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HR zone constantly changing from custom BPM to %LTHR or %HRR

Hello folks,

I'm struggling with an issue that seems to be widespread and with no actual fix (found posts here, for other watch series, reddit etc.).

I want my watch to use custom BPM ranges for zones, however after a random amount of time (typically a few hours) the watch switches back to %LTHR or %HRR. The issue is really frustrating because sometimes this is happening while running and as a result training effect, recovery hour and any other metrics is totally screwed.

I've tried several things

- Disable automatic detection of threshold and max heart rate

- Changing HR zones to BPM and setting manual values (from both the watch and Garmin Connect) before an activity

- Removing the device from Garmin Connect (app and website) and doing the re-paring

- Create (and then remove) custom HR profiles for activity (e.g. running)

- Factory resetting the watch

I have another device, an Edge Solar 1040, when the 965 was removed from the list and the Edge was the only device, HR zones would stay consistent to BPM. However as soon as the 965 gets added (and set as primary training device), the Edge would inherit the 965 settings on the first sync (and therefore go to randomly %LTHR or %HRR).

I can't think this is an hardware problem, there must be something going on with the software. If it can help with debugging, I've noticed that right after the watch has switched from BPM to %LTHR, when I go and change the zones again to BPM the dropdown to select the ranges is completely off of the value set (e.g. value is 140-160, when I try to change it it gives me max 80).

This issue is driving me nuts, because it makes the whole value prop of the watch (fitness age, fitness health, vo2max, recovery time etc.) completely crap.

Hope someone. can help me out or that Garmin sees this.

0 Etupes25 over 1 year ago

Yes, there are issues with the heart rate zones management. I also have an Edge device.

I completely gave up on using custom heart rate zones and I now use Garmin's default %HRR only (default %HR Max and %LTHR are perfectly fine for training purposes). For people who have lab tests defining their lactate thresholds precisely, using BPM would be the way to go, but this is a level of refinement I don't personally need.

You should contact Garmin Support to report the issue. They will tell you whether there is already a case in the works.

The good news though, is that the heart rate zones are not used by the watch to calculate any meaningfull metric. Maybe intensity minutes if you customize to heart rate zones...

VO2 Max, Training Effect, Load, Focus, Readiness, Recovery, Performance Condition, Stamina, etc., none of them are using the heart rate zones.

With Garmin watches, it is much more important to get the HR Max value right since that is the value used to anchor the algorithm for these metrics. Of course, good HR, pace and power capture are essential as well.

Don't get me wrong, heart rate zones are important for the user to design workouts to target certain benefits and to monitor execution, but not for the watch to tell your fitness or training metrics.