Product Description

Wireless chest strap sends heart rate data to the Edge or Forerunner which then displays data in beats per minute or by zone. Download data to your PC using the Training Centre software that came with your Edge or Forerunner or purchase optional Mapsource software showing topo or street detail for a detailed post-ride analysis. Please check compatibility with your product prior to purchase.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3814 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: 010-10997-00
• Released on: 2008-03-15
• Dimensions: 2.50" h x 2.74" w x 3.00" l, 1.28 pounds

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Good bit of kit, but....
This is an essential part of the Garmin fitness range of watches (specifically the Forerunner 50/405).

It sends wireless signals to the watch, and the data is stored until you upload it to your PC, and into the Garmin charting/graphing application. You can then see your heart rate, and the heart rate zones, displayed on the screen.

One thing though, the price of this alone is quite high, especially as Amazon sell it bundled with a Forerunner 50 watch for less!

Not bad for the price ;-)
You've probably heard what it does and I can confirm you that it does exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak. It tells you the distance, speed, calorie burnt and heart rate. With a bit patient, it can be a very effective training device.

Now for the downside, it's not very user-friendly. I can imagine my mum would be twiddling with it for ages and eventually shout out my name and ask for help. Secondly, the Garmin Ant USB as previously said by other users doesn't work properly. The PCs I tried have crashed or it didn't detect my device at all. Lastly, I got the kit brand new from Amazon UK but the battery was already gone. With further research, the watch actually has this reoccurring problem. Some said that it lasts less than the warranty which is 12 months. But I managed to change the battery myself without a hitch with a big big help from Marc who posted how to replace the battery for the Garmin Forerunner 50 at Fixya.

Overall, I'm fairly happy with it. It's not the best product in the market but it's affordable. If you could fork out a few more quid, buy or try out before you buy some other models. But if you fancy a no-nonsense watch for your training, then I would highly recommend this.
Lastly, thanks sis.

It can't get much better...
Heart-rate monitors units are fairly simple things. They strap around your chest to hold a couple of electrodes in contact with your skin to detect the beating of your heart, transmitting this information wirelessly to a nearby receiver.

The Garmin offering is no different in it's function. But it is different in a couple of other ways. The piece with all the brains in is longer than some other brands, making up "half" of the band that the complete unit forms around your chest. It's made from a pre-shaped soft plastic, with "ribbed" electrode pads built in. I've found this shape to be very comfortable, fitting neatly round my chest and staying in place with no bother. In fact it's so comfortable that I really don't notice I'm wearing it, even after 14 solid hours of cycling.

I use it with a Garmin Edge and have never had any problems with signal, it usually syncs with the main unity within 10 seconds. When riding in a bunch with some other users, it doesn't suffer from cross-talk staying paired with my own Edge and keeping my heart rate to myself.

The battery life is very good, I found that it needed replacing after maybe a year - during which it got used around 6 - 8 hours a week.

If I've got one gripe it's that Garmin went and invented their own standard rather than licensing Polar's. So until Garmin's ANT+ Sport standard gathers momentum it's unlikely that this unit will work with the majority of exercise equipment in Gyms etc where Polar still reigns supreme.