Wahoo TICKR Fit vs Garmin HRM-Pro Plus: Best Heart Rate Monitor for Triathletes 2026

What to Look For

Wrist-based optical heart rate has closed a lot of ground on chest straps, but for structured intervals and running power/dynamics, a dedicated strap or armband still gives more consistent, lower-latency data. Wahoo’s TICKR FIT and Garmin’s HRM-Pro Plus are the two most-recommended options for triathletes right now, and they take genuinely different approaches to comfort versus data depth.

Wahoo TICKR FIT optical heart rate armband
Wahoo TICKR FIT — optical armband, no chest strap required

Key Features to Consider

  • Sensor location and comfort — TICKR FIT is an optical sensor worn on the forearm, which many triathletes find far more comfortable than a chest strap for long sessions, and it avoids chest strap chafing during a wetsuit swim warm-up. HRM-Pro Plus is a traditional chest strap using ECG-accurate electrodes.
  • Data depth — HRM-Pro Plus captures Garmin’s full running dynamics suite (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length) and can power running power estimates on a compatible Garmin watch — none of which an armband can measure. If you train off running form metrics, the chest strap wins outright.
  • Connectivity — Both broadcast on dual ANT+ and Bluetooth Low Energy, so either pairs with a Garmin, Wahoo, or third-party head unit and apps like Zwift or TrainerRoad.
  • Battery life — HRM-Pro Plus is rated for up to a year on a single coin-cell battery with a tool-free door for swaps. TICKR FIT uses a rechargeable battery, so it needs topping up periodically like any other electronic device.

Our Top Picks

Best for Comfort: Wahoo TICKR FIT

If chest strap chafing has ever put you off wearing a heart rate monitor consistently, the armband format solves that outright while still giving accurate, real-time heart rate for pacing and zone work across swim warm-up, bike and run.

Check price on Tredz — £57.00 at time of writing (RRP £64.99)

Best for Running Data: Garmin HRM-Pro Plus

If you’re chasing running power, cadence and ground contact time to sharpen your run form, the chest strap’s extra sensors are the only way to get that data — no wrist or armband sensor currently matches it for depth.

Check price on Amazon

Buying Tips

  • If your watch is already a Garmin, HRM-Pro Plus unlocks the deepest on-device running metrics without third-party apps.
  • Fit an armband snugly, high on the forearm — a loose fit is the most common cause of optical heart rate dropouts.
  • Neither monitor is swim-rated for open water heart rate broadcast to a watch (Bluetooth/ANT+ don’t transmit underwater) — both still record and store swim HR to sync afterward.

Care and Maintenance

Rinse both in fresh water after every sweaty or open-water session and let them air dry fully before storing — salt and dried sweat are the main causes of skin irritation and connection dropouts over time.

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