Garmin, along with Polar, are the top brands in the heart rate monitor market (see more in the Heart rate monitor Review . Today I will review the Garmin heart rate monitor strap and Garmin heart rate monitor watch to help you understand how to best use each of these devices.

Garmin is a multinational technology founded in Kansas, United States. They have a wide range of products, from cars drive assist to wearables. However, the company is most known for its specialization in GPS technology. Its first product was a GPS 100 which was aimed at the marine market. Until 2000, the company had 35 patents on GPS technology.

in comparison, the Polar company founder developed EKG heart rate monitors and incorporated that technology right from the start, Garmin focused on GPS devices and just recently entered heart rate monitors field in 2006. That was when they acquired Dynastream Innovations, Inc. which was a leading provider of foot pods and heart rate monitors, also well known for their ANT wireless interface protocol. This information helps explain why Garmin heart rate monitors use ANT+, but not Bluetooth like many other brands. In this review I will provide you with a lot of useful information about Garmin heart rate monitor strap and Garmin heart rate monitor watch. This review will answer some of the following question:

• Should you choose Garmin heart rate monitor strap or Garmin heart rate monitor watch?
• How to use Garmin heart rate monitor
• How to wear Garmin heart rate monitor

Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Strap vs  Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Garmin has a lot of products to help measuring your heart rate. Basically, I divide them to 3 main types and you will know how to use the Garmin heart rate monitor for each type.

1. Garmin heart rate monitor strap

Garmin heart rate monitor strap has a lot of good reviews in the market. It uses EKG sensor just like Polar heart rate monitor does. If you’re serious about high accuracy, check out one of Garmin heart rate monitor straps below:

2. Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Watch

If you don’t want to wear a chest strap when exercising, Garmin offers you wrist-based heart rate watches that use an optical sensor. Some popular Garmin heart rate monitor watches are: Garmin Vívosmart HR and Garmin Vívoactive HR GPS.
Garmin heart rate monitor watch has more functions than Garmin heart rate strap as they can track steps, distance, calories and you can receive calls, text messages through it. However, as I mentioned above, optical sensor might not be as accurate as EKG sensor.

3. Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Watch that also Works with a Chest Strap

Garmin Vívofit is the favorite of many people but it doesn’t have a built-in heart rate monitor. To track your heart rate, you will need to use it together with a chest strap. Options for you are Garmin Vívoactive bundle (includes Heart Rate Monitor), Garmin Vívofit or Garmin Vívofit 2 Bundle (includes Heart Rate Monitor).

How to wear Garmin heart rate monitor

Wondering how to wear Garmin heart rate monitor or where to wear Garmin heart rate monitor strap? You will have to wear the strap under your chest and wet it with water or gel before exercising. Again, this may not be comfortable for some people but until now, the chest strap is still considered the most accurate in measuring heart rate data.
A Garmin heart rate monitor watch is easier to wear. Just wear it on your wrist like a normal watch. You don’t need to do anything else.

How to use Garmin heart rate monitor

To use Garmin heart rate monitor strap, you will need to connect it with a smartphone or a wristwatch receiver and to make sure you can easily read the data from these devices when exercising.
You may set your maximum heart rate zone and a targeted heart rate zone for a specific workout activity so you can adjust your level of training to make sure it safe and effective.

Summary:  Comparing Garmin heart rate monitor straps and Wristwatches

The Garmin heart rate monitor strap must be connected with a smartphone or a wristwatch receiver and most importantly, you must position the device correctly to collect accurate data.  This is critically important so you are make certain to use the best data from these devices while exercising.

Chest-worn monitors were tested against the wrist-worn trackers, which use electrodes to measure your pulse, and that are more accurate than PPG technology. A heart monitor strap device is worn snuggly and closer to the heart and is therefore less likely to slide out of position while exercising than a wristwatch, assuring more accurate heart-rate readings.

There are pluses and minuses to both devices. A wrist-worn tracker may be better for one person because it is more comfortable, easier to wear and provides an immediate reading while a chest strap may provide the most accurate reading for the serious athlete and this factor overrides the discomfort some people report wearing them, the challenge some report in breathing comfortably and difficulty noted in wetting and placing the device accurately, all of which makes them seem awkward to wear. A wrist tracker may not give you the most perfect data, but it allows you to get out the door more quickly and into your activity.  The choice is up to you, but remember, both wristwatches and heart rate monitor straps have to fit exactly right to take accurate readings.