HR Strap Chafing

ABBEY BONNER

I am getting chafing from my HR strap whilst running (on the front at the lower level of strap underneath the bottom of the plastic HR Monitor).  I have started lubing this area with baby oil or vaseline before my runs but this isn't helping.  Has anyone else suffered from this and found a solution?

Peter Noyes

I have suffered chafing from heart rate monitors myself on prolonged runs, and for me I will tape the skin underneath where the buckle sits (which is where I suffer). This is the stuff I use for taping:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/safety/first-aid/bandages-dressings/first-aid-waterproof-tape-w-dispenser-1-x180-flexible?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=CjwKEAiAlZDFBRCKncm67qihiHwSJABtoNIgjXvLZ6PE_pHjhq0pLuS3ArVBGIAEwQeqEJHb_sbGNhoCFgLw_wcB

It is miracle stuff, it is the only thing I have found that stays on for long durations with lots of sweating. 

John Withrow

Not sure which HR strap you have, but I have the Garmin "Soft Strap" and I used to get this problem a lot with it, not to mention the signal was pretty terrible.  I switched to a Polar strap (and simply buttoned my Garmin HRM pod onto it) and the signal is WAY better and the chaffing is less bad.  Another thing is that you need to wash the strap every several weeks at least (I just unbutton the electronic part and throw the actual strap into the washing machine with my workout clothes).  I also found that a "clean" strap causes less chaffing than a "salty" one.

here's the strap I got:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZFE288S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Brad Marcus

After chafing, bad readings, and not wanting to wash that strap continuously, I went to an optical-wrist based HR monitor. I used a Mio Link which synched with my Garmin watch for 2 seasons. The only issue was that tr battery life was only 7 hours +/- on the Mio. So for long training sessions or an IM dist race, it wasn't optimal. In fact when I raced IMMT last season, I had 2 - one for the bike and one for the run. Didn't make sense. A few months ago I went to the Garmin Fenix 3 Hr, which has a built in optical HR monitor. It took some getting used to in terms of wrist placement, etc, but all in all it works well for me and has a decent battery life which will be long enough for IM and long training sessions. I'm just over that chest strap thing

Katherine Cozzi

Oh man the scars I have from my HR strap  I have found that Body Glide helps a lot. Also tightening it so that it doesn't move around, but that causes me to feel like I can't breath so no bueno haha. One last idea is to play around with how the HR strap sits in relation to your sports bra. I have found that most of my sports bras need to sit above, not on top of, the HR strap to not chaff. 

ABBEY BONNER

Great responses...all of them are relevant and helpful and lots of ideas which I will follow up. Thanks everyone 

Jennifer Eckert

Body glide works but not always for me.  I made a silk sleeve to go around it...a little velcro...doesn't always look pretty but it worked!

Ann Sloan

aquaphor is an option.  Also, if you have some extra cash - I just went to the Garmin 235 - for running and daily watch.  it has the all day HR monitor.  I am LOVING it for my runs - no strap.  It's seems pretty accurate based on my testing  - running the same route.  the first run was a little out of whack but the rest have been right in the ball park. I have another friend who loves the next level one - but I already have a 920 so went with the 235. 

another option to try is A&D ointment ...

Darrell Strube (OLD)

Body glide usually works well for me.  When it was really bad I would use a piece of Rock Tape where it was irritating my chest.  Hope that helps.

Trish Marshall

I use 2toms roll on.  It works much better than body glide for me.  Rarely chafe anymore.  I have the garmin soft strap and tuck it under the band of my bra to help it from shifting too.  I have very thin skin so I use the 2toms on my bones where the straps are too and it works great. 

ABBEY BONNER

I have used a sports bra with integrated HR strap all season and this has solved this problem for me. 

The heart rate strap is integrated in the bra strap so there is no need to wear an additional R strap under the bra. 

It's compatible with various HR pods (I use it with my Garmin one).   

I recommend giving it a try. 

