Last Updated: November 25, 2018 (Refresh Now)
Garmin Premium Heart Rate Monitor Soft Strap
Last Updated: November 25, 2018 (Refresh Now)
7.3
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
999
Old Reviews
633
Unverified
35
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Review Analysis - 331 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Band
54garmin, comfortable, straps, hr, chest
+63%
-37%
" ... Wearing the strap under a tight shirt will definitely help for it not moving if you use the strap by itself and you were very aggressive person the strap when you're sweaty may tend to slide around or fall off depending upon how aggressive you are with your activity so using a tight shirt with or a whisk away dry sweet shirt, shirt was a big help ... "
" ... Needed a replacement for my previous chest strap. ... "
" ... More comfortable than the original Garmin monitor but harder to put on. ... "
" ... That's strap is very confortable and it's working very well. ... "
" ... Only had for couple of weeks but so far works great, and is more comfortable than previous straps (both Timex and Polar). ... "
" ... This is my third Garmin HR soft strap. ... So far so good with the new strap. ... "
" ... Excellent--most comfortable strap ever from Garmin . ... "
" ... There appear to be four sensors (not confirmeedd) and this premium model delivers the most comfortable band I've tried yet. ... "
Heartrate
49heart rate, heart rate monitor, hr, chest, hrm
+69%
-31%
" ... I returned a few other popular fitness trackers with wrist based heart rate tracking because of the inaccurate heart rate reading while lifting weights. ... I’m waiting for Garmin to come out with a device that can provide wrist heart rate tracking that can also be used with a chestrap, but until then, I will continue to use this cheststrap with the vivofit. ... "
" ... I just wish that when it syncs up to my vivofit that it would recognize what my normal resting heart rate is. ... "
" ... More comfortable than the original Garmin monitor but harder to put on. ... "
" ... Nice to see HR and keep within HR ranges during workouts of different intensity. ... "
" ... Highly useful in monitoring target and max heart rates. ... "
" ... Purchased these for my forerunner 235. ... The Garmin heart rate was so comfortable I forgot I had it on at the end of my race. ... "
" ... I recently switched from Polar to Garmin and I am pleased with this heart rate monitor and strap. ... "
" ... My fourth Garmin HRM. ... "
Comfort
43strap, wear, garmin, straps, hr
+72%
-28%
" ... It is very accurate and comfortable. ... "
" ... More comfortable than the original Garmin monitor but harder to put on. ... "
" ... That's strap is very confortable and it's working very well. ... "
" ... Only had for couple of weeks but so far works great, and is more comfortable than previous straps (both Timex and Polar). ... "
" ... Just wore it for a half marathon and it fit great. ... "
" ... It is comfortable and pairs quickly with my Garmin 1030 on each ride so far (about a dozen rides). ... "
" ... Excellent--most comfortable strap ever from Garmin . ... "
" ... Comfortable, works as promised. ... "
Product Reliability
39working, months, year, stopped working, died
+41%
-59%
" ... Worked for about 2 years using it once or twice a week before it quit working. ... I thought it should last longer. ... "
" ... This product has only lasted a month and has already died. ... "
" ... I've been through 3 of these in 2 1/2 years. ... They just stop working. ... They are too expensive to replace every year. ... "
" ... That is until the battery died and needed to be replaced. ... "
" ... This worked 2 times and then just stopped working. ... "
" ... Purchased less than 10 months ago it really started having problems around 3-4 months, I switched out numerous batteries, tried trouble shooting, etc. ... Eventually I gave up on it, then tried again to bring it back this last week but without luck. ... "
" ... it just stopped working! ... "
" ... The one that I bought a month ago is working, but erratic. ... Usually it will eventually unpin itself and come back to normal, but not always. ... "
Device Compatibility
32synced, paired, works great, vivoactive, sync
+63%
-38%
" ... Switching to the Premium Monitor removed all issues. ... "
" ... Quickly synced to my Garmin Edge 810. ... "
" ... It connects beautifully with the Garmin VivoActive HR watch. ... "
" ... No problems getting it connected ... "
" ... Synced immediately with no problems. ... "
" ... I connected it to my Garmin 920XT watch and it works perfectly. ... "
