Am I the only one experiencing this problem? There is a tag on the strap of my HRM right at the closure and it rubs my ribcage raw during runs (don’t mind the alliterative complaint). I’m worried that if I cut the tag off it may void the warranty and/or make the strap more abrasive. If anyone else has had this problem, have you found a solution?
Ironically, the tag is there to keep the plastic hook from rubbing you (though it’s not very soft). You could cut the tag and see if that helps or hurts. You could also place a swatch of tech fabric (2x2 swatch of an old tech tee or microfiber towel) between your chest and the strap closure (to get fancy, sew it into a short tube you slide over the offending area).
Not this specific issue, but had issues with the old press-stud strap rubbing on the front.
I think the same solution should work. You can get some stretch tape underwrap (Nexcareâ„¢ Stretchfix Underwrap, 50mm x 10m | 3M New Zealand) from the chemist/pharmacist that you can either stick to you before runs for a few weeks until the tag softens and your skin heals and then should be ok, or wrap the tag in the tape and then change that tape once a month as and when the flies attracted to the aroma of the sweat infused tape start getting too distracting on your runs.
Another option is bodyglide too, although I’d use that as a last resort as there’s a risk of it moving around and contaminating the HRM pads and I’m not sure if that would be good or not.
i had this problem as well with every garmin hr strap i have owned, for a while i would put a soft clothe between it and the skin and then i went strictly body glide. i have since switched to a polar hr strap and don’t use anything.
Use a piece of moleskin. Sticky on one side, soft on the other.
Am I the only one experiencing this problem? There is a tag on the strap of my HRM right at the closure and it rubs my ribcage raw during runs (don’t mind the alliterative complaint). I’m worried that if I cut the tag off it may void the warranty and/or make the strap more abrasive. If anyone else has had this problem, have you found a solution?
Rub some Vaseline onto the skin to stop the friction.
I had actually heard and thought it made sense that the tag was there to keep a continuous circuit throughout the strap. In other words, without the tag there, there is a small break in the continuous loop around your chest thus causing less of a “solid†all around connection.
Strange it’s rubbing to much. May be counterintuitive but perhaps tighten just a bit to prevent any sliding around?
I wouldn’t cut the flap off.
Besides advice above, and assuming you have this at the correct height just below nipples (male) consider rotating the strap round so the strap join is in a place that doesn’t rub: should be able to find that by experiment. The transmitter does not have to be central. The sensor pads (licked/moistened before fitting) are placed on the strap to match the flat parts (left and right) of a person’s ribcage, but it’s not critical.
Thanks for all the advice. I was hoping that after the first few months it would callous up and stop being sore but damn my baby-soft skin. I will try some lube, it only seems to happen when running I assume on account of the movement that doesn’t occur on a bike. Body Glide to the rescue.
If lube or Body Glide doesn’t work, try a small piece of KT tape
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Yes I have the wound, it hurts. I put a piece of nexcare tape on there before I run.
Is it possible that the strap is too tight?
You would be surprised how loose you can have it and still get solid data.
It should not be restrictive at all.