Launched last year, the Garmin HRM-Fit heart rate monitor is a chest strap made specifically for women. Through an innovative clip mechanism design, the HRM-Fit aims to solve a key issue which can afflict many women, and others, when wearing chest straps, such as discomfort and chaffing.
The HRM-Fit retails at £139.99/$149.99 and is currently the only heart rate monitor on the market which uses a half chest strap clip-on design.
It is like a standard chest strap but cut in half, and without any ability to adjust it but Garmin says it should fit all shapes and sizes.
It is worth noting that there are other options aside from a standard chest strap for measuring heart rate when cycling, including armbands and wrist options, many of which can be found in our guide to the best heart rate monitors.
Design and specifications
The Garmin HRM-Fit is a chest strap which uses electrical detection to track the wearers heart rate. This method is regarded as a highly accurate technology for measuring heart rate, and better than optical-based systems more commonly found on the best cycling watches. Much like a standard chest strap, the electrodes on either side of the logo clip need to be moistened in order to awaken the strap and it will automatically turn off when not in use.
The heart rate monitor clips directly onto a sports bra underband. Garmin says that the monitor should be used with medium and high-support sports bras and that the sports bra underband needs to fit close to skin for the HRM-Fit to work most effectively.
The HRM-Fit supports three concurrent Bluetooth connections, and unlimited ANT+ connections, which is standard amongst Garmin's highest performing heart rate monitors, and is one more than you get on the more basic Garmin HRM-Dual.
According to the brand, the battery will last for one year, when being used for one hour per day, and the battery is contained within a small coin cell compartment in the middle clip and thus should be easily replaceable.
The HRM-Fit has a 3ATM water rating which means it is able to manage sweat and rain showers, but not to be worn swimming.
What makes the HRM-Fit standout aside from its innovative strap design is that it boasts a ton of features which are aimed at maximising data insights from users who enjoy a multitude of sports. This is similar to the standard Garmin chest strap, the HRM-Pro Plus.
Notably, these features predominantly only work with Garmin watches and aren't that relevant to pure cyclists but are interesting nonetheless.
For example, when paired to a compatible Garmin smartwatch, HRM-Fit captures running dynamics, such as stride length and contact time, which can help improve running form, and when running indoors the monitor will also transmit pace and distance. There's also the ability to capture step count, calories, heart rate and intensity level when not wearing a watch.
Performance
During testing, I found the Garmin HRM-Fit sent extremely accurate recordings, connecting and pairing seamlessly to my devices including a Garmin Instinct 2S and Garmin 1040S. When out cycling, running or hiking, the HRM-Fit stayed in place, and I didn't see any hiccups in data.
However, it's getting the HRM-Fit on which proved to be the trickiest.
The clips are chunky and a bit fiddly to attach to a sports bra underband – it's like clipping a skirt or pair of trousers onto a hanger.
It took several attempts to make sure the strap was taut and snug along the sports bra underband, as any rippling would likely affect accuracy. I'd advise attaching the middle clip first and then working your way to the sides to ensure the strap is as taut and snug as possible.
Garmin says that the strap needs to be attached to a super tight underband in order for it to remain against skin, which I would agree with, however, wearing a super tight sports bra isn't for everyone, nor is it comfortable for all day riding.
I found the strap to be relatively comfortable and liked how the clips don't sit against the skin but it took a while to get used to as it felt like my sports bra underband was on a hanger whilst attached to me. Once I got used to the design, it was easy to forget I was wearing it once I was in the zone.
It's also noteworthy that under a tight jersey the HRM-Fit clips are obvious and protrude, which is not ideal if you are going for a slick look. I have found that chest straps in the past can create a similar look, but the clips are much thicker on the HRM-Fit so it is much more obvious that you are wearing a heart rate monitor.
Verdict
Thanks to the innovative strap and clip design, the HRM-Fit is less restrictive than a traditional chest strap, boasting high accuracy and a plethora of additional data and dynamics aimed predominantly at runners.
At £139.99/$149.99, the HRM-Fit is steep, but an excellent choice for those looking to avoid potential chafing or rubbing which can come when using a standard chest strap.
The additional features are very impressive and are worthwhile if you enjoy multiple sports but aren’t going to benefit a user who just wants it for cycling.
Personally, I would like to see the price reduced to be in line with the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus, as it has similar features but cannot be worn swimming, and I do not think women should have to pay more for less tech but no chaffing.
