Heart Rate Monitor for Strava: Chest Strap & Armband That Just Pair
This page is for runners and cyclists who record straight into the Strava app on a phone and want heart rate, zones and Relative Effort on every activity, without buying a watch.
The one-line answer: yes, both Powr Labs heart rate monitors pair with Strava on iPhone and Android over Bluetooth. Strava's Record screen has a built-in sensor menu that finds any standard Bluetooth heart rate monitor, which is what the Chest HRM and Armband broadcast.
Which Powr Labs monitor should you use with Strava?
Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitor
Best for most Strava athletes: ECG accuracy on hill repeats, 300+ hours on one coin cell, and ANT+ left free for a Garmin or Wahoo at the same time.
$45 · ANT+ & Bluetooth · ±1 bpm ECG accuracy · CR2032 battery, 300+ hours
Armband Heart Rate Monitor
Best if you want your phone running Strava and a bike computer or watch on the same sensor over Bluetooth, or prefer an arm-worn sensor.
$74.99 · optical sensor · rechargeable, up to 38 hours · auto-wear detection · up to 3 devices at once
Currently sold out. Email support@powr-labs.com to be notified when it is back. Product page →
| Where you record | Protocol | Chest HRM | Armband |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strava app, iPhone | Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Strava app, Android | Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin, Wahoo or Apple Watch, synced to Strava | ANT+ or Bluetooth to the device | Yes | Yes |
How to pair a heart rate monitor with Strava
Before you pair: the one rule that fixes most problems
The chest strap only wakes up when it touches your skin. Do these every time, in this order:
- Wet the two textured pads on the back of the strap with a splash of water.
- Put the strap on just below your chest muscles, snug but comfortable, with the wet pads flat against your skin. The "L" mark on the sensor points to your left.
- Clear old pairings. If the monitor shows up in your phone's Settings → Bluetooth list, tap "Forget This Device." The strap holds one Bluetooth connection at a time.
- Pair from inside the app or device sensor menu, never from the phone's main Bluetooth menu.
- Watch the logo light. When it connects, the white light flashes for about 20 seconds and then turns off. That is normal; you are still connected.
Armband instead? Slide it onto your forearm near the elbow or your upper arm, sensor flat against the inside of your arm. It turns on when it touches skin; hold still 10–15 seconds, then select "Powr Labs Armband HRM" in your app.
Strava on iPhone
- Wear the monitor and open Strava.
- Tap Record on the bottom bar.
- Slide the menu up and tap Add a Sensor.
- Strava searches automatically; select the Powr Labs monitor when it appears.
- Tap Done to return to the record screen. The heart rate icon turns on and shows your live bpm.
- Tap Start. Heart rate is saved with the activity.
Strava on Android
- Turn on Bluetooth and Location (Android requires Location permission to scan for Bluetooth sensors).
- Wear the monitor and open Strava, then tap Record.
- Slide up, tap Add a Sensor, and pick the Powr Labs monitor.
- Tap Done, then Start.
Strava's own article: pairing sensors with the Strava app.
Recording on a watch or bike computer instead
If you record on a Garmin, Wahoo, Apple Watch or Polar, pair the monitor to that device (see our Garmin and Apple Watch guides) and let the device sync to Strava. Heart rate comes across with the activity.
Strava troubleshooting
- Add a Sensor finds nothing. The strap is asleep or your phone already holds it. Wet the pads, put it on, Forget it under Settings → Bluetooth, and search again from inside Strava.
- Android cannot see the sensor. Grant Strava the Location and Nearby Devices permissions; Android blocks Bluetooth scanning without them.
- Heart rate missing from part of the ride. Phone in a back pocket or bar bag can lose Bluetooth range through your body. Keep it in a front pocket or on the bars, and re-wet the pads on long days.
- Two phones or apps at once. The chest strap allows one Bluetooth connection; a second Bluetooth app will not connect until the first disconnects. Use ANT+ for the second device, or the armband.
- Reading stuck at one number. Loose strap or dry pads. Tighten and re-wet. If the logo light never flashes when you put it on, replace the CR2032.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Powr Labs chest strap work with Strava?
Yes. The Strava app on iPhone and Android connects directly to Bluetooth heart rate monitors from the Record screen (slide up and tap Add a Sensor). The Powr Labs Chest HRM and Armband both use the standard Bluetooth heart rate profile Strava looks for.
Does Strava show heart rate zones and Relative Effort?
Once a session is recorded with a connected heart rate monitor, Strava shows the heart rate graph, zone breakdown and Relative Effort. Zone analysis and some training features require a Strava subscription.
Can I record in Strava and on my Garmin at the same time?
Yes with the chest strap: Strava on Bluetooth, Garmin on ANT+. Garmin can also sync to Strava automatically, so most people just record on the watch.
Does the armband work with Strava?
Yes, over Bluetooth, with up to three simultaneous connections. It is currently sold out; email support@powr-labs.com for a restock notice.
Can I add heart rate to a Strava activity after the fact?
No. Strava only records heart rate that was connected during the activity, so pair before you tap Start.
Ready to train with heart rate on Strava?
- Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitor, $45: ANT+ and Bluetooth, replaceable CR2032 battery, free replacement batteries for your first 12 months.
- Armband Heart Rate Monitor, $74.99: rechargeable optical sensor, currently sold out (email support@powr-labs.com for restock notice).
- Need a spare band? Replacement chest strap, $17.99.
Every monitor ships from Park City, Utah with a 12-month no-questions warranty and 30-day returns. More help: pairing guide for every app and device and Chest HRM help & support.
Peloton, Zwift, Garmin, Apple Watch and Strava are trademarks of their owners. Powr Labs is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.