Garmin HRM-FIT Review: Best Women's Heart Rate Strap?

[@fitgearhunter]

Your wife is a saint and should be treated to a full spa day for helping you with this video

[@Dcrainmaker]

I agree, on all counts!

[@uberwenchable]

This is definitely not a case of “shrink it and pink it” for the female market, and I’m glad Garmin came up with it. I’ve been eager to try it since it was announced. Your wife and her friend are, ahem, of a slighter build than some like me who need industrial grade scaffolding in the brassiere department. I will definitely stress test it 😊 I’d like to try it as well while rowing, where I sometimes dislodge the strap pulling in the oar (and wrist based HR is completely useless in rowing).

[@nollys8523]

Thank you for taking one for Team Scaffolding brassiere 😁 looking forward to your comments on it

[@FeralFeminine]

I too need industrial grade scaffolding and I giggled at that comparison lol. I’m hopeful this works for us gals too! 😂

[@ecace1]

I'm normally salty when companies feel a need to make something special just ~for women~ like they're some niche market that can only wear pink or else they'll melt. But this is a brilliant idea. Well done Garmin.

[@laydsimba]

Our SHERO!!! Going out shirtless in the cold for us makes you the real MVP! ❤ Of course Garmin would release this 2 weeks after I bought a Polar OH1+ on a Christmas sale. 🙄 I cannot stand chest straps so the armband has been great. I may try this one in the future. 👍🏾

[@Jazmin_Ortega]

I appreciate Garmin going through the process of bringing this to market, even if it doesn't work for a lot of users. Currently I use the H10 Polar strap, using electrode gel it works well, up to about 15 miles without chafing. Anything more and it causes issues. There is a bra out there (Sensoria Fitness) that has the buttons to snap in an HRM pod, but it doesn't seem to offer the level of support that I need. So the search continues.

[@Aldinequeen]

Got this today for Mother’s Day’s and ran 3 miles with it. I said hell no to this but this is perfect! Excellent job Garmin.

[@kfahren1]

Okay... I got one and did my first run today. My opinion is that as a well endowed female it is a huge upgrade compared to a normal heart rate strap. The normal heart rate strap chase between my bra and the strap itself. This where it attaches means that I'm not going to be chafing there. I did my first run in it tonight and didn't even notice it there. Where my other traditional heart rate strap. I notice immediately when I put it on.

[@paulw677]

Kudos to your wife for the demo and to you for covering a women’s specific product

[@nollys8523]

I don’t have a 2022+ watch. The only thing that would be missing from my metrics is power. Thanks to my ample bosom I’ve never had to moisten sensors on a chest strap, but I have had to stop wearing it due to chafing. If this changes the chafing game, I’d sign up but my experience with Garmin HRMs is that they don’t have a great lifespan. My polar OH1+ has lasted longer and still works well but I don’t wear it during warmer months as I prefer the discreetness of a chest strap.

[@tinnahelga]

Thank you so much for this review! I am a woman who HATES a very snug chest band and feel like a normal HR strap i choking me when worn under a sports bra. So this sounds like just the thing, if I would like to up my HR game.

[@achookangaroo]

Definitely interested in this! My regular chest strap seems to be competing with the band of my sports bra. The only bummer is that I've had really bad luck with Garmin HRMs. I went through two of the duals and then switched to Polar.

[@nollys8523]

Glad to know others have had similar experiences with Garmin HRMs. My first Pro's battery life didn't last anywhere near a year, and replacement batteries didn't last more than 2 weeks. Same with the Pro+ Thankfully I have a Polar OH1+ as backup.

[@mockingbirdnightingale7169]

I have always found chest straps uncomfortable when wearing a sports bra. I want one of these. Except I actually believe my 255 is accurate enough already for my purposes. But I still kind of want it.

[@emlin1]

Brilliant, why hasn't this happened sooner. Well done Garmin and thanks for the review!

[@Maxwaehrens]

Hey Ray, always enjoy watching your videos! I guess if you want to test the accuracy of this "strap" in the future, you could rotate and wear a HRM pro strap 180 degrees around your chest and attach the HRM-FIT to the band of the HRM Pro strap and adjust the tightness.

[@tripw9424]

This seems awesome. I wish there were a way they could do something as convenient as this for attaching to bib straps for people who dont wear a sports bra.

[@reginalb124]

I just can't see how that would work. Bib straps have two vertical straps, as opposed to a continuous horizontal strap. That means that you have to nail the gap between the bib straps, whereas with a bra it can be more or less centered, and doesn't really matter. Also, most of my bib straps have a gap to my skin in spots, and so the strap would be floating. Just can't see that ever working.

