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Garmin HRM Pro Plus strong offensive odor emanating from the chest strap

3828955
over 1 year ago

Hello fellow Garminians,

I have an issue with the Garmin HRM Pro Plus chest strap. After about 3 months of regular use (running), it starts to smell bad, like really bad to the point where its nauseating. I follow the care instructions to the T, rise after every use, hand wash weekly with mild detergent, rinse, hang to dry. The odor is unique in that it smells like something of a burnt electronic? Not sure exactly how to describe the smell but very pungent and fills the room and sticks to my clothes and skin. At first, I thought it was leaking something internally, Garmin kindly replaced the original unit, however the exact same issue has developed again with a new unit after 3 months of use.

I am wondering if anyone else experiences this. Is there a better way to clean it? Do all chest straps smell like this? Is it me?

I do enjoy using the unit for HR accuracy, but the smell is too much and I don't want to replace it again for a 3rd time only to have the same thing happen.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 9713422

    Agree. I thought it was my daughter’s horse/riding clothes that smelled at first. The smell is almost identical.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    My HRM PRO PLUS is smelling worse and worse. Tried everything - Marsille soap, sports detergent, antibacterial/disinfecting detergent soak /wash, vinegar, sodium bicarbonate, you name it!. The smell is NOT bacterial since I've washed the strap after EVERY use EVER and i've used antibacterial agents and worked them into the fabric thoroughly. The smell still comes back.

    Has anyone ventured to REMOVE the outside fabric around the sensor, since it's so loose, to find out what's the real source of the smell? Maybe someone that had their strap replaced already can do this on an old strap and see if it improves or not. 

    My strap currently infuses the stench into my running clothes and sometimes (with this heatwave hitting lower Europe) I feel like barfing on my drive back home after runs. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 1 year ago in reply to Adrian s

    Never took my HRM-Tri's apart. Using an oldskool HRM-3SS these days, those straps don't smell at all.

    If you put a HRM-Tri immediately after a run, in a tupperware-like container filled with water, it won't stink up the car and it does avoid the stench getting worse.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Former Member

    Hehe, I promise to do it if I can get my hands on some Garmin-branded Tupperware! 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Adrian s

    No, but since Garmin replaces them without asking further questions, I assume that they are aware of this probably being a design error. I’m on my second unit and I have thoroughly washed it after every use but it still smells like horse. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Mine stopped smelling after about 14 months. I guess, the chemical that caused the smell, finally evaporated from the strap completely.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 3348417

    That has me hopeful. I wonder if there's any solvent that can speed up the process... 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to tmk2

    I got hrm dual and it stinks so bad

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 3809777

    Your sensor is detachable, just pry it off from the strap and wash the strap in the washing machine. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Adrian s

    yeah, havent helped. I also put it in soap water for some time, but the smell is there still. washing machine didnt work, also scrubing it in shower with shoer gel havent helped it.