Garmin Soft Strap users...can't get an accurate HR

I had a strap crap out on me and garmin replaced it (9 months into a 1 year warranty). It would often read super low HR (<100) and constantly lose connection.

Contact garmin, and they will give you ideas to try or set you up with a new strap.

Other things you can do are use ultrasound gel on the pads or pick up the polar strap. Both of these fixes are from dcrainmaker.com and you can get the specifics by looking there.

The new soft staps are just awful.  I miss my old-school hard-strap, to be honest.  I tossed the soft strap that came with the unit and replaced it with a Polar Wearlink strap.  It takes the same Garmin pod with the 2 snaps, but works much better (and is more comfortable).

I have nothing to gain by this link and don't work for Amazon or anyone related to straps.  But this is what I got to replace mine that works great.  I'm a happier person for it.

Thanks for the link. I have been having the same issues with the new soft strap from Garmin, replaced three times and still the same old issue. For $17 I will give this one a try and hopefully it solves the issue.

I washed mine after each use too with soap and water, still had the same issues. Mine would spike over 200 bpms and would not come down. I could adjust the strap on the fly and it would be ok for a mile or so and then back over 200. Changed batteries, tried lube, nothing. I have to believe the new Garmin soft strap is junk. I hope the new one fixes thei ssue so I can go back to wearing the strap and getting data.

I've had better luck washing mine off with just plain tape water.  I use to wash off with soap and water once a week and the rest of the time with just tape water.  I would have trouble with mine a lot with the first use after using soap and water and then it would work fine the rest of the week.  I don't know why.  The only thing I could think of was maybe there would still be a thin layer of soap still on the sensor.  All I do now is after every use I hold each sensor under a light stream of water from the faucet and rub the sensor pretty hard back and forth with my thumb.  Knock on wood I haven't had any trouble since doing this.

Dido...use the garmin sensor with Polar strap...and no more problems.

I went though a bunch steps with mine.  I even tried the polar band as mentioned.  I finally bought a new unit, I figured the watch place screwed it up when they changed the battery.  I also bought the tube of jell from amazon.  It seems to work fine now.

I should add the polar band worked for a few times so I thought it was the soft band.  Then it started doing the same thing, HR all over the place. 

It sounds like you all have the OLD new Garmin strap that has two snaps onto the actual strap.

There is NEW soft Garmin strap (well, it's been a few years since it came out) that has a side hook so that there isn't a disconnect in the middle.  The transmitter snaps onto the strap, it doesn't connect it.

THew NEW new soft strap works fine....

Actually, I have problems with the NEW new soft strap you describe

I had an issue with my new NEW Garmin hr strap. It wouldn't stay connected. When it would it would lock on a random number and stay that until it disconnected again. I e-mailed Garmin and they sent out a replacement strap right away. It lasted exactly 3 weeks and then started doing the exact same thing. I e-mailed them again and explained that I only use it for at most an hour a day as I am just starting to get fit. They e-mailed me back and said they would happily replace it and asked if I wanted to try the classic strap. I said I would like to try the classic and 3 days later another new NEW hr strap arrived. I started grumbling to myself and then the next day the classic strap showed up. The classic is ANT+ and has a solid rubber piece with ridges where the sensors are so it looks more durable. 

I had decided to get the Polar strap before I contacted Garmin. They gave awesome customer service to me.

Considering I bought it 3 months ago...it is the New new soft strap.  Waiting by the mailbox for my Polar and enjoying HR free workouts for the next couple days

I didn't think the older HR strap works with the newer watches.  If that is the case then I will try my older HR monitor.  Thanks for the help!

My new style soft strap started giving crazy readings with my 310XT. I paired an older style hard strap with it without any trouble and it works fine. The new strap is a little more comfortable but it's not worth the trouble.

Thanks I did pair with my 310XT and it worked perfectly.  Can't remember is this strap water proof?  I know the HR numbers may not be accurate in the swim but I would rather wear it then trying to put it on during T1.