The Garmin HRM Fit: a heart rate belt for women that doesn’t slip or chafe

Heart rate belts and me: less of a match made in heaven, more of a necessary evil. Because the heart rate straps with its sensors that measure the pulse and other performance data aren’t made for my female body. The straps inevitably slip down towards my waist unless I forcefully secure them. But then they constrict my chest and make it difficult to breathe. If I place the straps under my sports bra, they chafe so much that I often end up with sore spots.

As soon as I could measure my heart rate on my wrist relatively reliably, the chest strap was relegated to the drawer. At least temporarily. You need a heart rate belt for targeted competition preparation using a heart rate-based training plan. Measuring your heart rate on your wrist isn’t precise enough for this. So, I got out the uncomfortable belt again. But I wasn’t happy with it.

This made me even more interested in the new Garmin HRM Fit, which came onto the market at the beginning of the year. This is the rundown of my test.

First impression

In principle, the HRM Fit isn’t a heart rate belt. It’s half of one at most. Instead of encircling the chest, it can be easily attached to the lower part of a sports bra with three clips.

It’s not just a heart rate belt either; it’s also a fitness sensor. In addition to heart rate, it measures a number of other data such as step frequency, stride length, pace and power. This is relevant if you wear an older Garmin watch or one designed purely for measuring health data. In newer models, such as the current Garmin Fenix 7 series, these measurements are already integrated into the watch.

Connecting to my Garmin Fenix Pro 6 was super easy: the heart rate monitor was recognised immediately and it connected successfully with the push of a button. The cross trainer in the gym also recognised the sensor. Pairing with the Strava app was also no problem. As with all heart rate belts, the electrodes on the back of the band must be slightly moistened to take readings.

The manufacturer’s instructions state that, in order for the heart rate monitor to transmit accurate data, you should wear a sports bra with medium or high support. This is usually the case when running anyway because bras designed for yoga and gymnastics don’t perform well during high-impact movements like running. Of course, you can also use the strap with sports bras with less support for other sports, such as indoor cycling. If you and the bra don’t move too much, the strap will stay in place and transmit data reliably.

The battery compartment – a nuisance on previous versions of the Garmin heart rate strap – is now easy to open with a coin. The CR2032 battery is easy to replace. According to the manufacturer, the battery should last around a year with frequent use, which I can’t confirm yet as the belt has only been available for a few months.

Useful for running, biking and kettlebell training

When I’m running, it doesn’t even feel like I’m wearing a belt. This is a big improvement over the heart rate straps, which either slipped, chafed or interfered with my breathing. In fact, I completely forgot about the belt on my first run and only noticed it again when I took off my sports bra after jogging.

To feel comfortable, it’s important that your bra fits well. Sports bras that are too tight can affect runners’ oxygen intake and performance.

In addition to jogging, I wore the belt for biking, stand-up paddling and on the treadmill – also with no friction or constriction and with good data transfer. If the signal between the watch and the belt drops out briefly, the belt stores the data, which also includes intensity minutes and calorie burning. As soon as the connection is established again, the data will be downloaded.

I find this useful for kettlebell training, for example. I take off my watch to prevent damaging it during the overhead press or Turkish get-up. So far, these training units have been missing from the total workout load. Thanks to the Garmin HRM Fit, I can now record intensity minutes and heart rate, giving me more accurate information about my training and recovery needs.

Theoretically, the belt should also be suitable for swimming, but I haven’t tested that yet. Primarily because I couldn’t attach it anywhere on the inside of my swimsuit. A bikini designed for competitive swimming would definitely be a better option.