[@adelafiroozfar8783]

My new band just came today, and I will be testing it during a Zwift ride. When running I am hoping it will resolve the chafing issue I had with my HRM-Pro.

[@elliottsmith4780]

Thanks for this review and to your wife (and her friend) for being the tester(s). I am interested to see the eventual feedback from larger athletes using this monitor, and if the opinion on the benefits changes.

[@nollys8523]

Same here. I had to swap out my chest strap for an arm OHM as the back of the chest strap kept digging into my skin, leaving me with scratches.

[@katrinaalison2511]

I have told my husband multiple times how it's annoying and dumb to put a HRM strap under my bra strap. I already have one strap constricting my chest, two can be uncomfortable. This is a step in the right direction... but I think the obvious solution would be garmin partnering with brooks or another run company to make a bra that the strap has the hrm built in, and then you just unsnap the device from the bra (like on on the heart rate strap currently) to wash it. That's the HRM that I'm dreaming of!

[@saskiahoppe2335]

Yes! I totally second this. That would be really really cool and useful!

[@LIZZYLIHO]

While I agree with this we need to move to some kind of standard that the industry as a whole would support. Women come in so many shapes and sizes and no one bra company is gonna be able to service any large portion of the population

[@melwtan]

Lululemon used to have a bar that had the sensors integrated and you'd snap in the Garmin HRM head unit onto it. I was too late to get one of them, I was super interested. Hope to see more development in comfortable HRM strap for women. My Garmin HRM PRO+ is still working so I'll stick with it, but excited to see more development for women.

[@ked4864]

Since you brought it up... would love to see some recent reviews of arm bands.....please.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yeah, I could definitely see circling back around to them again given the the recent ones and various firmware updates over the last while.

[@kimwarner6050]

I agree with your wife. It seems to be one more thing I'm not going to want to do to work out. I bought a polar arm band, but sent it back b/c I found it annoying having to put it on. My fenix heart rate is accurate and I'm always wearing it. Thanks for the review

[@andrewdhome]

My Apple Watch Series 7 used to have occasional problems getting a heartbeat. Each time, the solution was to reboot it and it then worked flawlessly

[@CarolJarvis-q6m]

I absolutely love my HRM-Fit, no more chaffing and I don't even know it's there. It is so comfortable

[@Sewmylifeback]

Super awesome review! Who makes your wife’s cycling bibs - those look fantastic!

[@martinlanders6135]

Kudus to Mrs.DCrainmaker and friend!! 👍🏻

[@LIZZYLIHO]

I love this! I’ve cut hr straps before to do the same thing

[@mbs6585]

looks awesome! especially for women who play sports like netball (where you cant wear a watch) and still want the data. My girlfriend was stuck sticking her Garmin inside her bra, and it was getting very poor readings.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Good call! Lots of sports out there indeed don't allow watches. I even heard yesterday from a Formula 1 team, that drivers aren't allowed watches (nor normal chest straps) either (apparently due to trying to ensure in an accident drivers can quickly get into an MRI without removing all sorts of accessories). So oddly, this is also a problem they're looking to solve too.

[@Mailinhnguyen93]

@@Dcrainmakerwonder if this is something they can integrate into the helmet. Since some armband straps these days have a goggle attachment. Feels like an auto sports helmet would have similar placement

[@CptnKremmen]

When I'm out on my bike, I apply a small amount of ECG gel to my HR monitor pads; unlike when I'm doing a spin class where dryness isn't a thing.

[@arlandmac]

If you have drop outs in the cold dry weather there are a few ECG gels out there that help with the conductivity. I remember one brand was called buh bump. and Performance bike made one as well. Or just get from your local health care provider I think ultrasound gel would work as well. I am a fan of viewing running dynamics on garmin especially looking at right/left balance GCT ground contact time. Right now I’m currently doing a combo of using a wahoo tickr fit and garmin RD pod as i don’t like wearing chest straps. However I do think this product has a market. You briefly did a swim test. My biggest issue using HR straps in a pool was that the straps would slide down every time I did a flip turn. I think this might solve that problem for women but they would need to wear a two piece swim suit (not bikini). I remember polar made a sports bra to hold their strap way back in the day like the loops on jeans to hold a belt; and this essentially converts any sports bra into one of those. Thanks again for yet another great review 🙏🏽 and also to your wife and your friend for being guinea pigs.

[@taraberry3070]

I was definitely interested in this, but while you didn’t call it out you showed in the video the page of the manual that says it’s not for type of bra I wear, with the clasps down the center. Whomp whomp. However the later comparison to the Verity Sense show me that I won’t be missing out by not switching my away from my optical monitor. Thanks!

