Decathlon HRM Belt Review: The €30 IP67 ECG Chest Strap

At €29.99, the Decathlon HRM Belt costs a quarter of what you'd pay for a Polar H10 or a Garmin HRM-Pro Plus. On paper, an ANT+ and Bluetooth chest strap at that price is enough to make premium heart rate users smirk. Out on the road, though, with 1,896 reviews and a 4.2/5 rating on the official site, it has long outgrown the "backup option" label.

Specs

The price that changes everything

The HRM Belt targets a specific buyer: someone who wants a reliable ECG chest strap for intervals or indoor trainer sessions without paying for a Polar H10 or a Garmin HRM-Pro Plus. At €29.99, it sits squarely at the entry level. Its dual Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ connectivity makes it compatible with almost every GPS watch, indoor trainer and app out there (Zwift, Strava, Decathlon Coach, Garmin Connect, Wahoo). Romain, at Sykkel, tested it on an indoor trainer. He confirms seamless cross-platform compatibility with Garmin, Wahoo and HammerHead bike computers, and calls the sensor pad "very pleasant and comfortable."

Water resistance: trust the housing, not the product page

One discrepancy deserves to be flagged rather than glossed over. Decathlon's spec sheet describes the product as "semi-waterproof" with a rating of "1 ATM (splash-proof)," which implies basic protection against sweat. But the sensor housing carries an "IP67" marking, printed black on black. That rating actually means full dust protection and temporary immersion down to 1 meter, far beyond simple splash resistance. Romain, at Sykkel, reports an "IPX7" rating, which matches the marking on the product rather than the wording of the spec sheet. We're going with IP67 as the reference, while noting that neither Decathlon nor the reviews we consulted recommend swimming with this sensor.

Battery life: two numbers that tell different stories

The second discrepancy is even more surprising: Decathlon's own spec sheet lists two different values on the same page. The specs table states a "battery life (duration)" of 96 hours, while another line on the same sheet mentions a "maximum battery life in daily mode" of more than 2 years. Romain, at Sykkel, lands on a middle estimate that's more credible given the CR2032-powered ECG straps on the market: about 12 months of battery life at an average of one hour a day, or roughly 365 hours in total. That's the ballpark we're going with. We're discarding the 96-hour figure, which looks like a product page error rather than an actual measurement.

Comfort and care

On comfort, the feedback lines up: none of the sources we consulted report chafing from the stretch nylon fabric strap. Its main practical strength is the detachable sensor, which lets you machine-wash the fabric part at a low temperature. Decathlon spells this out in its care instructions, along with a clear recommendation to remove the sensor after every use to save the battery. Customer reviews shared publicly mention hassle-free pairing with older Garmin watches such as the Fenix 3, which points to broad compatibility beyond recent devices.

What this price doesn't get you

The HRM Belt is an entry-level product and owns it: no onboard memory for standalone use without a connected device, no documented simultaneous dual Bluetooth connection like the Polar H10 offers, and a single strap size (64 to 86 cm according to Decathlon) that may not suit runners at either end of the size range. The plastic (ABS) housing and the lack of advanced features such as real-time HRV or an LED display (the sensor shows nothing itself; everything goes through the app or the connected device) confirm a deliberately basic positioning.

Pros

• Far cheaper than premium rivals (Polar H10, Garmin HRM-Pro Plus) for the same electrode/ECG technology.
• Dual Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ connectivity, compatible with almost every watch, indoor trainer and app.
• Detachable sensor and machine-washable fabric strap.
• Genuine IP67 water resistance (confirmed by the marking on the housing), better than the product page suggests.
• 2-year warranty and Decathlon's large returns network.

Cons

• Inconsistent battery life figures on the official spec sheet (96h vs more than 2 years on the same page), so you have to rely on outside estimates.
• Only one strap size, less adjustable than some rivals with a wider range.
• No onboard memory or advanced features (continuous HRV, simultaneous dual Bluetooth).
• Basic plastic housing, without the perceived build quality of premium options.

RunMorph verdict

The Decathlon HRM Belt does what you ask of it: it measures heart rate reliably, pairs effortlessly with most of the gear on the market, and lasts thanks to a detachable sensor and a washable strap, all for €29.99. Its official spec sheet needs clearing up, especially on battery life, where two figures contradict each other on the same page. But the physical product, marked IP67, delivers more than its own product page promises. For standard training use with no demand for advanced features, it's one of the best values in the heart rate market.