I just wanted to put out a quick post as a reminder for folks that may be running into heart rate strap spiking or dropout issues with colder/dryer weather. A dropout is when the strap monitoring your heart rate records/displays a significant and unlikely drop in your heart rate. For example – you may be running steadily along at 140bpm (beats per minute), and then out of nowhere it drops to 65bpm for a few seconds. That’s a dropout. Conversely, a spike is when it randomly spikes from 140bpm to 180bpm or 220bpm (or similar). In general, spikes are more common than dropouts – though both plague heart rate strap users – especially in drier and colder weather when you tend to have less sweat. See below for an example of a heart rate spike:
In general, the Polar straps tend to be far better than Garmin straps – though, they aren’t 100% immune. Further, the most recent Garmin straps (2nd generation soft straps) tend to be better than the first generation soft straps (or rubber straps), though still not perfect. Most of the ANT+ straps are made in the same place and just rebranded for their respective companies, hence why they generally all act the same (companies can choose which level of strap to buy). On the ANT+ side, the one strap that offers me the least trouble is actually the Magellan Switch/Switch Up HR strap. In talking with them, they paid a bit extra for their strap over the standard offerings – which probably explains why I get virtually no spikes/dropouts.
On the Bluetooth Smart side, the Wahoo Blue HR strap is really solid and I don’t think I’ve ever seen any spikes/dropouts with it. I know they spent a lot of time on the firmware of the strap itself (quite uncommon) addressing the problem. Similarly, I haven’t seen many problems with the latest Polar Bluetooth Smart strap (H7) either. But, back to fixing those straps you already have.
I’ve written a handful of posts in the past addressing these, so I wanted to call them out since I’ve seen a rise in queries about it lately. In most cases, simply getting the strap wet (either via water/licking or HR gel) will fix it. But I go into depth on all the methods out there.
Troubleshooting your HR strap issues Part I
Troubleshooting your HR strap issues Part II
You’ll want to read the comments in some of those posts (specifically the interim solution one), as there’s also some fixes people have come up with around some tiny cuts to the rubber around the metal snaps to fix issues too.
For me personally, I tend to just use heart rate gel this time of year (except when I forget, and then I just lick the strap – which is usually awkward for all around me). In fact I just ordered a new bottle of it (gel, not spit) and it arrived on Friday (random tidbit I learned on Friday: Amazon in France actually does same-day delivery, it’s nuts!).
Secondary side note: The stuff I bought this time is designed to be long lasting – as in, it’ll stay stuck to you (hence the adhesive part). I found it comes right off a sweaty body with simple washing, and has WAY better conductivity than normal HR gel.
I don’t know what happened to my other bottle of heart rate gel, but as noted this one has so far been working great (actually, surprisingly better than normal). It clearly has longer stickiness and lasting powers than some of my past bottles, which don’t quite last as long for longer workouts as they age. For example with this new bottle, I had put some on during a ride yesterday, and found that my strap still had the gel on it today when I put it on for another ride. Yeah, it was kinda gross. But gross in a good way. Again, it’s targeted as a adhesive, but so far, no issues. Of course, my only concern is that the adhesives over time may deteriorate something on the strap. So, if you’re concerned about the potential for that (again, no idea if that will happen), then just use the regular non-adhesive gel stuff I link to below.
For those US folks, here’s the exact bottle I’ve bought previously ($6 – non-adhesive) and the new bottle above ($6 – adhesive), and for those EU folks, here’s the exact bottle pictured above (€9 – adhesive).
With that, I now return you to your regularly scheduled program….
As always, thanks for reading!
Buh-Bump works for me plus I like the name.
Yup, Buh-Bump is good stuff. Can’t go wrong there either.
My Garming HR strap caused bad readings a lot, so I just put my ANT+ HR-dongle on a Polar strap and had no more issues.
Seems the Polar HR strap is the cat’s miau!
I had little success with the Polar strap, especially when it became logged with water (in triathlon on the swim for example).
The cheapest replacement band I have found is the O-Synce Heart2Feel – it’s only about 15 Euros and compatible with Garmin and Polar pods.
what does this mean? How do you put ant+dongle on a polar??
He means taking the transmitter pod from the ANT+ strap and snapping it into the Polar wearlink strap. More details here: link to dcrainmaker.com
Polar had updated the strap they sell since your last post. This is the updated one:
link to amazon.com
It is better made than the old wearlink+ strap, lasts longer and works better.
Yes this new Polar Soft Strap is much better. However my experience is that it only works with Polar HR transmitters simply because if you try to clip the Garmin transmitter on it it will pop out. And if anyone has a solution for that I am all ears.