[@BrittanyFox]

Thanks for showing it off. I was curious about how this fit.

[@TripYoungNP]

Let's Go Duke! ... Great running shirt of the friend!

[@SlowLegsandaDirtyBike]

Seems a good solution for fit issues. Given these straps are "unisex", they are actually sized to fit most men and a bunch of women. Left out may be smaller framed women. I know I often have to cinch the heart rate straps as small as they will go and I am a little thicker than I was in my younger years. If I was still in my 20s, most of those chest straps would be just a bit loose. For those with smaller chest circumference, this may be a way to prevent the loose/slipping strap.

[@julie99nl]

I have this issue with the HRMpro. I have to cinch it so tight to keep it from sliding down. Polar actually has anti slip silicon dots in their bands which allow the straps to be worn comfortably without the need to cinch it down that tight.

[@donbarnard82]

An upper arm optical sounds good until you're trying to wear long sleeve shirts, like in DC's winter scenario where he gives the nod to optical HRMs. My wife struggled with optical wrist/arm units for this reason (aside from their flukey accuracy issues). She also had trouble with chest straps fitting with her bra, which this new unit would seem to solve, but I think the clips would annoy her. Currently she's living with a normal chest strap.

[@mnyheim11]

Great video, as always! Interesting take on the use of HR straps in cold weather, as I have the opposite experience. I live in the arctic, and the wrist based HR monitor underreports the HR in cold weather (Forerunner 955). For some of my friends, it overreports. Can it have something to do with restricted blood flow to the hands? So for me a HR strap is a must in the winter, but I also prefer to use it year round.

[@Stevenafoe]

When used with indoor cycling zwift it also gives intensity minutes, which is not the case with the lower tier hrm straps.

[@mgoo1713]

So I showed this to my wife. She an avid cyclist with 32DD chest. She has a problem with her breasts pushing down the chest strap. She wears very supportive sports bras and still has this issue. She wants to try this, she thinks it might solve the problem. Her chest strap will actually pop out under her bra and she can't wear it above the elastic band on her bras. Time will tell.

[@shinku3]

Do you know if the arm bands work well with people with dark skin? I know the optical heart rate wrist sensors have issues.

[@wk633]

That "cadence lock" looks like an issue I have with my Fenix 6s Pro/Garmin HRM Pro+ (with electrode gel). I often get super crazy high (for me, I'm 57) HR values for the first 20m-1h of an easy run, like 150s-160s, before it will finally drop down into the 100-110. My pace doesn't change, reported power doesn't change. I know it's off because doing 3min max effort hill repeats I might hit 150bpm. But could cadence lock be the issue if using a strap? I've even gone into my settings and turned off the optical HR on the watch before doing the workout to make sure it's getting the strap.

[@dylanl9532]

Wow that fishnet bib short 😎 I didn't know something like that existed.

[@JulieSaddoris]

Pretty sure it's Sheebeast bib shorts

[@jessielevertaylor2831]

Thanks for the very helpful review. I have the HRM-pro and I have a small rib cage but large cup size. My HRM-pro is fine but it catches on my sports bra and it stops reading occasionally. I can obviously reposition it and it’s fine. I am guessing your wife and her friend haven’t had this issue because they are both smaller chested. Maybe you can find a bigger busted runner to test in future.

[@sportfittech]

Still have no idea why Sports Bra’s with HRM sensors built in didn’t take off! My wife’s last one died last year and the only options are some yoga type tops that are useless for running

[@Dcrainmaker]

Somewhat surprised, but at the same time, finding a sports-bra that one really likes can be tricky. Thus, for most of the companies that did the snap-on sensor option, they didn't have a ton of great sports-bra options, thus limiting overall comfort.

[@JorgeCastilloArg]

Would it be possible to make a video comparing results between running dynamics measured from the watch, the strap or the RD pod (probably not a very interesting topic for a video)? I have the impression that the results are less accurate when I run without the RD pod in the treadmill. Good video, btw!

[@SusanPorterT2]

HRM-Fit $149 vs HRM-Pro Plus $129? Clips - shorter strap = $20 increase? Or just another pink tax?

[@Dcrainmaker]

...even more when most of the time the HRM-PRO Plus sits at about $97-$105 (right now it's at $119 on Amazon, actually rather high for it).

[@tiktian]

The strap likely doesn't cost all that different for a longer or shorter length, whilst the clips are additional parts, combined with the likely much lower sales compared to the standard strap, I don't think the price increase is at all odd. custom plastic parts molds are much more expensive than what's likely some commodity clip parts.

