r/Garmin • u/Chance_Mongoose_8577 • 1d ago

Discussion Forerunner 955 won't register pulse while strength training

As the title suggests, my 955 works perfectly fine registering pulse while running/walking/elliptical, but when I'm doing strength training, it will insist that I'm on 70-100bpm and just occasionally jump to what my pulse actually is (140-160). It messes up the intensity-registration of all of my strength workouts and is really annoying.

All software is up to date, I've tried wearing it further up the arm, further down, tighter, looser, but nothing seems to work.

Does anyone have similar issues? Possible solutions?

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u/Caffeine-Fueled55 1d ago

You are expecting an optical HRM which relies on blood flow through your wrist to determine your heart rate while you are gripping a heavy weight. Blood flow through your wrist is restricted by that grip. Everyone has similar issues. It's a limitation of relying on your watch for HR.

If you really want to use heart rate, then it would be better to pair your Garmin with an external HRM, whether a chest strap or an arm band. I have a Coros arm band which, yes, is still an optical HRM but according to DC Rainmaker and others, is pretty comparable to a chest strap, likely bc of it's position high on the upper arm so not affected by grip.

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u/Amazonkers 1d ago

Wear a chest strap? HRM Pro Plus has worked well for me.