Mine popped out because the Garmin transmitter was a little wider then the strap is designed for. The simple solution was too cut the strap between the two connectors. This also removed the permanent heart rate drop issues I had after about on hour of use (probably due to being all sweaty)
You forgot to mention my favorite product to eliminate static spikes. STATIC GUARD!
Spray it right on your tech shirt. works like magic.
My experience is that the once the garmin strap starts reading bad, it never gets better…not just intermitent spikes, but full on continuous high high HR. Today’s run had average heart rate of 235. I have gotten new straps from Garmin and tried the new transmitter on older straps and they worked fine…but once it goes, it never recovers. Are there any other models to try out?
Not true in my case. After re-pairing my HRM it worked just fine. I think the biggest reasons for my high readings were dry climate and static from my shirts. I just use water on the monitor like always and it now works fine.
I think the issue of spikes is the only one that’s fixed with the gel unfortunately. I’ve also gotten to the point where my average hr is well over 200 from the Garmin softstrap hrm. I was reviewing the comments here before choosing which hr strap to buy off of Amazon to work with the Garmin transmitter, but now it sounds like even the Wearlink won’t fit it. Anyone else able to find a cheaper fix than just buying a whole new Garmin strap?
I’ve had nothing but problems with Garmin straps, especially during the first 5-10 minutes of activity. The gel seems to help a little, but the spikes are still there.
I’ve been using a Bontrager strap while biking for a couple years now, and haven’t experienced any of those issues. I recently paired this strap with my running watch and it’s worked flawlessly for several weeks – even without gel.
Rather than wetting the electrodes, I run my hand under the tap and rub water into my chest in the area where the electrodes sit.
Checked out the images of the Bontrager strap. It turns out that Bontrager strap=4iiiis strap=Magellan strap.
Thanks alot for a very helpful website
I have the Edge 500 and get constant spikes on cool days, esp if the wind is in my face. A vest or jacket that blocks the wind fixes it. Oter than that, rubbing my jersey and base layer with a dryer sheet works like a charm. The problem is static electricity, and that reduces it.
Speaking of heart rate, I’m trying to some heart-rate based training. In doing some reading, I’m realizing that my heart rate is waaaay too high when I run. I’m 45 and routinely run with my HR in the 180-190 range for 45 minutes, and on the bike I see 180-185 quite often. So for the next while I’m going to try to focus on keeping it at 140 or below, which so far has meant walking up hills when I run, and not attacking hills on the bike. I’m expecting this to be an 9-12 week process.
Ray, I think you’ve done HR based training for years. Does my plan make any sense? How about a post your personal experience with this?
Heart Rate? just pinch yourself, then you know your alive. Happy Xmas Ray!
I’m having the same experience as Robert. I don’t have HR spikes, just consistently high readings.
I’m also having similar problems with my Garmin footpod recently. Both are of similar age (2 years).
It’s not the batteries, as I changed both of them recently, with no improvement.
I’m wondering if others have the same problems, and how to test if you have a bad unit vs. just some weather/humidity related thing.
Great stuff as usual! Given this stuff is an adhesive do you think it would give some extra hold to a polar strap while swimming? Or does the adhesive start to break down in that kind of moisture?
Hi Ray, FYI, EU folks get a dead link
But thanks for your article.
Seems like dropouts and spikes are caused by a poor electrical connection between the strap and the skin, correct? This makes it seem like the Wahoo Blue HR strap’s firmware just doesn’t report hr outliers it detects while other straps report what data it detects
Just to pile on here: all my different Garmin (ANT+) straps suck compared to the Polar ones.
As soon as Ray mentioned he had fewer issues with the Magellan HR strap I checked out the product. I would like to find a good ANT+ strap but the pictures of the Magellan that I found online show it to be (externally) identical to the 4iiiis HR strap which I own and I have many problems with.
Also NIcolas mentioned an HR strap by o-Synce. That company has decided it does not want to do business in the US so I can not buy the strap from their online store.
One last thing from the Polar website: “In demanding cases, if your strap has plastic electrodes, use conductive electrode lotion or gel to improve the contact. After using lotion or gel, it is very important to wash the heart rate sensor carefully. If your strap has textile electrodes, do not use conductive lotion or gel as it can block the electrode areas.” I guess that is not an issue in the ANT world but some Polar straps do not like ze gel.
Great post Ray!
We find that maintenance is key to avoiding some of the issues (or at least prolonging them). What a lot of people don’t realize is the straps are consumable pieces. They wear out. On all straps you should be washing them per the instructions(many are different). Washing them will eliminate premature death, because your sweat won’t eat away at the electrodes. But eventually, the wear/washing will wear down the electrodes to the point where they will no longer conduct. With our Soft Straps, this is like 1.5-3 years. But all brands/types will be different.
