If you’re looking for a new chest strap heart rate monitor, Garmin’s just-released HRM 600 deserves attention. In this Garmin HRM 600 review, we’ll break down what makes this high-end strap special for runners and multisport athletes.
Garmin itself calls it a chest strap that “does everything,” and it really packs in features: rechargeable battery, standalone workout recording (no watch needed), and a new running metric called Step Speed Loss.
It even adds a secure pairing button and a tri-color LED for status. Together, these updates make the HRM 600 feel more like a mini training device than an old-school strap.
What’s New in Garmin HRM 600?
The HRM 600 is Garmin’s latest high-end chest strap, and it comes with several fresh updates. It’s rechargeable (no more replacing coin-cell batteries) and claims about 2 months of life on a charge with an hour of use per day.
The strap also has a quick-button to wake it and start pairing, plus a multi-color LED to show pairing status or low battery. These small changes make the setup simpler and more secure.
Key new features include:
- Step Speed Loss: A running metric that measures how much speed you lose on each ground contact (a new “running economy” stat requiring the latest Garmin watches). This helps advanced runners see how efficiently they maintain pace.
- Standalone Activity Recording: The strap can record workouts on its own (heart rate, time, distance, calories, etc.) even without a paired watch. This makes it great for sports like basketball or swimming, where you might not wear a Garmin watch.
- Rechargeable Battery: Built-in USB-C rechargeable battery replaces disposable coin cells. Garmin rates it for ~2 months per charge (at 1 hour/day use), so you can top it up like a smartwatch.
- Secure BLE Pairing: A physical button ensures Bluetooth data sync only happens with your approved device, keeping your heart-rate data private. This is handy at crowded races or gyms.
- Status LED: A tri-color light ring shows pairing status, wake mode, and low battery at a glance, making it easy to check the strap’s status without a screen.
These updates make the HRM 600 much more modern and convenient compared to older straps.
Running and Swimming Metrics
Like Garmin’s previous HRM-Pro straps, the HRM 600 tracks heart rate (and HRV) continuously. It also unlocks detailed running metrics when paired with a Garmin watch.
In addition to the new Step Speed Loss, it measures stride length, vertical oscillation (bounce), ground contact time balance, and running pace/distance (even indoors).
These advanced stats can help serious runners analyze their form and efficiency, though you’ll need a compatible Garmin watch to view the results.
The HRM 600 also supports swimming. The sensor stores heart rate data during swims and forwards it to your watch afterward. If paired with a swim-capable Garmin, it can report swim-interval heart rates.
The sensor pod is removable, so you can take it off to wash or swap straps between workouts (hand-wash recommended).
Standalone Recording and Connectivity
A standout perk of the HRM 600 is that it can work without a watch attached.
Thanks to onboard memory, it can track a session on its own – logging heart rate, time, distance, and calories – and then upload the data to Garmin Connect later.
This is handy for activities (martial arts, group sports, etc.) where wearing a watch isn’t ideal.
The strap connects via Bluetooth Low Energy (and Garmin says, still supports ANT+ for legacy devices).
The new secure pairing button lets you control who can connect to it, which is useful at crowded races or group workouts.
Once paired, the HRM 600 can broadcast to multiple devices (up to 3 via Bluetooth).
It links to Garmin Connect for firmware updates and workout syncing, just like a modern wearable.
How It Compares: HRM-Pro Plus vs HRM 600 (and Polar H10)
Garmin HRM-Pro Plus
Garmin’s previous top-of-line strap. It offered real-time HR via ANT+ and Bluetooth, swim heart-rate storage, and running dynamics.
The big difference is battery: the HRM-Pro Plus uses a replaceable CR2032 coin cell (about 365 hours or ~12 months at 1h/day), whereas the HRM 600 has a built-in rechargeable (about 2 months per charge).
Both stores’ workout data is onboarded to sync later. The HRM 600 adds the new Step Speed Loss metric, the secure pairing button, and USB charging, features that the Pro Plus didn’t have.
Polar H10
A popular competitor known for accuracy. Polar even calls the H10 the “gold standard” of accuracy. It uses ECG electrodes, has a CR2025 battery (~400 hours), and dual Bluetooth/ANT+ connectivity with limited onboard memory and HRV tracking.
The H10 excels at precise heart-rate data, but it doesn’t offer any running form metrics (no GCT, bounce, etc.), and it’s not rechargeable. The Garmin HRM 600 trades some battery life for advanced metrics and the convenience of charging.
In summary: If you’re all-in on Garmin’s ecosystem, the HRM 600 is the most advanced strap Garmin makes.
It has everything the HRM-Pro Plus offered (multi-sport HR tracking, swim support, onboard memory) plus rechargeability and new running data.
Budget-conscious runners or those on other platforms might be fine with an older strap or a Polar H10, but tech-savvy athletes who want every data point (and hate changing batteries) will appreciate the HRM 600’s full feature set.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Garmin HRM 600 is a feature-packed chest-strap monitor that blends advanced running science with modern convenience.
It’s ideal for runners, triathletes, and fitness enthusiasts who want in-depth metrics and easy recording.
The rechargeable battery, secure Bluetooth pairing, and new Step Speed Loss metric show Garmin is still innovating on running data.
Is it worth it? If you love Garmin’s watches and apps, the HRM 600 is a strong choice. It’s pricey (around €170) and just launched in May 2025, but early impressions suggest it delivers on its promises.
We recommend checking it out if you’re upgrading an old chest strap or building a new training setup.
The Garmin HRM 600 is priced at $169.99 and will be available starting May 21, 2025. Don’t miss out—visit Garmin’s official website or grab yours early on Amazon to start leveling up your training today.
- Premium heart rate strap transmits accurate real-time heart rate and heart rate variability data via ANT plus technology…
- Captures running dynamics, such as vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length, vertical ratio and more to …
- Computes pace and distance for treadmill or indoor track workouts
