I’ve been testing a $29 CooSpo chest strap on two 5k tempo runs and it tracks within about 2 bpm of my Polar H10, which lines up with peer-reviewed findings that chest straps generally outperform wrist optical sensors at higher intensities. If you’ve tried budget straps, did strap tension or a dab of electrode gel noticeably change your readings?
And i’ve had the $30 CooSpo match my H10 within “2 bpm,” but the game-changer wasn’t gel — it was dropping the strap an inch and nudging it left of the sternum to avoid synthetic-shirt static (like an old TV antenna: move it an inch and the picture clears). Rinsing the strap after runs also stopped late-mile drift from salt buildup. Have you tried the offset placement, @davidson_run84?
It sounds like you’re getting solid results with that CooSpo! I’ve found that tightening the strap definitely helps with accuracy, but sometimes it does feel like I’m auditioning for a horror movie with how tight I pull it. Have you tried adjusting the placement too, or is it just the strap tension that you’re focusing on?
, those budget monitors can be hit or miss, right? I found that when I adjusted my strap placement just a bit, it made a noticeable difference in accuracy. Have you tried moving it around at all, like you did with the CooSpo?