Best HR strap

[Ritsuke]

I've had 3 Wahoo HR (Tickr, both versions) failing on me. Inconsistent HR readings - zone 2 power causing HR to go up to 225bpm - are really starting to bother me, especially in structured training.

What's the best bomb-proof alternative I could buy today?

[maxim809]

Polar H10 is the best. You can drop a watt bomb and your bike might explode and you might leave a small crater in the tarmac. But your HRM will keep reading.

Wahoo Tickrs, both the sensor and usually the strap, are known for poor durability. Wahoo knows this and if you file a warranty they will typically replace it pain free. But wow 3 times is a lot. Most frens go for Polar after they've run around the Wahoo Warranty block a few times.

[djel]

Polar H10 is the best. You can drop a watt bomb and your bike might explode and you might leave a small crater in the tarmac. But your HRM will keep reading.

Wahoo Tickrs, both the sensor and usually the strap, are known for poor durability. Wahoo knows this and if you file a warranty they will typically replace it pain free. But wow 3 times is a lot. Most frens go for Polar after they've run around the Wahoo Warranty block a few times.

I went through 2 Wahoo Tickr with inconsistent and useless readings before replacing it with a Polar H10

[usr]

I agree that H10 is great (the slip avoidance dots alone make it a class of its own!), but I've managed to watt-bomb even that one into "this clearly can't be true" territory.

When HR jumps from ca 30 below maximum to ca 10 below maximum a few seconds after accepting that this all-out just crossed that line between all and out, you just know that the sensor log won't reflect the entire truth.

[wolflikeme]

Also looking to change from the Tickr, inconsistent HR readings and strap doesn't work well for me.

[Andrew69]

I ended up using an old Garmin strap I found in the bottom of the draw.
I dont even know how old it is, but considering I havent bought a Garmin product since at least 2010....

[usr]

The old HRM1G that was originally released as a Dynasream product? Yeah, that's what I still consider the gold standard. I once saw a batch of old stock offered on eBay super cheap, accidentally clicked two instead of one, tried to cancel one but they cancelled both, what a pity.

[Moltobene]

Adding to that, Polar is the way to go. However, the H9 is not worse from my experience regarding durability, accuracy etc., it's only got less features like dual-bluetooth and no internal memory.

[Ritsuke]

Thanks for the feedback all of you. I've ordered myself a Polar H10.

[Moltobene]

Thanks for the feedback all of you. I've ordered myself a Polar H10.

Good choice. Forgot to add that I like the Pro Strap way better than the regular strap that's included with the H9, also it's easier to close. I personally went with the H9 but upgraded the strap to the Pro/H10 one.

[FatLadAtTheBack]

Another previous Wahoo Tickr user who's since converted to Polar H10.

[Roadbiker10]

That's not good to hear. Since not long ago I got a new Tickr after having two 4iiii Viva HR monitors fail in two years time. One I got replaced on warranty and the other wasn't covered anymore by that time.

I haven't had any issues with the Tickr so far, other than the strap not staying in place well. Not that I know of at least.

[TribesMan]

I was also using Tickr for a long time, with little to no issues.
But after 4 years of use it started to behave erraticly, when I opened it up I saw some signs of moisture intake.

Since then I've been using old Polar H7 that I had in the drawer.
Its a very reliable device, only issue is it only supports Bluetooth, no ANT+.
Also you can connect it to only 1 device concurrently, unlike Tickr which supports multiple connection (headunit+zwift for instance).

But the H10 should support ANT+ and also concurrent connections.

[ms6073]

Kind of curious what are everyones expectations of these HR straps. I have had what I consider good results with the Wahoo Tickr HR straps but maybe I am the exception rather than the norm, but I really don't expect HR straps to last more than a few years of use. Realistically, I do not need a HR strap but given that several of the folks I used to ride/race with suddenly noted larmingly high HR readings during moderate intisensity rides which was then diagnosed as afib shortly thereafter, I am now in the better safe than sorry category.

[FatLadAtTheBack]

Kind of curious what are everyones expectations of these HR straps. I have had what I consider good results with the Wahoo Tickr HR straps but maybe I am the exception rather than the norm, but I really don't expect HR straps to last more than a few years of use. Realistically, I do not need a HR strap but given that several of the folks I used to ride/race with suddenly noted larmingly high HR readings during moderate intisensity rides which was then diagnosed as afib shortly thereafter, I am now in the better safe than sorry category.

I got no more than a few months of regular use out of all my Tickrs until they started behaving erratically.

I don't think anyone expects years and years, but to not even make 6 months is crap...