Suunto Heart Rate Belt - Heart Rate too high

[Mauerwegler]

What colour does the contact area on the strap have? My all black strap (with black contact patch for the sensor) also behaved like that after half a year of usage (with 8 sessions per week maybe). I then learned in this forum that Suunto has changed something and the „good“ straps are black with grey contact patch. There are threads about this in this forum.

[SuperFlo75]

@Mauerwegler this sounds interesting, I didn’t know this. I will look at the colour at home. But I bought a new strap, because a new Battery didn‘t solve the problem. With the new strap, the Heart rate seems good as expected… but I have still problems with ZoneSense because I still don‘t see the ZoneSense metrics of all trainings with the belt…

[Pasi80]

Hi.

Anybody still have problem with Suunto heart rate belt/strap?

I have Suunto Vertical and heart rate belt. Problems with heart rate monitoring (show totally wrong heart rate) start 2024 summer and finally Suunto changed both devices (vertical/belt).

4 months new watch/belt work correctly, but after that the same problems start again.

The problem have not gone away so next week I will send both (vertical/belt) to maintenance (warranty).

[SuperFlo75]

@Pasi80 actually I have no problems with SV and belt… but I bought a new one after the problems I had when I opened this thread

[Brad_Olwin]

@Pasi80 does the belt have the grey color between connectors or black? The older belts (black around sensor connector) are not as robust and the connection degrades. A second issue if wearing a tech shirt and you don’t sweat enough static can build and affect reading HR. I always wet the belt under running water not just my skin. That keeps the belt wet enough until I sweat so static does not build. Even the new belts only last I to 1.5 years for me.

[Pasi80]

@SuperFlo75 okay… So after you bought a new one you haven’t got any problems (if I understand right)

[Pasi80]

@Brad_Olwin Can you send a picture so I can be sure what “area” you mean (gray or black)? I can check it later when I get back home.

Also I always wet (enought ) my heart rate belt before exercise. My Garmin Fenix 5 and Garmin heart rate belt working with no problems.

I have weared both SV + belt & Garmin Fenix 5 + belt -> Garmin gave correct pulse but Suunto is not…

[SuperFlo75]

@Brad_Olwin The new belt is the grey one, and the old was the black one. But the old belt was about 3 years old… I always make the belt wet before using it, and I wash it with clear water after using… but now, with the new one, everything is good

[SuperFlo75]

@Pasi80 yes, that‘s right

[SuperFlo75]

@Pasi80 I think he means this area…

[flyinono]

@alebalbis same for me, exactly the same problem withe the HR spike at the beginninng. I have the belt with the grey area which seems to be the latest.

[Pasi80]

@SuperFlo75

It seems to be black… So it is old series. Need to take contact to Suunto suport. Thanks

[Pasi80]

@SuperFlo75

Thank you. Mine seems to be black. I will take contact to Suunto suport

[fedequei]

Hello everyone, I also have a Suunto heart rate belt with a black contact area (old version), and sometimes I experience the same issues with very high heart rate readings at the beginning, or it takes a long time before it starts providing any results. I always moisten the belt before exercising. Do you know if the grey version resolves these issues, or if it works better than the black one? Will they replace it through customer service, or do I need to purchase a new one directly? Thank you very much.

[Brad_Olwin]

@fedequei @Pasi80 I do not know whether Suunto will replace old belts. However, the new one lasts for 1y to 1.5y for me with ~750h of exercise/year mostly with the belt. The belt will not last forever, the sensor is good for a long time as I am still using the sensor I bought with the Ambit. The newer belt is more robust, I used to buy belts about every 6 months.

[SuperFlo75]

@Pasi80 How old is your belt? I got my belt with the Spartan watch… I think it was too old to expect something when contacting the service

[SuperFlo75]

@Brad_Olwin I was not sure if my problems where caused by belt or by sensor… I bought a complete new set of both… but for less than in the Suunto shop…

[Pasi80]

@SuperFlo75 I bought both Suunto Vertical & Smart heart rate belt 5/2023. First problems came 6/2024 and after several maintenance “visit” the problem continue so they send me new product (both Suunto Vertical & Smart heart rate bealt).

I get my new warranty products about 8/2024 and the same problems start 12/2024 (4 monts after usage). 1/2025 the problem start to be every day when I went out to sport. And now I am going to send the products back to Suunto maintenance.

So frustrating

Luckily I still have my old Garmin Fenix 5x & garmin heart rate belt so I can use these while the Suunto maintenance.

[SuperFlo75]

@Pasi80 Sorry to read this… I think this should not happen! For me, my new belt is working fine now.

[flo7z]

I have the same issue with my new HR Suunto belt and my S9PP.
I had the same with the Ambit 3 and my old belt, this was much worst though.
I always thought it was linked to dry skin and not enough sweat.
Strangely this does not happen when I ride my bike, only when running.