One thing to note: we actually invented the wireless heart rate strap in 1977. So we have a little experience ensuring they last as long as possible. We are still family owned, and own all of our factories. Don’t mean to shill, that’s simply the difference in why many of you are experiencing better results with our straps.
This is a thoughtful post, Chris, and makes sense.
This would be good info for all mfgs to include with the straps to educate us consumers who tend to think of these items as indestructrable as long as the fabric is intact.
I’ve always thought that the electrode part of the strap gets exposed to limited moisture (seems to have a vinyl/plastic coating in area of body contact), and so had less exposure from sweat (only by wicking from surrounding material) than it would to moisture/soap with a thorough washing.
So, I’ve tended to wash them delicately, especially around the electrodes. More aggressively elsewhere to discourage odor.
I probably didn’t help the lifespan.
Can you recommend an edible heart rate gel?
Unfortunately not.
Edible heart rate gel? Saliva. Spit is free and works a charm, at least for me.
Try the Cardiosport Biovest (as reviewed by Ray) which integrates the heart rate strap into a undervest. It’s well made, comfortable & I’ve not seen any spikes during use. I bought mine for £43.99 in UK. I do still lick the conductive pads once I have it on, but have to use a finger as my tongue won’t reach
Has anybody ever tried using the adhesive electrodes used for ECGs? A pity some form of link with press-studs would be needed. Might be worth the effort for hot and/or long races?
I have a Wahoo BlueHR and never had any problems with it.
About 8 months ago, I switched to a Garmin/soft strap setup so I stopped using the BlueHR pod, but I preferred the Wahoo strap to the Garmin one.
It has performed well, and I have just started to have spiking problems with the readings. I’m not surprised as I NEVER do any proper maintenance or washing of the strap.
I checked and Wahoo sells extra straps for $19.95 each… if anyone is looking for a replacement soft strap, I can recommend the wahoo one.
Ted
I noticed that Wahoo fitness is selling extra HR straps (just the strap, not the transmitter pod). Does anyone know if this is compatible with the Garmin transmitter pod? I think my transmitter is fine, but I need a new strap – $15 seems like a better deal than paying for a whole new thing.
I purchased one of these straps last summer when my Garmin soft strap with the hook on the side went on the fritz. I did what you are asking about, which is to clip my Garmin HR pod onto the Wahoo strap. It worked fine for me. As far as I can tell, this is the same strap that Garmin sold before coming out with the current design with the clip on the side and is the same strap that most other companies are selling. (Polar seems to be the exception.) The Wahoo strap lasted roughly 6 months before going bad. That’s pretty much on par with how long Garmin soft straps have lasted for me in the past.
The reason I was reading this post was that I’m going to order an extra strap to be prepared when my current Garmin strap dies. I was hoping that someone would have posted something about a new and improved strap, but since that isn’t the case, it looks like I’ll be ordering another Wahoo strap. I prefer the Garmin strap with the side clip, but its hard to justify paying $40 for a strap when I can spend $20 on one that does the same job.
Just got the Spectra360 on Amazon for a few bucks. I have to admit I’m surprised it’s such a big tube…8.5oz – this baby will probably last several winter seasons!
Great post! Is it typically the strap or the transmitter that goes bad? My garmin is giving me lots of problems. Just bought the polar soft strap set (the one just released) and electrode gel but that doesn’t seem to have solved the problem. Which strap/transmitter would be best for my garmin 500?
Thanks!
Typically the strap, or more specifically, the connection point between the strap and the pod, and then teh sensor strips themselves. See Chris’s suggestion above (he’s from Polar) – but it’s valid across every strap. I simply take mine into the shower after a run and give the strap a light rinse, then hang it up to dry.
Also – when you say that the Magellan strap is best – is that the strap or the transmitter or both? Thanks!
It’s the strap itself. The transmitter pods are all the same (Wahoo exempted).
Hello,
Thanks to your recommendation, I’ve become a happy user of Garmin 310xt. I have some questions about the Premium Heartrate Monitor and I’ve thought that this would be the best place to ask
1. Could you please provide some pictures of how to properly wear a HRM?
This may seem obvious, but when I wear mine the way I always did (between the chest and ribs in front and below shoulder blades on back), it gets wrinkled in the middle of its width just behind the left electrode. That does not really bother me when running but I’m affraid it might lead to damage in the future.
I also wonder if it makes any difference where the electrodes and the sensor are placed (in the middle or to the left of the torso)? There are different images in the Web and I’m not really sure if that matters.