I bought it from Decathlon and now have several (not sure if you have Decathlon in the USA?):  https://www.decathlon.co.uk/first-crop-top-black-id_8353050.html

Leslie Sedlak

Anyone have tips on chaffing from sports bras?  I have a scar/never ending rub mark under my breasts where my bra strap rubs.  Every shower after a long run is soooo painful.  I have nursed for 5 years, so lets just say I used to have C cups.....now I have C cups with no perkiness, just skin.  I finally found bras that I love because they keep my boob skin (lets be honest, that's where I am) in one spot.  But the chafing just hasn't gotten better.   Any thoughts??  To note:  I haven't worn a heart rate monitor in years because I can't keep it on for more than 10 minutes - just falls to my waist.  

ABBEY BONNER

Hi Leslie
My husband Karl has just bought a Wahoo TIKR HR strap.  he's been using it for a couple of weeks and so far he loves it - it seems to be accurate and doesn't have the problems that the wrist HR monitors have (that come in-built on watches).  You can wear it on your forearm or bicep area - just above the bicep works for him; it's a case of find the best place to wear it for you.
I'm thinking of getting one soon.
See DC Rainmakers review here: Wahoo TICKR FIT Optical HR Sensor In-Depth Review

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Wahoo TICKR FIT Optical HR Sensor In-Depth Review
Today Wahoo announced their latest device – the Wahoo TICKR FIT. The TICKR FIT is simply an optical heart rate ... | |

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On Wednesday, 21 February 2018, 15:19, Leslie Sedlak wrote:



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Leslie Sedlak commented on HR Strap Chafing
Anyone have tips on chaffing from sports bras?  I have a scar/never ending rub mark under my breasts where my bra strap rubs.  Every shower after a long run is soooo painful.  I have nursed for 5 years, so lets just say I used to have C cups.....now I have C cups with no perkiness, just skin.  I finally found bras that I love because they keep my boob skin (lets be honest, that's where I am) in one spot.  But the chafing just hasn't gotten better.   Any thoughts??  To note:  I haven't worn a heart rate monitor in years because I can't keep it on for more than 10 minutes - just falls to my waist.  

Leslie Sedlak

@Abbey Bonner thanks for the strap recommendation.  Unfortunately, my issue is simply with my bra.  I don't wear a HRM strap anymore.  I have a Mio wrist one that I wear sometimes, but typically don't even track HR when running.  

ABBEY BONNER

Sorry @Leslie Sedlak - mis-read that d'oh!  hope someone has some tips for you

Trish Marshall

Hi Leslie, I use a product called 2toms. It come in Powder and roll on. I use the roll on. I still wear a hr monitor and my chafing has almost disappeared from using this product. I have very thin skin and use it under the girls, when the strap is, and under my shoulder straps as long runs and salt
Can change me there as well. I also use it for my "layering" system for my lower region as well. You can find it on Amazon. There is a women's version, but I use either. Hope it works for you!

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 21, 2018, at 11:54 AM, Abbey Bonner > wrote:

[Endurance Nation Community]
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Abbey Bonner commented on HR Strap Chafing

Sorry @Leslie Sedlak - mis-read that d'oh! hope someone has some tips for you

Leslie Sedlak

@Trish Marshall Just ordered on Amazon - thanks so much!  We'll see how it works on my long run saturday!

Shaughn Simmons

This may not be very helpful, but those FTP sessions have put so much hair on my chest, chafing has now become a foregone conclusion.............

Leslie Sedlak

Quick update - I have been using the 2Toms, and so far NO CHAFING!!  I have also been using on inside of my legs for my longer runs and it's been working great!  I did get the 'girl version' - I'm sure the other ones are just as good.

https://www.amazon.com/2Toms-SportShield-HER-Roll-Exclusively/dp/B00NIYC8VY/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1522334588&sr=8-4&keywords=2toms

ABBEY BONNER

Thanks for the recommendation @Leslie Sedlak . I’ve ordered some

Scott Alexander

@Leslie Sedlak, I use TwoToms spray-on for my arm pits when doing long humid runs here in North TX and it's awesome. Never had problems with HR strap chafing though.