Chest heart rate monitor recommendations

I don't have a Fenix 5 so can't comment from personal experience. Nonetheless, I believe most folks are having success with the HRM4-Run, which I use with my 920XT. Plenty of other options, including non-Garmin HRMs.

As for narrowing the search to just this forum, go to https://forums.garmin.com/forum/on-t...orn/fenix-5-5s, then click the dropdown to the right of the search box and check "Search in Fenix 5/5S only." [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/YLjqUC1.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Thanks for that...

I have both the Polar H7 and the a Garmin Run strap. Both are fine but the Garmin straps can do a few extra measurements of your running dynamics such as if you favor one side or the other. I figure you might as well.

The only things I might consider is whether it's Bluetooth, Bluetooth Smart/Low Energy, or ANT+. Regular Bluetooth uses more power than Bluetooth Smart/LE and ANT+ so you'll be replacing batteries more often. And as for compatibility, if you didn't have your watch could you use it with a phone running app. Phones don't always support ANT+ because it's proprietary but many do. Also, whether you need it for swimming. And if it has a replaceable strap.

Considering everything I like my 2 but I like my Garmin more. It isn't a replaceable strap but it seems to be antimicrobial or something because it doesn't get all funky. And the extra metrics are neat.

On the Garmin side of things, with the HRM-Run4 the Running Dynamics also allow the watch to calculate running power. Personally I have found the HRM-Run to be very realiable. The HRM-Tri chest strap has this, plus also store-and-download for HR data for swimming and contact sports where you may be remote from your watch - although the HRM-Tri starts to become pretty pricey.

If all you want to do is record HR data on a live basis, there are plenty of cheaper options out there.

I might add that for pretty much any chest strap, regular washing is key to long term reliability, as it prevents the build-up of salts from sweat, which can interfere with the reading of electrical signal from the heart.

HRM4-Run here. Never got my trusty Polar H7 to work with the F5. That's ok, because as mentioned, the Garmin gives me extra metrics. Of course, I do little with those extra metrics. I wish the Garmin was dual ANT+/BTLE but I suspect we'll see that in the next round of products as Garmin continues to embrace BTLE.

Worth mentioning that the HRM4-Run that I'm currenting using is the most comfortable and no chafing.