Heart Rate Strap inflammation

[DaveCee]

I've been using my Garmin Chest Heart Rate Monitor for the past two years. Lately there has been chafing and blistering on my sides after rowing.

Any suggestions as to how to get rid of this? New strap? Any balms, etc?

Thanks

[mict450]

Dave, I don't have your exact problem, but when I used to do a lot of open ocean swimming, I would get chafing around my waist if my shorts weren't laundered after use. I surmise it was the salt in the material acting as an abrasive against my skin. Even if I rinsed my shorts in fresh water, it still caused the abrasions. I kept a small bottle of petroleum jelly in my car to lube my waist if I was lazy & wasn't wearing freshly washed shorts. That layer of jelly alleviated any chafing.

Perhaps, if possible, a good washing of your strap
should help. If not, then a new strap should solve the problem.

[Gammmmo]

Dave, I don't have your exact problem, but when I used to do a lot of open ocean swimming, I would get chafing around my waist if my shorts weren't laundered after use. I surmise it was the salt in the material acting as an abrasive against my skin. Even if I rinsed my shorts in fresh water, it still caused the abrasions. I kept a small bottle of petroleum jelly in my car to lube my waist if I was lazy & wasn't wearing freshly washed shorts. That layer of jelly alleviated any chafing.

Perhaps, if possible, a good washing of your strap
should help. If not, then a new strap should solve the problem.

Probably is something in this....I noticed with HRM straps over time the material bit gets less elastic. New strap or as said vaseline.

[mitchel674]

Don't use petroleum jelly on these if you are trying salvage the straps. The petroleum jelly will cause the rubber in the strap to deteriorate rapidly.

[johnlvs2run]

I replaced the strap with an old cut up bicycle tire inner tube.

[ampire]

Fungi and other things can build up on straps and cause irritation, it is worth cleaning it if you aren't already doing so. I use the old style Garmin HRM1G hard strap and wash and rinse the strap off in the sink after each workout. I take some hand soap lather and soap it in my hands and then rinse it off with water, not directly spraying water near the o-ring for the battery compartment. Sometimes I remove the elastic portion that does not contain any electronics and wash it in a soapy bucket with my workout clothing. If your strap is like mine, do not immerse the electronic portion of the band under water, as the battery compartment can be compromised and the device will eventually fail.