[@MacMasore]

4:35 Wonder how that conversation went; Ray: so you run on the treadmill wearing only a sportsbra while I film you in slow motion 😅

[@cplewns6445]

Is it worth purchasing if you don't want or have a Garmin watch but just want a good chest strap HRM

[@Furkidd]

Ray, what if she left it on the sport's bra, do you think then it'd make sense then? I mean installation would be once every time the sport's bra get washed.

[@EricCash]

Great video! Random...any chance you'll review Nix Hydration Biosensor?

[@davepratt9909]

I would have paid money to see you test it. ;-)

[@TanyaSutherland-c1u]

Do you have any feed back from larger breasted women and underwire sports bras. I'm talking E cup and up.

[@rebeccas7450]

Wondering if will work on regular bra, love idea here just dont do sports bras

[@julie99nl]

I hate the HRMpro! I have to wear it so tight or else it slides down constantly! I can use the Polar H10, which has anti slip built in to the strap and my HR is lower by as much as 10 points with Polar. I've posted this on reddit and I'm not the only one with this issue. I just have a small waist and the band for the HRMpro is just not ideal.

[@nellieforbes2216]

Will the HRM FIT clip onto underwire sports bras & capture all of the HR data?

[@ted363636]

Still waiting for something less intrusive to sleep and play teams sports with, like a Garmin Ring or something. BTW kudos to your wife for rocking Fenix instead of Epix #teamMIP ;)

[@mbs6585]

When I'm on clinical placement and have to be bare below the elbow for hand hygiene, I wear my Fenix around my bicep with the watch facing inward. I use the garmin diving bungee strap. It works well, I can still read the watch, and it isn't obtrusive. It may work for you for some sports, maybe not sleeping.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Haha...yeah, she's very much on team MIP!

[@jagoda1115]

me, it solves a problem for me. the chest strap always tries to escape on the runs. And this one does not .

[@Choedron]

Maybe for younger A og B-cup size breasts, which does not hang down and create a fold. But it is so annoying to have a HR monitor placed this way, if you have slightly larger breasts. It causes chafing for many women. Even sports bras can be bloody annoying with the wide elastic band. So, no thanks from here. I prefer my Garmin 965.

[@pameladh27]

Came looking for this comment 😅 the whole time I was thinking my sports bra band eventually disappears under my breast after a few minutes into the run, would love to see this on a C or higher cup

[@theghostofpcs2391]

Yeah, I wear a bulky sports bra with an underwire, and I'm short...

[@Dcrainmaker]

@@pameladh27 Yeah, I was trying to find someone in my local friend testing pool that fit the bill, but couldn't quite find a volunteer. I might have a few more options now that it's been announced, which I'll update the written review if I can secure some local Amsterdam volunteers.

[@SuperPoekie]

@Dcrainmaker I'm a bit more out of the way (Hengelo - practically Germany) but fully willing to test this for more busty ladies as I'm 32H.

[@BrittanyFox]

I’ve used a polar h10 under my sports bra for years. This just seems like adding a failure point… it’s already annoying enough to get bras to fit perfectly, then have our hrm rely on fit? This seems worse than a standard strap in every way. I run, lift, and do martial arts.

[@cyclingchantal]

I will stick to my old and solid Wahoo HR strap

[@ChryseML]

I am a lady with "high support" requirements - a constant struggle I have with the wrap around HRM is chaffing, particularly on long runs. I am so eager to try this and see if can be the solution!

[@massimocaradonna3857]

Fine I'll say it. DAMNNN! RAY YOU MARRIED OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE 😊

[@yoda112358]

Would this work for time triallists using one of those fancy aero crop top base layers?

[@ovanis]

What are the spotted bib shorts your wife is wearing? 0:15

[@Dcrainmaker]

It's actually a super old prototype bib from Betty Designs, we're not sure it ever made it to production: www.bettydesigns.com/collections/shorts-tights

[@SoftTofu123]

$150 for HR monitor, when their other models cap at $130 or so? speaking of girl-tax....

[@RaleighStoughton]

I immediately clicked off the video when i realized dc wasn't gonna be wearing a sports bra.

[@hellotiger99]

I'm disappointed in you Ray that you didn't fully commit and wear a sports bra for additional testing 😂

[@MateHegyhati]

Technical question: I just checked the specifications, it says 3ATM, and for the data storage it says stand alone mode only. Am I correct to assume, that this is not recommended for swimming? And the note/question: Watches can record stuff without strap/rdp, but not all I think (L/R balance), but do they provide the same data? I know, that running power is not well defined, but are Garmin watches accurate compared to Garmin straps/rdp?

