Garmin HRM-Dual Review

What do you look for in a heart rate monitor? For most people, accuracy is the key reason to buy a dedicated HRM rather than use one built into a fitness tracker or smartwatch. Another reason is to track heart rate for hours without worrying about the battery dying. With that in mind, Garmin's $69.99 HRM-Dual is accurate, comfortable, and has a battery designed to last years. It also has both ANT+ and Bluetooth technology, meaning it can connect to just about any device or app you might use. If a reliable chest strap is what you need, it's a solid buy. If you're looking for something with more in the way of special features, our Editors' Choice, the Wahoo Tickr X, can count reps during workouts, has LEDs and a vibration alert, and doubles as a run-tracker.

Design, Fit, and Battery

The Garmin HRM-Dual has two parts: a sensor and a strap. The sensor connects to two metal snaps on the strap. The part of the HRM that actually reads your heart rate is built into the strap itself. The strap then transmits the information to the sensor, which sends it to a connected device via ANT+ or Bluetooth.

The sensor weighs 1.9 ounces. The strap stretches from 25 to 52 inches using two adjusters that prevent the band from loosening during activity, which is a nice touch. The strap hooks around your chest using a small fastener that slips into a fabric loop at the opposite end. It's super comfortable and soft. I had to adjust it a few times before finding the ideal size, but once I did, I was set. Garmin recommends washing the strap roughly every seven uses, though it depends how much you sweat. The strap is machine-washable—just be sure to remove the sensor before washing.

The HRM-Dual comes with a CR2032 coin cell battery already installed. It's tucked inside the sensor behind a panel that's secured into place with four tiny Phillips-head screws. In other words, you need a screwdriver to change the battery, the same kind used for the screws in eyeglasses. Garmin estimates 3.5 years of battery life from the included battery, based on an hour per day of use. Because it has such a long life, you can use it for very long workouts, too, whether an ultramarathon or a full day of golf. The HRM-Dual won't quit on you.

If you can't stand the thought of changing a battery (even once every few years), you can certainly find a HRM with a rechargeable battery instead. All the ones that come to mind are armbands, however, and they all use optical technology to read heart rate rather than electrical signals. Optical is what you find in armbands, some running watches, and smartwatches that read heart rate. Electrical is the technology found in chest straps. In any event, the Wahoo Tickr X, the Polar OH1, and the Scosche Rhythm24 all have rechargeable batteries.

Compatibility, Apps, and Use

With both ANT+ and Bluetooth, the Garmin HRM-Dual can connect to a wide range of devices, including apps, fitness trackers, bike computers, gym equipment, and more. If you have a Garmin device that you plan to use with it, I highly recommend checking whether it's supported. The HRM-Dual works with a long list of Garmin's watches in the Forerunner, Vivo, Fenix, Edge, D2, Instinct, MARQ, and other series, but do check to avoid disappointment.

As for apps, you can connect with nearly any fitness-tracking app that has a heart rate function. I successfully connected to Apple Health, Runtastic (Pro), UnderArmour Record, and Wahoo RunFit. In all cases, the strap connected without a hitch. At the gym, I connected effortlessly to a Bluetooth-enabled treadmill.

One app it doesn't connect to directly is Garmin's own Garmin Connect. If you want to track heart rate using Garmin Connect, you need to daisy-chain the HRM-Dual to another supported device, and then the device to the app. For example, I used the HRM with a Garmin Vivoactive. Once I connect the strap to the watch, I don't need to have my phone on me at all, as the watch will sync my stored heart rate data to the app the next time they're in contact.

As with any chest strap, the heart rate readers in the strap must be damp to conduct a signal well. For many people, the HRM-Dual will work directly upon making contact with your skin. If you don't see the device show up when you're trying to connect it, moisten your finger and run it along the straps. That should do the trick.

Accuracy

First, I wore the HRM-Dual at the same time as a Wahoo Tickr X and a Fitbit Charge 3 for a treadmill run to get a sense of how the readings from the three devices compared. To be frank, I was pleasantly surprised that all three were never out of sync by more than two beats per minute, and it never lasted more than a minute when they were off. I had high expectations for the HRM-Dual, as chest strap monitors tend to be the most accurate. It was more surprising to see the numbers from the other devices lining up so neatly.

I also put on the HRM-Dual while walking and working, and the readings seemed accurate based on what I know about my heart rate generally. A brisk walk put me in the 90-96bpm range. When I sat and typed, my pulse hung out around 60-66bpm. Those numbers are what I expected.

The HRM-Dual has a range of three meters, so you don't want to be too far from the connected device. Don't enable tracking via an app on your phone and then march all the way across the room to a stationary bike. You can comfortablly put your device to the side, but try to stay near to it. During my testing, I never saw a dropped connection.

Comparions and Conclusions

The Garmin HRM-Dual lists for $69.99. Hunt around online, and you may be able to find it for closer to $59. Compared with other top-of-the-line heart rate monitors, it's about average for a chest strap model that doesn't come loaded with extra features. Most chest straps cost in the range of $49 to $99, depending on how new they are and what else they offer.

The Wahoo Tickr X (a PCMag Editors' Choice and a personal favorite) has a list price of $99, but sells for about $75 now because it's not the latest model. It doubles as a run tracker and can count reps during strength training. Garmin has a chest strap that doubles as a run tracker, too, the HRM-Run. It lists for $99.99, and you can similarly find it discounted at some retailers.

The Wahoo Tickr FIT is an armband HRM that has ANT+ and Bluetooth, and it costs $79.99. The Polar OH1, another armband with the same connectivity, also sells for $79.99. The same goes for the Scosche Rhythm+.

If you want a basic HRM with no additional features, they sell for around $45. The cheapest ones can be stiff and scratchy, though, so be sure to take materials into consideration.

With that in mind, the Garmin HRM-Dual is a comfortable and affordable chest strap. Because it has both ANT+ and Bluetooth, it can connect to a wide range of trackers, devices, and apps. It doesn't have anything special, such as an on-board gyroscope for run-tracking or rep-counting, but if you're looking for a reliable chest strap that won't quit, it's a worthy option.

Garmin HRM-Dual Specs

Best Heart Rate Monitor Picks

• The Best Heart Rate Monitors for 2020
• More Heart Rate Monitor Reviews
• More from Garmin

Further Reading

• Hands On: Omron's HeartGuide Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor