replacement strap from another brand and it should work with the Wahoo sensor pod. I like the Polar Pro Soft Strap because it’s the most comfortable strap available.
Optical HRMs are a decent alternative too, but I have to wear mine on my bicep rather than my forearm on bumpy roads, dirt/gravel. The constant shaking messes with their accuracy. They also aren’t quite as responsive and will round off peaks and valleys.
Also the Wahoo TICKR design which incorporates the sensor as a buckle is bad. It puts more stress on the button-snaps. Luckily all you have to do is buy a replacement strap from another brand and it should work with the Wahoo sensor pod. I like the Polar Pro Soft Strap because it’s the most comfortable strap available.
Optical HRMs are a decent alternative too, but I have to wear mine on my bicep rather than my forearm on bumpy roads, dirt/gravel. The constant shaking messes with their accuracy. They also aren’t quite as responsive and will round off peaks and valleys.
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I've got 10+ year old Garmins that still work. A polar from the mid 90s that still worked last I looked and a 3 year old tickr that's still going strong.
What are you doing to kill them?
(Some of the Garmins must have thousands of hours use)
What are you doing to kill them?
(Some of the Garmins must have thousands of hours use)
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- Posts: 12570
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:02 pm
They never wash them or wash them very infrequently. Frankly my straps start smelling funky after just two rides or one very hard ride if I don't wash them with at least handsoap. Then I hang them to dry near some moving air.
I am desperately clinging to my old Garmin hard strap that I've had closing in on ten years now, even had to glue it together after my dog got it. The soft straps don't work for me, I've tried a bunch and they all last a few months and then die, a couple even lasted only a few days. I am convinced it has something to do with my PH balance or something since it is not an issue that everyone is experiencing, the snaps just rust out. I don't know what I am going to do when this hard strap finally bites it.
Detach the sensor after your ride and wipe the buttons with dry towel, and dry out the strap separately. I hand wash the strap every few uses. The sensor lasts me around 2 years, with the strap a little less than that if I run more fequently. Sensor/strap gets around 3-5x a use a week.
2021 Giant TCR Advanced SL0 Disc 6.8kg
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2019 Specialized Allez Sprint Disc 7.9kg
2017 Festka Scalatore 5.375kg
Original account [shotgun]: memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=10594
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Do you wear t-shirts that you’ve sweat in more than once before washing? What about underwear? Wash your straps…it takes seconds. I also use that soapy water to rinse the inside/pads of my helmet.
Anyway if you think I’m a nuisance and OCD, don’t take my word for it:
https://support.polar.com/us-en/support ... tile_strap
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- Posts: 916
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Yeah dont wash the strap often.
Cbfed tbh.
It aint the strap.
I was advised to do a factory reset as per here;
https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc/en- ... -Can-I-Do-
Reset the TICKR -
Remove the battery
Flip the battery upside down and reinstall
Leave battery installed upside down for 3 seconds
Remove the battery and reinstall correctly
Replace the battery cover
No go. Lights come on but will not pair with phone app.
Meh. I have raced and ridden enough not to really need it as a pacing tool anymore and I no longer race.
Back to no HR
Cbfed tbh.
It aint the strap.
I was advised to do a factory reset as per here;
https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc/en- ... -Can-I-Do-
Reset the TICKR -
Remove the battery
Flip the battery upside down and reinstall
Leave battery installed upside down for 3 seconds
Remove the battery and reinstall correctly
Replace the battery cover
No go. Lights come on but will not pair with phone app.
Meh. I have raced and ridden enough not to really need it as a pacing tool anymore and I no longer race.
Back to no HR
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For the last three years I've used 4iiii Viiiiva and more recently the Wahoo Tikr. The Viiiiva straps fail for me regularly - I get about a year maximum (500 hours). That's with hand washing after almost every use. That's annoying, but worse is that 4iiii don't sell a replacement strap on its own in Europe. So Wahoo for me, who do.
For about 7 years I used the 'hard' strap monitor that came with the Shimano SC7900 Flightdeck computer - it was a fantastic HR monitor. Eventually the plastic started cracking which finished it off.......*
*edit: and that, being proprietary, it only worked with the SC7900
For about 7 years I used the 'hard' strap monitor that came with the Shimano SC7900 Flightdeck computer - it was a fantastic HR monitor. Eventually the plastic started cracking which finished it off.......*
*edit: and that, being proprietary, it only worked with the SC7900