Review: Garmin HRM-Pro Heart Rate Monitor

(2023) It was time to replace the heart rate monitor. After months of frustration from a rival ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible device, the Garmin HRM-Pro was tested out. Per Garmin’s site the device provides accurate data to Garmin products, training apps such as Zwift, and other compatible pieces of equipment. All of these claims figured perfectly into what was needed, plus a dash of dependability. What we have found within the Garmin HRM-Pro is exciting. First, we had to enter the gauntlet of pairing the heart rate monitor.

In under five minutes, the Garmin HRM-Pro was paired to everything scanning for it. Almost immediately the smartphone, with the Garmin Connect open, paired with the monitor and was reading. Opening the Garmin on the bike and scanning for the monitor, it paired just as quickly as the hands operating the scan buttons. One final test came when pairing the monitor with Zwift. Connecting through an Apple product, Zwift immediately picked up the heart rate monitor and suddenly things were looking too good to be true. The asphalt bike was prepped from a cold winter outdoor ride to explore the limits of the device. 

Perhaps it’s the initial setup but there was only one moment of concern. For the first few miles of the first ride, the heart rate monitor was relaying some concerning numbers. During the mostly downhill opening mile into a flat section of following miles, the cycling computer relayed a heart rate of 180 beats per minute. Two possibilities were considered: the Garmin was calibrating itself, or the last heart rate monitor was truly a terrible measuring device. To demonstrate how bad, the latter was heavily considered. Further considerations included the possibility of simply turning around and calling the doctor to report a runaway heart rate. After a few miles the BPM began to drop drastically. Finally the numbers reported numbers with the normal range and a repeat incident has yet to materialize. 

The Garmin HRM-Pro comes with the strap and information booklet.

The Garmin HRM-Pro comes with a bifold soft strap, a definite upgrade from the old hard strap monitors a decade ago. The strap connects via a metal hook and is hardly noticeable when in use. Garmin even added a flap to prevent contact with the skin via the hook. One concerning area regards cleaning the strap as it cannot be detached and thrown into the wash like the previous HRM. Garmin’s suggestion is to hand-wash the device, apparently swishing the unit around a bucket five times. The fact the device does not detach comes down to prioritizing data through a strong connection. 

Garmin is certainly exploring beyond cycling with this monitor. The HRM-Pro does numerous jobs previously not found in monitors. The device is its own storage unit. If a smartphone, Garmin computer or Garmin watch are out of range, the HRM-Pro saves the workout. Though swimming is highlighted as the perfect scenario, Garmin has mentioned other sports such as ice hockey can benefit from a heart rate monitor. Further, Garmin states the HRM-Pro captures running data to improve form through several metrics. This is certainly the ultimate heart rate monitor for cyclocross racers. Finally, outings aren’t required; the Garmin HRM-Pro can be worn throughout the day to transmit heart rate and relay the information to various health apps. 

One area not tested is the battery. Per Garmin, the coin cell battery should last up to one year for anyone averaging one hour of training daily. That will be another area to focus on as the last HRM struggled to perform reliably once the battery door was breached. 

It’s tough to find an area where Garmin can improve on the HRM-Pro Heart Rate Monitor, and that’s a good thing. With strong signals, instant connection, reliable information relay, and the ability to store workouts, Garmin has taken the simple heart rate monitor and made it into an even more important training piece than those simple devices introduced in the early 1980s. After lagging behind other companies with HRM technology, Garmin has now produced a monitor that is the measuring stick by which all future heart straps will be compared. Plus the fact it pairs to more than 150 Garmin devices means those concerns of lagging connectivity are a thing of the past.