Garmin HRM 600 – everything you need to know
Read the full and detailed Garmin HRM 600 review HERE.
This is Garmin’s latest high-end chest strap that ‘does everything’. It adds notable new features, including watch-free usage for activities, a button and a rechargeable battery. There’s more than that, too…let’s go.
Price: £149.99
Availability: May 21
Sizes: XS–S, M–XL
The strap is suitable for divers, swimmers, triathletes, individuals who can’t wear watches during sports, runners, cyclists, and others.
Standout Features
I’m impressed that anyone has found a new metric to add to the running experience. Garmin seems to have found one that might be insightful: Step Speed Loss. Although the devil is in the details, that also means owning an expensive watch to record and display the metric.
Most of all, I’m amazed that Garmin has allowed a chest strap to pair directly with the Connect app. Sure, older straps could get firmware updates and sync steps by linking to Connect, but now it’s possible to track and record a workout without a watch – all Garmin has to do now is add that feature to an arm strap to give another new class of product to rival Whoop!
- Step Speed Loss: A new running dynamic that shows how much speed is lost when your foot hits the ground (works with Forerunner 970).
- Standalone Activity Recording: Tracks workouts (heart rate, distance, calories, etc.) even without a smartwatch. Ideal for sports like basketball, swimming, or martial arts.
- Rechargeable Battery: Lasts up to 2 months per charge (approximately 1 hour of use per day).
- Tri-colour LED Indicator: Shows pairing status, low battery, and wake mode.
- Quick Button Wake & Pair: Easily pair with devices on and off.
- Secure BLE: Secure Bluetooth connection
Performance & Fitness Features
- Heart Rate + HRV Tracking: Real-time and recorded heart rate with heart rate variability analysis.
- Running Metrics:
- Step Speed Loss
- Stride Length
- Vertical Oscillation
- Ground Contact Time Balance
- Running Pace & Distance (indoors too)
- Swimming Support:
- Stores & forwards heart rate data while swimming
- Swim interval heart rate stats (with compatible smartwatch)
- Multisport Activity Recording: Supports a wide range of sports, including:
- Running, Cycling, Swimming
- Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football (Soccer & American), Rugby, MMA, Boxing, Baseball, Cricket, Softball, Ultimate Disc, Lacrosse
- Team Sport Speed & Distance: For sports like football, rugby, hockey, and more (via compatible watch or app).
Smart Features & Connectivity
- Garmin Connect App Integration
- Connectivity Protocols:
- ANT+ (Unlimited connections)
- Bluetooth Low Energy (Up to 3 concurrent devices)
- Secure BLE (with compatible Garmin devices)
- Real-Time Sync: Sends data to:
- Garmin smartwatches
- Edge cycling computers
- Tacx Training App
- Other fitness equipment and apps
Specifications
- Two Size Options: XS-S: 60–85 cm chest (22–33.5 in), M-XL: 80–119 cm chest (31.5–47 in)
- Module Size: 68.0 x 31.6 x 10.0 mm
- Weight:
- Strap + Module (M-XL): 61 g
- Module Only: 18 g
- Battery Type: Garmin proprietary rechargeable
- Water Rating: 5 ATM (suitable for swimming)
Take Out
We knew Garmin had updates in the pipeline for its chest straps and accessories this year—at the very least, to comply with new charging and data privacy regulations.
I was quietly hoping for ECG (software) features to complement Garmin’s impressive HRV features. Maybe that’s still on the horizon. Today, we’re getting support for three simultaneous Bluetooth connections—plenty for most users, especially when combined with ANT+.
The real surprise is that Garmin didn’t stop at compliance or connectivity. They’ve added new features and designed the HRM 600 to work without a watch. That opens the door to team sports and athletes who prefer not to wear a watch during training. It’s a smart move that should expand their market, though it raises the question: might it cannibalise watch sales among runners? My guess is it’ll be a net gain.
Having used the device for a few days, my initial enthusiasm has waned.
- Secure connections are not needed for most people. The extra button presses, pairing options, and LED light flashing patterns make this a somewhat confusing product. A reinvention of a simple product that we all knew intuitively how to use.
- The charging port is located on the rear and is difficult to access. The standard Garmin cable to connect to it fits snugly, better than to the watches. However, to access the port requires the pod to be unpopped from the strap, and the strap has rubberised and sealed electrodes. It is hard to remove the pod, and the belt becomes twisted during this process; almost certainly, this will damage the electrical conductivity properties required in the strap.