2. Could you please provide some information on how you care for your HRMs?
The Garmin’s manual says: To prolong the life of your heart rate monitor, unsnap the module when not in use. Unfortunatelly it doesn’t say what “when not in use” means (after every workout, when not used for longer period?). I’ve already saw in one of the comments that you do not do that and it works fine. I think that’s more reasonable because the snaps would get damaged pretty quickly.
The manual also says to rinse the strap after each use and wash it every 7 uses. Right now I’m simply rinsing it with some cold running water but I’m not sure if it’s safe to leave the module on when doing that – won’t there be some faster oxidation?
As you’re very experienced with using sports technology, I hope you can give me some pointers and best practices
I already saw How I manage 15+ Heart Rate Straps – a great idea although I only have 1, so I won’t need something like that just yet 
Best regards,
Maciek
I have been having some issues with my Garmin Heart Rate strap over the past years and wanted to know what brand of strap you would recommend. For the past 2 years I have used 2 of them, both broke the same way. It started showing HUGE spikes in its reading for no reason, resting heart rate at 215, even when I would not be wearing a shirt. After that I would change the battery to see if it was just that it was running low on battery and it did not work. The first time Garmin sent me a new strap since it was under warranty, the second time, not so much. Is there a brand that is more durable that the other? what is the life span of those straps? I usually rinse it of after a work out and shower with it to put a little bit of soap on it after long and hard days.
Thanks for your help,
Marco
I took your advice and got some Electro gel from my local medical supply store. Unfortunately, I’m still getting spikes with both my PowerCal and the Wahoo BLE HR strap. Unlike your example my spikes seem to occur towards the end of my indoor rides or treadmill runs. I’m beginning to suspect it has something to do with my shirt getting soaked from sweat. Have you seen this issue?
Indeed, I’ve seen that a few times where everything is so drenched – primarily on the exact scenario you describe – indoor runs with no fan.
The trick I found was to take a towel and every 15-20m or so do a quick wipe of my chest under my shirt. Essentially to try and get rid of some of the excess sweat. I found that it wasn’t so much the excess sweat in my shirt, as it was the near standing water on my chest that was causing issues.
Hi Ray,
Do you think this issue is solved with a Polar strap? I’m getting this also in outside runs (long ones), in the last 2/3 miles on sunny days, particularly when using a compression under layer. I’m using a 910xt with a premium strap. Quite annoying! I wonder why Garmin don’t solve these issues around HR measuring once and for all! I’ve seen so many customers talking about it for so long!
Thanks
The Polar strap solves it for many people, but not everyone (just as even on Polar devices, it’s not 100% solved). But, it’s one of the best bets today otherwise.
Here’s what I do to eliminate the issue with spiking. Prior to a ride I use chamois cream on my bits – then I rinse my hand under lukewarm water. The combination of water and chamois cream then gets schmeared (smeared) on my chest and the contacts. That’s it. Cheap, easy and works a treat.
Hope that helps.
I know you have special deals with Amazon and Clever Training, so it’d be really helpful if at the bottom of pages like this, where there’s so many recommendations about different brands of heart rate straps, that you include direct links to them. My quick searching still hasn’t found me a link to just purchase the Magellan strap without the entire watch. Thanks!
I found that dialectic grease on the snaps seem to work well with the older comfort strap from Garmin. I still need a couple more runs to prove this out. It is silver in color so DON’T use alot. Mine was spiking just about every run. I have gone 3 runs with no spikes at all. The first time my heart-rate went to 220, I thought I was having heart trouble.
I have had all the same problems as others have posted using the HRM with my Edge 500. It seemed that over time the strap would just go bad and no amount of washing it and applying electrode grease would prevent the spikes and drops. I simply bought another strap, but the same problem cropped up again in about 4 months. Then something occurred to me: If the salts in sweat can build up over time and cause issues, could not the same problem occur when washing it with the extremely hard water tht comes out of my tap? As an experiment, I washed it normally, but with distilled water. Then I let it soak in distilled water for a few hours (assuming osmosis would draw the deposits from the strap to the water). Then dried the contact portions with a towel and hung it to dry. Next ride was 50 miles and it worked perfectly for the first time in months. I did the same treatment to my other “bad” strap and now it works too. I now wash them this way every couple of weeks (about every 300 miles or so) and I have not had a problem since.
Has anyone had success (or failure) using Polar straps with a Wahoo pod? Just got a Kinetic inRide, I’d like to use my extra straps.
This just in TODAY from Garmin. There is a 3RD generation softstrap that has an extra contact pad to eliminate the HR spikes due to static. They are shipping me one tomorrow so will we see.
Ray if you read this I will email a pic once I get it.
Hi JLM-
I wrote about the HRM3 mid-way through this post: link to dcrainmaker.com
In short: Blah. :-/