" ... Excelent accessorie for Garmin Edge devices ... "
" ... Connecting the 2 devices was simple and straight forward. ... "
Battery Life
26screws, replacing the battery, died, change the battery, replace the battery
+15%
-85%
" ... Will not pair after I replaced battery. ... "
" ... Received it with a dead battery ... "
" ... That is until the battery died and needed to be replaced. ... "
" ... It just died (I changed the battery, that wasn't it). ... "
" ... When the battery finally dies it's impossible to get the tiny screws off without stripping them and then being stuck with a non working garmin. ... "
" ... I haven't even used it yet, but the battery issue is a serious one. ... "
" ... After about a month as I got further into my long runs, which typically lasted about an hour and a half to two hours, I saw significant decays where, regardless of effort, my heart rate would continue to decline. ... "
" ... The device won't sync even after removing the case to inspect the battery. ... "
Marketplace
20works as advertised, thanks, expected, exactly, works
+80%
-20%
" ... I guess it works as expected without having to give it a second thought which is exactly what I demand in something like this. ... "
" ... Works as advertised ... "
" ... Works as advertised. ... "
" ... Works with my Epix exactly as expected. ... "
" ... Just what I expected ... "
" ... New and worked as advertised. ... "
" ... Perfect as expected. ... "
" ... Works as described. ... "
Build Quality
19strap, stripped, remove, stripping, straps
+21%
-79%
" ... Also the chest strap sensor pads that go along the body are pealing apart. ... "
" ... Screws are impossible to remove without stripping. ... "
" ... I went through TWO tiny screwdrivers trying to get the screws off to inspect and eventually gave up when they both snapped. ... "
" ... After a lot of other research of reviews and forums, this seems be due to the accumulation of sweat in the fabric of the strap. ... "
" ... I know from other reviews not to waste my time trying to remove the brass screws. ... "
" ... So then I assumed it wasn't tight enough (it did feel kind of loose). ... "
" ... Disappointed with the sliding adjuster on this belt, it is very difficult to get it to slide and adjust to my body. ... "
" ... so stuck with a piece of equipment wondering if I want to invest more . ... "
Fit
14garmin, works great, vivo fit, screws, belt
+57%
-43%
" ... Works great and synced to my Garmin 520 edge easily. ... "
" ... This monitor pairs very quickly with our Vivo Fit. ... "
" ... fits and works well. ... "
" ... That and that it pairs quickly and holds its connection - which it does. ... "
" ... Stays in place no problem and connects to the Garmin Edge unit every time. ... "
GPS
10forerunner, 235, vivoactive, polar, hrm
+60%
-40%
" ... Works perfectly with my Garmin Forerunner 220. ... "
" ... My fourth Garmin HRM. ... "
" ... Work with my Garmin Edge Bike computer and my Garmin Forerunner 235 watch. ... "
" ... I purchased this separately from my Garmin vivoactive watch. ... "
" ... Another good product from Garmin. ... "
Product As Described
10expected, exactly, works, works as expected, described
+100%
" ... I guess it works as expected without having to give it a second thought which is exactly what I demand in something like this. ... "
" ... Works as advertised ... "
" ... Works as advertised. ... "
" ... Works with my Epix exactly as expected. ... "
" ... Just what I expected ... "
" ... New and worked as advertised. ... "
" ... Perfect as expected. ... "
" ... Works as described. ... "
Bluetooth
10pairs, pairing, paired, garmin, ant
+40%
-60%
" ... Partly my mistake - I did not realize this uses ANT+ technology for communication and not bluetooth . ... I wish the product specification mentioned it explicitly without needing to rely on Q & A that this does not work with bluetooth . ... "
" ... Furthermore since it is not Bluetooth technology I can't even tell if my iPhone is paired with it (not listed in the "available bluetooth devices". ... "
" ... I've been slowly switching my stuff over to bluetooth. ... "
" ... I had purchased this to link it to my phone via Bluetooth but that didn't work, and now I have to pay for the return shipping. ... "
" ... This device only transmits on ANT+ and not Bluetooth. ... "
" ... It keeps disconnecting from Bluetooth all the time, I knew it was too good to be true ... "
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Specifications
Connectivity
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