- My device appears by default as “HRM600: ANT+ ID” – brilliant, as it contains all the information I need in the name.
- The strap has four connector pads. That’s a great sign that more consistently accurate data will be recorded.
- Handily, you can use Garmin Express (or Connect) to sync the pod. While you’re doing that, it will gain a bit of a charge
- You can also access the HRM600 as a USB device to pull the FIT files directly from it if you know how – that’s very handy for me. Except those files are only created when a workout is iniated by the app and not by a watch…grrr.
- Why, oh why, did Garmin need to invent a rechargeable battery for this? The CR2032 battery didn’t need re-inventing.
- Garmin invents a new button. Yet the new button can’t start recording a workout. That must be done through the Connect+ app. What if you left your phone at home, or its battery is flat? It’s a button…it should start things!
- The pod lightly connects to Polar and Wahoo straps. It is NOT a super-snug fit. HRM600 just about clips in, but only lightly, and I wouldn’t trust it to stay in. Superficially, it’s compatible with non-Garmin brands, and I had planned to use the Polar H10 strap, but I won’t risk it.
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Actual top features:
– Pod separates from the belt which makes the belt replaceable when it inevitably fails
– Rechargeable which means you do not open and disturb any gasket seal to replace a battery
Those two features should make this a much more robust and durable HRM. Yes it is a tradeoff for recharging every few months. Presumably the low batt alert on the watch and a sad indicator light will also warn you to recharge with plenty of notice.
Also now the NSA and GCHQ will not be able to snoop my heart rate data — I guess.
I agree about separating the pod and belt. My HRM Pro+ belt is looking very dog-eared after 18 months of use. The HRM Pro died at about 22 months of use. Hopefully, this will last longer.
The rechargable and non-replaceable battery feels like a downgrade in terms of longevity.
I still use a HRM-RUN v1 (detachable pod). I’m still on the original gasket and IF it ever fails it’s a $0.05 bog-standard buna-n o-ring. The rechargeable battery is a clear step backwards in terms of durability as the battery will die.
do we already know what kind of charging connector is used? i assume it’s not same as on the watches?
On the garmin website it looks like the garmin 4-pin you’d also find on their watches. Sadly not even USB-C
Ah ok, now i saw it as well. Connector is fine for me.
BUT the price? I can buy three (!) HRM dual for thiss and put them in my drawer. (I don’t need anything beyond HR). Even the HRM-200 is overpriced I think.
proprietary garmin, i forgot to add that.
it looks like a standard 4-pin garmin charger!!!
The current HRM-Pro+ straps also connect directly with Connect. I honestly don’t know the extent of the integration, but I frequently wear my strap when I mow my yard (taking my watch off) to get credit for the steps I take during the chore. It syncs the steps and heart rate back up to my GC account and then onto my watch without issue.
this is deeper integration.
The current HRMs (pre-600) only connect to Connect to update firmware, and user settings. It can’t beign recording an activity that way.
That said, as much as I do like the feature, the HRM Pro and Pro+ allow recording activities without a watch too, the difference is they require the watch to start the recording, and to receive the data from the HRM at the end. The HRM 600 just allows Connect to do those two parts instead – ie trigger the start of recording, and download the data afterwards. A useful feature, but something the HRM Pro’s should be able to do easily with a firmware update too (not that I expect Garmin to add it to the Pro’s).
> It can’t beign recording an activity that way.
Correct.
> The current HRMs (pre-600) only connect to Connect to update firmware, and user settings.
Not quite. HRM-PRO and HRM-PRO+ also support recording “activity tracking” information (distinct from a timed activity) while the watch is not being worn, and syncing this data directly to Connect.
This info includes steps, all-day HR, calories and intensity minutes. Once this data is synced to Connect, it will also be synced to the watch via Physio TrueUp.
One fairly obscure use case is to wear an HRM-PRO/PRO+ while you play basketball and the watch is off your wrist.
– You start the activity from the watch, and you leave the HRM paired with the watch so it provides HR (and optionally speed/distance)
– While the watch is off your wrist, the HRM also records steps
– After the activity is saved, your steps are not yet updated (because as we all know, Garmin watches will normally not accept steps from a footpod or HRM, only from the watch’s accelerometer)
– But when the HRM syncs with Connect, it syncs the steps you took during the basketball game (because the watch was off your wrist, even though it was recording an activity)
– The next time Connect syncs with your watch, the seps from HRM will be synced back to the watch
This can be seen in the Activity Tracking section for HRM-PRO, HRM-PRO+ and HRM-600.
