15-05-2025
Garmin's HRM 600 Is A Heart Rate Chest Strap That Levels-Up Your Watch
Garmin's HRM 600 chest strap
Are chest straps really that necessary any more? For many the answer is 'less than ever' thanks to improved accuracy of watch HR tech, but the Garmin HRM 600 is here to prove there's life in the HR chest strap yet.
Like the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus before it, the Garmin HRM 600 goes beyond simple heart rate tracking by provides running dynamics stats when paired with a watch. It can even track exercise activities solo, without the need for a connected watch.
The generational change in the Garmim HRM 600 is the breadth of running dynamics information it can glean. When paired with a compatible watch, including the Garmin Forerunner 970, you'll get 'step speed loss' statistics.
This is something new to me as a Garmin user, but is an indicator of 'how much you slow down when your foot hits the ground' according to Garmin. As with other running dynamics, it tells you a decent amount on the efficiency of your stride and running style.
Is it also something that tells you exactly how to fix whatever issue might be causing excessive step speed loss? Perhaps not, but if you're at the level where running dynamics truly make a major difference, you may have a coach — or someone else in your run club — who can monitor your form.
The Garmin HRM 600 will also count steps, heart rate, and estimate speed and distance if you take part in exercise without your watch. There's just a single button on the heart rate monitor so you can't actually start a tracked exercise through an on-strap interface or anything like that. But it's handy if you prefer to take part in some activities watch-free.
Or, conversely, the Garmin HRM 600 can pair with your watch to provide even better heart rate data, and distance data for indoor activities like the treadmill. It has both ANT+ and Bluetooth for connection to other devices.
Garmin HRM 600 module rear
The HRM 600 does not use the coin-style battery adopted by most chest straps. It instead has an integrated rechargeable cell, and a 4-pin charge connector just like those of Garmin's running watches. It's rated for up to two moths of use between charges, based on one hour of use a day.
Garmin doesn't list a replacement battery, but there are clearly a quartet of torx screws on the back of the main housing, suggesting users may be able to get to the battery and internals easily enough. This will no doubt compromise the water resistance, though. The Garmin HRM 600 is rated for 5 ATM water resistance, making it suitable for wear while swimming.
You can also fully detach the Garmin HRM 600's main module, in order to wash the strap part on its own.
The Garmin HRM 600 costs $169.99, and will be available in 'XS-S' and 'M-XL' sizes from May 21.
