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Garmin HRM-Pro Plus

8
£119.99

VERDICT:

8
10
More than just a heart rate monitor, and that is reflected in the price
Comfortable strap
Bonus features for Garmin device users
Connects quickly
High price
Weight: 
52g
Contact: 

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Garmin's HRM-Pro Plus heart rate monitor is up to three or four times the price of some on the market, but if you are already enrolled in the Garmin 'family' of devices and you are into multisports then it does bring a lot of extra features over other monitors. It'll work with other devices too, and it is very comfortable to wear, even for long and sweaty workouts.

Check out our guide to the best heart rate monitors for more options at various prices.

Taking the HRM-Pro Plus out of the box, it really doesn't look any different to any other HR strap. You get a pod in the centre, which is now white – it was yellow on the previous HRM-Pro – and an adjustable strap, with a couple of sensor pads on it for monitoring your heart rate. The main difference between this Plus model and its predecessor is that battery replacement is now tool-free.

The strap is adjustable, with a range of 60cm (23.5in) up to 106cm (42in); that isn't massive, but I suppose being aimed at athletes, the majority tend to be quite slender. You can buy an extender if you need one for £8.99, which increases the chest size to 142cm (56in).

The strap is one of the most comfortable I've used. The thin design allows it to contour nicely with your body and it manages to stay in place without exerting a lot of pressure on your skin. I've worn it on some long gravel rides and barely noticed it – not something I can say about all body strap systems.

Connectivity

Things are pretty standard in terms of connectivity, with the HRM-Pro Plus transmitting your data via Bluetooth or ANT+ to whichever device you are using. I connected it without issue to my Garmin Edge 530 and Edge Explore 2, and my Fenix 6 Pro watch.

It also connected quickly with the Bryton Rider S800E computer I've been testing (full review soon), and the Tacx Flow Smart Trainer for use on Zwift.

I had no issues with dropout from either ANT+ or Bluetooth, whether riding inside or out.

So, nothing out of the ordinary there, but if you are using a Garmin device and the Connect app, there are a few bonuses.

It works as an activity tracker, storing details like calories burned, intensity minutes and all-day heart rate, so you can wear/use it even when you haven't got your watch or device in range, like when swimming. Once it makes contact it'll upload all the stored data to your device and onto your daily feed on Connect.

If you run as well as cycle, the HRM-Pro Plus has Garmin's Running Dynamics built in, which'll save you having to purchase something like Garmin's Pod, which costs £59.99 on its own.

Running Dynamics measures things like stride length, cadence, ground contact time, vertical ratio, vertical oscillation and left/right foot balance.

This all works whether you are running outside or indoors on the treadmill.

Quality

The HRM-Pro Plus is rated to 5 ATM for swimming so as you can imagine there are no issues when riding in heavy rain. In fact the whole unit seems very well built, and after a lot of high-intensity rides on the indoor trainer over the last few months, salt from sweat has caused no long-term issues.

I have followed Garmin's recommendation of giving the strap a wipe over with a cloth every seven or so uses.

Battery life is reckoned on a year, allowing for one hour per day usage. It uses a CR2032 battery, which you replace by removing the white cover.

Value

OK, £120 is a lot of money for a heart rate monitor strap.

The 4iiii Viiiiva, which Liam tested a few months back, has gone up but is still 'only' £79.99, and that also has the ability to log workout data to pass on to a device at a later time. It can also make ANT+ only devices compatible with Bluetooth, which is a neat touch.

And Wahoo's more basic TICKR strap is just £39.99. Dave reviewed it in 2020 and thought it was excellent.

If you want a Garmin heart rate strap purely for cycling, you are probably better off with the HRM-Dual – a basic device with connectivity to both ANT+ and Bluetooth devices that costs £59.99. But if you do more than just cycling and are really into your data, the HRM-Pro Plus isn't that over the top, price-wise.

I am returning to running at the moment, so I've been using the HRM-Pro Plus for that, and if I'd had it when I was running frequently before I wouldn't have needed to spend that £59.99 on the Running Dynamics Pod, which now just sits in a box on the shelf.