As mentioned, what’s new for HRM-600 is the ability to record a timed activity using only the HR strap (and the Connect app). This doesn’t mean that there was no reason to sync with Connect for HRM-PRO/PRO+ besides user settings and firmware updates.
Sorry, I mean it can be seen in the Activity Tracking *section of the manual* for HRM-PRO, HRM-PRO+ and HRM-600.
I’m honestly most excited about the new Step Speed Loss metric. That’s a way more useful “running dynamics” metric than pretty much all of the other ones, because it provides real actionable information.
I’ll wait to see other people’s real world results with it before I buy a 3rd Garmin HRM for myself lol, but it sounds promising.
And it sounds like I also need to wait until it gets ported to other watches besides just the 970
Yeah, that’s the big question in my mind: which existing devices (if any) will Garmin update to also support SSL? Of course, lots of the existing devices could support it (with the HRM 600), but Garmin might see too much value is restricting it to a very small number…
here we go: https://the5krunner.com/2025/05/22/garmin-fenix-tactix-enduro-new-970-feature-rolldown-confirmed/
Wahoo had the removable pod 10 years ago although mine failed after 6 months.
as did garmin (have a removable pod)
wahoo’s pods were not as waterproof as garmin back then, often it was the strap not the pod that gave in.
Seems like XC Ski Power metrics, which you get from HRM Pro and Pro+, isn’t available from HRM 600.
that is odd.
might be an ovesight on the specs.
A button and a LED for 20 EUR higher MRSP than the HRM Pro Plus.
SCA should add those to their toilet paper and sell it for 20 EUR more too!
Maybe with the next iteration the LED and button will be hid behind the Connect+ paywall?!
Or even better the ANT+ connection will!!
I mourn the departure of every simple device with an ease of use coin cell battery.
Not that I expect this Garmin product to live until the EOL of it’s build in battery.
Grumpy old man on a rant! Thank god it’s weekend. Have a good one everyone.
well. You made me laugh! thank you
> Security Updates Supported Until: May 15, 2025
I assume that year (2025) is a typo 🙂
you never know these days 😉
(thank you!)
2 months battery life with 1 hour a day usage, means ~60 hours of live HR and HRV (plus other metrics). That’s at least 2 full days of HR data, with great accuracy and you don’t need to carry a watch.
Any idea how long does it take for a full charge, assuming it’s completely empty?
Will wearing it without the watch update body battery stats?
hrm-pro+ could be worn to sync these metrics
Heart Rate: Steps: Calories: Intensity Minutes
I wou ldimagine it will be at least the same for the 600.
what body stats did you have in mind?
Specifically body battery with the hrm pro did not influence.
TrueUp is also supported in addition to those 4 (like HRM PRO+ IIRC)
However I don’t know if that’s TrueUp or Physio TruUp and even then it doesn’t seem that BB is explicitly supported. That’s odd as it can capture the data that BB needs (and more accurately and frequently at that).
Even *IF* the 600 supports BB, I would caveat that you would probably need to own a watch that is capapble of BB for its data to show in Connect,
Is the pod compatible with Polar straps? Would be nice, since they have always been superior in comfortness. By the way, Polar H10 together with Polar Flow app has always had similar workout recording capability
i’ll test that (I hadn’t thought of doing that, so thank you for the pointer) – the polar H10’s strap is a superior one, that would be good to use (more contact pad areas, less slip strap)
yes, Polar FLOW has retrieved cached data for a long time. as covered here and elsewhere. suunto’s pod/movesense has similar capabilities
How it works with CIQ Alpha HRV? worth as an replacement for H10 Polar? there is caveat with Garmin HRM Pro+ as HRV Data is not accurate as Polar H10?
you’re opening a whole can of worms with that one. !!!
it’s a hard question to answer but it does need answering at some point
i haveven’t got time right now. Someone like Bruce Rogers/Inigo might?
I’m most curious how accurate treadmill distance and pace is. I use a stryd almost exclusively to have parity between indoor and outdoor runs
if anyone else can comment. i probably wont test this as, like paul, i woudl use stryd (plus my achilles is playing up right now)