Here is an image of the new Garmin HR strap 2014/2015. You can see a very different style.
The PODS look the same (they appear to be).
The top one is the ‘original’ / ‘Classic’HR hard strap (Part Number: 010-10997-00 aka HRM1) and the one below it the ‘premium soft strap’ (HRM3).
The third is the HRM-RUN pod on the subsequent iteration of the strap.
And the fourth is the latest strap for April 2015: part number 010-10997-07 or 08 (HRM-RUN)
You can see the difference of the construction on the front from the first image and the second photo shows the new 010-10997-08 at the top with additional sensing areas to each side.
So battery life will not have changed as the pod appears to be the same. So we can assume that the new strap either performs better and more reliably (ie reduced spikes/dropouts) and/or last longer.
Only time will tell.
Might the new strap supports super-new functionality from a revamped HRM-RUN? as yet to be released? Cached data for swimming. TBH I’ve no idea but I hope so.
I you are really interested in product codes then there appear to be 9 iterations from 010-10997-00 to 010-10997-08 I was only aware of 4 iterations but then again I don’t eat sleep and dream heart rate monitors 🙂 It’s probably to do with combinations of strap and pod.
Be wary about product codes on the net, they appear to be incorrect in some cases.
For completeness, there is a price comparison below and the following image I think is for the HRM2 – you don’t want this one. Note the strap end join onto the pod. This was the version AFTER the hard strap but WORSE IMvHO.
Edit: 2015 Now there are the HRM4-SWIM and HRM4-TRI and HRM4-RUN. SWIM and TRI add caching of HR whereas RUN and TRI add new running dynamics and performance readiness.
Edit: 2020 We are still waiting for the follow on straps tot he HRM-TRI/Swim/Run. A HRM-PRO was been accidentally leaked in 2019, and it DID have additional functionality listed, albeit for skiing.
| HRMs Comparison April 23rd 2015 | Amazon Price | |
| 4iiii Viiiiva V100 HRM | £79.99 | Link |
| 4iiii Viiiiva Mini | TBC | |
| Bio Sport Ear Bud | £114.97 | Link |
| Garmin Heart Rate Monitor (Hard) | £29.95 | Link |
| Garmin HRM-RUN (Soft) | £51.93 | Link |
| Garmin Premium (Soft) | £33.07 | Link |
| Jabra Sport Pulse | £199.95 | Link |
| LifeBeam Smart Helmet | £99.95 | Link |
| MIO Fuse | £107.93 | Link |
| MIO Link | £63.94 | Link |
| MIO Velo mioPOD new for 2019 | £99.00 | Link |
| Polar H6 | £74.99 | Link |
| Polar H7 | £39.67 | Link |
| PowerTap PowerCal ANT+ | £80.99 | Link |
| PowerTap PowerCal Bluetooth | £87.36 | Link |
| Scosche Rhythm+ | £73.09 | Link |
| Suunto Smart Belt | £46.85 | Link |
| Wahoo TICKR TICKR FIT for 2018 | £42.99 | Link |
| Wahoo TICKR-RUN | £49.99 | Link |
| Wahoo TICKR-X TICKR2 is due in 2020 | £79.90 | Link
|
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love which is this site and I appreciate everyone who follows, subscribes or Buys Me A Coffee ❤️ Alternatively please buy the reviewed product from my partners. Thank you! FTC: Affiliate Disclosure: Links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nice writeup. I find that my *new* soft strap on my 910 goes dead after about an hour on the bike from too much sweat. The original strap seems to work fine though.
if new it should be ok for at least a year in my experience. something weird does happen when I bike on the road whre there is a high windchill – I can’t see all my sweat going but much of it would and it stops working but always ok running. strange. i’ll try the new one in the coming weeks.
great overview!
Quick question, do you think we can swap de HRM Run pod to with the premium strap ? I guess it will still be working, if they haven’t change the width of the pins.
yes. it will work.
Oh Thanks ! I had dropped the strap from my bag ! Glad I could use the old one.
would the Classic’HR hard strap work with the fenix 3 HR and allow a stress test and HRV?
should do. do you mean the plastic hard strap? are you having probs? AFAIK all garmin chest straps do HRV.