I don't swim, but if I need to know my heart rate in the bath then I am also sorted!

Conclusion

For basic cycling data, the HRM-Pro Plus is more than you need, but if you are a triathlete or just like to play various sports you'll get a lot of use out of it. It fits well and comfortably, and I had no issues with connectivity or performance at all.

Verdict

More than just a heart rate monitor, and that is reflected in the price

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Garmin HRM-Pro Plus

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Garmin says, "Whether you're training indoors or out, the HRM-Pro Plus heart rate strap provides the accurate data you need to push limits and reach goals."

It's more multisport than cycling specific and that is reflected in the price.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Garmin lists:

Physical Specifications

Unit dimensions (LxWxD) 23.5-56.0in x 1.2 x 0.5in (60.0-142.0 x 3.0 x 1.2 cm)

Weight: 1.8 oz (52 g)

Module size: 29.6 x 53.7 x 8.6 mm

Size adjustment Bi-fold

Sizing range: 23.5'-42.0' (60.0-106.0 cm); 23.5'-56.0' (60.0-142.0 cm) with optional strap extender

Battery: CR2032

Battery door: Tool-free

Battery life: 12 months (Tri training 1 hour per day)

Water rating: 5 ATM

Operating temperature: 32°F-104°F (0°C-40°C)

Radio frequency/protocol: 2.4 GHz ANT wireless communications protocol; BLUETOOTH® Wireless Technology 5.0

Number of concurrent BLE connections supported: 3

Number of concurrent ANT connections supported: No limit

Range: 3 m

System compatibility ANT+, BLUETOOTH

Additional

ANT+® heart rate: yes

BLE heart rate: yes

Supports heart rate variability and advanced heart rate features: yes

ANT+ running dynamics: yes

Stand-alone activity monitoring (steps, all-day heart rate, calories and intensity minutes)

Supports TrueUp

Stores and forwards heart rate: yes

Swim interval heart rate statistics: yes

Running pace and distance: yes

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

No issues with connection via Bluetooth or ANT+.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Loads of data collection, and great connectivity.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Standard strap size isn't that big.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's pricier than most, even very capable monitors like the 4iiii mentioned in the review, though the Running Dynamics does make up for it somewhat.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

At first glance it looks overpriced, but it is a very capable heart rate monitor, especially with the Running Dynamics capability built in. If you are into your multi-sports then it is a worthwhile investment.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

Add new comment

7 comments

Avatar
Stijn De Vlee | 11 months ago
0 likes

How to replace the battery on this heart rate monitor? With the Dual HRM, changing the battery half the times equals breaking the heart rate monitor

Avatar
quiff replied to Stijn De Vlee | 11 months ago
0 likes
road.cc wrote:

The main difference between this Plus model and its predecessor is that battery replacement is now tool-free... It uses a CR2032 battery, which you replace by removing the white cover.

Avatar
Cyclespeed Tours | 11 months ago
0 likes

I remember when these were 20 quid each.....

Avatar
marty313 | 11 months ago
0 likes

The Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is my preferred HR strap for triathlon. Be warned that it falls off when you swim wearing trunks - you need to wear a tri suit. This is stated by Garmin in the instructions, but I can confirm.

Avatar
PRSboy | 11 months ago
0 likes

I hope its more reliable than the old Garmin 'soft strap' monitors, which were basically consumables, and lasted the life of the battery as once changed, they failed.

The 'hard strap' one I've had since has lasted significantly better.

I'd want to be sure of the longevity before I laid out £120 on this one as the warranty only covers one replacement.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to PRSboy | 11 months ago
0 likes

Buy it from a reputable retailer; the length of the statutory warranty is written in law, not by the manufacturer.

Avatar
JMcL_Ireland replied to PRSboy | 11 months ago
0 likes

I have to say I've had the bog standard Garmin HRM for 10 years or so now, used several times per week, and it's still working perfectly

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