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review
Heart rate monitors
Zephyr HXM bluetooth HRM chest strapZephyr HXM bluetooth HRM

Zephyr HXM bluetooth HRM chest strap

8
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Sep 18, 2010

0
£73.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Excellent HRM for smartphone training apps that's simple and effective
Weight: 
47g
Contact: 
shop.endomondo.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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With smartphones growing in popularity, more and more people are turning to their phones to run their training schedules. Not many will work with ANT+ devices though, so it's good to see products like this HXM chest strap using the almost universally supported Bluetooth platform. And it's a great bit of kit too: well made, comfortable and reliable.

The HXM comes in two parts: the chest strap and the transmitter, which comes with a USB charging cradle. Clip the two parts together and put the unit on and it automatically kicks into life, at which point you can connect it to your phone. The chest strap uses Zephyr's fabric sensors which are soft and much more comfortable than the usual rubberised pads, and the transmitter unit also contains accelerometers that can record running pace data after calibration, although it doesn't work for cadence, sadly. The internal Lithium Polymer battery is good for about 30 hours if you remember to unclip the transmitter from the chest strap after your workout: if you leave them clipped together it tends to drain the battery.

I've used the HXM with Endomondo's brilliant Android training app - review coming soon - and it really couldn't be simpler: open the app, press go and it'll connect to the HRM and start recording heart data straight away. Other platforms also support the HXM - there's applications available for Windows Mobile and the Nokia N900 with Symbian apps in development – though I haven't tried any of them so can't comment on their ease of use. Okay, the chest strap is more expensive than a normal one, but you're saving a packet from not having to buy yourself a computer: there's some great smartphone apps out there for free, so you're up on the deal.

Verdict

If you want to use your smartphone for training – especially if you're running Android – then this HRM strap is an excellent addition, allowing you to seamlessly record heart rate data along with GPS-based speed and distance tracking via an app such as Endomondo. It's well made and easy to use, and comfortable too. Recommended.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Zephyr HXM bluetooth HRM chest strap

Size tested: n/a

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Very much

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 190cm  Weight: 96kg

I usually ride: whatever I\\\'m testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with Ultegra 6700

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Zephyr HXM
Zephyr
HRM
Heart rate monitor
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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