Garmin HR Strap causing chaffing...

Could be bouncing up and down. Could be the twist in your torso when you are running. Play with the strap a bit...tighter or looser. What I would do is put some anti chafing something or other on or maybe some vasaline before you head out.

On long runs, I will often have red marks just like that, but they go away pretty fast. If body glide doesn't help, try loosening the strap. If it doesn't stay in place, use a few small strips of athletic tape. That will take some experimenting to find a place that the skin isn't moving.stretching under the tape.

Does that occur after a single long workout, or is it a cumulative wear after weeks of HRM usage? If the latter, ditch the strap often enough to heal.

Good luck!

Mine does that. Only thing I could do to stop it was use waterproof Nexcare first aid tape. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dhpc&fie...

I had the same issue. Had to switch to a different HR strap to make it stop.

Some people prefer the old style heart rate strap from Garmin, you can still get them from online retailers. I'm still using the old style strap and have never had red marks or chaffing, but I've also never used the newer soft strap to compare so...

Get a flannel diaper and cut out some of it to wrap around the strap. run a seam down it and keep it loose enough to slide on and off.

Make sure the contacts (the accordion looking stuff) still can contact your skin.

get the old style one.. its way better

Mine did that and I just wrapped it in electrical tape and it stopped

Do you wash it? Salt build up caused the same for me.

Just had the same conversation with 2 others in my tri club about the same issue. Apparently, the old Garmin molded strap is much better. My 2 friends called and Garmin sent them the old strap at no charge. I called and the best I could get was the old one at half off. I'm using a trick I saw on the DCRainmaker site....put a very sticky bandaid on the bottom of the strap where it chafes.

I had the same problem. Body glide wouldn't help. Vitamin A&D ointment works like a charm. It's like vaseline, but hard core. Put it on where the strap goes everytime and everytime no irritation.

Thanks everyone! My wife was freaked out about it and kept saying something is wrong. It has happened every time after my 7+ mile runs. Only reason I ask this time is because I just about cried when I got in the shower and the water hit it. It does not happen every time but just after longer workouts...

I will try the body glide first, if that does not work then I will call Garmin and try to see if they will send me an old style strap. I just hate that I have to put body glide on for nothing more than a HRM strap...kind of frustrating...

I had the same exact problem. Had a 7.5 mile run and was in serious pain even bleeding!? DC Rainmaker had a post about this very issue. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a "perfect" solution (which is what I have been looking for). Some solutions recommend applying a band-aid to the strap where the chafing occurs. Also switching from the premium garmin strap helps some people. Some people prefer the polar strap (which you them attach your garmin transmitter to). Using ointments of sorts helps others. I wouldn't think going looser on the strap would help as that would probably encourage more movement in the area and thus more chafing.

Its been a week and a half since I used mine giving some time to heal and look forward to finding a solution like everyone else.

Edited by shoop31 2013-06-09 7:55 AM

Had the same issue.

One piece of athletic tape on the back, and a bit of body glide on your skin every use, and it will stop.

Mike where exactly are you putting that tape? Can you post a pic?

Thx, Tom

Here's the DC Rainmaker post on strap chaffing:
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/08/how-to-fix-heart-rate-strap-chaf...

I had the same thing happen. I contacted Garmin and they suggested I wear the strap on my back, which doesn't pick anything up. They also said they had never heard of that happening, despite a forum full of people saying they got the same answer from Garmin.

I went with an older style molded strap and have no issues.

Thanks everyone.  I am going to try the band aid trick first before I start looking at buying a new strap.  Going to not use it for the rest of the week to give the chaffing a chance to heal...

Glad I found this post! Love my new Garmin 910, but the HR strap is a real torture devise. Short runs are OK, but anything more than 90 minutes is quite painful. It is highly unfortunate that such a great product has a such a significant short coming.

If everyone calls or writes to Garmin, the might be motivated to address the issue with a new strap (or an old one).

I have the exact same problem with my Timex HR monitor. I had last years model with the with the transponder built into the strap. Then the watch leaked so I got a replacement with the kit with the new strap with the transponder held on by 2 "buttons" and a thinner strap, supposedly easier to remove and wash. This thing causes the exact same problem you are experiencing. Now, after 4 months the watch is leaking. I wonder what next years model will have instore for me.
It doesn't bother me biking, but as soon as I wear it running it causes a 1" cut at the base, which bleeds quite a bit. I am going to try some of these suggestions. I have a HIM this weekend, this will be a good test.

so what ended up working for me was not a band aid but a piece of duct tape....no chaffing since then...