Chest belt HR monitors - do they exist?
 

Is anybody using an "old school" HR monitor that requires the matching chest belt radio synced to a wristwatch based or handlebar mount device? I tried a couple of wrist based devices and am not impressed. (ten or more beats off)

Is Polar the only brand that still makes accurate HR monitors? What do the pro riders use?

The article is out of date. I used a Polar OH1. I liked that it had a memory. I liked the band. I didn't like the battery - I got 6 hours/charge, instead of the expected 10-12 hours.

I bought a Wahoo Tickr Fit. I wore a medical HRM for 3 weeks, and it was tracked by my Tickr Fit pretty well. Also the Tickr Fit gets a lot of hours/charge.

Another option to be considered along with the Scosche 24+, if you want to avoid possible discomfort with a chest strap and get good accuracy.

Are you looking for better wrist monitors or a chest-strap style? Lots of people use the latter so far as I can tell. I use a Wahoo Tickr and have been happy with it for several years, but it's not the only option.

I use a Polar H10 -- it transmits bluetooth/ant+ so I can pair it with either my phone or cycling computer. It's not as old school as you think.

4iiii HRM. It also transmits both as BT and ant+ and acts as bridge that lets my PM talk to Zwift. https://4iiii-innovations.myshopify....oducts/viiiiva

Many of the polar watches can work either with a wrist pulse sensor or a chest belt. The chest belts seem to be more accurate.

Another TICKR user here. Comfortable, accurate, the straps last about a year, and relatively cheap.

I think do it yourself

Polar Ft1. Simply a chest strap and a wristwatch monitor. Easy to see on the handlebars. So, yes they do exist and the price is reasonable, The watch can do some other things. I don't care. As a monitor it was easy to set up and use. (I had to buy it on Amazon as non of the sports stores I spent a day going to in Portland had it. Tried to spend my money locally.)

Edit: Each of the strap and watch take common electronics batteries and are easy to replace. The batteries I put in last June are going fine. The chest unit is waterproof so taking it into the shower after a ride is no big deal.

Ben

Hmm. . . . what leads you to need a new one? I've had the same strap for several years and it seems to work fine.

The one I have from garmin seems to work pretty well and seems to be a representative match with my effort. Haven't counted it to see how accurate it is though.

Most manufacturers sell replacement straps. I've had some where the stretchiness gets worn out or the contacts got so grody that I just got a new one.