[@Dcrainmaker]

No problems with swimming. The Whole ATM thing and water immersion is a weird scuba divers fallacy that never end (thinking you need a 95ATM type device to go snorkeling). The real issues with most devices in water is actually the 'whack' of a watch against the while while swimming, or for watches also, button pressing. Neither of which are an issue here, unless I suppose you belly flop a lot...from very high up. As for running dynamics, aside from the left/right bits, in my testing the results were virtually identical between strap and wrist. Surprisingly so.

[@MateHegyhati]

@@Dcrainmaker Thanks!

[@kimwarner6050]

Looks interesting, will watch when I get back from my ride. Hopefully they've figured out what to do about boobs in the way

[@mlegrand]

I feel like Ray should have worn a sports bra within this video. Huge opportunity missed here. 😬

[@StephanieLuff]

Finally.

[@86medic1]

I wont trust this review until i see you using it while wearing a sports bra… ill be waiting lol

[@donbarnard82]

No mansiere testing? This channel is really slacking lately.

[@massimocaradonna3857]

So um. Who's the friend? Asking for a friend!

[@georgevadnais3516]

A m'en can wear a sport bra under is shirt and have those clips to.

[@kelbinn]

Am disappointed not to see DC wear sport bra 😢😢

[@MattPrego]

If the video gets 10k likes you'll wear a sports bra and test it yourself?

[@eagle63-94]

Je passe mon chemin, recharge par pile uniquement et non usb

[@McLambo]

Come on Ray, you could've tested this yourself, it would have been a fun video 😎

[@CartoClips]

I’m seriously thinking about bailing on KZbin because I keep on subscribing me to channels that I just kinda went to one video and watched it once. I don’t care about this channel why they be subscribing me to this is that something that you pay for?

[@flyhigh_tony]

또 센서랑 스트랩이랑 일체형이네..... 일체형 절대 구매하지 않겠다... 스트랩 교체형이 아니면 결국 쓰레기.. 자원 낭비임... 가민 이넘들 왜 자꾸 일체형으로만 만드는거야.... 속셈은 뻔하지..

[@MateHegyhati]

So, just to get it straight... You have a bunch of recording of your wife's chest, uploaded it to a video sharing platform, and now earn money with that. That sounds like a business model for another platform 😀 Jokes aside, thanks for the review, and huge kudos to running like that in the winter. Can imagine how pleasant it could have been after riding the bike in the heat chamber... Thank you both!

[@stedoesstuff]

Couldn’t you have just borrowed your wife’s sports bra for this video? It’s a viral video waiting to happen.

[@borasumer]

I expect better from you man, please do the tests yourself next time, c'mon. lol

[@BeaverTerror]

Arm band sensors blow chest straps out of the water. The comfort is not even close.

[@rasherdk]

Comes at the cost of reduced accuracy though..

[@BeaverTerror]

@@rasherdk No. Did you watch the video?

[@rasherdk]

​@@BeaverTerror Watched the video, read the reviews and many more, as well as done my own testing. Optical sensors are just not as accurate as a chest band except maybe in the edge case of extremely dry skin. Even when at their best, they lag behind for rapid changes of heart rate, and they have more of a tendency to go off the rails for no discernible reason. The arm-straps ARE pretty good though. Certainly better than a wrist-based optical sensor. It can definitely be worth it for comfort or situations where a chest ban is not a realistic option.

[@BeaverTerror]

@@rasherdk Are you sure you watched the video? Check out 14:19

[@rasherdk]

@@BeaverTerror "pretty much equal" (i.e. not quite), "some scenarios" (i.e. the one I mentioned). Yes, I watched it. None of what I'm saying is surprising. The arm bands are pretty good, but chest straps is a solved problem.

[@Tyrael2b]

If I wanted to watch other people review tech I would watch there channel! The lame excuses DC rainmaker! Just put on a sports bra and run for us! - don’t know why I’m so angry couldn’t watch passed 2:34 / well and I guess I don’t where a sports bra. - very disappointed DC hope you man up and put on - thanks for all you others amazing reviews

[@BrutusTheUgly]

It is highly immoral to let your wife run naked in the winter (1:16) just for this video, you should have invited her abroad in a warm country or put on a bra and run by yourself!

[@Dcrainmaker]

I don't believe you understand the term 'naked'.

[@youtubepro2323]

And woman should not be the only people that gets sports bras if men want them they should be allowed which they are and people that don't want them don't have to have them

[@theghostofpcs2391]

Well, professional football players also wear tops that gather data. But not all women can use something like this new gadget. If you need some actual support, that thing isn't going to fit.

[@_Zane__]

🙄