Chest based heart rate monitors

[EThomas]

Has anyone used a chest based heart rate monitor and if so how do you find it?

I'm currently using a Fitbit which I know is highly inaccurate while running as it picks up my cadence rather than my pulse. I have been thinking about investing in a more accurate monitor especially as I am really into running now and I want to monitor my progress.

I am looking for one that will link to Strava. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thank you in advance.

Happy running everyone.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

I've been using one for the past 18 months and I'm very happy with it. I'd previously bought a Garmin FR235 watch to replace my old TomTom in the belief it's HRM was more reliable.... NOPE.

So i resorted to the chest-strap, which I'd long resisted. I bought a CooSpo one from Amazon. It pairs nicely with my Garmin and then Garmin exports to Strava. Should be same with your Fitbit (which you should ditch as far as running concerned).

[EThomas Graduate in reply to John_W]

Thank you for your response. I'll have a look into that one.

[Hidden]

I went out for a run just the one time with my Polar strap and my Garmin Forerunner 235 and they were exactly the same beat-for-beat. So I'm pretty happy that my watch is telling the truth and therefore haven't bothered with a chest strap.

[EThomas Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to EThomas]

I will wear both again on Friday when I go out for my 5K and just check it wasn't a one-off. Is there any possibility they could interfere with each other? i.e. the strap picks up the watch or vice versa or something? I dunno.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

No, they won't interfere with each other. I have an FR235 as well but find it HR measurement is too glitchy for me.

[Tasha99 Graduate]

I’ve tried 2 different ones as I’m very much into heart rate training. Both of them (garmin and polar) kept giving me massive spikes in heart rate even when going slow so I sent them back. Like readings above my max. I think I got too much static with them with my loose tops but I am one of those very staticky people who gets electric shocks all the time. I’ve gone back to using my garmin watch as that seems to be fine.

[EThomas Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you